Specific objectives of this Project are to restore natural processes on 1.25 miles of the Scott River, 0.25 miles of Etna Creek and 80 acres of floodplain. We are looking at ways to improve fish habitat such as increasing pool frequency, depth and fish cover in summer and off channel/floodplain in winter. We are also actively working on reducing invasive species within the project area. As such, SRWC’s Youth Environmental Summer Studies (YESS) crew removed invasive species on approximately 2.4 acres in the project area. Species targeted for removal include Dyer’s woad, spotted Knapweed, and Yellow Star Thistle.
Work began this summer with the installation of a monitoring network along this reach of the river that consists of 18 water surface elevation stations, 6 temperature monitors and 2 dissolved oxygen monitors. Two discharge (streamflow) transects were established at the upstream and downstream ends of the reach to measure water flow through the reach. Data collected at this stage in the project will be used to produce a baseline condition report in the spring of 2025 and will help inform design decisions later in the project.
SRWC has partnered with Restoration Design Group to assess conditions within the project reach and will provide two engineered restoration designs by the end of the project.
On July 15 & 16, 2024, 14 pools were surveyed between Scott River river kilometer (RKM) 68.6-70.6. Water temperatures ranged from 16.9-20.0 °C during the survey period. 560 coho salmon were observed in this reach. Four addition pools were surveyed between RKM 0-0.44 in Etna Creek. Water temperatures ranged from 12.9-18.4 °C during the survey period. 750 coho were observed in this reach, with the majority coming from one pool, see map below.
