Willow Creek Technical Adaptive Channel Restoration
Summary
SCH Number
2025040804
Public Agency
California Department of Parks and Recreation
Document Title
Willow Creek Technical Adaptive Channel Restoration
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/16/2025
Document Description
The goal of this project is to improve portions of Willow Creek in Sonoma Coast State Park by encouraging the formation of a continuous dominant channel to improve passage of outmigrating juvenile fish. The project proposes the following work:
At four (4) sites, use strategic placement of large woody debris structures (tipped or felled trees) and other low-tech, low disturbance, techniques to direct water flow energy to encourage existing channels to enlarge;
Cut alders and willows by hand, and move existing downed logs and extracted root wads or rocks by hand for placement into structures; and
At one (1) site, manually remove cattails to facilitate juvenile fish passage will also occur.
Exclusive use of hand labor, for project construction, is intended to minimize disturbance to the creek, vegetation and soil. The project design calls for an adaptive approach, with initial construction occurring in summer or fall of 2025 and potential re-entries to adjust or augment the initial work in 2026 and 2027. Work will occur outside of bird nesting and salmonid migration season. A wildlife biologist will survey for California red-legged frogs in advance of the project. State archaeologists will survey for cultural resources and prepare a 5024 review.
Contact Information
Name
Chris Heintzelman
Agency Name
California Department of Parks and Recreation, Sonoma-Mendocino Coast District
Job Title
Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Jenner
Counties
Sonoma
Regions
Northern California
Cross Streets
Highway 1
State Highways
Highway 1
Waterways
Willow Creek
Other Location Info
Project is located within the boundaries of Sonoma Coast State Park.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class: 1, 4 & 7 Section: 15301, 15304 & 15307
Reasons for Exemption
Project consists of operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of current levels; minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees; and actions taken by regulatory agencies as authorized by state law or local ordinance to assure the maintenance, restoration, or enhancement of a natural resource where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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