The Cache Creek Improvement Program (CCIP) requires that the Cache Creek Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) produce an annual status report in January of each year for the Yolo County Board of Supervisors.
This annual report provides a record of the implementation of the Cache Creek Resources Management Plan (CCRMP) and CCIP for the 2013 water year. The 2013 water year consists of the period from October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014.
It is intended to: 1) document the previous year's monitoring results, field observations, and any completed in-channel restoration or stabilization projects; 2) provide analysis of data and trends; and 3) identify recommendations and projects for the next year. This report represents a critical component of the adaptive management of lower Cache Creek.
Background
The Cache Creek Area Plan (CCAP) was completed in 1996. The CCAP is comprised of the Off Channel Mining Plan (OCMP) and the Cache Creek Resources Management Plan (CCRMP). The goals of the CCAP effort are protection of groundwater, preservation of agriculture, restoration of Cache Creek, and regulation of commercial mining. Implementation of the CCRMP is discussed further below.
The CCRMP (adopted August 20, 1996, and amended August 15, 2002) is a creek management plan. It eliminated in-channel commercial mining and established an improvement program for implementing on-going projects to improve channel stability and restore habitat along the creek banks. The CCRMP provides a policy framework for the restoration of 14.5 miles of lower Cache Creek and includes specific implementation standards. The Cache Creek Improvement Program (CCIP) is the implementation plan for the CCRMP and identifies specific categories of projects that include: bank stabilization, channel maintenance, re-vegetation, and habitat restoration.
The CCIP is overseen by a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) comprised of three scientists charged with advising the County on implementation of in-channel restoration and stabilization projects. The work of the TAC is, by design, an iterative process driven by on-going monitoring and technical feedback on creek performance. The TAC is comprised of a fluvial geomorphologist, a hydraulic engineer, and a riparian biologist.
In January of each year the TAC is required to prepare, and present to the Board of Supervisors, an annual status report for their activities of the previous year. This report fulfills that obligation and provides an opportunity for the TAC, community, and stakeholders to step back and take a larger perspective in looking at both the creek and the CCRMP with a critical eye for improvement.
Program Accomplishments
Yolo County has implemented an annual monitoring program since 1997. A number of activities were undertaken or completed in the 2014 water year that implement the CCRMP and CCIP. These activities included monitoring work, public meetings, permitting, and program activities. Brief descriptions of major activities are given here:
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Three (3) public Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meetings were held during 2014. TAC meetings were attended by TAC members, County staff, members of various agencies, stakeholders, and the public.
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Staff remains engaged in the process of seeking reauthorization of general permits required for the efficient implementation of the CCRMP, including a Section 404 Discharge Permit from the US Army Corps of Engineers, a Streambed Alteration Agreement (Section 1600) from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and a Section 401 Water Quality Certification from the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. In conjunction with the Army Corps Section 7 consultation with US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), staff was asked to audit past project files to demonstrate that proper notification procedures were followed and to define impacts to the Valley elderberry longhorn beetle. Further information can be found in Chapter 7.
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The TAC conducted its 2014 Creek Walk on April 28th, 29th, and 30th. The Creek Walk is the annual physical inspection of the creek to document channel conditions, as required by the CCIP (p. 36). Ten or more participants walked each day and covered the length of CCRMP area over the three day period. Participants included the TAC, gravel producers, community stakeholders, and County staff.
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Natural Resources staff contracted with an independent geographical information systems (GIS) analyst to compare data that was collected in a pilot project by an unmanned drone to data that were collected in 2011 via traditional aerial survey. More information can be found in Chapter 2.
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The Natural Resources Division worked closely with the Yolo County Habitat Conservation Plan / Natural Communities Conservation Plan Joint Powers Agency (Yolo HCP/NCCP JPA) to identify CCAP lands that could potentially be enrolled in the HCP/NCCP by placing habitat conservation easements on them. Further information can be found in Chapter 7.
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The County has obtained the HEC-RAS model of Cache Creek that was prepared by the State Department of Water Resources in conjunction with a flood modeling project.
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There was one (1) surface water quality sampling event in this water year. The samples were collected on April 4, 2014. This flow did not constitute “first flush” as the flows were approximately 119 cfs at Yolo and 145 cfs at Rumsey; well below the threshold of 1,000 cfs. Samples collected were analyzed for a suite of water quality constituents. The results are discussed in detail in Chapter 3.
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A software program, Geomorphic Change Detection, was used to make a quantitative assessment of significant volumetric changes in channel capacity between 1997 and 2011 in the Guesisosi Reach. Analysis show that the Guesisosi Reach has experienced net deposits of roughly 4.5 feet of deposition (if it were all uniformly distributed) since the initiation of the CCRMP. This analysis is the first step in assessing changes in the entire CCRMP area.
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The County contracted with Dr. Darrel Slotton (UC Davis) in 2014 to develop protocols to address mercury testing requirements in “wet pits” along Cache Creek. More information is contained in Chapter 2.
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Natural Resources staff has been strengthening relationships with state agencies over the last five years. As a result County staff and staff with the State Department of Water Resources (DWR) have been sharing data and information pertinent to Cache Creek, particularly data relevant to channel stability and flood capacity.
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The County Natural Resources Program Coordinator was appointed the Chair of the Water Resources Association (WRA) of Yolo County’s Technical Committee and a voting member of the Westside Coordinating Committee, highlighting this program’s value in providing watershed monitoring and protection.
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The Natural Resources division initiated the creation of a Trespass Task Force that includes representatives from the Sheriff’s Department, General Services, County Counsel, and the District Attorney’s office. As a direct result, the Sheriff’s department began issuing tickets (infraction) for trespass under PC§ 602.8(a). Previously, the practice was to make an arrest (misdemeanor). More information can be found in Chapter 7.
Summary of Significant Findings
Based on monitoring, analysis, regulatory requirements, and professional experience the TAC has made the following findings. This document makes reference to “river miles” to describe the physical location of observations and recommendations. A map of Cache Creek showing river mile markers is provided as Attachment 2 - Appendix A.
Hydrologic and Water Quality Findings
Chapter 3 of the CCRMP (p. 44, 3.4-3) describes surface water quality monitoring measures. The information collected as a result of these measures will assist in habitat restoration efforts and allows the County to monitor water quality trends within the planning area.
Hydrologic and hydraulic conditions in 2014 reflected extreme statewide drought conditions that made 2014 one of the driest years in Cache Creek’s recorded history. Peak flows were extremely low in 2014 (less than 1,000 cfs) because of very little precipitation and runoff in the watershed. In 2014, dissolved and total mercury concentrations dropped after doubling between 2012 and 2013.
Potential water quality degradation associated with the “vehicle boneyard” (RM 26.6, near the town of Capay) in 2014 did not increase, as peak high flows were not large enough to erode channel banks at the site. In addition, the Sheriff’s Department initiated corrective action at the Vehicle Boneyard in 2014 to compel the property owner to remove the numerous abandoned vehicles from the floodplain at this site.
Geomorphology Findings
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The 2014 annual total transport rate was the lowest in the record since 2005. This event carried essentially no sediment transport. This suggests that there would be relatively little erosion and deposition attributable to sediment transport, and that changes in channel morphology would be relatively minor.
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There were no significant changes in channel conditions near the bridges. Continued monitoring to assess for reduction in flow capacity due to vegetation encroachment is recommended.
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The newly naturally formed channel in the vicinity of RM 22-21.6 is a model for what could be constructed in other area.
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There is potential for bar-skimming efforts at two sites: RM 25.5 – 26.1 and RM 20.3 – 20.8 (a mid-channel bar is causing pressure on south bank).
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RM 19.8: The berm, with erosion at the toe, is susceptible to partial failure. The top edge of the berm appears to be only 30-40 feet from a conveyor belt and road. Berm failure has the potential to cause damage to the conveyor and road.
Biological Resource Findings
There were no new significant findings related to biological resources to report. The spread and control of target invasive species continues to be an issue of concern. On-going monitoring of vegetation growth that may eventually interfere with flood flows, such as the I-505 undercrossing, remains important but no maintenance intervention appears necessary at this time. The loss and damage to mature cottonwood trees by beavers in the CCRMP area should be monitored to determine if some protection measures are appropriate.
Programmatic Recommendations
Each year County staff, program partners, and the TAC review the programmatic requirements of the CCIP and the CCRMP and identified a number of appropriate program adaptations based on what is required by the program and what is feasible and achievable from an economic and operational stand point. The CCAP anticipates ongoing program adaptations, initiated at the staff level, to ensure continued efficient implementation based on funding and staffing realities, and conditions in and around the creek.
For 2014, the following recommendations were made by staff in consultation with interested parties and program partners and approved by the TAC (or other governing body, where appropriate). More detailed documentation supporting each of these, as well as a record of the public discussion of each item at the TAC meetings is available in the program files.
Partnership with the Yolo HCP/NCCP JPA
After significant discussion between Natural Resources staff and staff of the Yolo Habitat Conservation Plan and Natural Communities Conservation Plan Joint Powers Agency (JPA) the Board of Supervisors approved a partnership agreement between the two entities on December 2, 2014.
JPA and Natural Resources staff developed a proposal to assist with the management of some of the lands Yolo County will receive over time as part of the Cache Creek Area Plan. The outline of this agreement, is as follows: The County of Yolo intends to donate easements on between 250 and 660 acres of “net gains” or other lands within the Cache Creek Area Plan area consistent with the Yolo HCP/NCCP, as long as the easements:
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Are also consistent with the Cache Creek Area Plan and future Cache Creek Parkway Plan development,
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The Yolo HCP/NCCP pays for transaction costs associated with placement of the easements, and
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The Yolo HCP/NCCP pays for habitat-related maintenance of these properties in perpetuity.
This partnership will help the JPA meet the conservation obligations of the Yolo HCP/NCCP. The partnership also will bring additional state and federal funding into the County to implement the Cache Creek Resources Management Plan and Cache Creek Improvement Program that would not otherwise be available because it is designated only for HCP and NCCP implementation, as well as funding for ongoing habitat-related management and maintenance of the properties. The adopted resolution (No. 14-126) is attached as Appendix H.
Improved Coordination between OCMP and CCRMP Monitoring and Implementation
Staff has amended internal protocols to ensure coordination of monitoring activities among all program sectors. Planning and Public Works staff are responsible for the physical inspection of each mining site on an annual basis. The TAC is responsible for an annual inspection of the Creek. The revised protocols ensure that the TAC is made aware of the results of the mining inspections and that PPW staff is made aware of the results of the Creek Walk inspections. This will allow for early identification of potential problem areas within the program area.
Revised Off-Channel Pit Mercury Testing Protocols
In 2011, the County contracted with Dr. Darrel Slotton (UC Davis) to study ambient mercury levels in fish and invertebrates in both Cache Creek and several off-channel mining pits. The results of this study were provided to the County in 2013 and are available on the Natural Resources webpage. The purpose of this study was to update baseline mercury conditions in certain locations along Cache Creek. Mercury monitoring in wet pits is a requirement of the County’s Surface Mining Reclamation Ordinance (Sect. 10-5.517). In 2014, the County again contracted with Dr. Slotton to create a set of mercury monitoring protocols for the gravel producers to use when testing the wet pits. The intent of these protocols is to ensure that the mercury data that the County receives is collected in the same manner to ensure that all of the data is compatible and comparable. The protocols have been reviewed by County staff as well as the gravel operators and will be finalized in January 2015.
Trespass Enforcement on Cache Creek
In May 2014 the Natural Resources Division convened the first meeting of the Yolo County Trespass Task Force with the participation of representatives from the Sheriff’s Department, District Attorney’s Office, General Services, County Counsel and County Administrator’s Office. The goal of the first meeting was to discuss roles and responsibilities, identify impediments and constraints to enforcement and prosecution and to ultimately reduce the number of trespass incidents and associated complaints.
As a direct result of the Trespass Task Force, the Sheriff’s Department has changed their approach to dealing with simple trespass. Starting June 4, 2014 the department began issuing tickets (infraction) for trespass under PC§ 602.8(a). Previously, the practice was to make an arrest (misdemeanor). This process is favored by the DA’s office because infractions are treated in the same manner as traffic violations and should not have an adverse effect on the DA’s caseload. Arrests will still be made when warranted (i.e. the trespass was committed in conjunction with another crime such as theft, vandalism, etc.).
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