Middle Fork Cottaneva Creek Salmonid Habitat Project

The purpose of the Project was to enhance spawning and rearing habitats for both adult and juvenile Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon, and steelhead trout. Thirty large wood (LW) features were constructed along 0.8 miles of Middle Fork Cottaneva Creek. The features were comprised of 112 pieces of LW, including 63 key pieces and 8 pieces with rootwads attached. The total key piece count increased to 7.3 pieces per 100 meters. Minor deviations from the design plans occurred. All changes were approved by the CDFW Grant Manager. An excavator, direct falling, and manual construction techniques were implemented. Construction of this project started July 18th, 2022 and ended September 25th, 2022, with heavy equipment operating between July 18th, 2022 and July 21st, 2022. Disturbed areas were mulched with straw or local vegetation to eliminate the possibility of sediment transport to the stream. One hundred conifer trees and 100 native plants were planted following construction.

Adding large wood (LW) to this project will increase habitat complexity, provide velocity refugia, increase shelter, increase depth of pool and flatwater habitat units , sort spawning substrate, and capture sediment.