North Fork Elk River Salmonid Habitat Enhancement Project Designs

Salmonid Restoration Planning and Assessments

Project ID	1611968213458
Recovery Domains	N Central California Coast
Start Date	04/22/2021
End Date	10/17/2023
Year	2018
Status	Completed
Last Edited	02/06/2024

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Description

100% engineered designs developed for instream habitat enhancement within 1.5 miles of NF Elk River. The design work will lead towards complimentary restoration actions that will restore instream habitats by enhancing channel complexity and cover from predators, sort spawning gravels, and provide velocity refugia as well as reduce road related sediment delivery along 1.07 miles of riparian road. The goal of this project is to benefit Coho Salmon by enhancing instream habitat and reducing sediment delivery to the NF Elk River. All FY18 PCSRF funds were spent within the award period.

Project Benefit

The goal of this Project is to benefit Coho Salmon by enhancing instream habitat and reducing sediment delivery to the NF Elk River. Instream large wood is known to assist with sorting and storage of stream gravels, as well as pool formation associated with bed scour. Studies show that pool formation associated with large wood can increase the quality and quantity of instream habitats for salmonids, which has been positively linked to survival rates.

Source

Funds

PCSRF

$238,502

In-Kind Donated Labor

$58,060

Report Total:

$296,562

Worksites

1611968213684

Worksite Identifier: 1611968213684
Start Date:
End Date:

Area Description
NF Elk River

Location Information

Basin: Northern California Coastal (180101)
Subbasin: Mad-Redwood (18010102)
Watershed: Humboldt Bay-Frontal Pacific Ocean (1801010206)
Subwatershed: Elk River (180101020603)

State: California
Recovery Domain: N Central California Coast
Latitude: 40.70065
Longitude: -124.13749

ESU

Northern California Steelhead DPS
California Coastal Chinook Salmon ESU
Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Coho Salmon ESU

Map

Photos

Metrics

B.0 Salmonid Restoration Planning and AssessmentsY (Y/N)

. . B.0.a Planning And Assessment Funding 296,562.00
. . B.0.b.1 Area Encompassed 19.0
. . B.0.b.2 Stream Miles Affected 1.50

. . B.1 Restoration Planning And CoordinationY (Y/N)

. . . . B.1.a Planning and Coordination funding 296,562.00

. . . . B.1.b.11 Engineering/design work for restoration projectsY (Y/N)

. . . . . . B.1.b.11.a

Name of plan implemented
National Marine Fisheries Service. 2014. Final Recovery Plan for the Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Evolutionarily Significant Unit of Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). National Marine Fisheries Service. Arcata, CA.

. . . . . . B.1.b.11.b

Description and scope of the plan implemented

The objective of this project was to assess approximately 19 acres of instream and floodplain habitats to determine site specific details (including wood density targets) related to large wood augmentation. The project developed engineered designs and final layout for habitat enhancement measures in 1.5 miles of the North Fork (NF) Elk River. The design work will lead towards implementing complimentary restoration actions that will restore instream habitats by enhancing channel complexity and cover from predators, sort spawning gravels, and provide velocity refugia. In addition to the instream habitat enhancement, the project addressed road-related sediment delivery, by finalizing site specific prescriptions for 18 road drainage sites that have been identified to be decommissioned by the landowner. This design work will result in the collective treatment of 1.5 miles of high-priority salmonid recovery instream habitat with large wood in the NF Elk River; and, to decommission 1.07 miles of riparian road, preventing approximately 7,500 yds3 of sediment delivery. The project addressed SONCC recovery tasks SONCC-HBT.8.1.13.1-Assess and prioritize road-stream connection, and identify appropriate treatments.