Siskiyou RCD - Accomplishments

Accomplishments

Summary of Accomplishments: 1992 through 2007

FISHERIES & WILDLIFE HABITAT IMPROVEMENTS:

· Collected water temperature data since 1995, and continuing as an ongoing program.

· Installed 62 fish screens with headgate structures throughout the Scott River Watershed, and have an ongoing maintenance program.

· Collecting macro invertebrate data since 1998, and continuing as an ongoing program.

· Improved fish passage by installing weirs to replace gravel dams at 17 diversions.

· Completed the newly established habitat assessment and studies program.

· Completed 6 years of annual adult coho spawning surveys, and an ongoing program.

WATER QUANTITY CONSERVATION:

      ·        Installed 16 stock watering systems with 11 cfs of flow returned to the river, and more systems scheduled for installation.
      ·        Installed 38 sets of moisture sensors for 20 landowners to improve irrigation efficiency.
  ·        Designed/installed efficient water delivery systems by piping 7 miles of inefficient open earthen ditches to increase flows in Sugar Creek up to 5.9 cfs.
·        Working with irrigation districts and diversion ditch owners for water management efficiency.
·        Water Balance, Phase 1, year one completed with more projects seeking better understanding of watershed hydrological balances within the watershed.
·        Scott Valley Groundwater Static Well Level Monitoring started in spring of 2006 with 35 volunteer wells monitored, and more planned.
·        The Water Trust Program: Assessment Phase completed 2004, Implementation Phase initiated in 2007 and ongoing.

WATER QUALITY & SOIL EROSION REDUCTION:

· Completed sediment studies for 1990, 2000, and 2006.

· Completed 17,490 feet of stream channel enhancement projects: Fish friendly bank stabilization with 317+ instream structures on private properties.

· Improved upland road related practices: Inventoried over 400 miles of roads, implemented erosion reduction improvements of out-sloping, culvert removal, and rocking on 127 miles of roads, and decommissioning 19.2 miles of both public and private roads.

· Fenced 95% of privately owned portions of the Scott River mainstem (cattle are not present in the 5% remaining), and 40% of the tributaries.

· Planted 200 acres of riparian zone with pine, cottonwood and willows at a planting density of 160 to 260 trees per acre.

WATERSHED-WIDE PLANNING:

Initial Phase of the Scott River Watershed Council Strategic Action Plan & Limiting Factors Analysis–October 2005 Update.
Siskiyou RCD Scott River Watershed Coho Permit Program (ITP)—Initial EIR Draft is being prepared by the Department of Fish and Game.
Scott Valley Community Groundwater Study Plan—Approved by the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors February 12, 2008.

COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF RESOURCE CONSERVATION NEEDS, ISSUES AND TECHNIQUES:

The Scott River Watershed Council's role is:

To inform the community on resource issues.

To aid in resource management.

To recommend to the RCD prioritized project opportunities in the Scott River watershed for funding and implementation.

The RCD's role is:

To consider recommended prioritized projects from the Council.

To seek and manage funding.

To implement funded projects.

To report on project progress.

Together:

For 10 years the RCD and SRWC have worked cooperatively toward restoration efforts to improve and protect conditions in our watershed, and monitor the effectiveness of implemented programs, plans and projects.

Numerous educational workshops & speakers throughout the years regarding resource issues of interest to the community.

Regular newsletters and newspaper articles on events and activities.

Scott River Watershed Council website & Siskiyou RCD website located at www.scottriver.org & www.siskiyourcd.org.

Scott River Strategic Action Plan updated in 2005.

OTHER ONGOING AND SCHEDULED CONSERVATION MEASURES:

Improved fish passage.
Scott River water trust program.
Scott River water balance through flow and precipitation gauging.
Water quality improvement through tail water retention.