Water Control Structure Inventory for Humboldt Bay California

Water Control Structure Inventory for Humboldt Bay, California U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arcata California with funding from the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, & Conservation District, and the CA Department of Fish and Game

Project Objectives n n Identify and catalog man-made structures that affect water flow within and adjacent to tidal lands. Produce accurate maps showing locations of structures. Produce a database populated with attribute information with an easy to use web interface and/or, Investigate placing the data on a DFG or Harbor District – sponsored IMS site USFWS Water Control Structure Presentation 2 of 14

Project Steps n n n Identify existing data sources. Develop a database structure that meets the needs for the restoration community Develop a field method for collection of water control structures. Collect field data into a GIS database containing all known water control structures. Build a public web interface to connect to the database. Conduct outreach to publicize the database. USFWS Water Control Structure Presentation 3 of 14

Existing Data n n CDFG (OSPR) at one time had a dataset that was lost due to computer failure. Existing datasets developed by Cal. Trans and RCAA were reviewed n Cal. Trans shapefile was a Humboldt County Culvert Inventory, primarily consisting of culverts along highways n n n Shapefile shows both ends of each culvert Locations were based on highway postmile database RCAA Points were approximated from descriptions in a paper publication from 2000 n n n Positional Accuracy is poor and variable 31 points were defined for the Humboldt Bay region outside of duplicated Cal. Trans locations USFWS Water Control Structure Presentation Several important attributes were lacking, 4 of 14 as well as

Typical data errors encountered in existing data This feature (original point location)… …is really here. This feature… …is really here. USFWS Water Control Structure Presentation 5 of 14

Data Collection n Trimble Geo. XT GPS units were used (accuracy < 3 meters) n A data dictionary was developed containing the following fields: n n n Longitude and Latitude (in decimal degrees) Type (culvert, tidegate, flash board) Subtype (Top-Hinge round, Side-hinge, Rubber duckbill, etc. ) Material (concrete, steel, aluminum, wood, plastic) X Dimension/Y Dimension (for non-round structures) Current Status (functional, broken-open, broken-closed, leaking, USFWS impeded) Water Control Structure Presentation 6 of 14

Data Collection n Data dictionary fields (continued): n n n n Owner (CDFG, USFWS, Cal. Trans, City of Arcata, etc. ) Up-Channel Habitat (fresh water, brackish, marine) Fish Passage – Adult (suitable, limited, none) Fish Passage – Juvenile (suitable, limited, none) Photo Number(s) Comments Field Crew Initials USFWS Water Control Structure Presentation 7 of 14

Results n n n Project Area bounded by Hwy 255 on north (except entire Mad River Slough included), Hwy 101 on east (except east to Old Arcata Road and Elk River Road), and Hookton Road on south. Currently 371 features in database, including: n 79 tidegate features n 9 Flash Board structures n 282 Culvert features 165 of the 371 (44%) of the structures were collected with GPS and photographed USFWS Water Control Structure Presentation 8 of 14

Results (cont’d) n n n There are some structures on private lands that could not be accounted for. Where known (or seen), these structures were included using recent aerial photography as a reference There are undoubtedly structures that we are not aware of and missed. These can always be added when we are made aware of them. Some low level of maintenance is expected to be needed, adding and deleting points, etc. USFWS Water Control Structure Presentation 9 of 14

Lots of Variation in Structures USFWS Water Control Structure Presentation 10 of 14

Map Products – Tile 1 (Arcata) Culverts are colored Tidegates are yellow USFWS Water Control Structure Presentation 11 of 14

Map Products – Tile 2 (Eureka) Culverts are colored Tidegates are yellow USFWS Water Control Structure Presentation 12 of 14

Map Products – Tile 3 (South Bay) Culverts are colored Tidegates are yellow USFWS Water Control Structure Presentation 13 of 14

Remaining Issues n Private land gaps n Data maintenance n Posting to Cal. Fish Website USFWS Water Control Structure Presentation 14 of 14