Salmonid Habitat Modeling for Restoration Prioritization of Pudding Creek and the Noyo River: Using LiDAR to Describe Watershed-Scale Channel Conditions

The purpose of the Project is to evaluate the accuracy of LiDAR data and develop recommended best practices for performing LiDAR-derived hydraulic and geomorphic analyses in support of salmonid habitat evaluation and prioritization. The recommended approach will be applied watershed-wide, leading to identification of all significant off-channel habitat features and a reach-scale restoration prioritization linking reaches with recommended actions to optimize ongoing efforts towards species recovery.

This project has two related goals.

1. assess the accuracy of the California FEMA R9 LiDAR-derived digital elevation model (DEM) within the riparian zone and develop guidelines and approaches for using LiDAR and LiDAR-derived hydraulic and geomorphic analyses to evaluate salmonid habitat conditions and prioritize specific reaches within large watersheds for salmonid habitat enhancement work

2. apply the guidelines and selected approaches developed in conjunction with existing physical habitat and biological monitoring data to characterize habitat suitability and develop a reach-scale restoration prioritization for the Pudding Creek and Noyo River watersheds.

Methods used for this assessment are expected to be applicable to other watersheds and restoration projects with similar LiDAR datasets and terrain.