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Trinity River Restoration Project

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

The Trinity River Restoration Program (TRRP) is a long-term, large-scale effort being undertaken by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), to restore the ecological integrity of the Trinity River system in Northern California. The channel rehabilitation aspect of the TRRP involves restoring and maintaining 44 locations along the Trinity River channel. Four locations were rehabilitated in 2010, including Lowden Ranch, Trinity House Gulch, and Upper and Lower Reading Creek. VESTRA served as biological consultant for work conducted in 2010. Prior to construction, breeding bird surveys were required for compliance with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 701 et seq.) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) aspects of this federal project. VESTRA developed the study design and, following approval by USBR, completed the necessary field work. Auditory and visual encounter survey methods and extensive nest searches were conducted to determine if breeding birds were present within the construction zone or in close enough proximity to potentially be disturbed by project activities. Following the field work, observation reports were submitted to the USBR.
 
In 2011, VESTRA completed a similar project at Wheel Gulch, another TRRP site west of Weaverville. The same field methods were used at this location; however, protocol surveys for the California endangered willow flycatcher (Empidonax trailii) were also required because habitat for this species is present within the project area. Although willow flycatchers were detected during the initial surveys, follow-up investigations confirmed this species was not nesting within the project area. The river restoration work was able to proceed on schedule.