[env-trinity] Coarse sediment project

Wed Feb 2 23:02:41 PST 2005

Gravel used to come from Clear Creek below Redding.  It was contaminated
with mercury, but was washed a couple of times (or whatever) and was said to
be "clean."   Trinity gravel has been used most recently. 

It was obvious that it took anadromous fish several years, if then, to spawn
or otherwise to inhabit areas where imported gravel was located within the
river.  That, however, also was in the days when gravel was dumped and no
high flows were available to move it, to spread it and/or to send it
downstream.  The gravel would just sit where it was dumped until flows
ultimately increased and moved it. 

The same situation prevailed in constructed "side channels," although only
one of those ultimately was functional from what I've seen.  The side
channel above Bucktail Bridge was interesting - loaded with fish in the
normal channel and none in the constructed side channel.  Most side channels
now are dry, choked closed and/or up to 50 or more feet from the river
channel.  Check out the Sky Ranch "side channel," for example. 

Also in those days, gravel was dumped in whatever location was most
convenient for dumping.  That was the only criterion for placement.  There
was no scientific input, to say nothing of "before the action" assessments -
just dump some gravel.  

Current gravel introductions are based upon some scientific analysis by
staff and also by science consultants from U. C. Davis, if I recall
correctly.  In addition, we now have the Science Advisory Board in place -
but no independent peer review groups yet.  The SAB presumably will review
results of actions such as gravel introductions.

Byron Leydecker

-----Original Message-----
From: env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us
[mailto:env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us] On Behalf Of Kevin
Wolf
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2005 10:18 PM
To: Sid & Arline; env-trinity at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us; Loren Everest
Cc: Carl Mesick
Subject: Re: [env-trinity] Coarse sediment project

Hi all

I hope the gravel for the Trinity is coming from the Trinity or at 

least one of its tribs.  Carl Mesick, a fishery biologist has strong 

evidence that salmon don't spawn in gravels from another system. 

Carl now works with the USFWS.  He can bring people up to date on the 

literature and studies on the importance of using gravel from the 

same river system.

Kevin

At 8:47 PM -0800 2/2/05, Sid & Arline wrote:

>Dear Loren

> 

>Thanks for the info - and that the fifty one truckloads of course sediment

>is coming from the beautiful Trinity River.

>There is a great need to remove some of this material west of Indian Creek,

>this would help the Trinity River and also and the current Trinity River

>Restoration Project, being done at this reach of the river.

>The Trinity doesn't need the possible diseases from the Sacramneto River

>system. It doesn't take that much effort to screen the sediment to size.

> 

>Thank you,

> 

>Sid Mickelson

> 

>----- Original Message -----

>From: "Loren Everest" <leverest at fs.fed.us>

>To: <env-trinity at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us>

>Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 7:36 AM

>Subject: [env-trinity] Coarse sediment project

> 

> 

>>  Dear Interested Party

>> 

>>  The Shasta-Trinity National Forest is proposing to place about 5,100
cubic

>>  yards of coarse sediment in a 1,200-foot reach of the Trinity River near

>>  the Trinity River Fish Hatchery.  Forest Service personnel are preparing

>to

>>  conduct National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis of the
proposed

>>  project within the Trinity River watershed about two miles north of the

>>  community of Lewiston. The legal location is: Township 33 North, Range 8

>>  West, Section 8.

>> 

>>  YOUR INVOLVEMENT

>>  The purpose of this letter is to invite you to participate in the NEPA

>>  analysis by providing your comments about this proposal during what is

>>  referred to as the public scoping process.  If you have information you

>>  feel the Forest Service may not be aware of, or feel you have issues

>>  (points of dispute, debate, or disagreement) regarding potential effects

>of

>>  this proposed action, please send those issues in writing to project

>leader

>>  Loren Everest, Trinity River Management Unit, P.O. Box 1190,
Weaverville,

>>  CA 96093 (530) 623-1754 on or before February 25, 2005.

>> 

>>  PROPOSED ACTION

>>  The Forest Service proposes to place about 5,100 cubic yards of coarse

>>  sediment in a 1,200-foot reach of the Trinity River near the Trinity
River

>>  Fish Hatchery during the summer of 2005 or 2006. A 20-foot strip of

>willows

>>  and alders will be removed along the west bank of the river to allow for

>>  additional channel width.

>> 

>>  PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION

>>  The purpose of this project is to improve geomorphic function of the

>>  Trinity River.  High river releases since 1993 have caused channel

>>  degradation to a depth of about 2 feet. This project proposes to replace

>>  lost channel bed material in a manner that maintains or increases the

>>  quality of fish habitat.  The Bureau of Reclamation, through the Trinity

>>  River Restoration Program, has contracted with Dr. Greg Pasternack of UC

>>  Davis to provide designs for the project. The proposed design can be

>viewed

>>  at http://shira.lawr.ucdavis.edu/trinity_design_06.htm.

>> 

>>  DECISION TO BE MADE

>>  The decision to be made is whether to implement the project as proposed,

>to

>>  implement a modified project analyzed under an alternative that
addresses

>>  significant issues and meets the purpose and need statement, or take no

>>  action at this time.

>> 

>> 

>>  JOYCE ANDERSEN

>>  District Ranger

>>  Weaverville Ranger District

>> 

>> 

>> 

>> 

>>  _______________________________________________

>>  env-trinity mailing list

>>  env-trinity at mailman.dcn.org

>>  http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/env-trinity

> 

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