Garcia River Watershed Enhancement Plan
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scanned for KRIS p p p F I N A L p p p GARCIA RIVER WATERSHED ENHANCEMENT PLAN Mendocino County Resource Conservation District October 1992 The Garcia River Watershed Enhancement Plan October 1992 Prepared for California State Coastal Conservancy by Mendocino County Resource Conservation District Ukiah, California Report Prepared by Jack Monschke Watershed Management Debra Caldon, William M. Kier Associates Mendocino County Resource Conservation District Board Members: Craig Blencowe Bill Johnson Gordon McBride Allan Mohr John Thomas With Support and Assistance from the Garcia River Watershed Advisory Group (WAG) Craig Bell Bill Elmore Bryan Gaynor Bill Hay, Jr. John Hooper Nicholas King Alan Levine Dave Rinaldo Tom Schultz Florence Silva Larry Stornetta Randy Swegle With Professional Assistance from Joseph F. Friedkin, Consulting Hydraulic Engineer Patrick Higgins, Consulting Fisheries Biologist Gary Peterson, Consulting Fisheries Biologist The District and the preparers of this report gratefully acknowledge the information, assistance and advice received in the preparation of this Work Plan from the following: Garcia Community Members Interviewed: Craig Bell Roy Bishop Lando Franchi Dick Fredericks Coleman Gilmore Bill Hay Vern Kendall Martin Laiwa Larry Mailliard Don McKenzie Guido Pronsolino Ase Stornetta Duke Stornetta Don Stuart Ernie Titus Clare and Leslie Wheeler Technical Advisors: Dennis Jackson, Mendocino Water Agency Tom Schott, Soil Conservation Service Rick Macedo, California Department of Fish and Game Bob Klamt, North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board Cecile Bryant, North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board Lyle Steffen, Soil Conservation Service Ed Schmidt, Soil Conservation Service David Howell, Soil Conservation Service David Patterson, Soil Conservation Service Ted Wooster, California Department of Fish and Game Freeman House, Mattole Watershed Alliance David Simpson, Mattole Watershed Alliance George Rau, Engineer Graham Matthews, Hydrologist and everyone else who contributed to this project. Garcia River Watershed Enhancement Plan Table of Contents Table of Contents PART 1: History and Purpose Goals and Purpose .................................................................................................. 1-1 Location and Description ........................................................................................ 1-4 Beneficial Uses of Water in Garcia River .............................................................. 1-6 Recent Social History (1800-1990) ........................................................................ 1-8 Physical History of the Garcia River ..................................................................... 1-13 PART 2: Methodology Measurements of Physical Characteristics .............................................................. 2-1 River Classification ................................................................................................ 2-6 Fishery Data Collection ........................................................................................... 2-8 PART 3: Findings and Enhancement Recommendations Area 1: The Estuary ........................................................................................... 3-5 Recommendations 1.1A — 1.5 ................................................. 3-9 to 3-16 Area 2: The Lower 7 Miles .............................................................................. 3-17 Stream Channel Analysis .................................................................... 3-17 Fisheries Habitat Analysis ................................................................... 3-23 Recommendations 2.1 — 2.5 .................................................. 3-28 to 3-32 Area 3: The Upper Tributaries ......................................................................... 3-33 North Fork Garcia ............................................................................... 3-33 Pardaloe Creek .................................................................................... 3-35 General Findings ................................................................................. 3-37 Fisheries Habitat Analysis ................................................................... 3-42 Recommendations 3.1 — 3.12 ................................................ 3-45 to 3-55 Area 4: General Recommendations ................................................................. 3-57 Recommendations 4.1 — 4.5 .................................................. 3-57 to 3-62 PART 4: Monitoring Needs, Maintenance Requirements and Possible Adverse Impacts Monitoring Needs ................................................................................................... 4-1 Maintenance Requirements ..................................................................................... 4-4 Possible Adverse Effects ........................................................................................ 4-7 Garcia River Watershed Enhancement Plan Table of Contents LIST OF MAPS MAP A: Location of Garcia River Watershed ............................................. Frontispiece MAP B: Garcia River Watershed Showing Study Areas ............................................. 1-5 MAP C: Map of Garcia Land Grant ............................................................................. 1-9 MAP D: Garcia Estuary - 1870 .................................................................................. 1-15 MAP E: Fish Finder Map - 1952 ............................................................................... 1-20 MAP F: Rosgen Classification Map — Lower 7 Mile Reach ...................................... 2-7 MAP G: Garcia Estuary — Changes in Configuration 1870 — Present ............ 3-7 MAP H: Garcia Estuary — Changes in Configuration Minor Hole Detail ........ 3-8 MAP I: Estuary and Lower 7 Mile Reach Topographic Map .................................. 3-22 MAP J: North Fork Garcia Topographic Map .......................................................... 3-34 MAP K: Pardaloe Creek Topographic Map ............................................................... 3-36 WORK SITE MAP 1.1A AND 1.1B: Garcia Estuary – Proposed Realignment ................................................................................................. 3-11 WORK SITE MAP 1.3: Garcia Estuary - Proposed Bank Protection Sites ............................................................................................ 3-14 WORK SITE MAP 1.4: Garcia Estuary - Proposed Fish Habitat Enhancement Structure Sites ........................................................................ 3-16 WORK SITE MAP 2.1 and 2.2: Lower 7 Miles - Proposed Fish Habitat Enhancement and Riparian Planting Sites ................................................... 3-29 WORK SITE MAP 2.3: Lower 7 Miles - Proposed Bank Protection Sites (including Sites of Willow Constriction) ..................................................... 3-31 WORK SITE MAP 3.1: North Fork Garcia - Active Erosion Sites ................................... 3-46 WORK SITE MAP 3.1: Pardaloe - Active Erosion Sites .................................................. 3-47 WORK SITE MAP 3.3, 3.4. 3.5. 3.6: North Fork Garcia - Proposed Sites for Recontouring, Stabilization of Sediment Terraces. Channel Excavation, and Debris Jam Stabilization ..................................... 3-50 WORK SITE MAP 3.3. 3.4. 3.5. 3.6: Pardaloe Creek - Proposed Sites for Recontouring, Stabilization of Sediment Terraces, Channel Excavation, and Debris Jam Stabilization .................................................... 3-51 WORK SITE MAP 3.7, 3.8, 3.9: North Fork Garcia - Proposed Sites for Fish Habitat Enhancement Measures ..................................................... 3-54 WORK SITE MAP 3.7, 3.8, 3.9: Pardaloe Creek - Proposed Sites for Fish Habitat Enhancement Measures ........................................................... 3-55 Garcia River Watershed Enhancement Plan Table of Contents LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Status of Fishery Habitat in Garcia River (1966) .................................................. 1-2 Figure 2: Sample Cross Section Showing Channel Elements ................................................. 2-2 Figure 3: Sample Cross Section of Garcia Estuary ................................................................. 2-3 Figure 4: Profile of Garcia River ............................................................................................. 2-4 Figure 5: Sample Habitat Typing Inventory Form ................................................................ 2-11 Figure 6: Sample Direct Underwater Observation Form ...................................................... 2-12 Figure 7: Diagram and Photo Showing Stream Channel with In-Stream Stored Sediment and Cemented Cobble ............................................... 3-41 Figure 8: Diagram Showing Excavation of a Well-Defined Channel (see Recommendation 3.5) .................................................................................... 3-49 APPENDICES APPENDIX I — Supporting Documents for Stream Channel Data I-1: Geologic Map I-2: Garcia Estuary — 1929 (US Coast and Geodetic Survey) I-3: Garcia Estuary and Lower River — 1937 Aerial Photo I-4: Garcia Estuary — 1952 Aerial Photo I-5: Garcia Estuary — 1991 Drawing by Maureen Roche I-6: Garcia Estuary — 1988 Aerial Photo Showing Sites of Cross Sections and Pebble Counts I-7: Lower 7 Mile Reach Topo Showing Sites of Cross Sections and Pebble Counts APPENDIX II — Supporting Documents for Fisheries