Lower Mattole
Most habitat restoration projects in the lower Mattole have sought to enhance existing deep pool habitat in areas with inputs from a nearby cool-water tributary.
Downstream of RM 27.4, the Mattole River emerges from the mid-river canyon into the broad valley of the lower Mattole. The river channel here is frequently wide and shallow, and deep pool habitat is rare, although a few deep pools and cold refugia do exist. In summer, air and water temperatures in the lower river are often high, and sufficient riparian cover or proximity to hill slopes to provide shade from solar radiation there is lacking. From the confluence of Honeydew Creek and further on downstream, the county road is in close proximity to the river.
Wingdams Repair Package
For the Rex’s Wingdams Repair Package, the Mattole Salmon Group, in partnership with CDFW, made modifications to three wing dam structures: Wing Dam I (built between 1970 and 1990, repaired by MSG with DFW in 2003), Wing Dam II (built between 1970 and 1990, repaired by MSG and DFG in 2005), and Wing Dam III (built by MSG in 2005).
These three structures provide the best summertime cold-water refugia habitat for juvenile salmonids in the lower Mattole River.
Strong storms in winter 2005-2006 caused severe flooding in many watersheds along the California coast. The Mattole watershed experienced flood-level flows, with a flow rate of just over 41,000 cubic feet per second. The strength of the river’s high flow and the recent unsettled work on the wing dams resulted in damage to the structures.
Using methods of construction, anchoring, and large wood placement, the MSG repaired and secured Wing Dams I, II, and III, so this essential lower river refuge can continue to provide habitat for Mattole salmonids for years to come.
Rex’s Wingdam III
Rex’s Wing Dam phase III was completed in 2005. The goals of the project included lengthening the total habitat pool of the wing dam complex by 1/3, creating better connectivity to Mill Creek (RM 2.8), and keeping approximately 300 cubic yards of material from entering the mainstem of the Mattole.
Five ton boulders were used to construct the base of Wingdam III, then the sill log placed on top of several large rocks for appropriate anchoring. Nine pieces of wood total were integrated to Wingdam III. These pieces of wood were placed to form triangles and strong connections where their habitat quality will be maintained for years to come. Twenty-one loads of coarse gravel and cover willow cuttings were used as fill inside the rock shell of the structure. To anchor the structure, rock to rock and wood to rock connections were drilled and secured with cable, plates, molly bolts and epoxy; rebar was used to secure key logs.
Rex’s Wingdam II (Son of Wingdam?)
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Sed porta nisi id nisi rutrum, sed interdum est vehicula. Aenean vitae massa suscipit, dignissim magna a, tempor lectus. Suspendisse potenti. Maecenas malesuada vestibulum risus, et dictum ipsum. Nulla tristique libero eu laoreet porttitor. Curabitur non ligula eget dolor ullamcorper luctus vel at dui. Nullam laoreet arcu id felis ultricies, eu pharetra justo euismod. Mauris sed orci ultricies, ultricies ante eu, egestas tellus. In aliquet mollis eros non lacinia.
Rex’s Wingdam
Fusce elementum mi ac massa lacinia, ut ullamcorper mi porttitor. Ut vitae accumsan sem, sed pellentesque libero. Proin vulputate justo vel leo malesuada cursus. Nullam quis tincidunt dolor. Phasellus quis interdum sem, eget elementum nunc. Nam mollis odio sapien, vel faucibus ex viverra eu. In vel sagittis dolor, et dictum risus. Sed porta nisi id nisi rutrum, sed interdum est vehicula. Aenean vitae massa suscipit. Suspendisse potenti. Maecenas malesuada vestibulum risus, et dictum ipsum. Nulla tristique libero eu laoreet porttitor. Curabitur non ligula eget dolor ullamcorper luctus vel at dui. Nullam laoreet arcu id felis ultricies, eu pharetra justo euismod. Mauris sed orci ultricies, ultricies ante eu, egestas tellus. In aliquet mollis eros non lacinia.
Sed porta nisi id nisi rutrum, sed interdum est vehicula. Aenean vitae massa suscipit, dignissim magna a, tempor lectus. Suspendisse potenti. Maecenas malesuada vestibulum risus, et dictum ipsum. Nulla tristique libero eu laoreet porttitor. Curabitur non ligula eget dolor ullamcorper luctus vel at dui. Nullam laoreet arcu id felis ultricies, eu pharetra justo euismod. Mauris sed orci ultricies, ultricies ante eu, egestas tellus. In aliquet mollis eros non lacinia.
Stansberry Creek
Fusce elementum mi ac massa lacinia, ut ullamcorper mi porttitor. Ut vitae accumsan sem, sed pellentesque libero. Proin vulputate justo vel leo malesuada cursus. Nullam quis tincidunt dolor. Phasellus quis interdum sem, eget elementum nunc. Nam mollis odio sapien, vel faucibus ex viverra eu. In vel sagittis dolor, et dictum risus. Sed porta nisi id nisi rutrum, sed interdum est vehicula. Aenean vitae massa suscipit. Suspendisse potenti. Maecenas malesuada vestibulum risus, et dictum ipsum. Nulla tristique libero eu laoreet porttitor. Curabitur non ligula eget dolor ullamcorper luctus vel at dui. Nullam laoreet arcu id felis ultricies, eu pharetra justo euismod. Mauris sed orci ultricies, ultricies ante eu, egestas tellus. In aliquet mollis eros non lacinia.
Sed porta nisi id nisi rutrum, sed interdum est vehicula. Aenean vitae massa suscipit, dignissim magna a, tempor lectus. Suspendisse potenti. Maecenas malesuada vestibulum risus, et dictum ipsum. Nulla tristique libero eu laoreet porttitor. Curabitur non ligula eget dolor ullamcorper luctus vel at dui. Nullam laoreet arcu id felis ultricies, eu pharetra justo euismod. Mauris sed orci ultricies, ultricies ante eu, egestas tellus. In aliquet mollis eros non lacinia.
East Mill Creek Dam Removal
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Sed porta nisi id nisi rutrum, sed interdum est vehicula. Aenean vitae massa suscipit, dignissim magna a, tempor lectus. Suspendisse potenti. Maecenas malesuada vestibulum risus, et dictum ipsum. Nulla tristique libero eu laoreet porttitor. Curabitur non ligula eget dolor ullamcorper luctus vel at dui. Nullam laoreet arcu id felis ultricies, eu pharetra justo euismod. Mauris sed orci ultricies, ultricies ante eu, egestas tellus. In aliquet mollis eros non lacinia.