May 18, 2017 Caitlin Bean California Department of Fish and Wildlife 1625 S. Main Street Yreka, CA 96097 Chris Babcock The Nature Conservancy 701 S. Mt. Shasta Blvd Mt Shasta, CA 96067 Dear Ms. Bean and Mr. Babcock, Subject: Little Springs Creek Culvert Removal subject to Policy for Waiving Waste

Discharge Requirements File: Little Springs Creek Culvert Removal – California Department of Fish and

Wildlife, WDID No. 1A170301WNSI; CW-833848 On March 16, 2017, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Water Board) received your submittal of a Notice of Intent (NOI) to seek authorization through the General 401 Water Quality Certification for Small Habitat Restoration Projects (SHRP Order) for the Little Spring Creek Culvert Removal Project (Project). On April 12, 2017, Jonathan Warmerdam of my staff participated in an inspection of Project. Also present during the inspection were: Caitlin Bean, Mary Olswang, and Bill Chesney of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Background: The Project is located on the Shasta Big Springs Ranch at latitude 41°35’18.06” and longitude 122°25’12.18” in Siskiyou County. The property was purchased by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in 2009. CDFW established a conservation easement on the property in 2010.

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Since the early 20th century, water from two freshwater springs that form the headwaters of Little Springs Creek have been captured and used to irrigate approximately 400 acres of pasture south of Big Springs Creek. After acquiring the property, TNC successfully petitioned the Division of Water Rights to transfer the consumed portion of their combined water rights for use instream through a Water Code Section 1707 dedication. This allowed for TNC to direct water from the springs through each of the diversion structures, thus allowing it to flow continually down Little Springs Creek. In 2013, CDFW conducted fish surveys on at least five occasions of the Little Springs Creek during the first year following the flow dedication. The fact that steelhead, Chinook and coho salmon were all documented in Little Springs Creek during 2013, the first year in recent history that the flow was not diverted, was a significant finding. Of special note is that in the spring of 2013, age-0 coho salmon that had been PIT tagged elsewhere in the Shasta River watershed were detected by a PIT tag antenna located at the mouth of Little Springs Creek. The tagged fish were moving into Little Springs Creek during May and June when water temperature conditions were deteriorating in other parts of the watershed. These data document the use of Little Springs Creek as cold water refugia for coho salmon. There are very few cold-water springs within the Shasta River that are available for use by coho salmon and other salmonids. Water temperature at the spring source pool is stable at approximately 13 degrees Celsius. Therefore, Little Springs Creek is considered a priority for restoring high-quality habitat within the upper Shasta River. Although the emergence of the spring water at the headwaters of Little Springs Creek provides ideal conditions for salmonid rearing, the impounded waters above the diversion structures quickly increase in temperature during the hot summer months. CDFW has observed a successful shading affect downstream of the impoundments from emergent hydrophytic vegetation. CDFW expects the removal of the diversion structures to improve water temperatures, allow for free-passage for fish migration, and provide access all the way up to the freshwater springs that form the headwaters of Little Springs Creek. Project: CDFW is proposing to remove three culverts to restore passage along 1.25 miles of Little Springs Creek. The three culverts are identified on figure 1 as C1, C2, and C3. Additionally, CDFW is concurrently working with Mark Lancaster of the Five Counties Salmonid Conservation Program to design and install an arched culvert to improve fish passage into Little Springs Creek through the Louie Road crossing. Together, these projects will allow for year-round access to Little Springs Creek for anadromous salmonids and other aquatic species. Removal of the culverts will require the use of a backhoe to excavate the overburden from the top of the culvert to expose both the culvert and the head gate box. The existing fill will be left in place at the downstream end of the culvert and near the existing headwall structure until the rest of the culvert has been excavated to ensure that the excavation is

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conducted in isolation of stream flow. Once this material is removed, the head gate and culvert will be removed with a backhoe and transported off of the levee. The resulting banks ditch will be tapered back to an appropriate channel width and stable slope. Resulting spoils will be relocated to a borrow pit on the property where they will not return sediment or turbid water back to the stream. Weed-free straw mulch will be placed on all exposed soils to reduce the possibility of erosion and turbid runoff.

Figure 1: Map of Little Springs Creek Project

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Areas for fuel storage, refueling, and servicing of construction equipment shall be located in an upland location. Prior to use, all equipment shall be cleaned to remove external oil, grease, dirt, or mud. Wash sites shall be located in upland locations so that dirty wash water does not flow into stream channel or wetlands. All construction equipment shall be in good working condition, showing no signs of fuel or oil leaks. Petroleum products, fresh cement, or deleterious materials shall not enter the stream channel. Operators shall have spill clean-up supplies on site and be knowledgeable in their proper use and deployment. In the event of a spill, operators will immediately cease work, start clean-up, and notify the appropriate authorities. CDFW shall maintain a supply of erosion control materials onsite to facilitate a quick response to unanticipated storm events or emergencies. Erosion control measures shall be in place at all times during culvert removal. Culvert removal shall not commence until all temporary control devices are in place downslope or downstream of project site. Immediately after Project completion and before close of seasonal work-window, all exposed soil shall be stabilized with mulch.

Figure 2: Upper head gate and impoundment at C-1.

The total Project will result in approximately 0.0092 acres and 89.2 lineal feet of temporary impact to waters of the state.

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A monitoring and reporting program has been developed for the Project that will include photo-point monitoring, temperature monitoring, and fish use and response. A post-construction report will be submitted to the Regional Water Board by December 30, 2017, and a final Project report will be submitted by September 30, 2020.

Figure 3: Looking downstream at culvert outlet at C-1.

Based on technical review of the application, Regional Water Board staff has determined that the proposed Project qualifies under waiver category, “Minor Dredging and Fill Operations,” under Regional Water Board Resolution R1-2012-0099, Policy for Waiving Waste Discharge Requirements for Specific Types of Waste Discharge (Categorical Waiver Policy). The Project is consistent with the North Coast Region’s Water Quality Control Plan for the North Coast Region (Basin Plan) and meets the requirements of the Categorical Waiver Policy. This letter hereby informs you of coverage under the Waiver for the proposed Project. The Project is currently proposed to be implemented in September 2017. However, due to possible unforeseen circumstances, the Project is authorized through this categorical waiver policy to be implemented within 5 years of approval. Consequently, the proposed reporting dates may need to be adjusted according to any implementation date changes.

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Enclosed is a copy of the Categorical Waiver Policy. Please familiarize yourself with its provisions. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Jonathan Warmerdam at (707) 576-2468 or at Jonathan.Warmerdam@waterboards.ca.gov. Sincerely, Matthias St. John Executive Officer 170518_JWW_er_CDFW_LittleSpringsCreek Enclosure: Regional Water Board Resolution R1-2012-0099