Bibliography Background About KRIS
KRIS Noyo Info Links
Noyo River Flow and Regional Rainfall Data
Flow data in KRIS Noyo comes from U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS) records for the lower Noyo River provided by Graham Matthews as part of data acquired for the Sediment Source Analysis and Preliminary Sediment Budget for the Noyo River (Matthews, 1999). Records of average daily flow are in cubic feet per second. Water years begin on October 1 of the prior calendar year. For example, the 1998 water year started on October 1, 1997. Rainfall is available in KRIS Noyo for Ft Bragg and Willits, which is just five miles east of the upper Noyo Basin. Data origin is the National Weather Service NCDC database and James Goodridge, former state climatologist and now consultant to the California Department of Water Resources. Rainfall data was assimiated by Matthews and provided for use in KRIS. See the KRIS Noyo page on Stream Flow for more information.
Historical Photos Courtesy of the Heald-Poage Museum and Mendocino Historical Society
Historical photos in the KRIS Noyo project were scanned from the collection at the Heald-Poage Museum and Library in Ukiah. This treasure trove of historical images allows us to see channel conditions and land and gain valuable insight into an era before sceintific data was collected. The images are for viewing in this project only and further use of these photos requires the express and written permission of the Mendocino Historical Society. Photo negatives were collected by Robert Lee who developed the prints on display at Heald-Poage. Photos date back as early as the 1860s. Notes are from Mr. Lee and numbers in his reference system are entered in the captions for the photos.
Jackson State Forest Stream Temperature Monitoring
The Jackson State Demonstration Forest (JDSF) comprises about 20% of the Noyo River basin and most of the South Fork watershed. JDSF placed numerous automated temperature sensing probes in the South Fork Noyo and its tributaries since 1996. The Forest Science Project (FSP) in Arcata was contracted to organize JDSF temperature data and to remove outliers and FSP provided the data to IFR for use in the KRIS Noyo project. Water temperature thresholds in KRIS Noyo are extensively discussed in the Temperature background page.
Mendocino Redwood Company Temperature Monitoring
The Mendocino Redwood Company (MRC) provided extensive water temperature data to the KRIS Noyo project. MRC data were for locations within its holdings in the North Fork and Upper Noyo River sub-basins. Many temperature locations were originally chosen by the Louisiana Pacific Lumber Company prior to its acquisition by MRC. Watershed temperature data were supplied to the KRIS staff in 90 Excel files - one for each year for each site. Forty three of these files contained daily summary data only (average and maximum and sometimes mean). An ArcView map coverage of temperature monitoring locations was also provided by MRC.
Chris Surfleet, Watershed Specialist of MRC, provided the following information: "Stream water temperatures were monitored continuously (2-hour interval) during summer (June-September) each year using remote electronic temperature recorders (Ryan Temp Monitors, Hobotemps, and Stowaway probes). The stream temperature recorders were placed in shallow pools (< 1 m in depth) directly downstream of riffles. Placement of temperature recorders in these areas ensured monitoring water that was adequately mixed and prevented de-watering of the monitoring devices. Each data recorder was held in place with a 45 cm piece of rebar that was driven into the streambed substrate with a sledge hammer and a post driver. Plastic coated 12-gauge wire was used to attach the data recorders to the rebar stakes. Quality control procedures were developed and implemented to ensure accurate readings by the temperature data recorders and check for potential instrument errors. All temperature data recorders were calibrated pre- and post-data recording activities".
Water temperature thresholds in KRIS Noyo are extensively discussed in the Temperature background page.
Road Densities in KRIS Noyo
Roads are a major source of sediment to streams. Surface erosion from roads can produce chronic sources of fine sediment which can diminish salmon and steelhead spawning success. Failure of roads during major storm events can lead to large landslides which can overhwhelm streams with sediment, thus filling pools and diminishing habitat diversity. Road densities in KRIS Noyo are taken from Matthews (1999) and were calculated from aerial photographs for different periods. Road densities since 1996 are projected in some cases from Timber Harvest Permits (THPs) filed with the California Department of Forestry (CDF). KRIS shows thresholds for roads of 3 miles per square miles based on National Marine Fisheries Service guidelines (NMFS, 1996). See Roads background page for more information.
Fisheries data in KRIS Noyo comes from several sources, including CDFG, CDF and Mendocino Redwood Company (MRC). Types of samples include net sampling, electrofishing, dive observations, downstream migrant trapping, and adult counts of coho salmon and steelhead adults at the Noyo Egg Collecting Station (see Hatchery Data in KRIS Noyo). For more in-depth information see also the Fish Population background page and Fish Population Information in KRIS Noyo.
CDFG Historical Net Sampling and Visual Estimates: The earliest known fish samples from the Noyo Basin come from 1966 reports by CDFG staff. The KRIS Bibliography allows full review of 28 historic stream surveys from the Noyo Basin, conducted in the years 1957, 1959, 1966-67 (see also Hypothesis #1). Net samples during 1966-67 surveys were taken in ambiguously defined reaches. No detailed information is available on the type of nets used or the types of habitats sampled. These data are used only to show a rough balance between coho and steelhead in the various basins and the former distribution of coho. CDFG has used seine nets to sample fish in the lower Noyo River and estuary, but sampling was not extensive and no reports are available. When fish samples were not collected, coho (silver salmon) and steelhead juvenile abundance was estimated visually as fish per 100 feet of stream.
Electrofishing Quantitiatively and Non-Quantitatively: Electrofishing is generally conducted during low flow conditions from June through October and is used to sample juvenile fish. This technique was used quantitatively by Weldon Jones (CDFG staff) in an index reach of Pudding Creek whereby a specific and consistent habitat area was sampled to calculate densities of all species present. Burns (1972) and Valentine and Jameson (1994) used similar methods in the Little North Fork Noyo River to gauge densities and biomass per unit area. MRC uses block nets and quanitative sampling in representative reaches of streams on their holdings. The surveys are used to gauge distribution of various species of salmonids, and in some cases calculate densities in specific areas. Other vertebrate species captured are also noted. MRC also uses snorkling to assess fish presence in stream segments where the channel too large to allow electrofishing. Habitat typing surveys conducted by CDFG between 1994-1999 involve crews staffed by California Conservation Corp and Americorp technicians with minimal experience. Surveys follow methods described in the California Salmonid Restoration Manual (CDFG, 1998), and include electrofishing of representative habitats, but no use block nets, or any protocol to allow quantitative calculations. Sampling effort is minimal. Non-detection of a species, such as coho salmon , cannot be taken as total absence. These data can be used, however, as an indicator of fish community structure. The mix of coho and steelhead and its change over time reveals information about habitat change and suitability.
Fish Dive Counts: MRC snorkele counts consist of a minimum of three pools. Depending on the channel width, one to four divers survey the stream reach from the downstream end, and wait approximately one-half to one-minute at the downstream end of the survey unit before proceeding upstream to observe fish. Direct dive observation was also used by Adams et al. (1999) to determine presence and absence of coho salmon relative to historic surveys throughout the Central California region (ESU), including Mendocino County. In an earlier year, Brown et al (1992) sampled just Mendocino Coastal streams in a similar manner. Because the varying returns of different year classes of coho, three consective years of survey are be needed for definitive presence/absence information. See the Status of Pacific Salmon in Mendocino Area Background page for more information).
Downstream Migrant Trapping: Information has been collected by CDFG for the South Fork Noyo River, the North Fork SF Noyo, and Caspar Creek (all within JDSF). Traps have been operated for extensive periods and give a good indication of the relative abundance in various years, community structure, outmigration timing, and size. The traps in the South Fork and North Fork South Fork do not capture the entire stream flow and have not been calibrated to allow extrapolation and calculation of populations. A downstream migrant trap was also operated in the Little North Fork Noyo River in 1995 and 1996 as part of a Humboldt State University Master Thesis (Manning, in press). The latter effort involved local cooperation with sampling (Maahs, 1996). Sampling methods were similar to those used by CDFG.
Habitat typing surveys by the CDFG and the Georgia Pacific Company (now Hawthorne-Campbell) provide a useful inventory that provides insight into suitability for coho salmon and steelhead juveniles. Protocols follow the California Salmonid Restoration Manual (CDFG, 1998). KRIS Noyo uses a simplified scheme with only flatwater, riffles and pools to judge pool frequency by length as an indicator of fish habitat condition because coho salmon and 1+ steelhead require pool habitat for successful rearing. Embeddedness from the surveys is used as a rough estimate of spawning gravel quality, although bulk gravel samples are far superior as a monitoring tool. Canopy measurements in habitat typing surveys are quantitative and give indications of opportunities for stream warming and long term prospects for large wood recruitment. To learn more about using fish habitat data, see the Habitat Typing background pages.
Noyo River Sediment Source Analysis
Matthews (1999) calculated sediment yield from various sources and sub-basins in the Noyo River watershed to assist the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the TMDL process. Sources of mass wasting were analyzed and changes in causative factors estimated over time. Aerial photos were used extensively to check road densities, the progression of timber harvest and linkage between land use and sediment yield. The heavy use of aerial photos sometimes made it necessary to make conservative estimates. For example, no history of timber harvest was available before 1942 (the earliest aerial photo series); consequently, all landslides in forested areas were categorized as "natural". Sediment transport estimates were calculated from regional data and recognized by the author as accurate only to an order of magnitude. Road densities since 1996 may be in part estimates from Timber Harvest Permits (THPs) on file with CDF, and to the extent that some of these plans are still pending approval, involve some overestimation. Matthews (1999) captured photographs of the mid- and lower Noyo Rivers in 1952 and 1996 as figures in his report and in KRIS Noyo Tours. Many figures in Matthews (1999) were generated from an ArcView project, which was made available to IFR. Map views also appear as images in KRIS Noyo.
Fine Sediment: McNeil Samples and Gravel Permeability
McNeil (bulk gravel) sample data in KRIS Noyo were collected by the Mendocino Redwood Company (MRC), CDFG and CDF. Within the Noyo basin, only MRC has collected permeability data. The MRC methodology has not been published, but Chris Surfleet, Watershed Specialist for MRC, has provided material in draft which has been excerpted below to describe sampling methods and measurement protocols:
In five stream segments (20-30 bankfull channel widths in length) from MRC's Noyo Basin streams, samples were taken from four pool tail-out sections. These segments were also subject to three cross sectional surveys and a thalweg longitudinal profile. Four pool tail-out locations were randomly selected from all pool tail-out sections sufficient for spawning (i.e., not dominated by bedrock or covered in substrate too large for a fish to make a redd). At each pool tail-out to be sampled, permeability was measured at three sites across the channel and two depths per site. Samples were located at the 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 mark of the wetted channel. Permeability was taken at a depth of 12.5 cm and 25 cm. A bulk gravel sample was taken on the permeability site closest to the thalweg of the channel (the deepest spot).
Bulk gravel samples were taken using a 12" McNeil sampler [actually, a modified McNeil in the form of a simple cylinder, placed on the streambed and worked downward as the sample is manually removed]. Dried bulk gravel samples were sieved through 7 different size-class screens (50, 25, 12.5, 6.3, 4.75, 2.36, 0.85 mm) and weighed using a commercial quality scale. Stream gravel permeability was measured using a stand-pipe as discussed in Barnard and McBain (1994). The bulk gravel sample was stratified by depth to correspond to the two depths of permeability measurements; one portion of the bulk gravel sample was taken to a depth of 18 cm, the other portion of the bulk sample was taken from 18 cm to a depth of 30 cm. Because gravel permeability is affected by gravel above and below the depth of measurement, the bulk gravel sample should be taken to a depth deeper than measured by the permeability. The bulk gravel samples for the two depths were kept separate so that the gravel particle distribution could be determined for each depth.
Burns (1972) and Valentine and Jameson (1994) used similar methods to measure fine sediment in the Little North Fork Noyo River in differrent periods. Burns (1972) sampled before and after the resumption of logging in 1966, 1968 and 1969 while Valentine and Jameson (1994) sampled most extensively in 1992. Samples from Valentine and Jameson (1994) taken in 1991 and 1993 were less extensive, did not follow the same sampling regime and were not provided to IFR and, therefore, results could not be included in KRIS Noyo.
For more information on how sediment effects fish, methods of sampling and justification for threholds used in KRIS Noyo charts, see the Sediment background page.
Cross Sections and Longitudinal Profiles in KRIS Noyo
The Mendocino Redwood Company monitors cross sections and longitudinal profiles of various stream segments in the North Fork Noyo basin as part of its sediment sampling program and provided the information to IFR for use in KRIS Noyo. Changes in bed elevation can be used to gauge the timing and magnitude of sediment transport (see the Measuring Sediment background page). Longitudinal (long) profiles follow the deepest portion of the channel, known as the thalweg, over a certain reach. Because only one year of data was available, the data were of limited use for analysis in this phase of KRIS Noyo so one example of a cross section and long profile is shown as an example. Future versions of KRIS Noyo can use data from subsequent years for analysis.
Turbidity Measurements in KRIS Noyo
The City of Fort Bragg is the only entity within the Noyo River basin that has measured turbidity and their readings are confined to the area near the City's water intake. Matthews (1999) acquired these data and supplied it to IFR for use in KRIS. Several studies are currently underway in northwestern California to better understand turbidity, its realtionship to land use and its imapcts on aquatic life. See discussions in the Sediment Background page for more about this topic.
Knopp North Coast Regional Sediment Study
Excessive fine sediment fills pools and causes general instability of stream gravels and channel form. Loss of pool depth and channel complexity lowers the carrying capacity of streams for aquatic biota. The various indices for measuring such impairment of stream channels were tested by Knopp (1993) at 60 northwestern California sites. The proportion of a pool's residual volume that is filled by fine sediment is termed V-star (Hilton and Lisle, 1993) and V* values from Mendocino streams, including some South Fork Noyo tributaries are presented in KRIS Noyo. Data from Knopp's testing of other indices are available in the KRIS source table, Knopp.dbf. See the Sediment Background page Sediment Information in KRIS to learn more, including about the 0.27 V* threshold shown on the chart.
Vegetation and Timber Types of Cal Water Watersheds
The vegetation and timber types used in the KRIS Noyo project was derived from Landsat multi-spectral images taken in 1994. The U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region Remote Sensing Lab, in cooperation with the California Department of Forestry, analyzed the Landsat images to formulate a California-wide electronic map layer of vegetation as part of the Northwest Forest Plan (Warbington et al., 1998). See theVegetation Types background page for more information)Stand conditions are accurately represented at the one hectare scale by the USFS vegetation data. Data is quarried for tree size or community type in KRIS Noyo Maps. This allows quantitative assessment of vegetation types for seral stage based on tree size for geographic areas such as CalWater planning watersheds in KRIS DB.
For use in KRIS, vegetation and timber types were simplified into ten classifications. Vegetation classifications are:
Very Large Trees = 40" in diameter or greater
Large Trees = 30-39.9" in diameter
Medium/Large Trees = 20-29.9" in diameter
Small/Medium Trees = 12-19.9" in diameter
Small Trees = 5-11.9" in diameter
Saplings = 1-4.9" in diameter
Non-Forest = Non-tree species such as shrubs, grasses or bare soil
This simpler classification provides an easy to understand index of watershed disturbance for use in coastal watersheds. Large components of early seral stage conditions (Saplings, Non-Forest) are often associated with recent logging disturbance. The vegetation patterns in interior basins, such as the Eel River and Klamath River watersheds, are much more complicated than in coastal ecosystems and more difficult to use to analyze changes in vegetation brought about by watershed management activities. The KRIS vegetation classification scheme can also be used for a quick analysis of riparian conditions. Ninety meter (297 ft.) zones of riparian influence are assigned to the 1:24000 stream layer in ArcView and only the vegetation within this zone is displayed and analyzed.
Timber Harvest Data in KRIS Noyo
Timber harvest data in KRIS comes from two sources, Matthews (1999) and the California Department of Forestry (CDF). Matthews (1999) measured and mapped timber harvests from aerial photos dating back to 1942 but also included recent data from planned timber harvests from CDF. The CDF data is included in its entirity in the KRIS Noyo Map project and allows query on timber harvest type, acres, year, ownership and other parameters. Read more about the Timber Harvest maps in the KRIS project.
Parlin Creek Large Wood Replacement Project
The California Department of Fish and Game and California Department of Forestry have been working cooperatively on a large wood placement project in Parlin Creek on Jackson Demonstration State Forest. Large logs are placed individually or in clusters to try and restore complex stream habitat and pools with good cover. See Stream Restoration Information in KRIS to learn more about the project.
The California Department of Fish and Game began stream clearance projects in the late 1950s to try and reverse impacts of sedimentation from logging and to facilitate fish passage. The Mendocino Redwood Company, and its predecessor Lousiana Pacific Corp, have studied large wood removal and calculated the amount of large wood removed in board. See the Stream Clearance background page to learn more.
Lower Noyo River Basin Description
The Lower Noyo basin is much smaller than other Noyo River sub-basin areas analyzed, with an area of only 7.84 mi 2 . The Lower Noyo has much less steep ground than other sub-basins, being largely on coastal terraces, and also a relatively low level of land management activities. The Lower Noyo has 62% of the land in that planning area having slopes of less than 20%, compared to 10-15% for the other four Noyo sub-basins.The Lower Noyo sub-basin extends upstream to the South Fork Noyo River and includes the estuary and Noyo Harbor. This watershed is adjacent to the coast and rainfall is the lowest in the Noyo River basin at about 40 inches annually.
North Fork Noyo River Basin Description
The following was taken from the NCRWQCB (1999) TMDL and describes the North Fork Noyo basin which they refer to as the North Fork Assessment Area (NFAA). "NFAA is composed of 16,045 acres or 25.07 mi 2 , including CDF’s Planning Watershed numbers 113.20013, 113.20014, and a portion of 113.20015. It is located at the upper end of the basin, immediately northwest of the city of Willits, and includes the North Fork Noyo River, the Middle Fork of the North Fork Noyo River, Hayworth Creek, and the North Fork of Hayworth Creek. NFAA is primarily underlain by Coastal Belt Franciscan geology. Many of the tributaries to the North Fork Noyo River and Hayworth Creek have steep inner gorges. Similarly, the areas drained by the upper reaches of nearly all the streams in this assessment area contain large translational/rotational slides, earth flows, and numerous debris slides. NFAA has an average annual rainfall of approximately 65 inches, which falls primarily between October and April. Mendocino Redwood Company is the largest landowner in NFAA."
Middle Noyo River Basin Description
The Middle Noyo basin includes the mainstem Noyo River from the South Fork to the convergence of the North Fork Noyo at Northspur. Major tributaries include the Little North Fork Noyo River and Duffy Gulch. Rainfall increases away from the coast and areas of the Middle Noyo basin receive 55 inches a year. The eastern portion of this sub-basin begins to rise in elevation. Much of the Noyo River mainstem and its smaller tributaries have steep inner gorges from Northspur (at the confluence of the North Fork Noyo River and the mainstem) to the west (NCRWQCB, 1999). Similarly, the upper reaches of nearly all the streams in the upper reaches of this assessment area contain large translational/rotational slides, earth flows, and numerous debris slides, including reaches of the mainstem Noyo River (NCRWQCB, 1999). The largest land owner in the basin is the Hawthorne-Campbell Timber Company.
Upper Noyo River Basin Description
The following was taken from the NCRWQCB (1999) TMDL and describes the Upper Noyo basin which they refer to as the Headwaters Assessment Area (HAA). "HAA is composed of 17,390 acres or 27.17 mi 2 , including the CDF’s Planning Watershed numbers 113.20010, 113.20011, and 113.20012. It is located at the upper end of the basin, immediately west of the city of Willits, and includes the upper Noyo River, Olds Creek, McMullen Creek and Redwood Creek. It is primarily nderlain by Coastal Belt Franciscan geology, though it also includes some Franciscan Melange at the upper end of the Noyo River main stem and Olds Creek. A thrust fault separates the Coastal Belt Franciscan from the Franciscan Melange. HAA
contains large translational/rotational slides and earth flows (DMG, 1984). The average annual rainfall is approximately 65 inches, which falls primarily between October and April (Matthews, 1999). Mendocino Redwood Company is the largest landowner in HAA."
South Fork Noyo River Basin Description
The following was taken from the NCRWQCB (1999) TMDL and describes the South Fork Noyo basin which they refer to as the South Fork Assessment Area (SFAA). "SFAA is composed of 17,575 acres or 27.46 mi 2 , including CDF’s Planning Watershed numbers 113.20030, 113.20031, and 113.20033. It is located near the lower end of the basin, immediately southeast of the city of Fort Bragg, and includes the South Fork Noyo River, Parlin Creek, the North Fork of the South Fork Noyo River, and Kass Creek. SFAA is primarily underlain by Coastal Belt Franciscan geology. Kass Creek, the North Fork of the South Fork and some of the South Fork Noyo River and Parlin Creek have steep inner gorges. The North Fork of the South Fork Noyo River also has extensive debris slide amphitheaters, as do various small tributaries throughout SFAA (DMG, 1982). SFAA has an average annual rainfall of approximately 50 inches that fall primarily between October and April (Matthews, 1999). The State of California is the largest landowner in SFAA (Jackson Demonstration State Forest)."
Pudding Creek Basin Description
Pudding Creek flows into the ocean at the north end of the City of Fort Bragg. Most of the basin is within the zone of marine influence with fog and cloud cover common in summer. Pudding Creek has a very mild gradient and was considered an excellent coho salmon producing stream (CDFG, 1965). The Skunk Train runs along lower Pudding Creek. The Hawthorne-Campbell timber company is a large landowner in this sub-basin, but some of the basin is in ranch land ownership. Little Valley Creek is a major tributary of Pudding Creek and has intensive agricultural land use. The total watershed area is comprised of the Little Valley and Pudding Creek CalWater planning units.
Note about documents in KRIS
