R24AP00284

Award Purpose:
Restoration of 196 acres of floodplain along the mainstem Sacramento River through the North River Garden Farms Floodplain Restoration Project will provide juvenile rearing habitat for fall, late-fall, winter and spring-run Central Valley Chinook salmon, and steelhead.

This will be achieved by increasing the extent of seasonally inundated rearing habitat, increasing food production and contribution to the river, and by providing high flow refugia for out-migrating juvenile salmon. The restored floodplains will offer a wide range of periods when rearing habitat is available, supporting increased phenotypic diversity in the salmon runs, which improves resilience to stressors such as climate change.

Activities to be performed:
Restore historical floodplain sites to increase the extent, diversity, and access to high quality rearing habitat for freshwater life stages of anadromous salmonids along the Sacramento River mainstem.

Projected deliverables or outcomes:
Through this project, American Rivers will shepherd development of four to six alternative restoration designs, varying according to location of river water inlets and outlets on the two floodplain sites, topographic manipulations, and solutions to navigate existing infrastructure. We will develop NEPA CEQA documentation, including public outreach, gather data, and submit state and federal permits required for restoration. Funds will be used to take these plans from conceptual to 100% designs with specifications and fully implement each of the two floodplain restorations.

Intended beneficiaries:
The prolonged drought currently affecting California has had a dramatic impact on the people and ecosystems of the Central Valley. The altered hydrology and water scarcity characterizing this drought have had a particularly acute effect on the health and viability of anadromous salmonid populations like Chinook salmon. While improved management of limited water resources is a key part of protecting anadromous fishes, restoration of floodplain habitat has the potential to provide immediate benefits to these species with available water supplies.

Subrecipient activities (if known or specified at time of award):
N A

American Rivers

15.512 - Central Valley Improvement Act, Title XXXIV

USBR California-Great Basin Region, Sacramento CA (MP) [DOI - USBR]

Sacramento County, California United States

City-Wide

Central Valley Project Habitat & Facility Improvements (R23AS00650)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 331% from $1,069,202 to $4,613,562.