Generally, restoration activities began in the headwaters of the Mattole and are moving down river with the exception of pilot projects. Over the past four years the GRCC program completed the "Upriver" project covering most of the watershed south of the Shelter Cove Road. Current projects are underway in adjacent tributaries. The "Eubanks" project area has been underway for two years and will reach completion this year. The "Bear Creek" and "Blue Slide to Grindstone Creek" projects have been underway for a year and are scheduled to reach completion in 2009 or 2010. New projects are in the development phase in the Petrolia area, Honeydew Creek watershed, and at select ranchlands throughout the watershed between Honeydew and Petrolia. Over the past five years the GRCC program has worked with over 250 landowners in the Mattole watershed and access is generally granted to 50% to 75% of the area within each designated project.

Click on "GRCC Photos" above to see before and after images of some of our recently completed work!

Eubanks Project Area: For the past two summers GRCC projects have been improving drainages and roads within Big Finley, Little Finley, Buck, Deerlick, Eubanks, Nooning Creek tributaries to the Mattole River. After the project reaches completion in the summer of 2008, approximately 57,970 cubic yards of sediment will have been prevented from entering the Mattole River watershed over the three years of implementation work. Several miles of road have been reshaped by crowning and outsloping road segments. Nearly fifty culverts have been installed, all designed to withstand a 100-year flood events. In addition, some of the most exciting and large scale GRCC projects were performed replacing old culverts that were impeding fish access and installing bridges or bottomless pipe arches. These structures allow salmon and steelhead trout to freely migrate under the road expanding their spawning and rearing habitat.

Bear Creek Project Area: The GRCC program is working to reduce sediment in the Bear, French and Wolf Creek sub-watersheds to the Mattole River. Over the next two summer work seasons, 35,900 cubic yards of sediment will be prevented from entering the streams, approximately 3,590 dump truck loads of dirt. Twenty-five culverts will be replaced, numerous drivable rock-armored fords will be installed on seasonal roads and miles of road will be reshaped to reduce surface erosion. Local operators complete all of the heavy equipment work.

Blueslide, Mattole Canyon and Grindstone Creek Project Areas: The GRCC Program plans to stabilize 108,960 cubic yards of sediment over the next few work seasons. This area of the Mattole has unstable geology and is prone to having large landslides. Numerous instream sites are scheduled to stabilize the toe of these slides with rock wing deflectors and willow bioengineering structures. These structures are designed to stabilize the toe of these slides by keeping the force of the water away from the unstable bank, keeping the water flowing in the center of the channel and allowing for regeneration of the riparian vegetation that naturally stabilizes the streambank. Several miles of road will also be storm-proofed within this project area.

Petrolia Project Area: In 2007, GRCC personnel performed a sediment source assessment on the roads and erosive streambanks within the lower Mattole area. This project area encompasses the area from McGuiness Creek down to the Mattole River estuary. GRCC staff identified over 100 sites with the potential to reduce 72,540 cubic yards of sediment from entering the watercourses. Currently funding to treat these sites is approximately 25% secured and the implementation phase will probably begin summer 2008 and reach completion in 2011.

Ranchlands Water Quality Program: Due to the fact that the majority of land between Honeydew and Petrolia is in ranchland ownership, the MRC has developed this program with the goal of outreach and relationship building with this important set of landowners. So far sediment assessments have been performed on four ranches (not including three large ranches within the Bear Creek and Blueslide to Grindstone project areas that have participated in the GRCC program). GRCC staff is actively pursuing further ranchland involvement a development of implementation projects on these properties.

Summary and Conclusion: The GRCC program has expanded and become well funded over the past few years. In 2007, expenditures were near $1,500,000 and a similar volume of work is expected over the next few years. New landowner involvement is always welcomed as the GRCC program works to further its goal of sediment reduction and improved aquatic habitat throughout the watershed. Although the program follows a general action plan moving from one project area to another, exceptions can be made to include pilot projects if they have the potential to significantly reduce erosion. Please don't hesitate to contact GRCC staff with any questions or concerns you might have regarding erosion and sediment delivery on your property!