Bear Creek Meadow Restoration Project (Shasta County, CA)

The Bear Creek Meadow Restoration Project that was completed in 1999 continues to perform well as the meadow responds to the efforts to reconnect the channel and floodplain. Ongoing monitoring efforts were delegated to researchers at UC Davis during the 2004 season. Many aspects of the project are being evaluated with a focus on the project effects on groundwater interchange in the meadow.

A five year monitoring effort funded by the Cantara Trustee Council has been completed and indicates the concept of reconnecting the active stream channel with the historic floodplain elevation through use of "pond-and-plug" restoration techniques has been highly successful in meeting the objectives of the landowner and resource agencies.

Project field tour 5/24/2011

Design channel at bankfull flow 5/24/2011

Upper section of Channel (Spring 2004).	Transect D-4 showing willow growth and floodplain recovery (Spring 2004).
Low flow during 2004 runoff.	Rock vane functioning to direct high-velocity core away from bank. (Spring 2004).
Meadow tour in spring of 2004. Note lush meadow vegetation and stable channel.

Bear Creek Meadow Restoration Project 2009 Update - Completed in 1999, the project continues to be monitored for effectiveness of the “pond and plug” technique in restoring functional conditions to mountain meadow and stream channel ecosystems. UC Davis Researchers have also published results of intensive investigations into the dynamics of groundwater interchange following restoration of this type. Included below are recent photos of floodplain and channel vegetation recovery along the meadow.

June 2007. Upper section at transect D-1 with lush willow growth.

June 2007. Riparian recovery near mid-project.

Gully prior to restoration. 1998

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