Off Channel Enhancement · ECM PIN CW‐ 817973; WDID No. 1A15122WNSI ... Coordinates of the center...

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September 28, 2015 Mr. Preston Harris Siskiyou Resource Conservation District P.O. Box 268 Etna, CA, 96027 Dear Mr. Harris: Subject: Notice of Applicability (NOA) for Coverage under the State Water Resources Control Board General 401 Water Quality Certification Order for Small Habitat Restoration Projects SB12006GN File: Sugar Creek Off‐Channel Enhancement for Coho Salmon; ECM PIN CW‐ 817973; WDID No. 1A15122WNSI This letter is to certify coverage of Siskiyou Resource Conservation District’s Sugar Creek OffChannel Enhancement for Coho Salmon (Project) under the General 401 Water Quality Certification Order for Small Habitat Restoration Projects; Order No. SB12006GN (General 401 Order). The purpose of the Project is to connect an existing off‐channel manmade pond to Sugar Creek and to install 35 juniper logs with rootwads to improve habitat complexity and increased shelter for threatened and endangered salmonids. Background On September 8, 2015, the Siskiyou Resource Conservation District (Applicant) filed an application for water quality certification (Certification) under section 401 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1341) with the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Water Board) for activities associated with the Project. Upon review by Regional Water Board staff, it was determined that the Project qualifies for coverage under the General 401 Order. Project Location The Project is located on Sugar Creek, a tributary of the Scott River, in the Scott River Hydrologic Unit 105.42. Coordinates of the center of the project are 41.3403° N, 122.8253° W (Figure 1).

Transcript of Off Channel Enhancement · ECM PIN CW‐ 817973; WDID No. 1A15122WNSI ... Coordinates of the center...

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September28,2015Mr.PrestonHarrisSiskiyouResourceConservationDistrictP.O.Box268Etna,CA,96027DearMr.Harris:Subject: NoticeofApplicability(NOA)forCoverageundertheStateWaterResources

ControlBoardGeneral401WaterQualityCertificationOrderforSmallHabitatRestorationProjectsSB12006GN

File: SugarCreekOff‐ChannelEnhancementforCohoSalmon;

ECMPINCW‐817973;WDIDNo.1A15122WNSIThisletteristocertifycoverageofSiskiyouResourceConservationDistrict’sSugarCreekOff‐ChannelEnhancementforCohoSalmon(Project)undertheGeneral401WaterQualityCertificationOrderforSmallHabitatRestorationProjects;OrderNo.SB12006GN(General401Order).ThepurposeoftheProjectistoconnectanexistingoff‐channelmanmadepondtoSugarCreekandtoinstall35juniperlogswithrootwadstoimprovehabitatcomplexityandincreasedshelterforthreatenedandendangeredsalmonids.BackgroundOnSeptember8,2015,theSiskiyouResourceConservationDistrict(Applicant)filedanapplicationforwaterqualitycertification(Certification)undersection401oftheCleanWaterAct(33U.S.C.§1341)withtheNorthCoastRegionalWaterQualityControlBoard(RegionalWaterBoard)foractivitiesassociatedwiththeProject.UponreviewbyRegionalWaterBoardstaff,itwasdeterminedthattheProjectqualifiesforcoverageundertheGeneral401Order.ProjectLocationTheProjectislocatedonSugarCreek,atributaryoftheScottRiver,intheScottRiverHydrologicUnit105.42.Coordinatesofthecenteroftheprojectare41.3403°N,122.8253°W(Figure1).

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Figure1showstheprojectfootprintandtheadjacentSugarCreek.

ProjectDescriptionThepurposeoftheProjectistoconnectanexistingoff‐channelmanmadepondtoSugarCreekwhichwillincreasetherearingcapacityforcohosalmonandothersalmonidsinthesystem.Includingtheareaoftheexistingpond,theProjectareaencompassesapproximately2.16acres,thoughthetotalconstructionfootprintisapproximately0.06acres.Currently,thestreamchannelhaslimitedfloodplainaccessduetohistoricmining,whichleftlargetailingpilescomposedofcobble‐sizedsubstratethatconfinethestreamchannelandimpairriparianvegetationrecruitment.Creatingaccesstothisoff‐channelpondwillprovidethermalrefugehabitatforsummerrearingandvelocityrefugehabitatforover‐wintering.ThesehabitatfeaturessupportthegoalofenhancedtributaryrearingintheKlamathRiverBasinforSouthernOregonNorthernCaliforniaCoast(SONCC)cohosalmon.Thelocationhasbeencarefullyselectedbasedonannualadultcohospawninggroundsurveyinformation,directobservationconductedbyCaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlife(CDFW)andSiskiyouResourceConservationDistrictfieldstaff,aswellasPassiveIntegratedTransponder(PIT)tagmonitoringinformationthatisbeingcompiledtodocumentfishuseandpopulationdensitiesthroughoutthewatershed.ThesitehasbeenreviewedbyCDFW,U.S.FishandWildlifeService(USFWS),andNationalOceanicand

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AtmosphericAdministration,amongothers.Thegeneralconsensusisthatgiventhehistoricalconditionofthedisconnectedpond,aswellastheinfluenceofcold‐waterrefugiaandstablegroundwaterlevels,thesitehasallthecharacteristicsofqualityoff‐channelhabitat.Heavyequipmentisrequiredtoexcavateaccesschannelsina"Y"configurationthatwillconnecttheexistingpondtotheSugarCreeksystemattwopoints.Theaccesschannelsareeachapproximately100to130feetlongandhavebeendesignedtorequireminimalexcavationanddisturbancetoexistingvegetationwithinthesite.Heavyequipmentwillalsobeusedtoplacelargewoodydebriswithintheoff‐channelpond,seterosioncontrolmeasuresandplantriparianvegetation.Approximately1,500cubicyardsofmaterialwillberemovedtocreatetheinlet/outlets,expandtheoff‐channelarea,andconnectthepondtoSugarCreek.Allspoilswillbeplacedatanuplandlocationneartheprojectlocation.Materialstobeinstalledatthesiteincludeapproximately35juniperrootwadscompletewith17to20footlimbedtrunks,approximately5yardsoflargecobbleforerosionprotectionaroundtheinlet/outletareas,andjuniperslashthatwillbeusedtoimprovehabitatcomplexityinboththepondandaccesschannels.Plantingmaterialswillconsistofblackcottonwood(Populustrichocarpa)polecuttingsaswellasclumpsandclustersoftwowillowspecies:pacificwillow(Salixlucida)andsandbarwillow(Salixexgua).About20plantingswillbeimplementedintheoff‐channelareatofillingapsinvegetation,predominantlyonthesouthendofthepond.Thepondhasbeenevaluatedforsuitabilityofcohohabitatbasedontemperature,dissolvedoxygen,contaminatesandexistingaquaticspecies.Atemperatureloggerlocatedinthepondatadepthofapproximately8feetrecordedasummerMaximumWeeklyAverageTemperature(MWAT)of16.43°Cwithavarianceof1°C,whereastemperaturesrecordedinSugarCreekshowsasummerMWATof18.6°Cwitha1.5°Cvariance.Dissolvedoxygenhasbeenmonitoredinthemanmadepond,aswellasSugarCreek,andisdeemedsufficientforsalmoniduse.Additionally,apreliminarycontaminantsurveyscreeningwascompletedinJulyof2015bytheUSFWSattheprojectsiteandnocontaminantswerefound.InJulyof2014,theSiskiyouResourceConservationDistrictbegancollectinggroundwatermonitoringdataattheoff‐channelmanmadepondandfoundanearuniformseasonalfluctuationofapproximately24inches.Furthermore,asurfaceelevationsurveyshowsthatthesurfacewaterelevationsoftheoff‐channelmanmadepondandSugarCreekarenearidentical(bothatapproximately3,002feetelevation).Workwillbecompletedduringtheseasonallowflowperiods(Mid‐SeptemberthroughOctober15).Flowconditionsattheprojectsiteareexpectedtobedryduringthetimeofconstruction.Ifflowispresent,theApplicantdoesnotintendtodivertflowduetotheconfinednatureofthechannelatthislocation,whichrestrictsdiversionoptions,andtheextremelylimitedamountoftimethatwillbenecessaryforin‐streamconstruction.Additionally,redirectingflowcouldadverselyimpacttheScottRiverWatershedCouncil’spostassistedwoodystructure(PAWS)thatisdirectlydownstreambycausingpressurepointsonthestructure.Instead,theApplicantincoordinationwithCascadeStream

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SolutionsandCDFW,hasagreedthattheinstallationofwashedrockbermsconsistingofspawningsizedrockaroundtheinlet/outletlocationoftheoff‐channelareasarethepropermethodforaddressingtheissuesofflow,salmonidpresence,andturbidity.Thebermswillbeapproximately1'x2'x20'insizeandconsistofwashed,spawningsizedrocklayeredwithweed‐freestraworsiltclothtoprovideabarrieragainstsedimententeringthestream.Thisapproachhasproventobeaneffectivemethodofprotectingwaterqualityinareasofslowwaterhabitatshouldwaterbepresentatthesiteduringthetimeofconstruction.Priortoimplementingtheberms,theApplicantwillcoordinatewithCDFWbiologiststoensurethatthesitesareclearofsalmonids.ThisprojecthasbeendesignedtoresultintheleastamountofimpacttotheriparianareapossiblethroughuseofBestManagementPractices(BMPs).Nosignificantriparianfunctionwillbelostduringconstruction.ProjectSizeThetotalofgrounddisturbanceassociatedwiththeProjectisestimatedtobe0.045acresand260linearfeet.TheproposedprojectsizedoesnotexceedwhatisallowedforcoverageundertheGeneral401WaterQualityCertificationOrderforSmallHabitatRestorationProjectsandassociatedCategoricalExemption(15333)fromtheCaliforniaEnvironmentalQualityAct.ProjectAssociatedDischargeThedischargeofmaterialintowatersoftheStateresultingfromtheProjectincludethoseassociatedwiththeindividuallogsandnativecobblesusedforbankstabilization.ProjectTimeFrameProposedprojectstartdate:Late‐September2015Expecteddateofcompletion:October15,2015MonitoringPlanLong‐termgoalsoftheProjectaretoenhancecohoproductioninSugarCreekandtheScottRiverbyincreasingtheavailablecold/slowwaterrearinghabitatinthesummerandwintermonths.Measureableoutcomeswillincludethefollowingindicatorsofcohohabitatquality:watertemperature;pooldepth;poolvolume;anddissolvedoxygen,aswellasfishutilizationofthehabitat.Intheshortterm,cohohabitatqualityindicatorswillverifythatpondsarefunctioningasdesigned,andPITtaggingsystemswillindicatethatfishareusingandbenefitingfromtheconstructedhabitat.Additionally,fishutilizationofconstructedhabitatfeatures,suchasrootwadandwoodymaterialcover,willalsobeevaluated.ForfiveyearsfollowingProjectcompletion,annualmonitoringreportswillbesubmittedtotheRegionalWaterBoard.Thisannualreportwillincludethefindingsthatresultfrompost‐projectmonitoring.Thesefindingsshouldindicatetheachievementofperformancestandardsthatarerelativetotheprojectgoals.Eachreportwillincludethefollowinginformation:

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a. Summaryoffindingsb. Identificationanddiscussionofproblemswithachievingperformancestandardsc. Proposedcorrectivemeasuresasneeded(requiresRegionalWaterBoardapproval)

AgencyPermitsTheApplicanthasalsosubmittedapplicationsforpermittingand/orcoverageof:

a. ArmyCorpofEngineersSection404Permit–NationwidePermit27–AquaticHabitatRestoration,Establishment,andEnhancementActivitiespursuanttoSection404oftheCleanWaterAct

b. CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlife–StreambedAlterationAgreement(No.1600‐2015‐0362‐R1)

NoticeofApplicability&ProjectDeterminationRegionalWaterBoardstaffhasdeterminedthattheproposedactivitiesasdescribedintheapplicationarecategoricallyexemptfromCEQAreviewandmayproceedundertheGeneral401WaterQualityCertificationOrderforSmallHabitatRestorationProjects.ReceivingWater: SugarCreek,ScottRiverHydrologicUnit105.42Filled/ExcavatedArea: 1,500cubicyardsofexcavation TotalImpacts: AcreageTemporarilyImpacted:0.045

LengthTemporarilyImpacted:260feetDischargeVolume: 35approximately20‐footlongjuniperlogswithrootwads;

5cubicyardsoflargecobbleLatitude/Longitude: ProjectCenter:41.3403°N/122.8253°WReportingAsrequiredinSectionB,Item4,oftheGeneral401WaterQualityCertificationOrderforSmallHabitatRestorationProjects,MonitoringReportsbesubmittedatleastannuallydocumentingtheachievementofperformancestandardsandprojectgoals.Inaddition,aNoticeofCompletion(NOC)shallbesubmittedbytheapplicantnolaterthan30daysaftertheprojecthasbeencompleted.AcompleteNOCincludesataminimum:photographswithadescriptivetitle,thedateeachphotographwastaken,thenameofthephotographicsite,theWDIDnumberindicatedabove,andsuccesscriteriafortheproject.TheNOCshalldemonstratethattheProjecthasbeencarriedoutinaccordancewiththeProjectdescriptionasprovidedintheapplication.Pleaseincludetheprojectname,WDIDnumberandECMPINwithallfutureinquiriesanddocumentsubmittals.Documentsubmittalsshallbemadeelectronicallyto:[email protected]

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TheStateWaterResourcesControlBoardGeneral401WaterQualityCertificationOrderforSmallHabitatRestorationProjectsSB09016GNcanbefoundhere:http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/cwa401/docs/generalorders/shrpcert032713.pdfPleasecallJakeShannonat(707)576‐2673ifyouhaveanyquestions.Sincerely,__________________________________

MatthiasSt.JohnExecutiveOfficer

150928_JJS_dp_SugarCreekOffChannel_NOA

cc: KatherineGrossman,CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlife

[email protected] CameronPurchio,ArmyCorpsofEngineers

[email protected]