• Hydraulic and geomorphic analysis and design
• Fish passage assessment
• Field construction supervision

Clearwater Hydrology (CH) prepared a geomorphic analysis and engineering hydrologic design for restoration of a 250 ft. reach of the Little River, a perennial stream just south of the Town of Mendocino in Van Damme State Park. The project involved removal of a failing bridge wingwall and approximately 120 ft. of failing gabion (rock-filled wire baskets) revetment on the north bank of the channel; reconstruction of the channel bed to remove a scour hole barrier to fish passage at the bridge (accomplished by building a natural cascade with gradual drops in the channel grade); reconstruction of the channel cross-section to include a low flow terrace with LWD stabilizing elements and a gentler north bank; construction of in-channel boulder weirs to emulate a rapid-pool morphology; construction of native material revetments (comprised of rootwads, logs, boulders and alluvial backfill) at two sites to provide a smooth hydraulic transition both into and out of the project reach; and site re-vegetation with locally procured plants (forbs and trees) and native erosion control materials.

The project was constructed by joint venture partner Watershed Science with engineering supervision by CH in Oct. 1996. The restoration successfully held throughout the high flow periods in early winter 1997, just three months after project construction, as well as the El Nino winter of 1998.

return to project examples
previous example
next example