California Department of Fish and Game – July 2002 Review Draft California Department of Fish and Game 2002 DRAFT RUSSIAN RIVER BASIN FISHERIES RESTORATION PLAN Russian River Basin Fisheries Restoration Plan – July 2002 Table of Contents Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………..2 1. Introduction..........................................................................................................................3 2. Restoration Plan Goals.........................................................................................................3 3. Watershed Background........................................................................................................3 4. Description of Watershed ....................................................................................................4 a. Geography................................................................................................................4 b. Geology....................................................................................................................6 c. Vegetation ................................................................................................................7 d. Climate and Hydrology............................................................................................7 5. Resource Use .....................................................................................................................10 a. Historical Resources Use .......................................................................................10 b. Current Resources Use...........................................................................................13 6. Fisheries Resources............................................................................................................16 a. Salmon and Steelhead Populations ........................................................................21 i. Chinook Salmon .................................................................................................21 ii. Coho Salmon .....................................................................................................27 iii. Pink Salmon......................................................................................................32 iv. Steelhead...........................................................................................................34 7. Fish Habitat Requirements.................................................................................................39 a. Adult Migration .....................................................................................................39 b. Spawning................................................................................................................44 c. Embryo Development ............................................................................................45 d. Juvenile Rearing.....................................................................................................45 e. Emigration..............................................................................................................51 8. Description of the Sub-basins ............................................................................................53 a. Estuary ...................................................................................................................56 b. Mainstem................................................................................................................57 c. Guerneville.............................................................................................................57 d. Austin Creek ..........................................................................................................59 e. Laguna De Santa Rosa ...........................................................................................62 f. Santa Rosa..............................................................................................................66 g. Mark West..............................................................................................................68 h. Warm Springs ........................................................................................................68 i. Geyserville .............................................................................................................70 j. Sulphur Creek ........................................................................................................72 k. Ukiah ....................................................................................................................74 l. Forsythe Creek .......................................................................................................76 m. Coyote Valley.........................................................................................................78 9. Recommended Actions to Benefit Salmon and Steelhead.................................................80 a. Prioritization Strategy ............................................................................................81 b. Methods..................................................................................................................83 c. Criteria ...................................................................................................................86 d. Limitations of the assessment ................................................................................89 e. Implementation of restoration projects and plans ..................................................90 10. General Limiting Factors and Restorative Actions............................................................94 a. Limiting Factor: Migration.....................................................................................94 b. Limiting Factor: Gravel Quality...........................................................................101 c. Limiting Factor: Gravel Quantity.........................................................................104 d. Limiting Factor: Riparian Stability......................................................................105 e. Limiting Factor: Water Temperature ...................................................................111 f. Limiting Factor: Water Quality ...........................................................................112 g. Limiting Factor: Water Quantity..........................................................................117 h. Limiting Factor: Habitat Availability...................................................................118 11. Specific Limiting Factors and Restorative Actions to Mainstem Russian River.............121 a. Barriers to Upstream Migration ...........................................................................121 b. Summer Dams – Migration..................................................................................121 c. Stream Crossings and Culverts ............................................................................125 d. Gravel Quantity....................................................................................................126 e. Riparian Stability .................................................................................................127 f. Temperature .........................................................................................................128 g. Limiting Factor: Water Quality............................................................................130 h. Limiting Factor: Water Quantity.........................................................................132 12. Specific Limiting Factors and Restorative Actions to Estuary ........................................137 a. Predation by Pinnipeds.........................................................................................139 13. Specific Limiting Factors and Restorative Actions to Estuary 11 Hydrologic Sub-Basins…...………………………………………...140 a. Guerneville...........................................................................................................140 b. Austin Creek ........................................................................................................150 c. Laguna ..................................................................................................................158 d. Mark West Santa Rosa.........................................................................................168 e. Warm Springs (Dry Creek) ..................................................................................175 f. Geyserville ...........................................................................................................183 g. Sulphur Creek ......................................................................................................192 h. Ukiah ..................................................................................................................200 i. Forsythe Creek.....................................................................................................208 j. Coyote Valley.......................................................................................................215 14. Other Recommended Actions to Benefit Coho Salmon and Steelhead...........................215 a. Roles of Local Government .................................................................................215 b. Role of Regulatory Efforts...................................................................................220 c. Role of Hatcheries................................................................................................224