NAVARRO WATERSHED RESTORATION PLAN A JOINT PROJECT OF THE MENDOCINO COUNTY WATER AGENCY THE COASTAL CONSERVANCY THE ANDERSON VALLEY LAND TRUST Prepared by: Entrix, Inc. Pacific Watershed Associates Circuit Rider Productions, Inc. The Navarro Watershed Community Advisory Group Daniel T. Sicular, Ph.D. JUNE, 1998 NAVARRO WATERSHED RESTORATION PLAN Published Jointly by: ANDERSON VALLEY LAND TRUST, INCORPORATED P.O. Box 1000 Boonville, CA 95415 (707) 895-2090 CALIFORNIA STATE COASTAL CONSERVANCY 1330 Broadway Oakland, CA 94612-2530 (510) 286-1015 MENDOCINO COUNTY WATER AGENCY Courthouse Ukiah, CA 95482 (707) 463-4589 This Document is Printed on Recycled Paper TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of Tables ......................................................................................................................... List of Figures........................................................................................................................ Glossary ................................................................................................................................. Acknowledgments.................................................................................................................. Executive Summary............................................................................................................... 1.0 Introduction................................................................................................................ 1-1 1.1 Basis of Need for Restoration Plan................................................................ 1.2 Purpose of Restoration Plan........................................................................... 1.2.1 Geographic and Technical Scope ...................................................... 1.3 Project Organization...................................................................................... 1.4 Organization of the Restoration Plan............................................................. 2.0 Project Goals and Objectives..................................................................................... 2-1 3.0 Sediment Production and Channel Conditions .......................................................... 3-1 3.1 Scope and Purpose ......................................................................................... 3.2 Findings ......................................................................................................... 3.3 Conclusions.................................................................................................... 3.4 Implications for Restoration Planning ........................................................... 4.0 Fish Distribution and Aquatic Habitat Conditions .................................................... 4-1 4.1 Summary........................................................................................................ 4.2 Salmonid Life History.................................................................................... 4.2.1 Coho Salmon...................................................................................... Navarro Watershed Restoration Plan i June, 1998 4.2.2 Steelhead Trout.................................................................................. 4.3 Methods for Assessing Salmonid Habitat...................................................... 4.4 Description of Habitat Conditions in Reaches Surveyed............................... 4.4.1 Mainstem Navarro River ................................................................... 4.4.2 Marsh Gulch...................................................................................... 4.4.3 South Branch North Fork Navarro River: Reaches 1 & 2 ................. 4.4.4 Upper South Branch North Fork Navarro River: Reaches 3a & b .... 4.4.5 North Branch North Fork Navarro River........................................... 4.4.6 Little North Fork Navarro River........................................................ 4.4.7 John Smith Creek............................................................................... 4.4.8 Mill Creek: Reach 3........................................................................... 4.4.9 Mill Creek: Reaches 4a & b............................................................... 4.4.10 North Fork Indian Creek.................................................................... 4.4.11 Con Creek.......................................................................................... 4.4.12 Bear Wallow Creek............................................................................ 4.4.13 Beasley Creek.................................................................................... 4.5 Limiting Factor Discussion............................................................................ 4.5.1 Adult Salmonid Habitat ..................................................................... 4.5.2 Juvenile Salmonid Habitat ................................................................. 4.6 Literature Cited.............................................................................................. 5.0 Restoration/Conservation Objectives and Priorities.................................................. 5-1 5.1 Introduction.................................................................................................... 5.2 Water Quality and Aquatic Habitat Conditions............................................. 5.2.1 North Fork Navarro River Basin/ ...................................................... 5.2.2 Anderson Creek Basin ....................................................................... Navarro Watershed Restoration Plan ii June, 1998 5.2.3 Indian Creek Basin............................................................................. 5.2.4 Upper and Lower Rancheria Creek ................................................... 5.2.5 Mainstem Navarro River ................................................................... 5.3 Goals, Objectives, and Priority Actions to Address Factors Limiting the Fishery and Water Quality Impairment ......................................................... 5.3.1 Increase Frequency and Depth of Pools ............................................ 5.3.2 Decrease Summer Stream Temperatures........................................... 5.3.3 Reduce Accelerated Sediment Production......................................... 5.3.4 Restoration Priorities......................................................................... 5.4 Priority Stream Basins for Restoring Historic Abundance and Distribution of Coho Salmon and Steelhead Trout........................................ 5.4.1 Purpose/Objective.............................................................................. 5.4.2 Basis for Prioritization Designation/Ranking.................................... 5.4.3 Screening Criteria.............................................................................. 5.4.4 Sub-Basin Screening and Evaluation................................................. 6.0 Recommended Land Management Practices............................................................. 6-1 6.1 Land-Use Impacts on Water Quality and Salmonid Habitat ......................... 6.1.1 Forestry .............................................................................................. 6.1.2 Agriculture: Grazing.......................................................................... 6.1.3 Agriculture: Row Crops, Orchards, Vineyards................................. 6.1.4 Residential and Commercial Development ....................................... 6.2 Regulatory Framework .................................................................................. 6.2.1 Permits from Local Agencies............................................................. 6.2.2 Permits from State Agencies.............................................................. 6.2.3 Permits from Federal Agencies.......................................................... 6.3 Organization and Preparation of RLMP Chapter .......................................... Navarro Watershed Restoration Plan iii June, 1998 6.4 Streambank Stability and Aquatic Habitat Protection ................................... 6.4.1 Stream Protection and Stabilization Planning ................................... 6.4.2 Preserving Large Woody Debris........................................................ 6.4.3 Brush Mattress ................................................................................... 6.4.4 Live Willow Fascine.......................................................................... 6.4.5 Live Staking....................................................................................... 6.4.6 Vegetative Geogrid............................................................................ 6.4.7 Streambank Protection Using Hard Armoring Techniques ............... 6.4.8 Gravel Extraction............................................................................... 6.4.9 Water Conservation and Storage ....................................................... 6.4.10 Bibliography/References for Streambank Stability and Aquatic Habitat Protection & Enhancement ................................................... 6.5 Riparian Corridor Integrity and Protection.................................................... 6.5.1 Exclusionary Fencing........................................................................ 6.5.2 Invasive Plant Species ....................................................................... 6.5.3 Riparian Corridor Protection and Restoration