Mattole Headwaters Flow Enhancement Project

Mattole Headwaters Flow Enhancement Project

Note: Review Per Lead This project will address impacts of past land management, climate change and drought in the Mattole River at a scale needed to restore summertime stream flows in the headwaters. Since 1999 a pattern of low summertime flows in the Mattole River headwaters has caused the river to dry up in some reaches, leaving disconnected pools and poor water quality in the remaining reaches. This prolonged-dry season low-flow pattern has had devastating impacts on the already threatened native salmon populations in the Mattole, for which the headwaters are the most critical spawning and rearing grounds. While measurable streamflow improvements have been made through the successful storage and forbearance program, restoration of ground and surface water hydrology is also needed to achieve drought resilience. Several of the fish-bearing tributaries in the Mattole headwaters that experience extreme low to no flows do not have any human development or diversions of any kind and therefore addressing land use impacts is the only strategy available for improving flows. To address the situation, Sanctuary Forest Inc. is planning to conduct a flow enhancement/restoration project in the Mattole River headwaters (project). The project objectives include improved groundwater recharge/storage and enhanced summer streamflow along with increased riparian vegetation and associated fish and wildlife benefits in the upper Mattole River and its tributaries. The project has been designed to increase the streambed elevation and promote the formation of complex meandering stream and wetlands. Note: See MND for full project description.

Humboldt

Cal Fire, California Department of Conservation (DOC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Eureka Region 1 (CDFW), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Transportation, District 1 (DOT), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, North Coast Region 1 (RWQCB), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Department of Fish and Wildlife, Marine Region, Department of Water Resources, Office of Historic Preservation, Resources Agency, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights

Other (restoration/flow enhancement)

Other

Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Geology/Soils, Mineral Resources, Public Services, Transportation, Wetland/Riparian, Wildlife