Field Tour Coordinators: Derek Rupert, Bureau of Reclamation and Natasha Wingerter, US Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Clear Creek has emerged as a preeminent watershed for supporting anadromous salmonids within California’s Central Valley. This result comes from extensive restoration efforts over the past 25 years, which aimed to restore anadromous fish habitat after a long history (~150 years) of deleterious land use practices. This tour will visit key locations along Lower Clear Creek to show the previously completed restoration sites, the on-going habitat management actions, and the areas where significant improvements are needed. We will discuss spawning and rearing habitat, salmon and steelhead populations, dam operations, and planning for future restoration actions. 

 

The tour will include creek crossings and off-trail hiking, requiring field-appropriate clothing. Participants should bring water and snacks. The group will be traveling in vehicles to several locations along Clear Creek.  Travel times between sites range from 10 to 30 minutes.  Some locations have limited parking, so carpooling is requested.

 

• Clear Creek Gorge Overlook – The group will meet up at the overlook and do introductions. Coordinators will provide current and historical information on Clear Creek and habitat restoration efforts and discuss flow and water temperature management.  Additionally, we will discuss how water flows through the CVP’s Trinity River Division components, and its relation to Lower Clear Creek’s salmon and steelhead.

• China Gardens/Phase 3C Project Site – Visit a recent large-scale restoration project and discuss some of the site's key features, such as new channel alignment, BDAs, and large wood.  

• Gold Dredge Trailhead – Hike across a large area of the Lower Clear Creek Floodway Rehabilitation Project, discussing ongoing habitat management projects and novel implementation practices. Portions of this site have tremendous floodplain habitat potential.  This site will likely be wet and muddy, and it showcases some high-value rearing habitat and floodplains capable of long-term inundation. 

• Horsetown Restoration Project Site – This location is currently in the design phase of a large-scale restoration project. We will discuss the importance of the site to spring run Chinook salmon and steelhead, and the preliminary designs and future habitat conditions for the project site.

• Peltier Bridge Campground and Whiskeytown Dam – This site will be optional, based on how much time is available.  We will hike to the Paige Bar site to discuss the challenges and opportunities of working in a confined valley. Discussing the importance of gravel supply and boulder placement in hard to access areas.