The Gienger Report

by Richard Gienger
March 1, 2003


Last fall's column was written as the dry summer and early fall led to drying up of extensive areas of the Mattole and other rivers -- areas which had just weeks before supported beaucoup young-of-the-year Salmon and Steelhead -- the regeneration from the best runs since the late 1980s. The water problems in the Klamath River, exacerbated by upstream diversions, resulted in the premature and horrific death of over 30,000 large returning salmon spawners in the lower river.

This column, written in late February, has some winter perspective. An unusually heavy first major rain of the season in November provided a major first test for last summer's restoration work and mitigations of other logging and development related projects. It gave runs of Chinook and Coho a chance to get to spawning areas, but without significant continuing rains in the weeks after the November storm, much of the prime headwaters spawning areas were not able to be accessed.
But then came December. I think there were three or so major high flow events in December -- setting various records. It was the most rainfall for December for the North Coast since historical records were kept. There was much variety in actual rainfall numbers based on microclimates and rain cells cutting loose in certain areas. Eureka had about seven inches in twenty-four hours (which some said had a 'return interval' of over 400 years). The same storm at Sylvandale on the South Fork of the Eel had an estimated 'return interval' of four and one-half years. Honeydew had over 72 inches in December.

The numbers of salmon that made it up to spawn in prime headwater areas were difficult to determine because of the turbidity and high water conditions that lasted for weeks. A more accurate estimate of the runs in the Eel and Mattole Rivers will have to rely upon juvenile counts and downstream migrant studies. The Eel River Salmon Restoration Project folks were able to spawn out a good number of Chinook Salmon. Trapping in the Mattole was only possible for several days. The good news was that three large and healthy Chinook females were trapped for spawning. The mixed news was that they all bore the mark of the hatchbox program and were released upstream. It shows that the Mattole hatchbox program is making a significant contribution -- but proportionately perhaps too significant, with non-hatchbox-assisted returners having lower numbers than are hoped for.

Some of the tributary watersheds of the Eel, which unraveled in the New Year's 1997 storm, unraveled again. Some estimated that the size of the sediment delta at the mouth of Bear Creek near Pepperwood was bigger than the 1997 delta -- and extended almost a quarter of the way across the Main Eel. Jordan Creek was also significantly and adversely impacted again. Presentations have again been made in many places, such as the Board of Forestry, Fish & Game Commission, North Coast and State Water Resources Control Boards to get justice for these watersheds.

The anxiously awaited Independent Scientific Review Panel Report came out in late December. The Panel was a positive result of last year's failed mediation process with Pacific Lumber Company (PL) about the five especially impaired by sediment watersheds: Elk River, Freshwater, Bear, Jordan, and Stitz Creeks. The Report laid out options to reduce risk of adverse impacts, answering three questions. Some of the options included lowering the rate of cut and establishing related performance measures, taking positive measures to remediate sedimentation problems, and take corrective measures on a watershed by watershed basis. The Report and the Panel, seven scientists of excellent reputation and skill, were viciously attacked by PL and the timber industry. The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board has yet to show the gumption to take adequate action. To get the report, check out http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb1/palco.html on the Internet. You can also go to other links and studies from there to increase your understanding of "what's going on" -- empower thyself.

Lots of restoration work was truly tested this winter, and it's not over yet. Some instream work such as passage and habitat improvement and bank stabilization held up well. Much work needed emergency maintenance measures, such as making sure new upgraded culvert installations handled upstream torrent impacts and that crossing fills were stable. Some instream work is contributing to improve habitat complexity further downstream.
Sanctuary Forest, Inc. has undertaken a comprehensive monitoring program for the upper Mattole road decommissioning and crossing removal project. The monitoring program was designed by Randy Klein, a well-known expert who works with the restoration of Redwood National Park and as a private consultant. Over 50 crossing removal sites are being closely monitored and suspended sediment samples are being take above and below a significant portion of those sites. Unofficial preliminary results show that most crossing removals, especially upslope areas where original hard stream beds were reestablished by skilled excavation, resulted in ethically and practically acceptable 'adjustments' (inevitable erosion following the removal of large volumes of sediment from 'legacy' hazardous crossing fill).

Underexcavation -- not getting down to the original streambed -- has caused erosion problems at some sites.

Other sites, particularly low gradient sites in flood plain areas where original streambeds are difficult to determine, had "headwall" erosion problems -- for instance erosion by stream flows of soft deposited material at the top of the crossing removal will form a three or more foot drop, or headwall. This headwall will then migrate upstream as the winter progresses, sometimes for hundreds of feet. This can result in many, many cubic yards of sediment needlessly impacting spawning and rearing habitat. The controversy over claimed long- and short-term positive and negative impacts is a hot topic. The problems that are being addressed by road decommissioning and old crossing fill removal are often very complex and difficult. Many old crossing fills have effectively acted as dams, often holding back large upstream sediment deposits from the years when the streams were "travel corridors" for logging and were subject to other disturbance and erosion processes.

Right now -- and for a number of years -- the 'cost-effectiveness cult of sediment savings' has been holding sway. If your restoration project doesn't save a cubic yard of sediment from entering the stream system for less than, say, $15/cubic yard -- forget it. We must remember that we're not just removing sediment from the risk of delivery to the stream system, we're trying to create short-, medium-, and long-term habitat improvement. This is especially true for streams with listed salmonid species. Some sites need grade controls and other erosion prevention measures that might not be the most cost effective for prevention of sedimentation, but are the most cost effective for optimum salmonid habitat.

A QUICK, OVER-SIMPLIFIED, WRAP-UP OF OTHER ISSUES:

CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION: In the middle of January word arrived that the Save-the-Redwoods League had signed an option with Pacific Lumber Company to purchase the nearly 600-acre Redway Forest, directly across the South Fork Eel River from Redway. Initial process estimates were that the California Department of Parks and Recreation would pay for the expansion of Whittemore Grove and the John B. DeWitte State Reserve with Proposition 40 funds, and that the transaction would be completed before the end of April. This is a benchmark after decades of struggle by the broad community to protect the forest and stabilize those steep slopes. A local celebration is being planned for the near future, and something larger -- perhaps this summer, similar to the celebration of the acquisition of Gilham Butte -- after the transaction is formally completed. Look to "Branching Out' for more on this story in a future edition.

Board of Forestry: The Board is in a quandary of how to deal with numerous issues, ranging from cumulative impacts to road management plans. On top of that the legislature leaned on the Board, through the confirmation of Board members, to seriously address problems with clearcutting, old growth, loss of oak woodland, and electronic accessibility of Timber Harvest Plans (THPs).

Department and Commission of Fish & Game: The Commission failed to act to increase protection for Coho at its January meeting. They are relying on the current Recovery Team process for Coho to play itself out. A draft Recovery Plan is scheduled to be done by late summer, with a six month extension quite likely. There are over twenty members on the main Recovery Team with a smaller ancillary Team from the Scott and Shasta Rivers area dealing with ag and water issues. An interesting and contentious process -- multiday meetings to deal with difficulties and complexities.

State Legislation: Quick summaries of six bills:

SB 297 -- Senator Chesbro -- Responds to the need to have longer contract periods for F&G-funded watershed restoration projects. Instead of the current two working seasons per project scenario, this would allow five-year contracts. The Alliance for Sustainable Jobs and the Environment's North Coast Restoration Jobs Initiative and others have been pressing for this reform.

AB 561 -- Assembly Member Lieber -- Would change stocking requirements in the Forest Practice Act to require that stocking "reflects a balance between hardwoods and conifers after harvest." This is likely to come under opposition from the industry. Folding in a riparian recovery stocking program would be a plus.

AB 47 -- Assembly Member Simitian -- Would require better Cumulative Watershed Effects process for THPs.

SB 217 -- Senator Sher -- Would require protection of potable water supplies by upstream timber operations (specifically for supplies serving more than 200 connections). Would require the Board of Forestry to adopt regulations setting harvest limits for each ownership in a planning watershed. Would set limits on clearcutting and other harsh even-age silviculture, and would limit cutting in old growth forests.

AB 764 -- Assembly Member Nation -- Would make sure that the State and Regional Water Boards have specific authority to make the call for adequate water quality protection measures in impaired water bodies, particularly as it applies to CDF and the THP process.

SB 557 -- Senator Kuehl -- Would impose a restoration fee, one cent per board foot, paid by the consumer to "create the Timber Products User Forest Restoration Fund in the State Treasury." This would create about 100 million dollars of revenue a year to do a variety of tasks ranging from paying for the agencies review of THPs to paying for significant restoration and protection measures on California forestland. Needs a 2/3svote because the legislative Counsel deemed the penny/board foot a tax and not a fee.

P.S. Old Growth legislation or an initiative may be forthcoming.
For more information visit http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/bilinfo.html)
Stay tuned and get involved whenever and wherever you can.


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Forest & River News is produced by Trees Foundation.