Napa River Sediment Tmdl Baseline Study
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SFEI Watershed Program Pearce et al. NAPA RIVER SEDIMENT TMDL BASELINE STUDY: GEOMORPHIC PROCESSES AND HABITAT FORM AND FUNCTION IN SODA CREEK Sarah Pearce Matthew O’Connor Robin Grossinger Lester McKee A technical report of the Regional Watershed Program San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) Oakland, CA Final Report This report was funded from a grant awarded to SFEI through the Clean Water Act (CWA) section 205(j) Water Quality Planning Program in order assist the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), the Region 2 Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), and the Region 9 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to reduce, eliminate, or prevent water pollution and to enhance water quality. SFEI Contribution 63, October 2002 i SFEI Watershed Program Pearce et al. This report should be cited as: Pearce, S., O’Connor, M., Grossinger, R., and McKee, L., 2002. Napa River TMDL Baseline Study: Geomorphic Processes and Habitat Form and Function in Soda Creek. A Technical Report of the Regional Watershed Program, SFEI Contribution 63. San Francisco Estuary Institute, Oakland, CA. ii SFEI Watershed Program Pearce et al. Table of Contents Executive Summary ..........................................................................................................v Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................ vii Disclosures ..................................................................................................................... viii Objectives ...........................................................................................................................1 Background .......................................................................................................................1 Napa Valley Setting ...........................................................................................................2 Population .......................................................................................................................2 Climate ............................................................................................................................2 Runoff .............................................................................................................................2 Land Use and Native Species ..........................................................................................5 Geology ...........................................................................................................................6 Methods ..............................................................................................................................7 Selection of the creek for study (Soda Creek) .................................................................7 Selection of field locations on Soda Creek......................................................................8 Physiology of Soda Creek Watershed..............................................................................8 Soils of Soda Creek Watershed......................................................................................11 Climate and Land Use of Soda Creek Watershed .........................................................12 Vegetation and native species habitat of Soda Creek Watershed..................................12 Hypotheses ....................................................................................................................13 Field methods ................................................................................................................13 Watershed Science Approach ...................................................................................13 Channel cross-sections .............................................................................................17 Surface sediment size analysis ..................................................................................17 Subsurface sediment size analysis ............................................................................18 Bank characterization ...............................................................................................19 Field measurements of slope .....................................................................................20 Hydraulic analyses ....................................................................................................20 Continuous channel metrics ......................................................................................20 Gravel bars and mobile sediment deposits ............................................................20 Pool type and size .................................................................................................22 Bank conditions and erosion .................................................................................23 Large woody debris (LWD) ...................................................................................23 Historical research methods...........................................................................................24 Training of volunteers and staff from local stakeholder groups....................................25 Results ...............................................................................................................................25 Landscape history ..........................................................................................................25 Changes in Soda Creek’s connection to the main stem of the Napa River................27 Changes at Silverado Trail .......................................................................................32 California Department of Fish and Game stream surveys .......................................32 Interviews with local residents ..................................................................................35 Channel geomorphology ...............................................................................................35 Surface grain size variation by reach .......................................................................35 Subsurface grain size variation ................................................................................38 Stream slope by reach ...............................................................................................39 iii SFEI Watershed Program Pearce et al. Cross-sections ...........................................................................................................41 Large woody debris (LWD) .......................................................................................41 Pools .........................................................................................................................48 Sediment deposits and bars .......................................................................................51 Bank Erosion .............................................................................................................59 Bank characterization ...............................................................................................62 Channel hydraulic geometry .....................................................................................64 Discussion .........................................................................................................................68 Working hypotheses ......................................................................................................69 Study design ..................................................................................................................70 Anadromous fish habitat ...............................................................................................71 Barriers to migration ................................................................................................72 Spawning habitat ......................................................................................................75 Rearing habitat .........................................................................................................79 Flooding and sedimentation ..........................................................................................83 Riparian vegetation .......................................................................................................90 Comparisons between three Napa River tributaries ......................................................91 Recommendations ...........................................................................................................95 References ........................................................................................................................96 iv SFEI Watershed Program Pearce et al. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY During the Fall 2002 and Spring 2003 empirical observational data were collected in Soda Creek pertaining to geomorphic behavior, current channel condition and function, and change over time. Soda Creek, a tributary to the Napa River, is mostly open space, with small areas of vineyard, grazing and rural residential housing. Soda Creek historically and currently supports salmonid spawning and rearing, and also provides habitat for other aquatic species. Data collected included surface and subsurface grain size measurements, channel cross-section geometry, channel slope, bank and riparian vegetation characteristics, bank condition, large woody debris (LWD) in the bankfull channel, debris jams, number, type and volume of bars and sediment deposits,