Eel River Recovery Project Inc

ASSISTING CITIZENS IN MONITORING FISH, WATER TEMPERATURE, ALGAE AND FLOW. PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT FISH AND WATER QUALITY, INCLUDING EROSION CONTROL, RIPARIAN RESTORATION, WATER CONSERVATION, PUBLIC AND SCHOOL EDUCATION AND FOREST HEALTH.

THE TENMILE CREEK WATER CONSERVATION AND EROSION CONTROL PROJECT RESTORATION PILOT PROJECT IS FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL CONSERVANCY FROM PROP 1 FUNDS. IT OPENED IN APRIL 2021 AND WILL CLOSE IN APRIL 2024. UNDER THIS GRANT, ERRP WILL PLAN AND PERMIT WATER STORAGE FOR AN ORGANIC FARM AND SUMMER CAMP FOR INNER CITY YOUTH SO THAT THE BLACK OAK RANCH CAN FORBEAR FROM WITHDRAWING WATER FROM STREETER CREEK, AN IMPORTANT SALMON AND STEELHEAD BEARING TRIBUTARY. EROSION CONTROL PROJECTS ARE ALSO BEING PLANNED AND PERMITTED TO STOP SEDIMENT POLLUTION. COOPERATION FOR FORBEARANCE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE TENMILE CREEK WATERSHED IS BEING SOUGHT IN EXCHANGE FOR ACQUIRING GRANT FUNDS FOR ADDITIONAL WATER STORAGE. THE US EPA VELMA MODEL WILL BE USED TO COMPARE FLOWS BETWEEN ALTERED TENMILE TRIBUTARIES AND ELDER CREEK, A CONTROL STREAM ON THE ANGELO RESERVE TO THE WEST. A SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER BUDGET FOR MILL AND CAHTO CREEKS IS BEING CREATED. WATER FLOW, TEMPERATURE AND FISH COMMUNITY STRUCTURE ARE BEING MONITORED AS PART OF THIS PROJECT. CREATED TENMILE CREEK CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION ACTION PLAN THAT INCLUDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR WATER CONSERVATION AND EROSION CONTROL AND ALSO EXPLAINS THE INFLUENCE OF FOREST HEALTH ON FLOW AND THE NEED TO RESTORE WATERSHED HYDROLOGY. ERRP SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THIS PILOT PROJECT AND ALSO WON ADDITIONAL GRANTS THAT ARE BEING EXECUTED IN 2021.

THE NORTH COAST RESOURCE PARTNERSHIP AWARDED ERRP A GRANT FOR THE TENMILE CREEK FOREST HEALTH PILOT PROJECT TO CREATE FOREST HEALTH PLANS FOR 12 LAND OWNERS SO THEY CAN SUBSEQUENTLY QUALIFY FOR IMPLEMENTATION FUNDS THROUGH CLIMATE CHANGE INITIATIVE GRANTS. ERRP HAS RECRUITED FOREST HEALTH CONTRACTORS, CONDUCTED FOREST INVENTORIES, DEVISED A STREAMLINES FOREST HEALTH PLAN TEMPLATE THAT CAN BE USED IN NORTH COAST WATERSHEDS. THE PROJECT ALSO INVOLVES GRASSLAND HEALTH IMPROVEMENT IN ORDER TO REDUCE FIRE RISK, BRING BACK NATIVE GRASS SPECIES, SUPPRESS AND ELIMINATE INVASIVE GRASS SPECIES AND TO ENCOURAGE LAND OWNERS TO BE MORE ACTIVE STEWARDS.

THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES AWARDED ERRP AN URBAN STREAM RESTORATION PROGRAM GRANT FOR THE TOWN CREEK RESTORATION AND EDUCATION PROJECT IN COVELO IN NORTH EASTERN MENDOCINO COUNTY. THE PROJECT'S PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO TREAT A 720 FOOT REACH OF ERODING BANK ON TOWN CREEK USING BIOENGINEERING METHODS, INCLUDING PLANNING AND PERMITTING. ERRP WILL WORK WITH THE ROUND VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND ROUND VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL TO INVOLVE THEM IN STREAM RESTORATION AND WILL DO OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE STEWARDSHIP.

THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD AWARDED ERRP A 319H GRANT FUNDED WITH USE OF US EPA MONEY TO ABATE NON-POINT SOURCE POLLUTION. THE TENMILE CREEK EROSION CONTROL AND RIPARIAN RESTORATION PROJECT WILL REPAIR 620 FEET OF ERODING STREAM BANK, RESTORE THE RIPARIAN AREA USING LIVING WILLOW AND CREATE IMPROVED FISH HABITAT FOR ESA-LISTED PACIFIC SALMON SPECIES. IN ADDITION, WE CONDUCTED OUR YEARLY SURVEY OF SACRAMENTO PIKEMINNOW ON AN INDEX REACH OF THE SOUTH FORK EEL RIVER. WE SUPPORTED A STUDENT INTERN UNDER A PBS AGE OF NATURE GRANT INCLUDING EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL SUPPORT. WE ALSO PUBLISHED MAGAZINE ARTICLES, ISSUED PRESS RELEASES, MAINTAINED A WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE, PROVIDED VIDEOS ON VIMEO AND INTERVIEWS ON SOUNDCLOUD, PUBLISHED QUARTERLY NEWSLETTERS AND PUT OUT A CALENDAR FOR FUNDRAISING PURPOSES.