DOCSLIB.ORG

Conflicting Values Complicate Stream Protection

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Conflicting Values Complicate Stream Protection The case of Putah Creek. As Putah Creek dried out during a recent drought, the people of Davis bought water to save the surviving fish. Conflicting values complicate stream protection Michael P. Marchetti P Peter B. Moyle Increasing human demands for underscore the need for commu- An average of 60% of California’s water in California have led to a nities and irrigation districts to total available water (34 million acre- decline in the diversity and abun- develop long-term water policies feet delivered yearly) comes from sur- dance of native aquatic organ- that recognize environmental face flow and 40% is taken from isms, including valuable salmon needs in the context of groundwater. In 1985 California allo- and steelhead. Declines worsen California’s frequent droughts. cated 80% of this developed water during drought years, a fact dem- Such problem-solving will depend supply to agriculture, 16% to urban ar- onstrated in 1989 when lower on balancing the conflicting value eas and only 2% to wildlife and recre- Putah Creek dried out in the third systems of different groups of wa- ation, according to the California De- year of the state’s most recent ter users. partment of Water Resources. drought That year, the Putah Because water is a limiting resource in California, it is subject to intense Creek Council (a local environ- ater is California’s most limiting competition among users and all too mental group), UC Davis and the resource: Much of the state is often seems to be in short supply. As City of Davis joined forces to pur- semi-arid and 20% of the land receives early as the 1890s, San Joaquin Valley chase more water from the Solano less than 5 inches of rain per year. farmers wrangled over water, often lrrigation District, thereby saving Paradoxically, the state uses nearly a guarding their ditches from each other the fish that had survived in a few quarter of the water delivered to con- with shotguns. Today, the natural en- isolated pools. Since then, these sumers annually in the United States. vironment receives much less water parties and numerous others have Water is essential to the cities, farms than it did before the agricultural in- filed lawsuits to establish rights to and industries that make California dustry developed. the waters of Putah Creek. While prosperous; to the lakes and streams This fact has contributed to the dra- legal questions about these water that make the natural environment so matic decline of California’s native rights remain to be settled, the attractive to humans; and to the rich fish. Of the 113 native fish taxa - spe- events surrounding Putah Creek variety of endemic aquatic species. cies, subspecies and distinct runs of CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE, NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1995 73 74 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE, VOLUME 49, NUMBER 6 anadromous fish - more than 70% are either extinct, listed as endangered or in serious decline (fig. 1).(Some of this decline is also due to introductions of exotic game and nongame fish.) The declining fish include all of the state’s anadromous species (those which mi- grate from the sea to breed in fresh water) such as Chinook salmon, coho salmon and steelhead trout, which are important to fisheries (see sidebar, p. 74). Increasing numbers of Califor- nia’s fishes are being listed or proposed for listing as endangered, intensifying water conflicts and often pitting fisher- men and environmentalists against farmers and urban water developers. These disputes reflect how values shift in society, as communities re- evaluate the priorities they’ve as- Above, as lower Putah Creek dried out, signed to water use. In some cases, so- cultivated or urbanized, the creek it- fish died in large numbers. ciety has favored allocating a greater self has a thin border of cottonwoods, Below, a bullhead struggles to survive in a share of California’s water to environ- sycamores, willows and other riparian diminishing pool of water. mental needs (see sidebar, p. 77). A plants. case in point which has yet to be re- The creek and its riparian vegeta- solved is the dispute over the waters tion are a refuge for wildlife that is of lower Putah Creek, which flows otherwise rare or declining in the re- through the UC Davis campus. gion including the giant garter snake, the valley elderberry longhorn beetle, Putah Creek, a refuge the northwestern pond turtle and Putah Creek originates high in the Swainson’s hawk. During the spring Coast Range near Mt. Cobb in Lake and fall, the bushes along the creek are County and winds its way east into rich with migrating warblers and spar- Berryessa Reservoir. Lower Putah rows. Wood ducks raise their broods Creek (below Berryessa Reservoir) in the large, shaded pools of the creek. flows through approximately 30 miles Putah Creek also contains a large of rich agricultural land in Yolo and number of fish species. While the ma- Solano counties before terminating in jority of these are introduced game Solano County. The project was also the Yolo By-pass, a large flood-control fish, the creek still supports remnants designed to provide a measure of channel that drains into the Sacra- of the once-abundant Central Valley flood control. mento River. While nearly every scrap native fish. Both these stream fish and The Solano Project consists of two of land around lower Putah Creek is the anadromous fish that historically major parts: the main water-storage spawned in the creek were a source of structures are Berryessa Reservoir and food for the Patwin Indians who lived Monticello Dam, and the diversion in the region prior to 1850 where the structures that send water south to UC Davis campus now stands. Fairfield and Vacaville (Solano Diver- Putah Creek changed dramatically sion Dam and the Putah South Canal). in 1948 when the Secretary of the Inte- Today water is collected behind rior authorized plans for the Solano Monticello Dam during the rainy sea- Project. The impetus for the Solano son and is released down a 10-mile Project was that Solano County felt its stretch of stream as needed to the prosperity rested on an adequate and Solano Diversion Dam. Water from the dependable source of water. The diversion dam is both transferred project’s goal was to provide water to southward through the Putah South the newly created Solano Irrigation Canal and released downstream into District (SID), which supplies the rich lower Putah Creek according to a Fig. 1. Status of native fishes of Callfor- agricultural lands, as well as the mili- monthly schedule. The downstream nia. Total number of native species = 113. tary, industrial and urban area of release schedule is exactly the same CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE, NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1995 75 every year, except in years of low rain- Conflict continues of winter rain is irregular. However, in fall (and low inflow into Berryessa The wrangling over lower Putah a given year the basic seasonal pattern Reservoir) when releases are reduced. Creek’s water continues to this day of flow is fairly predictable: high flows During most years, the amount of wa- and epitomizes the people-versus- occur in the late winter and early ter allocated for the lower creek is only fish water-use conflicts throughout spring, and low flows occur in late about 10% of the water diverted down California. summer and fall. The fish native to the Putah South Canal-although dur- Water disputes like that over Putah Central California evolved under these ing periods of high rainfall-spills Creek and the seemingly intractable demanding hydrologic conditions and over the diversion dam can increase disagreements they pose are often the therefore are uniquely adapted to the downstream flows. result of fundamentally different thrive there. These fish have fairly nar- In addition to having reduced flows worldviews. Historically, many Cali- row spawning windows that are timed as the result of the diversion, the fornians have seen water largely as a to the high flows created by rainfall or amount of water in lower Putah Creek resource to support mining, agricul- snowmelt. They also have fairly long has been reduced by groundwater ture, urban development and other ac- lives so they can survive through dry pumping in the region. The combina- tivities. This view is reflected in the years and spawn again during wet tion disrupted the creek‘s natural hy- names of California’s principal water years. drologic cycle. Historically, during the agencies: the Department of Water Re- When the flow regime is altered, es- hottest summer months the lowest sources and the Water Resources Con- pecially when the spring flows needed reaches of the creek often lost surface trol Board. for spawning are eliminated, the na- flow and isolated pools formed. How- In this view, water is seen as a com- tive fish tend to disappear and be re- ever, groundwater provided these pools modity to be bought and sold, and the placed by fish such as carp and green with substantial cool-water recharge, emphasis is economic. For example, sunfish that were introduced by hu- thereby maintaining the integrity of the agriculture values water mainly for its mans for food or other reasons. entire native stream community. role in producing crops to meet mar- Besides being essential for aquatic Unfortunately, the current hydro- ket demands and industry values wa- organisms, water is necessary for ri- logical regime allows portions of the ter mainly for manufacturing and pro- parian ecosystems. Water helps break creek to dry completely during ducing goods. The view of water as a down dead organic material, mediates drought years that formerly supported commodity is implicit in terms such as the process of nutrient exchange in pools and short stretches of surface “water rights” and “water uses.“ soils and is required for plant and ani- flow.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Enhancing Environmental Flows of Putah Creek for Chinook Salmon Reproductive Requirements
    Enhancing environmental flows of Putah Creek for Chinook salmon reproductive requirements Written by: Chan, Brian; Jasper, Chris Reynolds; Stott, Haley Kathryn UC Davis, California ESM 122, Water Science and Management, Section: A02 Abstract: Putah creek, like many of California’s rivers and streams, is highly altered by anthropogenic actions and historically supported large populations of resident and anadromous native fish species. Now its ecosystem dynamics have changed drastically with the Monticello dam, the Solano diversion canal and the leveeing of its banks. Over time the creek has found a balance of habitats for native and non-native fish species that is mainly dictated by species-preferred temperature tolerances (Keirman et. al. 2012). Cooler temperatures and faster flows upstream from Davis prove to be ideal habitats for native species, in particular, the federally endangered Chinook salmon, which is the most widely distributed and most numerous run occurring in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and their tributaries. As water moves downstream, it becomes shallower and warmer, resulting in ideal conditions for non-native species (Winters, 2005). This report analyzes the environmental flows released into putah creek and how much salmon preferred breeding habitat is available from this flow regime based on temperature. Introduction: Figure 1: Teale GIS Solutions Group (1999), US Census Bureau (2002), USGS (1993) [within Winters, 2005] The Putah Creek watershed is an important aspect in the natural, social, and economic livelihoods of the people of Yolo and Solano counties. The Putah Creek watershed begins at the highest point in Lake County, Cobb Mountain, and flows down to the Central Valley where it empties into the Yolo Bypass at near sea level.
    [Show full text]
  • Geologic Features and Ground-Water Storage Capacity of the Sacramento Valley California
    Geologic Features and Ground-Water Storage Capacity of the Sacramento Valley California By F. H. OLMSTED and G. H. DAVIS GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1497 Prepared in cooperation with the California Department of ff^ater Resources UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1961 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FRED A. SEATON, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Thomas B. Nolan, Director Tlie TT.S. Geological Survey Library catalog card for this publication appears after page 241. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D.C. CONTENTS Page Abstract___________________________________________________ -_ 1 Introduction.-.--- .___-___________-___._--.______-----_ 5 Purpose and scope of the investigation.__________________ ______ 5 Location of area__-__-________-____________-_-___-_-__--____-_- 6 Development of ground water___________________-___-__ ___ __ 7 Acknowledgments....-------- ____________ _________________ 8 Well-numbering system..________________________________ _ 9 Geology--__--_--_--__----_--_-----____----_ --_ ___-__-- 10 Geomorphology_____________________________________________ 10 General features _______________________________________ 10 Mountainous region east of the Sacramento Valley...__________ 11 Sierra Nevada_______________________________________ 11 Cascade Range.._____________________-__--_-__-_---- 13 Plains and foothill region on the east side of the Sacramento Valley..__-_________-_.-____.___________ 14 Dissected alluvial uplands west of the Sierra
    [Show full text]
  • Sacramento River Flood Control System
    A p pp pr ro x im a te ly 5 0 M il Sacramento River le es Shasta Dam and Lake ek s rre N Operating Agency: USBR C o rt rr reek th Dam Elevation: 1,077.5 ft llde Cre 70 I E eer GrossMoulton Pool Area: 29,500 Weir ac AB D Gross Pool Capacity: 4,552,000 ac-ft Flood Control System Medford !( OREGON IDAHOIDAHO l l a a n n a a C C !( Redding kk ee PLUMAS CO a e a s rr s u C u s l l Reno s o !( ome o 99 h C AB Th C NEVADA - - ^_ a a Sacramento m TEHAMA CO aa hh ee !( TT San Francisco !( Fresno Las Vegas !( kk ee e e !( rr Bakersfield 5 CC %&'( PACIFIC oo 5 ! Los Angeles cc !( S ii OCEAN a hh c CC r a S to m San Diego on gg !( ny ii en C BB re kk ee ee k t ee Black Butte o rr C Reservoir R i dd 70 v uu Paradise AB Oroville Dam - Lake Oroville Hamilton e M Operating Agency: CA Dept of Water Resources r Dam Elevation: 922 ft City Chico Gross Pool Area: 15,800 ac Gross Pool Capacity: 3,538,000 ac-ft M & T Overflow Area Black Butte Dam and Lake Operating Agency: USACE Dam Elevation: 515 ft Tisdale Weir Gross Pool Area: 4,378 ac 3 B's GrossMoulton Pool Capacity: 136,193Weir ac-ft Overflow Area BUTTE CO New Bullards Bar Dam and Lake Operating Agency: Yuba County Water Agency Dam Elevation: 1965 ft Gross Pool Area: 4,790 ac Goose Lake Gross Pool Capacity: 966,000 ac-ft Overflow Area Lake AB149 kk ee rree Oroville Tisdale Weir C GLENN CO ee tttt uu BB 5 ! Oroville New Bullards Bar Reservoir AB49 ll Moulton Weir aa nn Constructed: 1932 Butte aa CC Length: 500 feet Thermalito Design capacity of weir: 40,000 cfs Design capacity of river d/s of weir: 110,000 cfs Afterbay Moulton Weir e ke rro he 5 C ! Basin e kk Cre 5 ! tt 5 ! u Butte Basin and Butte Sink oncu H Flow from the 3 overflow areas upstream Colusa Weir of the project levees, from Moulton Weir, Constructed: 1933 and from Colusa Weir flows into the Length: 1,650 feet Butte Basin and Sink.
    [Show full text]
  • Putah Creek Path Envisioning Opportunities for a Community
    Putah Creek Path Envisioning Opportunities for a Community Senior Project by Sophie Sears UC Davis Landscape Architecture June 2010 Putah Creek Path Envisioning Opportunities for a Community Accepted and Approved by A Senior Project Presented to the Faculty of the Landscape Architecture Program University of California, Davis in Fulfillment of the Requirement Mark Francis, Senior Project Faculty Advisor for the Degree of Bachelors of Science in Landscape Architecture Heath Schenker, Faculty Committee Member Eric Larsen, Faculty Committee Member Rich Marovich, Committee Member Cheryl Sullivan, Committee Member Abstract This project focuses on a section of Putah Creek between In- terstate 505 and the Yolo Housing Authority. It examines the possibility of creating a path near the creek along this stretch of the waterway. Current plans for a Winters Putah Creek Nature Park are in the process of being implemented to the west of the trail site. This trail represents an extension of the current Nature Park project which is located between Railroad Avenue and Interstate 505. However, there is a major concern over the safety of pedestrian travel from Yolo Housing to Winters. This project aims to evaluate safe and enjoyable solutions to address this problem while instilling environmental stewardship and providing educational opportunities. Restoration of chan- nel morphology and native vegetation are included in the plan. The restoration of the channel form will additionally mitigate an erosion site that is threatening Putah Creek Road. In addi- tion to the linear path, the project aims to redevelop an area at the west end of the site that is located on the Yolo Hous- ing Property.
    [Show full text]
  • Audit Report
    U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General AUDIT REPORT CONCESSIONS MANAGED BY THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION REPORT NO. 00-I-376 MAY 2000 U.S. Department of the Interior Office of the Inspector General EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Concessions Managed by the Bureau of Reclamation Report No. 00-I-376 May 2000 BACKGROUND The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) is responsible for overseeing or managing 310 recreation areas established on BOR project lands that are visited each year by about 90 million people for camping, swimming, boating, picnicking, and other recreational activities. The Congress has enacted legislation that requires BOR to "ensure the protection, comfort, and well-being of the public (including the protection of public safety) with respect to the use of Reclamation lands" and "ensure the protection of resource values." Historically, BOR sought Federal partners such as the National Park Service and non-Federal partners such as state and local governments to develop, operate, and maintain recreational sites and facilities for the visiting public. In 1998, approximately 218 concessions provided commercial services and facilities for the public on BOR project lands, consisting of 110 concessions operated by Federal partners, 87 concessions operated by non-Federal partners, and 21 concessions managed directly by BOR. Prior to 1995, BOR-managed concessions were not covered by BOR-wide policies, standards, and directives. However, in 1995, BOR issued interim guidance for concessions management and, in 1998, formally issued policies and standards and directives to guide BOR officials in planning, developing, and managing concessions operations. OBJECTIVE The objective of our audit was to determine whether BOR had adequate policies and procedures for managing its concessions operations and protecting the public with respect to its use of public lands.
    [Show full text]
  • Plenary Session
    Wednesday ursday Friday Saturday 8am Registration and Hospitality Design & Layout by Trees FoundationDesign &Layout by Trees 9am Workshops & Tours 9am - 5pm Workshops & Tours 9am - 5pm Morning Concurrent Sessions Workshops Workshops Reintroduction of Salmon to Plenary Session Historical Habitats: Part 1 West Coast Floodplain Workshop Fish Passage VMC Theater Brunelle Performance Multi-purpose Room from Tidewater to Sierra Courtyard Entrance Multi-purpose Room Arts Theater Visioning Salmon Recovery Multi-purpose Room Evaluating Salmon Habitat State of Beaver Restoration and Watershed Condition in California Hatchery Supplementation Multi-purpose Room Club Room Club Room Lunch 12:15 - 1:15pm Field Tours Field Tours Afternoon Concurrent Sessions Afternoon Concurrent Sessions Stanislaus River Restoration Sites Multi-Use Floodplain Projects in the Lower Sacramento Valley Central Valley Recovery Reintroduction of Salmon to Planning and Restoration Historical Habitats: Part 2 Yolo Bypass and Putah Creek Brunnelle Theater Multi-purpose Room Restoration Projects American River Gravel Augmentation and Floodplain Swirling in Sediment Reviving the San Joaquin River Restoration Tour Multi-puropse Room Club Room Watershed Day at the Capitol Meet in Game Room Using Photogrammetric Protecting, Connecting, and Field Tour participants: and Aerial Vehicle Technology Re-imaging Floodplain Habitat Club Room please pack a lunch and meet VMC Theater outside the front entrance Estimating Juvenile Salmonid Survival VMC Theater 5:30pm Annual Meeting Multi-Purpose
    [Show full text]
  • Hydrology and Water Quality 3.8
    HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY 3.8 This section describes the regulatory setting, regional hydrology and water quality impacts that are likely to result from project implementation, and measures to reduce potential impacts related to stormwater drainage, flooding and water quality. This section is based in part on the following documents, reports and studies: City of Davis General Plan (City of Davis, 2001; as amended through 2007); City of Davis Final 2015 Urban Water Management Plan (Brown Caldwell, 2016); and Rick Engineering Company. Preliminary Drainage Study for Sterling 5th Street Apartments. December 11, 2015. Comments were received during the public review period or scoping meeting for the Notice of Preparation regarding this topic from the following: Rita Kaich (April 18, 2016). Each of the comments related to this topic are addressed within this section. 3.8.1 EXISTING SETTING REGIONAL HYDROLOGY The project site is located in the City of Davis, within Yolo County at the southwestern end of the Sacramento Valley, approximately 30 miles north of the confluence of the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers. The Sacramento Valley is bordered by the Coast Ranges and Delta on the west and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada to the east. Water resources in this region include rivers, streams, sloughs, marshes, wetlands, channels, harbors, and underground aquifers. The topography is generally flat, and is drained by the Sacramento River and the Yolo Bypass, which is part of the Sacramento River Flood Control Project. Climate Summers in the city are warm and dry, and winters are cool and mild. The region is subject to wide variations in annual precipitation, and also experiences periodic dry periods and wild fires in the regional watershed and surrounding areas with chaparral and oak lands.
    [Show full text]
  • Exploring Home: a Recreational Day Use and Interpretive Trail at Putah Creek Exploring Home: a Recreational Day Use and Interpretive Trail for Putah Creek
    Exploring Home: A Recreational Day Use and Interpretive Trail at Putah Creek Exploring Home: A Recreational Day Use and Interpretive Trail for Putah Creek Sage Millar Senior Project June 2008 University of California, Davis Department of Environmental Sciences Landscape Architecture Program A Senior Project Presented to the Faculty of the Landscape Architecture program University of California,Davis in fulfillment of the Requirement Exploring Home: for the Degree of A Recreational Day Use and Interpretive Bachelors of Science of Landscape Architecture Trail for Putah Creek Rob Thayer, Senior Project Advisor Presented by: Patsy Owens, Senior Project Advisor Sage Millar at University of California, Davis Steve McNeil, Committee Member on the Thirteenth day of June, 2008 This senior project consists of background research and site analysis as well as a final site plan for a recreational day use area and interpretive trail on Putah Creek. This document contains the background research, site analysis, and program develop- Abstract ment I completed before designing the final site plan. The site is 10 miles west of Winters on Hwy 128 at the base of Monticello Dam where Cold Creek enters Putah Creek. The site is in the Pu- tah Creek Wildlife area and is approximately 25 acres. Because of it’s location near the trailhead into Stebbins Reserve, and Putah and Cold Creeks, the site provides and excellent opportunity to create an educational and interpretive experience for visitors to the area. Hiking trails, informational kiosks and signage will highlight the history and various natural processes that are occur- ring on and around the site. A small interpretive center or outdoor teaching area will enhance the experience of visitors, and also provide an outdoor classroom for gatherings such as field trips.
    [Show full text]
  • Putah Creek Corridor Connecting the Pieces
    Putah Creek Corridor Connecting the Pieces Putah Creek Corridor Connecting the Pieces Accepted and Approved by A Senior Project Presented to the Faculty of the Landscape Architecture Program University of California, Davis Steve Greco, Faculty Committee Member in Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Bachelors of Science in Landscape Architecture Tara Hanlon, Committee Member Rich Marovich, Committee Member Presented by: Claire Napawan, Senior Project Faculty Advisor Kathryn Salfen at University of California, Davis on the Tenth Day of June, 2011 Acknowledgements I would like to thank my senior project committee members for their tremendous help. They all provided me with their knowledge, time and encouragement. THANK YOU! Claire Napawan Steve Greco Rich Marovich Tara Hanlon In addition to my senior project committee members, I would like to thank my parents for all their help not only during this project but for helping through everything! i Abstract This project focuses on Putah Creek as it runs from Lake Berryessa to the Yolo Wildlife Area. It examines the corridor as both a wildlife corridor and as a local trail corridor. With many existing patches of wildlife reserves located along Putah creek, the restoration of riparian forest along the channel will provide full connectivity and functionality to the corridor. On the social scale Putah Creek runs between Winters and Davis. Connecting the existing trails of the UC Davis Riparian Reserve and Winters Putah Creek Nature Park will establish a local trail corridor. This project also examines the need of the design of the trails at Win- ter’s Putah Creek Nature Park to Preserve linear corridors and creating multi-use trails that can allow wildlife movement across the landscape.
    [Show full text]
  • Geologic Maps of the Sacramento - San Joaquin Delta, California
    DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR TO ACCOMPANY MAP MF-1401 UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEOLOGIC MAPS OF THE SACRAMENTO - SAN JOAQUIN DELTA, CALIFORNIA By Brian F. Atwater INTRODUCTION The Sac ramen to - San Joaquin Delta, the arm of Helley, and W. R. Lettis improved the manuscript with the San Francisco Bay estuary that reaches into the critical reviews, and Faith Dunham, J. R. Le Compte, Central 'valley of California, differs from typical J. B. Pinkerton, N. J. Tamamian, J. A. Thomas, and coastal-plain deltas in three important respects. Natalie Weiskal helped prepare the maps and text for First, rather than meeting the ocean individually and publication. directly, all major waterways of this delta discharge via a single constricted outlet into a chain of estuarine bays and straits. Second, in the most SKETCH OF DEPOSITIONAL HISTORY common vertical sequence of deposits, peat and mud deposited in tidal marshes and swamps (tidal wetlands) The Sacramento - San Joaquin Delta overlies 5-10 directly overlie alluvium or eolian sand, a sequence km of sedimentary deposits. Most of this material, recording a landward spread of tidal environment~ including sources and reservoirs of the Delta's rather than the seaward migration of fluvial natural gas, accumulated in marine environments about environments that is typical of coastal-plain deltas 175 million to 25 million years ago (Burroughs, (Cosby, 1941, p. 43; Thompson, 1957, p. 12; Shlemon 1967). Younger deposits are generally described as and Begg, 1975, p. 259; Atwater and Belknap, 1980). nonmarine (Burroughs, 1967), but some must have formed Finally, intensive human use has led to a peculiar set in shallow seas and estuaries (see maps by C.
    [Show full text]
  • Sediment Transport in the Western Tributaries of the Sacramento River, California
    Sediment Transport in the Western Tributaries of the Sacramento River, California GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1798-J Prepared in cooperation with the California Department of Water Resources Sediment Transport in the Western Tributaries of the Sacramento River, California By B. L. JONES, N. L. HAWLEY, and J. R. CRIPPEN SEDIMENTATION IN SMALL DRAINAGE BASINS GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1798-J Prepared in cooperation with the California Department of Water Resources UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1972 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ROGERS C. B. MORTON, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY V. E. McKelvey, Director Library of Congress catalog-card No. 72-600254 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 Price 25 cents (paper cover) Stock Number 2401-2163 CONTENTS Page Abstract_________________________________________________________ Jl Introduction._____________________________________________________ 1 Description of the area__--__--_________-___-_-_______---___--___-__ 2 Climate._____________________________________________________ 5 Vegetation and soils__________________________________________ 6 Stream development__.________________________________________ 7 Streamflow.__________________________________________________ 7 Description of individual streams___________________-__-______-__ 8 Clear Creek_______________________________ 8 Cottonwood Creek_______________________________________ 8 Red Bank Creek____________________________ 9 Elder
    [Show full text]
  • Watershed Identification
    Section 2: Watershed Identification As introduced in Section 1, development of the by the USGS subbasin boundaries (using Hydrologic SWRP boundary started with the Westside IRWM Unit Code Level 8) are Cache Creek (which captures Planning Region, and based on stakeholder interest, the Cache Creek watershed), Putah Creek (which was focused to the drainages within Yolo County. captures the Putah Creek watershed), and the Although there is no formalized analysis of Sacramento River (which captures the Sacramento- countywide water inventories for land use planning, Stone Corral and Lower Sacramento watersheds). The Water Resources Association of Yolo County (Yolo Yolo Bypass is used to manage the much larger WRA) is the primary forum for collaboration among Sacramento River watershed flood flows. water managers in Yolo County. The Yolo WRA, a While the actual Cache and Putah Creek watersheds member of the Westside RWMG, provides a regional account for only a small percentage of the lower land forum to coordinate and facilitate solutions to water area of the SWRP Area, water from Cache Creek and challenges and opportunities in Yolo County, Putah Creek comprise a majority of the water including storm water management. The Yolo WRA entering Yolo County. Direct discharges to the currently has 10 member agencies, which include Sacramento River from Cache and Putah Creeks are agricultural water suppliers, urban water suppliers, limited to larger, more significant flood events, which groundwater managers, and flood protection historically had to overtop the broad natural levees providers (RWMG, 2013). Through focused meetings, adjacent to the river. Currently, water from Cache and these agencies can effectively interact and make key Putah Creek continue to pond during flood events, decisions to facilitate storm water management but the water is also managed through a series of efforts within the Yolo County watersheds.
    [Show full text]