Streelow Creek Bridge Environmental Assessment

Redwood National Park

The Streelow Creek Trail was a former logging road that was converted to a hike/bike trail. The trail crosses the North Fork of Streelow Creek just upstream of the confluence of the North Fork and the main stem of the creek. Streelow Creek is a tributary of Prairie Creek, which has some of the best remaining salmonid spawning habitat in the region. The crossing on the North Fork of Streelow Creek is earthen fill covering three 36-inch-diameter corrugated metal pipe culverts placed in the original stream channel to allow the stream to flow beneath the road. These culverts are currently above the grade of the streambed and act as a barrier to fish passage up the North Fork of Streelow Creek. The configuration of the inlets in relation to the stream channel has caused ponding at the inlets and has led to aggradation of approximately 100 feet of channel upstream of the crossing. The outlets are perched 2½ feet above the downstream end of the culvert and the discharge from the elevated outlet has scoured out the streambed. The configuration of the culvert outlets and the elevated discharge (essentially a waterfall) are obstacles to fish passage upstream of the culvert. The NPS proposes to replace the damaged undersized culverts at the trail crossing on the North Fork of Streelow Creek with a footbridge to improve fish passage for three species of salmonids Redwood National Park Streelow Creek Fish Passage listed as threatened and to improve visitor safety on the Streelow Creek Trail. The NPS would also remove the log stringer bridge and the earth-fill stream crossing to prevent eventual failure, which would cause further damage to fish habitat on the North Fork of Streelow Creek. The purpose of this project is to remove culverts and a failing log bridge to improve habitat for threatened fish species. This project is needed to prevent additional damage to fish habitat from sediment associated with failure of these drainage structures and stream crossings. One set of culverts would be replaced with a footbridge to ensure that the Streelow Creek Trail continues to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for hikers and bicyclists.

Streelow Creek Bridge Environmental Assessment

Collections