Welcome to our Spring 2017 e-Newsletter!
Above: High Rock Conservation Crews work with NRS
to replant vegetation at the Rohner Creek site.
Rohner Creek Flood Control Project
NRS and the City of Fortuna were co-recipients of an Urban Streams Restoration Program grant from the California State Department of Water Resources to implement Phase A of the Rohner Creek Floodplain Restoration Project. Including additional monies for Phase B of the project, the City of Fortuna, GHD Engineering, and Figas Construction reconnected more than 1,000 feet of Rohner Creek to a newly excavated inset floodplain, with side channels, log weirs, and multiple alcoves providing high-water refugia for native salmonids. In addition, several in-channel pool, riffle, run features were included to improve fish habitat and water quality. California Conservation Corps crews thinned willow thickets and channel vegetation to improve flood conveyance and to facilitate the establishment of multiple upland, riparian, and wetland habitats within the improved floodway. NRS, Samara Restoration, and High Rock Conservation Camp crews teamed up to collect, install, and mulch nearly 30,000 native trees, shrubs, and wetland plants. NRS will continue its participation through 2021 with biannual monitoring of the project's revegetation component.
For further information on this project, please contact craig@nrsrcaa.org.
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 Above: The Hammond Coastal Trail is just one of the trails that will be included in student videos.
Explore the Coast
NRS has been working on an “Explore the Coast” State Coastal Conservancy Grant to develop multiple interpretive/educational projects for our area. The first project involves a series of natural and cultural history video shorts as part of a statewide California Coastal Trail initiative to promote coastal access, inspiration and stewardship. Eureka High School Media Production students are nearing completion on their videos for the Eureka Waterfront Trail and Humboldt State University Film students are completing their series of videos for the Hammond Coastal Trail. All videos will ultimately be tied into the future launching of the Coastal Conservancy’s mobile web app. The second project involves the development of a Hikshari’ Trail Quest, as part of a greater program of Quests through the Humboldt County Office of Education’s Redwood EdVenture program. This Quest will be an all-ages self-guiding scavenger hunt (of sorts) revealing aspects of the area’s natural and cultural resources. See the RCAA website for links to videos and Quest later this summer. For more information about these projects, please contact denise@nrsrcaa.org.
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Above: Students of all ages worked to construct a beaver dam at the 15th Annual Fish Fair.
15th Annual
Fish Fair
NRS Staff recently participated in the Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified School District's 15th Annual Fish Fair in Hoopa, CA. This event brought together professionals, educators and community members to share their insight about the environmental, ecological and cultural aspects of the Klamath-Trinity watershed with local students. This year's theme was "From the depths of our rivers, we rise together" and students were involved in several different workshops, environmental presentations, storytelling, games, and more. NRS Project Coordinator Elijah Portugal took part in this event and shared his experience working with beaver to restore rivers. Students learned some of the basics of beaver ecology, the process of dam building, and even constructed their own version of a beaver dam analog using fence-posts, willow and other native vegetation. Beaver Dam Analogs (BDAs) are in-stream structures that mimic natural beaver dams and restoration practitioners are using them to “Partner with Beaver” in restoring rivers and estuaries. For more information about beaver-assisted restoration and related projects contact elijah@nrsrcaa.org.
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Above: Students examine existing stormwater drains as part of the DROPS program.
DROPS - Sinkin' the Stormwater
NRS is excited to be partnering with Northern Humboldt Union High School District (NHUHSD) on a State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) funded grant called Sinkin’ the Stormwater in Humboldt County. This multi-year project is part of the SWRCB’s Drought Response Outreach Program for Schools (DROPS) and was awarded to NHUHSD in early 2017. The Project will reduce stormwater runoff and pollution at three school campuses through the installation of low impact development (LID) BMPs, in addition to educating the students about stormwater and LID. Arcata High School, Alice Birney Elementary School, and South Fortuna Elementary School will all have portions of their school campuses retrofitted with LID BMPs, such as rain gardens, bioswales, or cisterns to reduce stormwater runoff and increase infiltration. Construction of the new LID BMPs is planned for the summer of 2018. The educational component of this project is taking place at the schools listed above, along with Lafayette Elementary School, and will continue through 2018. Upper grade students at the participating schools will have the opportunity to help with planting the new rain gardens and bioswales in the fall of 2018 and sharing their knowledge of stormwater and LID with the greater school community. Each school will also receive an interpretive sign that highlights the new LID BMPs at their campus. For more information about the project please contact morguine@nrsrcaa.org.
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