Spring Creek Emergency Repairs

The 2007 restoration season came to an end in October, but not before securing the home and property of the Parker Family who live on an urbanized reach of Spring Creek in Santa Rosa. The New Year's Storm of 2005-06 proved to be a costly one for the Parkers. High water flows from the storm and recent upstream development, combined with confined stream morphology, caused significant scouring and eventual collapse of soils adjacent to the Parker residence. (see 'before' photo below.)

The damage to the Parker's property coincided with disaster declarations on both the State and Federal levels. A damage survey deemed an imminent threat to life and property thus the Parkers were eligible for Emergency Watershed Protection funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

NRCS District Conservationist for Sonoma and Marin Counties, Charlette Epifanio, called on Sotoyome Resource Conservation District to act as local sponsor for project management and lead agency on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and permitting necessary for this complicated project. With engineering assistance from Prunuske Chatham, Inc., and Bauer and Associates, Sotoyome RCD was able to obtain the necessary permits from Department of Fish and Game, Regional Water Quality Control Board, US Army Corps of Engineers, and National Marine Fisheries Service within four months. Sotoyome RCD worked with local contractor, Geodynamics, to implement stream bank construction measures needed to secure the streambank and the Parkers' home. (see 'after' photo below).

Sotoyome RCD faced a number of challenges with creek work in urban Santa Rosa. Time spent obtaining permits proved costly to both the SRCD and the Parkers with final approval given just three weeks before construction season was to end, despite the project being funded by Federal Emergency Assistance Funds. NRCS provided valuable assistance by covering shared costs for construction and engineering and by providing technical assistance. A number of issues came into play through the planning and implementation stages of the project such as soil stability, fish rescue, and complicated stream hydrology. Sotoyome RCD will also receive assistance from the Governor's Office of Emergency Services to help cover staff costs for the project.

If readers are interested in learning more about the Sotoyome RCD, or other restoration projects completed each year on private lands, contact the RCD office at 707-569-1448, or visit our website at www.sotoyomercd.org.

After the New Year's storm January 2006.

Completed stream bank stabilization with willow emergence March 2008.