Projects List

2022 Chinook Spawning Ground Survey

8-17

$27,937.12

NFWF

The Siskiyou Resource Conservation District (SRCD) has been involved in the annual spawning ground surveys in the Scott River Valley since 2003. Between the Scott River Fish Counting Facility and the cooperative spawning ground surveys, a comprehensive dataset on fall-run Chinook is collected annually. This includes information on the run abundance, timing, age/sex/length composition and hatchery contribution as well as the spawning distribution and range. The monitoring of this population provides valuable trend data leading to escapement estimates, which are used by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council for the effective management and allocation of Klamath Basin fall-run Chinook salmon. Furthermore, the redd distribution is utilized by local organizations to prioritize habitat restoration projects on the Scott River mainstem and monitor their effectiveness including the utilization of spawning gravel sorted by large wood augmentation and help provide information on connectivity in areas in the upper reaches of the watershed that are often not physically accessible for spawning due to passage barriers at low flows.

2023 Mid-Klamath Chinook Spawning Ground Surveys

8-18

$16,405.60

NFWF

The Siskiyou Resource Conservation District (SRCD) has been actively engaged in annual spawning ground surveys in the Scott River Valley since 2003. Through collaborative efforts between the Scott River Fish Counting Facility and cooperative surveys, a comprehensive dataset on fall-run Chinook salmon is gathered each year. This dataset encompasses vital information on run abundance, timing, age/sex/length composition, hatchery contribution, and spawning distribution. The monitoring of this population provides invaluable trend data, facilitating escapement estimates used by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council for effective management and allocation of Klamath Basin fall-run Chinook salmon. Additionally, the assessment of redd distribution aids local organizations in prioritizing habitat restoration projects on the Scott River mainstem and evaluating their effectiveness. These efforts include the utilization of spawning gravel sorted by large wood augmentation, offering insights into connectivity in upper reaches of the watershed that are typically inaccessible for spawning due to low-flow passage barriers.

2024 Mid-Klamath Chinook Spawning Ground Surveys

8-19

$17,455.93

NFWF

The Siskiyou Resource Conservation District (SRCD) has been actively engaged in annual spawning ground surveys in the Scott River Valley since 2003. Through collaborative efforts between the Scott River Fish Counting Facility and cooperative surveys, a comprehensive dataset on fall-run Chinook salmon is gathered each year. This dataset encompasses vital information on run abundance, timing, age/sex/length composition, hatchery contribution, and spawning distribution. The monitoring of this population provides invaluable trend data, facilitating escapement estimates used by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council for effective management and allocation of Klamath Basin fall-run Chinook salmon. Additionally, the assessment of redd distribution aids local organizations in prioritizing habitat restoration projects on the Scott River mainstem and evaluating their effectiveness. These efforts include the utilization of spawning gravel sorted by large wood augmentation, offering insights into connectivity in upper reaches of the watershed that are typically inaccessible for spawning due to low-flow passage barriers. In line with the project, Siskiyou RCD will conduct surveys of mainstem Scott River reaches 9-16, targeting Chinook spawners from mid-October through December 2024, subject to favorable conditions. A comprehensive final report will be generated, and all collected carcass data and samples will be submitted to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, ensuring the valuable contribution of data to ongoing research and conservation efforts.

KARISM Project 2024

87-4

$9100.00

SRRC

Education and outreach grant for the SRCD's botany program. Funded by the Salmon River Restoration Council, in coordination with the Klamath Alliance for Regional Invasive Species Management (KARISM).

Lower Moffett Creek Scour Project

62-4

$84,884.19

Caltrans

Riparian vegetation will be planted at a minimum of one tree every 10 foot on center over the planting area in order to achieve a similar density to the adjacent vegetation. This planting strategy allows for some mortality while still achieving maximum survivorship of trees identified in Table 4 at the end of five years. The planting area will all be on native soil to ensure a higher survival rate. No tree planting will occur within 20’ of roads, bridges or any other areas effected by Caltrans routine maintenance. Planting will also avoid any areas that have overhead utility lines. The proposed planting area will not be affected by maintenance operations.

Scott River Coho Spawning Ground Survey Project 2023-2025

34-12

$200,485.71

CDFW

The Contractor will conduct The Annual Scott River Coho Salmon Spawning Ground Surveys (Project), within the Scott River and its tributaries for three years during the 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025 runs. During October and November annually, the Contractor will coordinate with landowners to gain property access to complete the surveys. The Contractor will provide the resources to conduct landowner outreach, spawning surveys to collect spawning distribution data (range and relative density), run data (sex ratio, age composition, hatchery contribution) and biological data (length, prespawn mortality, samples) of Coho Salmon. This project is part of the larger MidKlamath Cooperative Spawning Ground Surveys and is essential to assessing the effects of restoration actions and water management on several imperiled fish species in the Scott River and the larger Klamath River Basin.

Scott River Main-stem Water Monitoring Project 2023-2026

77-2

$309,281.09

NFWF

The Contractor will conduct the Scott River Mainstem Flow and Water Quality Monitoring Project (Project) in the Scott River. The Contractor will complete comprehensive monitoring of the mainstem Scott River under drought conditions through time, including surface water discharge, groundwater, and surface water temperature. Outreach and development to initiate and continue ongoing communication with landowners will be performed by the Contractor. The Contractor will monitor flow at, or near, three monitoring stations located at Fay Lane Bridge, Horn Lane Bridge, and Meamber Bridge (see map included in Exhibit A, Attachment 1). This will involve direct flow measurement, telemetric river stage data, and the development of rating curves for each location. To assess groundwater conditions, the Contractor will monitor groundwater levels at approximately six agricultural wells or installed piezometers through the valley reach of the mainstem Scott River. Two wells will be located adjacent to each aforementioned flow monitoring station. Additionally, the Contractor will monitor surface water temperature throughout the study reach (see map included in Attachment 1) at each of the flow stations and at four additional representative sites, locations of critical salmonid habitat, and/or areas with isolated pools to test for a groundwater temperature signature.

Scott River Mainstem Habitat Typing Project Phase 1

44-12

$497,409.48

DOC

The Upper Mainstem Scott River Habitat Enhancement: Phase I Project (Project) will examine and analyze contributing impacts to salmonid species within four contiguous miles of the upper mainstem Scott River and lower French Creek. This Project is a planning effort designed to better understand limiting factors and constraints to salmonid productivity through a detailed existing conditions analysis. Upon completion, this work will inform future implementation projects that will improve instream and off-channel habitat, enhance floodplain connectivity, improve riparian health, and establish drought resiliency measures. The Siskiyou Resource Conservation District (SRCD) will coordinate this work in partnership with the Siskiyou Land Trust (SLT), the Scott River Water Trust (SRWT), California Trout (Caltrout), Native American Tribes, and participating landowners. This request is part of a comprehensive effort being developed by the listed parties to restore fisheries populations and improve on-farm management. Working with the Spencer Ranch, KK Bar Ranch, and Scott River Ranch, the project area encompasses four contiguous miles of the mainstem Scott River through reaches 14 and 15 (Project Map), which is home to some of the highest salmonid intrinsic potential in the basin (NMFS, 2014).

South Fork Scott River Floodplain Restoration Project - Phase 2

18-2

$34,916.42

NFWF

These observations have led the Siskiyou Resource Conservation District (SRCD) to focus restoration efforts on an approximate 1-mile reach of the South Fork Scott River above Boulder Creek. Since 2015, the SRCD has partnered with California Trout (Cal Trout), the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Western Rivers Conservancy (WRC), and Cascade Stream Solutions to develop restoration work on the South Fork Scott River for the benefit of coho salmon, Chinook salmon, and steelhead trout. This proposal builds upon the South Fork Scott River Floodplain Restoration Project: Phase 1 (Phase 1), which implemented treatments through 0.25 miles of the 1-mile reach in the fall of 2017. Phase 1 included the construction of two inset floodplains, three “chop-n-drop” logjams, and five large-wood habitat features, as well as the removal of approximately 1,900 cubic yards of mining tailings. Site selection and treatment techniques were identified in 2015 during conceptual development for the full 1-mile stream reach. The entire area has been surveyed, photographed and a hydraulic analysis completed. Phase 2 focuses on the portion of stream immediately upstream from Phase 1, and design plans for Phase 2 are more than 65% complete. Additional survey work was recently completed and will be incorporated into the Final Construction Plans. Furthermore, coho utilization was identified within the Phase 1 constructed habitat units during 2018 juvenile monitoring surveys (attached), and these surveys helped inform the project team on applicable habitat treatments for Phase 2

South Fork Scott River Floodplain Restoration Project - Phase 3

18-3

$153,924.87

NFWF

In 2019, the SRCD and CalTrout were awarded funding agreements to complete implementation of Phase 2, which covers a 0.14-mile section of the reach and is currently scheduled for the 2020 construction season. Phase 2 includes the installation of two inset floodplains, four side channel “chop-and-drop” logjams, one main channel “chop-and-drop” logjam, one main channel apex jam, six anchored bank structures, and riparian planting. Similar monitoring methods will be applied to document treatment functionality, stream habitat response, fisheries utilization and revegetation performance. Subsequently, Phase 3 (as proposed here) focuses on a 0.15-mile section of the reach and is currently planned for 2021 implementation. Cascade Stream Solutions has produced intermediate (65%) status engineered drawings for the site (attached) and will be completing additional analysis through the spring of 2020 after which Final (100%) Construction Plans will be issued. The SRCD and CalTrout will continue to engage regulatory agencies through this process to refine the treatment plan and establish an approach for meeting environmental compliance standards. The proposed Phase 3 work will build on previously implemented phases and continue to address anthropomorphic impacts to the South Fork Scott River by improving floodplain accessibility, instream habitat quality, and riparian coverage.

South Fork Scott River Floodplain Restoration Project - Phase 4

18-4

$103,353.23

NFWF

The strategy of reconnecting the Scott River to its floodplain by restoring natural channel form and function is identified as a high priority in the Final Recovery Plan for SONCC coho salmon. To address this SONCC coho recovery plan priority, this project will restore floodplain and secondary channel connectivity and increase in-stream habitat complexity by constructing a series of log jams and removing mine tailings (Figure 2). The project reach has a long history of mining activity dating back to the early 1900s. This project will excavate two side channels, totaling approximately 700 feet on river left through mine tailings that are currently precluding access to the river left floodplain except during high flow events. The southern side channel will reconnect directly to the South Fork Scot River and the northern side channel will connect to an existing side channel. A log jam will also be constructed where the side channels diverge to maintain the integrity of the side channels. The side channels will be excavated to a depth that will allow them to be inundated during moderate flows. Approximately 40 pieces of large wood will also be buried into the banks of the side channels to increase habitat diversity. Willows will be planted within the wood structures and along the margins of the side channel to increase the depth and function of the riparian corridor. This project will also construct five log jams, four channel spanning and one Type A structure, through approximately 400 feet of the mainstem of the South Fork Scott River. The channel spanning structures will provide overhead cover, establish pools, create velocity refuge for rearing salmonids, sort spawning gravels, and facilitate activation of the excavated side channels. The Type A structure will also add instream complexity and anchor the southern side channel reconnection point with the South Fork Scott River.

Young's Dam Fish Passage Improvement Project Phase 1

41-27

$118,245

NFWF

The primary purpose of this funding application to the NFPP is to understand limiting factors to fish passage at Young's Dam through an assessment of existing diversion infrastructure and biological monitoring of fish movement in relation to the Young's Dam. This information will be integrated to develop management recommendations and options for infrastructure modifications that will align with fish migration strategies.