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ID: 2610

Five Counties Salmonid Conservation Program (5Cs). 2023. Valdor, Oregon Street, & Deadwood Roads sediment reduction projects and Sidney Gulch Compound rehabilitation design project. Report for the Trinity River Restoration Program (TRRP) (Contract number R16AP00211). 5Cs, Weaverville, California. Available: https://www.trrp.net/library/document?id=2610.

This grant implemented three sediment reduction projects and completed 65% designs for a migration barrier project. The sediment reduction projects implemented in combination with other funding sources reduced ~4,000 yd3 of potential sediment delivery to Deadwood Creek, Wheel Gulch, Valdor Gulch, Oregon Gulch and West Weaver Creek, all tributary watersheds to the mainstem Trinity River. Sediment savings was the result of upgrading drainage features (culverts, armored fords, critical dips) and removal of fills from stream channels and/or floodplains.
Treatments that reduce future erosion from concentrated flows over roads implements the total maximum daily load (TMDL) for fine sediment reduction to the Trinity River watershed. It also contributes to the TMDL objectives towards improved conditions for anadromous fisheries and revegetation efforts that enhance riparian areas. The project reduction of fine sediment delivery to the mainstem Trinity River and establishment of riparian habitat (to meet fish and wildlife restoration) implements the CVPIA requirement for "replacement of ecologically equivalent habitat".
The Sidney Gulch design work at the Forest Service compound addressed the limiting factors to salmonids: Spawning Requirements, Rearing Requirements, and Fish Passage.
The design for Sidney Gulch was advanced to 65% design plans. The USFS' independent process to address and remove contamination evolved over the course of this agreement. The USFS submitted a Corrective Action Plan to the State Water Board but then considered scaling back the level of soil removal and CAP footprint. These changes would have impacted the footprint of the instream and riparian restoration plans developed under this agreement. Environmental analysis was not progressed pending determination of the scope of the remediation work. At the completion of the work period, the USFS selected implementation of the CAP as filed with the State Water Board. The process of design development resumed after that point. Once 65% designs were drafted, they could not be further developed due to lack of feedback from the USFS on those designs.
The 5C staff completed design, grade staking, landowner coordination, construction inspection, spoils management, environmental assessment, permitting, and erosion control for all sediment reduction work and assisted with surveying, designs and some environmental review for the Sidney Gulch site.
Post project monitoring began in January 2018 with photo point and storm monitoring at Valdor/Wheel Gulch sites and expanded as each project was completed. Monitoring continues to date. The sediment reduction portion of the overall project had additional funding from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Trinity County Department of Transportation, Bureau of Land Management, and Brown Bear Mine, Inc.

First Posted: 2023-05-31 20:35:41

Post Updated: 2023-05-31 20:35:39