RSS FeedsSulphur Creek Watershed Restoration Activities
Sulphur Creek
White Sulphur Springs Resort Riparian Corridor and Aquatic Habitat Demonstration Restoration Project In 1999, the Napa County Resource Conservation District (RCD), in cooperation with landowners of the Sulphur Creek Watershed Stewardship Group, and the Department of Fish and Game (DFG), implemented a salmonid habitat restoration project at White Sulphur Springs Resort on the Sulphur Canyon branch of Sulphur Creek. The project was one of two sites selected for restoration under a grant with CALFED. A Guidance Committee, whose members represented local groups and agencies in the Napa River Watershed, established selection criteria and chose this site, along with a site on Dry Creek, from thirty applications throughout the watershed.
The project involved the restoration of a 200 foot reach of creek to enhance steelhead spawning habitat and included: increasing fish habitat by creating pools in a reach where there are few, shallow pools; installing three rock vortex weirs to help stabilize the reach and improve the depositional sorting of gravel; using the weirs in combination with bank-sloping to stabilize the reach and improve the depositional sorting of gravel; using the weirs in combination with bank-sloping to stabilize areas of severe bank erosion, reducing the fine sediment load to the stream; planting native riparian vegetation to aid in lowering water temperature, provide fish shelter from predation, and protect stream banks; and, using the project to demonstrate the techniques of fish habitat restoration to other landowners in the watershed, thereby increasing their likelihood of initiating restoration projects on their own land.
Landowners participated in all stages of the project. Other groups that assisted with various stages included the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), California Native Plant Society, Napa Valley College, the California Conservation Corps, AmeriCorps, and community volunteers.
For more information about this project, contact Phill Blake with NRCS at (707) 252-4188 ext. 101.
Fish Ladder Restoration Project
The USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) collaborated on a project to restore a fish ladder that had been destroyed by El Nino storms in the Sulphur Creek canyon. The project was completed in 2003, opening up fish passage into the headwaters of the main canyon. Steelhead are reported to be using the ladder, which may be further modified to maximize operational performance.
For information about this project, contact Phill Blake with NRCS at (707) 252-4188 ext. 101.
Harold Smith and Sons Restoration Project
Following closely on the success of the Fish Ladder Restoration Project, Harold Smith and Sons out of St. Helena, conducted another restoration project on Sulphur Creek. Plans were developed by Harold Smith and Sons consultant HIS Consulting Services, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Department of Fish and Game (DFG), and resulted in the removal of a concrete crossing, the installation of a spanning bridge to allow for open fish passage and habitat restoration, and the construction of in-stream fish passage structures. In spring 2004 and 2005, Acorn Soupe students completed the project with the planting of native trees and shrubs along the creek bank.
For information about this project, contact Phill Blake with NRCS at (707) 252-4188 ext. 101.
