Salmonid Restoration Federation (SRF) with the support of the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board is launching our third year of low-flow studies in the South Fork Eel River in order to better understand instream flows, and plan for community-based water conservation efforts. California’s extended drought is affecting local rural communities and salmon recovery efforts. Governor Brown has called for a 25% mandatory reduction in water usage throughout the state. “How do rural residents that are not hooked into a water provider or municipality track their water usage and plan for immediate water conservation?” SRF is providing technical assistance to help landowners calculate their water budget. SRF is also placing signage in key locations so residents can see when flow levels are too low to divert water that is needed to ensure adequate instream flows for salmon and other aquatic species.
Since 2013, SRF has been conducting a low flow study in Redwood Creek — a 26 square mile watershed that borders the Mattole River and flows into the South Fork Eel River. The South Fork Eel River and the health of its tributaries are key to recovery of threatened coho salmon that are listed under both the California and Federal Endangered Species Acts. Limiting factors affecting coho salmon include sediment, high water temperatures, lack of water, and refugia. In North Coast watersheds a primary factor impacting coho salmon are insufficient instream flows. Historically, forested tributaries provided cool water and refugia for juvenile coho salmon in the summers. Redwood Creek is critical for the rearing of juvenile coho salmon populations.
This summer, SRF is promoting immediate water conservation efforts with an education and outreach campaign, offering tributary-based water rights clinics, and expanding our low flow monitoring study to incorporate data loggers so we can download continuous flow data to supplement our manual monitoring efforts. This concerted effort is funded through a Monitoring, Planning, and Assessment grant from the State Water Board that has enabled us to identify data gaps, create a more comprehensive monitoring plan, and identify critical reaches where conservation projects would improve salmonid habitat.
Additionally, SRF has received grant funding to conduct a Feasibility Study in Miller Creek to explore the feasibility of a water storage and forbearance program modeled after the Sanctuary Forest successful pilot program in the Mattole headwaters. SRF hopes that this study and valued input from the community will lead to the creation of a coordinated and funded water conservation program that will benefit landowners, salmon, and community entities like the Briceland Volunteer Fire Department and Beginnings, Inc.
SRF is also participating in the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board’s July 20 Water Rights meeting in Garberville and hosting a comprehensive water rights workshop on August 11 at the Willits Community Center with the Mendocino RCD and Trout Unlimited.