MRC is performing watershed analysis on key watersheds in its ownership. The goal of the watershed analysis is to complete a technical assessment of the watersheds to allow MRC to tailor its forest management activities to avoid impacting fish habitat and water quality. MRC anticipates having watershed analysis completed on 70% of its ownership by early 2002. The remainder of the MRC lands will have watershed analysis completed by 2004.
The technical assessment of the watershed analysis includes evaluation of:
- Mass wasting, or the potentialfor and result of landslides;
- Surface and point source erosion,or the potential for and result of runoff from roads or exposed forest soils;
- Roadconditions, or the need for upgrading crossings, assessing road stability, and drainage;
- Riparian function,or shade canopy level and large woody recruitment potential;
- Stream channel condition,or presence of large woody debris, gravels, deep pools, stable banks;
- Fish habitat condition,condition of spawning, over-wintering and rearing habitat and distribution of sensitive fish species.
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Watershed
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Analysis
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Albion
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Completed 1999
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Noyo
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Completed 2000
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Garcia
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Completed 1998
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Hollow Tree Creek
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In progress Draft completed by 2002
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Navarro River
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In progress. Draft completed by 2002
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Willow/Freezeout Creeks
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Download the Willow/Freezeout
Creeks
Watershed Analysis Report
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Upper Russian River
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In progress Draft completed by 2003
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Gualala River
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In progress Draft completed by 2002
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Big River
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In progress Draft completed by 2002
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Cottaneva Creek
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To be determined
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Rockport Small Coastal Streams
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To be determined
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Greenwood Creek
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2003
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Elk Creek
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To be determined
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Alder Creek/Schooner Gulch
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To be determined
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A poster (148k PDF) was created by the California Department of Fish and Game and Jeremy Taylor as poster artist to demonstrate the elements of Watershed Analysis. The poster was shown at the San Francisco Boat Show (January, 2001, the International Sportsmen's Exposition in San Mateo (February, 2001), and L. A.'s Fred Hall Show (March, 2001). See the MRC photo used on this poster.
During 2001, MRC worked on a pilot project called the Watershed Evaluation and Mitigation Addendum, also titled the Interim Watershed Mitigation Addendum (WEMA/IWMA). The objective of the project was to assist the California State Board of Forestry with review of 2 watershed evaluation processes under consideration for Forest Practice Rules. MRC volunteered to provide scoping of potential information, protection measures, and costs involved with the different types of processes. The location of the pilot project was MRC's ownership in the Willow and Freezeout Creeks watersheds in Sonoma County. The project provided information to the Board of Forestry assisting with their decision to adopt the Interim Watershed Mitigation Addendum (IWMA) regulations.
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