Project OverviewProject Overview

Van Duzen Project

Sal Steinberg

Field Manager

WelcomeWelcome

Stakeholders, Public, Exchange students, Pat Higgins, future

Supervisors

Eel River Eel River

3rd largest river system in the state of California.

What are the other two?

Eel River : 2Eel River : 2ndnd most sedimented most sedimented river in the world next to the river in the world next to the Yantze River in ChinaYantze River in China

Van Duzen RiverVan Duzen River

The Coastal Range in the Van Duzen

River Basin is the most erosive of its

size anywhere in the United States.

What causes this sedimentation.What causes this sedimentation.

Natural : very erosive Franciscan Melange: Read from Dave Heaton

Humans: Timber Harvesting, Roads, etc.

2 particles to 1 particleNatural to Manmade Causes

Is this acceptable?Is this acceptable?

Tremendous impact on the the fisheries, and the amphibians.

Latest EcoNews

Watershed SheddingWatershed Shedding

In 2004, CDF

approved 5000 acres of timber harvest on 21% of Palco’s holdings in the Van Duzen

These lands were harvested over a 3 year period and completed in 2007.

Changes in the HCPChanges in the HCP

2004 PALCO received permission to harvest timber only 50 feet from the Channel Migration Zone effecting bigger trees, canopy, salmon habitat, and increasing the levels of sediment delivery to all tributaries of the Van Duzen River.

It could always be worse!It could always be worse!

In February of 2008, the Yantze River began bubbling red endangering the water supply for over 200,000 people.

TRUE or FALSE

DescriptionDescription

In Sept.2006, Van Duzen Project was approved by the California Water Quality Control Board to conduct a two year study of water quality in the Van Duzen River Basin

We are now completing our 2nd year of the project with an extension to write a Watershed Plan

Make recommendations for the reduction of sediment into the Van Duzen River Basin – TMDL

FOR MORE INFO.. www.fovd.org.

Citizens Monitoring GroupCitizens Monitoring Group

Tremendous volunteer groupWe are presently monitoring

Rainbow Bridge, Grizzly Creek, Hely Creek, Flanigan Creek, Fox Creek, Upper and lower Cummings Creek, Wilson Creek, Yager Creek, Wolverton Creek, and the Main Stem of the Van Duzen River.

Few Adventures Isaac MikelsFew Adventures Isaac MikelsRainbow BridgeRainbow BridgeTurbidity sampling

Isaac at RainbowIsaac at Rainbow

Suspended Sediment

Jesse at Cummings Creek Jesse at Cummings Creek

Jesse measuring flow at 1’ intervals on Jesse measuring flow at 1’ intervals on Cummings Creek station for a Discharge Cummings Creek station for a Discharge Rating curve.Rating curve.

Humboldt State University LabHumboldt State University Lab

Dr. Kristine Brenneman, Technical Advisory Team

Koa Lavery : Grad Assistant working with suspended sediment samples

Karen Bromley, Masters Thesis on water quality in the Van Duzen

Ed Brenneman, Turbidity and suspended sediment

Big Fish Award for the NightBig Fish Award for the Night

Supported the Van Duzen Efforts for the past decade.

Provided the project with excellent people. Karen and Koa.

Spent her winter vacation in the HSU lab doing suspended sediment samples with Ed

ScheduleSchedule

Milestones : 650 samples in Phase 1 470 samples in Phase 2 as of 2/1/08

FOR MORE INFO...

Road Densities, Upslope conditions, Macroinvertebrate Study, Habitat Typing, Rainfall, PH, Dissolved Oxygen, and Temperature, Salmon sightings

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Sep Oct Nov Dec

Hydrologic Year 2006-2007Phase 1Hydrologic Year 2006-2007Phase 1

Hydrologic Year 2007-2008 Phase 2Hydrologic Year 2007-2008 Phase 2

Watershed PlanPhase 3Watershed PlanPhase 3

Hely Creek Jan.3Hely Creek Jan.3rdrd 3,628 NTU’s 3,628 NTU’s