Habitat and Wildlife Restoration
Many people are working to recover the Eel River’s imperiled salmon, steelhead trout, and lamprey. Many participants in our process identified this recovery work as a highly important value. There is also a great need for terrestrial restoration to complement fishery restoration efforts in the Eel River and tributaries. Participants in the community vision suggested that PG&E work with the USFS, Tribes, and others as necessary and appropriate to meet terrestrial restoration needs as well.
Immediately actionable
Develop and maintain a native plant seed bank
We recommend that PG&E work with the USFS, interested Tribes, and other partners to develop and maintain a native seed bank to promote the growth of desirable and ecologically appropriate trees, grasses, and shrubs in Gravelly Valley and along the water’s edge within the project footprint and impacted areas in the MNF.
Prevent illegal OHV use in Gravelly Valley
Before dam decommissioning begins, PG&E should work with the USFS and other interested parties to prevent illegal OHV use in Gravelly Valley through the installation of fences or by other means.
Longer term
- Ensure invasive plants such as yellow star thistle, medusahead, salt cedar/tamarisk, and cheatgrass do not dominate the former reservoirs and other disturbed sites.
- Address the needs of wildlife such as deer and tule elk. The tule elk herd at Lake Pillsbury continues to grow and is a real success story for this species, which was almost wiped out in the 19th century. Many of the participants in our meetings and interviews expressed grave concerns for what the removal of Lake Pillsbury means for America’s smallest elk. One option that should be explored is how the replacement emergency water sources referenced above under both fire resilience and recreation could benefit tule elk and other wildlife. For example, tules and other desired plants could be established at these or other sources of water in Gravelly Valley.
- Address the need for “good fire” to help manage vegetation, especially in cooperation with Tribes interested in working with the U.S. Forest Service on cultural burns and prescribed fire.
- Improve existing roads and OHV trails to ensure that salmon, steelhead, and lamprey can reclaim historic habitat. In addition to culvert maintenance and/or replacement as needed, bridges should be constructed to eliminate road crossings that involve driving through the water and disturbing spawning habitat. This includes USFS Road M3 where it crosses Rice Fork and–most infamously–USFS Road M10/Lake County Road 301C where it crosses Bear Creek. The latter crossing between Lake Pillsbury and the Central Valley can be deceptively deep and has swamped untold numbers of vehicles over the decades.
- Manage sedimentation. A massive surge of sediment can threaten all downstream aquatic habitat and result in major ecosystem changes.
- Restore the Eel River’s riparian habitat. The river’s edge is an ecotone critical for biodiversity and where cultural uses and recreation interface with the river.
