Klamath River Riparian Habitat Restoration 2015

The Karuk Tribe subcontracted with the Middle Klamath Watershed Council (MKWC) in order to combine fiscal resources for the project construction phase. Funding secured by both Karuk and MKWC was combined and used to secured a construction contractor and a project oversight engineer. MKWC received funding from California Department of Fish and Wildlifes Fisheries Restoration Grants Program (FRGP) for in-stream habitat restoration components of the project. MKWC administered both the construction and engineering contracts and therefore was designated as the lead for the construction phase.

The project sequencing included a construction phase and riparian planting phase. The project construction phase was not funded by this PCSRF project and included excavation, channel grading and log structure placement. The project construction work was completed in October 2017 prior to the start of riparian planting work. The project construction phase was primarily in-stream habitat work (excavation, channel grading and log structure placement) funded primarily by CDFWs FRGP and NFWF.

This project funded the riparian planting work that occurred after the project construction phase was completed in October 2017. The riparian work was phased over time to accommodate changes in the channel morphology and sediment deposition during the first and second winter after construction.

The first riparian planting phase of the project began shortly after construction and seasonal rains in early November 2017. The first phase of riparian planting included the spreading of straw and grass seed over the entire 14 acre site and offsite disposal areas. As of March 2018, the grass seed has sprouted and coverage is good. Upland species were planted on flood benches outside the 10 year expected high water elevation. Riparian species were planted inside the 10 year to 1.5 year high water level. Protective cages were placed around both upland and riparian species to protect them from browsers such as elk and deer. Irrigation needs are currently being evaluated and will be installed during the next phase later this spring. Willow cuttings were placed along the stream margins and within the wetted areas of the log structures. It’s unclear how many cuttings actually rooted, but will be evaluated for the need for more planting during the next planting phase.

This project benefits ESA listed Coho and other salmonids like Chinook and Steelhead by increasing the quality of rearing habitat along lower Seiad Creek. The project will specifically treat a stream reach in lower Seiad Creek impacted by historic mining. The project is designed using a functional approach to restoration where flood processes are addressed before actions direct riparian restoration actions such as tree planting. A functional floodplain will set in motion the flood processes such soil storage that needed to grow a health riparian zone in lower Seiad Creek.