Beaver Dam Analog Construction in Hoopa Valley Reservation Streams 2017-2018

Salmonid Habitat Restoration and Acquisition

Instream Habitat
Project IDHoopa-2017-2
Recovery DomainsN CA - S Oregon
Start Date01/15/2018
End Date09/30/2019
Year2017
StatusCompleted
Last Edited01/25/2024
 
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Description    


This project placed multiple sequences of beaver dam analogs in Mill and Supply Creek to enhance the previous restoration work done in 2014 and 17. These structures were placed to increase juvenile salmonid habitat capacity and improve storage of sediments and water. The changes brought about by these structures has been very impressive. During snorkel surveys hundreds of juvenile salmonids were seen within the narrow structures themselves as they utilized the overhead cover and the deeper water upstream became one of the most probable locations to find fish. Fish identified included Chinook salmon, steelhead trout and Coho Salmon. The monitoring that occurred as part of this project was photo-monitoring after each storm event to see how individual structures were performing and also topographic surveys at Mill Creek. The biological portion consisted of snorkel surveys in and around the Beaver Dam Analogs. One concern voiced was about upstream passage for juveniles and adults. We took special note of this during adult spawner surveys and found no passage impediments. During the juvenile snorkel surveys fish were seen moving up and downstream through gaps in the weaving, so this also seemed to be a non issue.
The structures themselves have held up well through multiple storm events.

Project Benefit    


SONCC in the lower Trinity River are identified in the Recovery Plan as being at high risk of extinction. Restoration of tributary habitat for both natal and non-natal SONCC is therefore of great importance. Ponds and backwater habitats that form upstream of beaver dams were identified in the SONCC recovery plan as high-quality summer and winter rearing habitat for Coho salmon, and so this project is expected to support increases in survival and growth of Coho as well as the other native anadromous salmonids. Beavers are expected to occupy some or all of the beaver dam analogs, and when doing so will sustain and enhance the features. Therefore, long-lasting ecological benefits are anticipated. Besides the direct habitat benefit to Coho, beaver dams and their analogs can enhance aquatic and riparian functions. Some of these functions are: sequestering of fine sediment until high flows can transport them to floodplains or downstream reaches, recharge of groundwater in adjacent floodplains, increasing hyporheic flows, raising of water tables that support native riparian vegetation, and helping to sustain flows during drought periods. These functions in turn benefit Coho, other aquatic species, and terrestrial species that use the riparian corridor.
This project will benefit Coho salmon in streams with high intrinsic potential. As identified in the SONCC Recovery Plan (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/recovery/plans/cohosalmon_soncc.pdf), complex aquatic habitats, including beaver ponds, within Mill Creek and Supply Creek, tributaries of the lower Trinity River represent limited and high-value habitat for Coho salmon juveniles as they grow to the outmigrant/smolt lifestage. The SONCC Recovery Plan also highlighted the importance of reestablishing beavers in streams where they are absent. Beaver sign has been identified in lower Mill Creek over the past two years, while evidence of beavers has not been seen in Supply Creek. Two specific purposes related to Coho recovery are: 1) they provide immediate habitat complexity while expanding useable habitat availability through low-flow periods; and 2) they provide habitat for dispersing or relocated beavers.

Accomplishments

Metric Completed Originally
Proposed
Instream Habitat
  Stream Miles Treated .40 .40

Funding Details

SourceFunds
PCSRF$43,574
Report Total:$43,574


Project Map



Worksites

Mill Creek Rehabilitation Site    


  • Worksite Identifier: Mill Creek Rehabilitation Site
  • Start Date: 05/01/2018
  • End Date:
Area Description
Mill Creek channel and floodplain between Highway 96 bridge and upstream limit of rehabilitation site

Location Information

  • Basin: Klamath (180102)
  • Subbasin: Trinity (18010211)
  • Watershed: Horse Linto Creek-Trinity River (1801021112)
  • Subwatershed: Mill Creek (180102111207)
  • State: California
  • Recovery Domain: N CA - S Oregon
  • Latitude: 41.08891550263144
  • Longitude: -123.69647026061728

ESU

  • Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Coho Salmon ESU

Map

Photos

Metrics

Metrics
  • C.0 Salmonid Habitat Restoration and AcquisitionY (Y/N)
    •      . . C.0.a Habitat restoration and acquisition funding 23,574.00
    •      . . C.0.b Length of stream treated/protected .20
    •      . . C.0.c
      Project identified in a Plan or Watershed Assessment
    •      . . C.0.d.1 Project Monitoring (LOV)
    •      . . C.0.d.2 Monitoring Location (LOV)
    •      . . C.4 Instream Habitat ProjectY (Y/N)
      •      . . . . C.4.a Instream Habitat Funding 23,574.00
      •      . . . . C.4.b Total length of instream habitat treated .20
      •      . . . . C.4.d.1 Channel structure placementY (Y/N)
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.2 Material used for channel structure (LOV)
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.3 Miles of stream treated through channel structure placement .20
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.4 Acres of streambed treated through channel structure placement 2.0
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.5 Pools expected to be created through channel structure placement 6
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.6 Yards of average stream-width at mid-point of channel structure placement project12 (Yards)
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.7 Number of structures placed in channel 6

Supply Creek Rehabilitation Site    


  • Worksite Identifier: Supply Creek Rehabilitation Site
  • Start Date: 05/01/2018
  • End Date:
Area Description
Supply Creek immediately upstream of off-channel pond constructed in 2016

Location Information

  • Basin: Klamath (180102)
  • Subbasin: Trinity (18010211)
  • Watershed: Horse Linto Creek-Trinity River (1801021112)
  • Subwatershed: Supply Creek (180102111205)
  • State: California
  • Recovery Domain: N CA - S Oregon
  • Latitude: 41.05047853837746
  • Longitude: -123.68737220763857

ESU

  • Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Coho Salmon ESU

Map

Photos

Metrics

Metrics
  • C.0 Salmonid Habitat Restoration and AcquisitionY (Y/N)
    •      . . C.0.a Habitat restoration and acquisition funding 20,000.00
    •      . . C.0.b Length of stream treated/protected .20
    •      . . C.0.c
      Project identified in a Plan or Watershed Assessment
      Final Recovery Plan for the Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Evolutionarily Significant Unit of Coho Salmon (NOAA 2014)
    •      . . C.0.d.1 Project Monitoring (LOV)
    •      . . C.0.d.2 Monitoring Location (LOV)
    •      . . C.4 Instream Habitat ProjectY (Y/N)
      •      . . . . C.4.a Instream Habitat Funding 20,000.00
      •      . . . . C.4.b Total length of instream habitat treated .20
      •      . . . . C.4.d.1 Channel structure placementY (Y/N)
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.2 Material used for channel structure (LOV)
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.3 Miles of stream treated through channel structure placement .20
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.4 Acres of streambed treated through channel structure placement 1.5
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.5 Pools expected to be created through channel structure placement 6
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.6 Yards of average stream-width at mid-point of channel structure placement project10 (Yards)
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.7 Number of structures placed in channel 6