YUBA COUNTY WATER AGENCY Representative Site Selection Above Englebright Reservoir Stream Fish, Aquatic BMI, Aquatic Mollusks Yuba County Water Agency Yuba River Development Project FERC Project No. 2246
Purpose and Goal The following document provides locations for representative field sampling activities. This document is a planning level assessment of general locations where sampling is required. All GPS locations, imagery, elevation and other data are to generally characterize the area. As a result, actual site locations may be adjusted to accommodate field sampling logistics, or to move sample areas to habitat that better represents the stream reach. Locations will be refined during collaboration and finalization. The goal of this assessment will be define locations for Stream Fish Populations Above Englebright Reservoir and BMI sampling Above of Englebright Reservoir and to overlap or co-locate sites where possible. In addition, single site locations for aquatic mollusk sampling on Forest Service land will also be defined. Selection Criteria Where possible and appropriate, sites will: 1) include habitat representative of the overall reach; 2) be located with any known historic sampling sites; 3) be co-located with sampling sites for other aquatic studies (Instream Flow, Fish, BMI, Aquatic Mollusks); 4) be selected using mesohabitat mapping information available when the sites are selected to help identify sampling sites with mesohabitat types in similar proportion to the larger geomorphic reaches of the river; 5) be chosen far enough upstream or downstream of access locations to minimize the effects of recreational activity, but still be reasonably accessible to field crews; and 6) where comparisons likely are to be made between sampling locations, comparison study sites will be located in sections of river with similar habitat types and similar sampling methods will be used. Site selection confirmation will involve identifying the upstream and downstream markers for each site. Sample sites may vary in length, and will range at a minimum, between 100 and 300 meters (m). The exact length will be based on sufficiently representing habitat. For each Fish Population site, the field participants will also highlight if snorkeling will be required to sample a site, as that is the secondary sampling method if electrofishing is not feasible. Data Reviewed Several tools and information sources were utilized to select site locations. USGS quads, aerial video, GIS datasets, field habitat mapping data, photos, and relicensing participant comments were reviewed. Site selection was based upon representing overall habitat within the stream channel, by elevation, spatial distribution, sampling feasibility and safety. Below is a description of how best to utilize the enclosed information. 1
FERC Required Site Locations (obtained from Finalized Study Plans) Stream Fish Populations Above Englebright Reservoir Stream North Yuba River Oregon Creek Middle Yuba River Yuba River River Reaches New Bullard s Bar Dam Reach Upstream of Log Cabin Diversion Dam Reach Non-Project Log Cabin Diversion Dam Reach Upstream of Our House Diversion Dam Reach Non-Project Our House Diversion Dam Reach Reach Length (mi) 2.3 Not Applicable General Location Site located below but in the vicinity of the USGS gaging station downstream of New Bullard s Bar Dam. Site will be determined based on reasonable access and appropriate sampling area (e.g., avoid large substrate and interstitial flowing water common for this section of the river). Site located near the confluence of the North Yuba River with the Middle Yuba River. Site located proximally to Log Cabin Diversion Dam, if possible within 0.5 mile. 4.1 Site located near the confluence of Oregon Creek with the Middle Yuba River. n/a Site located within 0.5 mile upstream of Our House Diversion Dam Reach. 7.5 Site located within 0.5 mile downstream of Our House Diversion Dam. Site located upstream of the Highway 49 Bridge Crossing near RM 4.5. Oregon Creek Reach 4.5 Site located proximally to Moonshine Creek near RM 3.4. Middle/North Yuba River Reach New Colgate Powerhouse Reach Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Above Englebright Reservoir Stream Reach General Location North Yuba River Oregon Creek Middle Yuba River 5.8 1.7 New Bullard s Bar Dam Reach Log Cabin Diversion Dam Reach Our House Diversion Dam Reach Oregon Creek Reach Yuba River Middle/North Yuba (assuming a suitable site can be River Reach found and sampling can be New Colgate performed safely) Powerhouse Reach *Recently added by FERC on September 30, 2011 Site located near the confluence of the Middle Yuba River in an accessible location. Access within the reach is limited. Site located proximally upstream of the New Colgate Powerhouse (RM 34) where access is available. Site may be quantitatively snorkeled due to the larger stream channel. Site located upstream of the influence of the reservoir, but downstream of the influence of the powerhouse. Sites will likely be quantitatively snorkeled due to the larger stream channel. Limited access may be available at Rice Crossing or from access roads of the powerhouse. Within 0.5 mile downstream of New Bullards Bar Dam Immediately upstream of confluence with North Yuba River Within 0.5 mile downstream of Log Cabin Diversion Dam Immediately upstream of confluence with Middle Yuba River Within 0.5 mile downstream of Our House Diversion Dam Immediately upstream of Oregon Creek* Immediately downstream of the confluence with Oregon Creek Immediately upstream of confluence with North Yuba River Within 0.5 mile upstream of New Colgate powerhouse* Within 0.5 mile downstream of New Colgate Powerhouse Aquatic Mollusks Licensee will select a single sampling location for FSS mollusks on each river reach identified in the Stream Fish Populations Study on which NFS land occurs. Specialstatus mollusk sampling sites will be co-located with Stream Fish Population Study sites, and if a reach includes more than one stream fish sampling site on NFS land, Licensee will randomly select one of the sites in the reach for special-status mollusk sampling. In addition, Licensee will select three sites on NFS land for special-status mollusk sampling along the shoreline of New Bullards Bar Reservoir (not included in this site package). Notably NFS Land is not present in North or main Yuba rivers. 2
How to Use This Data Two pieces of data are coordinated with tools the relicensing participants have on hand, aerial maps and aerial video. The proposed locations have lat and long measurements that can be pasted into mapping services such as Google Maps (http://maps.google.com) or Acme Mapper (http://mapper.acme.com/) in the following format (39 22 54.57, -121 08 17.82 ). (Note that the GPS units are not the exact same format as displayed in the aerial video, so an additional explanation for the aerial video GPS is included in the next paragraph). Always separate the latitude and longitude with a comma and space and include a negative sign or dash prior to the longitude. There is also an embedded GPS unit in the video. In the video capture below, the GPS units are displayed as 3923N2401 and 12105W7933. To enter this into a mapping service (i.e. Google Maps) you would translate it into 39 23.2401, -121 05.7933. The N and the W turn into decimals and spaces are inserted. Finally, the time counter on the aerial video is displayed for each area, so that you can quickly navigate to the proposed location and view habitat within the area. Only reference the counter on the screen shown below, the counter in your program interface may be different. Included Data Example Information: Lat: 39 23 14.41 Long: 121 05 47.50 Video: 01:50:28 Timer Location Video GPS Location 3
North Yuba River New Bullard s Bar Dam Reach Project(s): Fish, BMI No Forest Service Land--No Aquatic Mollusk Sampling Site: 1 of 2 (Upper Site) Rivermile: Approx. 1.5 Elevation: 1,250 ft. Lat: 39 22 54.57 Long: 121 08 17.82 Video: 00:40:11 4
North Yuba River New Bullard s Bar Dam Reach Project(s): Fish, BMI No Forest Service Land--No Aquatic Mollusk Sampling Site 2 of 2 (Lower Site) Rivermile: Approx. 0.25 Elevation: 1,190 ft. Lat: 39 22 13.06 Long: 121 08 21.16 Video: 00:39:00 5
North Yuba, New Bullards Bar Dam Reach Habitat Summary Chart Upper Site Falls 1 New Bullards Bar Dam 1,350 Cascades Chutes 2 3 Average Gradient: 2.0% Rapids 4 1,300 High Gradient Riffles 5 Low Gradient Riffles 6 Glides 7 Runs 8 Step-Runs/Step Pools 9 Pocket Water 10 Sheetflow 11 Lower Site Gradient 5.5% 1,250 1,200 Elevation (ft) Convergence Pool 12 Mid-Channel Pool 13 Lateral Pool 14 Trench Pool 15 Gradient 3.4% 1,150 Plunge Pool 16 Junction with Middle Yuba Geology - Mesozoic volcanic rocks of the Smartville Complex 17 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 Gradient break River Mile 1,100 = Site Location 6
Oregon Creek Upstream of Log Cabin Diversion Dam Reach (Non-Project) Project(s): Fish Note: General area, but will be defined in field (limited aerial video) Site: 1 of 3 Rivermile: Approx. 4.7 Elevation: 1,996 ft. Lat: 39 26'30.35 Long: 121 3 20.13 Video: 02:19:49 7
Oregon Creek Downstream of Log Cabin Diversion Dam Reach Project(s): BMI Site: 2 of 3 Rivermile: Approx. 3.6 Elevation: 1,890 ft. Lat: 39 26' 11.24 Long: 121 3' 36.92" Video: 02:19:49 8
Oregon Creek Log Cabin Diversion Dam Reach Project(s): Fish, BMI, Mollusks (Note: Can t go much upstream to stay on Forest Service Land for Mollusks) Site: 3 of 3 Rivermile: Approx. 0.4 Elevation: 1,499 ft. Lat: 39 23 55.06 Long: 121 04 44.71 Video: 01:56:14 9
Oregon Creek, Log Cabin Diversion Dam Reach Habitat Summary Chart Log Cabin Dam Falls Cascades 1 2 Average Gradient: 2.3% 2,000 Chutes Rapids 3 4 Celestial Valley Road RM 3.6 3.7% 1,900 High Gradient Riffles 5 Below LCDD BMI Site Low Gradient Riffles Glides 6 7 1,800 Runs 8 Step-Runs/Step Pools 9 Pocket Water 10 1.6% 1,700 Elevation (ft) Sheetflow 11 Convergence Pool 12 4.6% 1,600 Mid-Channel Pool 13 Lateral Pool 14 Trench Pool 15 1.9% Plunge Pool 16 Junction w/ Middle Yuba 17 Log Cabin DD Reach Site 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 1,500 1,400 Gradient Break = Site Location River Mile Note: Site above LCDD, not shown 10
Middle Yuba River Our House Diversion Dam Reach (Non-Project) Project(s): Fish Site: 1 of 4 (Upstream of OHDD) Rivermile: Approx. 12.2 Elevation: 2,038 ft. Lat: 39 24 52.15 Long: 120 59 27.75 Video: 02:10:54 ~OR~ 11
Middle Yuba River Our House Diversion Dam Reach Project(s): Fish, BMI, Mollusks (Option - 1) Site: 2 of 4 (Upper Site) Rivermile: Approx. 11.7 Elevation: 1,965 ft. Lat: 39 24 38.8 Long: 120 59 52.62 Video: 02:09:10 12
Middle Yuba River Our House Diversion Dam Reach Project(s): Fish, BMI, Mollusks (Option - 2) Site: 3 of 4 (Lower Site) Rivermile: Approx. 4.7 Elevation: 1,445 ft. Lat: 39 23 37.63 Long: 121 04 51.22 Video: 01:53:19 13
Middle Yuba River Oregon Creek Reach Project(s): Fish, BMI, Mollusks (Option - 3) Note: To be an option for Mollusks, the site must be upstream of the tributary Site: 4 of 4 Rivermile: Approx. 3.4 Elevation: 1,390 ft. Lat: 39 23 14.99 Long: 121 05 44.06 Video: 01:50:19 14
Middle Yuba River, Our House Diversion Dam and Oregon Creek Reaches Habitat Summary Chart Falls 0 Gradient - 1.8% Cascades1 2 Hwy 49; Oregon Ck Junction Chutes 3 Rapids 4 Sheet Flow 5 High Gradient Riffles6 Low Gradient Riffles7 Glides8 9 Runs 10 Step-Runs/Step Pools 11 Pocket Water 12 Freemans Crossing Mid-Channel Pool 13 Lateral Pool 14 15 Trench Pool 16 Plunge Pool 17 Convergence Pool 18 Split 19 Lower Site Oregon Creek Reach Site Geology - gabbroic ploutonic, Smartville Complex Junction with North Yuba Upper Site Emory Island - Split Channel (main channel mapped) 2,000 Our House Dam 1,900 1,800 1,700 0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0 River Mile 1,600 1,500 1,400 1,300 1,200 1,100 Elevation (ft) = Site Location Note: Site above OHDD, not shown 15
Yuba River Middle/North Yuba River Reach Project(s): Fish No Forest Service Land--No Aquatic Mollusk Sampling Site 1 of 3 (Upper Site) Rivermile: Approx. 39.4 Elevation: 1,149 ft. Lat: 39 22 03.30 Long: 121 08 08.91 Video: 01:42:33 16
Yuba River Middle/North Yuba River Reach Project(s): Fish, BMI No Forest Service Land--No Aquatic Mollusk Sampling Site 2 of 3 (Lower Site) Rivermile: Approx. 34.5 Elevation: 564 ft. Lat: 39 19 52.17 Long: 121 10 59.99 Video: 00:31:10 17
Yuba River New Colgate Powerhouse Reach Project(s): Fish, BMI (if wadeable) No Forest Service Land--No Aquatic Mollusk Sampling Site 3 of 3 Rivermile: Approx. 33.0 Elevation: 528 ft. Lat: 39 18 44.88 Long: 121 12 17.52 Video: 00:28:22 18
Yuba River, Middle/North Yuba River and New Colgate Powerhouse Reaches Habitat Summary Chart New Colgate PH Reach Falls 1 Cascades 2 Chutes 3 Rapids 4 Sheet Flow5 High Gradient Riffles 6 Low Gradient Riffles 7 Glides 8 Middle/North Yuba River Reach Average Gradient: 1.8% Upper Site North Yuba/Midde Yuba Junction 1,040 940 Runs 9 Step-Runs/Step Pools 10 Pocket Water 11 Mid-Channel Pool 12 Lateral Pool 13 840 740 Elevation (ft) Trench Pool 14 Plunge Pool 15 Convergence Pool 16 New Colgate PH Lower Site 640 Out of View 17 Split 18 19 Geology - gabbro (Pleasant Valley pluton), volcanic (Smartville Complex), quartz diorite 540 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 New Colgate PH Reach Site = Site Location 19 River Mile