Fish Passage Improvement at Crossing 9, Quioata Creek (Request No. 1652-2018-021-001-R5)

Fish Passage Improvement at Crossing 9, Quioata Creek (Request No. 1652-2018-021-001-R5)

Pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 1652, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has approved the Fish Passage Improvement at Crossing 9, Quiota Creek submitted by Cachuma Operation and Maintenance Board represented by Timothy H. Robinson. The project includes removing a concrete low-flow Arizona crossing, installing a new bottomless-arched culvert, grading the resulting creek bed to improve fish passage conditions for both juveniles and adults and to provide a more natural channel bed gradient under the bridge, placing rock weirs and a roughened channel to create hydraulic diversity and maintain channel stability, and adding vegetated rock slope protection upstream and downstream to prevent and/or limit scour. All areas disturbed by construction activities will be revegetated rock slope protection upstream and downstream to prevent and/or limit scour. All areas disturbed by construction activities will be revegetated using locally native plant cuttings and hydroseed. The Project will provide will provide a net benefit to southern California steelhead by re-opening access to 2.73 miles of spawning and rearing habitat within the creek. It will also improve riparian cover and creek functionality, eliminating migration delays and opening spawning. The project will also allow terrestrial species such as the California red-legged frog the option to cross underneath the new bridge and avoid being potentially killed or injured by vehicles traveling South Refugio Rd.

Santa Barbara