RUSSIAN RIVER STREAM CROSSING INVENTORY AND FISH PASSAGE EVALUATION FINAL REPORT By Ross N. Taylor, Thomas D. Grey, Anabel L. Knoche, and Michael Love March 31, 2003 Ross Taylor and Associates 1254 Quail Run Court McKinleyville, CA 95519 (707)-839-5022 [email protected] ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................................................................3 INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................................................................4 FINAL PRODUCT OF CULVERT INVENTORY.............................................................................................................................. 5 PROJECT JUSTIFICATION.............................................................................................................................................................. 7 Migration Barrier Impacts to Salmonids............................................................................................................................7 County Planning Efforts to Address Migration Barriers.................................................................................................8 METHODS AND MATERIALS .............................................................................................................................................10 LOCATION OF STREAM CROSSINGS ......................................................................................................................................... 10 INITIAL SITE VISITS.................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Stream Crossing Type..........................................................................................................................................................11 Culvert Location...................................................................................................................................................................11 Longitudinal Survey.............................................................................................................................................................11 Channel widths......................................................................................................................................................................14 Fill Estimate:.........................................................................................................................................................................14 Other Site-specific Measurements .....................................................................................................................................16 DATA ENTRY AND PASSAGE ANALYSES................................................................................................................................. 16 FIRST -PHASE PASSAGE EVALUATION FILTER: GREEN-GRAY-RED............................................................................... 16 FishXing Overview...............................................................................................................................................................19 Fish Passage Criteria – First Deviation from CDFG Protocol...................................................................................19 Hydrology and Design Flow...............................................................................................................................................21 Calculation of Peak Flow Capacity...................................................................................................................................21 Fish Passage Flows..............................................................................................................................................................22 Habitat Quantity...................................................................................................................................................................26 Habitat Quality – Second Deviation from CDFG Protocol..........................................................................................27 Additional Crossings and other Human-related Impediments to Migration..............................................................27 INITIAL RANKING OF STREAM CROSSINGS FOR TREATMENT .............................................................................................. 28 Ranking Criteria...................................................................................................................................................................28 Additional Considerations for Final Ranking..................................................................................................................31 RESULTS ......................................................................................................................................................................................33 INITIAL SITE VISITS.................................................................................................................................................................... 33 Sonoma County.....................................................................................................................................................................33 Mendocino County................................................................................................................................................................43 PASSAGE ANALYSES.................................................................................................................................................................. 48 Sonoma County.....................................................................................................................................................................48 Mendocino County................................................................................................................................................................53 RANKING MATRIX...................................................................................................................................................................... 57 Sonoma County.....................................................................................................................................................................57 Mendocino County................................................................................................................................................................57 Both Counties – Sites with a Minimum Score of 20.0 Points........................................................................................57 SITE-SPECIFIC TREATMENTS AND SCHEDULING................................................................................................................... 71 High and Moderate Priority Sites......................................................................................................................................71 Design Options and Recommended Criteria....................................................................................................................72 CDFG Allowable Design Options......................................................................................................................................72 NMFS Order of Preferred Alternatives.............................................................................................................................75 Low-Priority Sites.................................................................................................................................................................76 LITERATURE CITED ..............................................................................................................................................................77 PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS ......................................................................................................................................79 Ross Taylor and Associates 1254 Quail Run Court McKinleyville, CA 95519 (707)-839-5022 [email protected] ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project was funded by funds administered by the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) Standard Agreement P0030473. I would like to acknowledge the following persons and their assistance in the Russian River stream crossing inventory and fish passage evaluation: Bob Coey/CDFG – contract manager, his staff also provided GIS assistance and habitat data. Derek Acomb/CDFG – habitat typing data and final reports. Thomas Grey – field surveys, data entry, data analyses, and report preparation. Anabel L. Knoche – field surveys and report preparation. Michael Love and Associates – FishXing development team and oversight with passage evaluations. Kallie Kull/Chairperson of FishNet 4C - logistical support and coordination with Sonoma and Mendocino County Department of Transportation (DOT) personnel. Russian River Stream Crossing Inventory and Fish Passage Evaluation 3 FINAL REPORT – March 31, 2003 INTRODUCTION The inventory and fish passage evaluation of stream crossings within the Russian River watershed was conducted between May, 2001 and March, 2003 under contract with CDFG. The primary objective was to assess passage of juvenile and adult salmonids and develop