Sausal Creek Restoration

Oakland, CA

Alameda County Control and Water Conservation District
July to December 2001

This aggressive restoration project was designed by Wolfe Mason Associates and involved extensive community support and planning. Project goals included restoration of aquatic habitat, riparian habitat and upland canyon habitat. Additionally, the project provides a forum for community education of stream restoration.

Prior to stream channel construction, Hanford ARC implemented the invasive plant removal component of the project. This work encompassed an area approximately 1,500 feet long by 20 to more than 100 feet wide, on both sides of the channel. Prior to the project, this area consisted of numerous mature black acacias and elms, along with a host of understory exotic shrubs and groundcover, including english ivy and Himalayan blackberry. All non-native species within this zone were cleared and grubbed to the extent feasible, including removal of 100 exotic trees up to three-foot d.b.h. The ivy and blackberry were cleared and grubbed from approximately two acres of streambank and canyon slopes.

Hanford ARC subcontracted to Atlas Tree Surgery of Santa Rosa for removal of the exotic trees, which required sectional removal and rigging techniques. Atlas used a whole tree chipper to grind all wood (including trunks) for use on a created trail. Atlas also ground the stumps. Hanford ARC completed the stream channel realignment and structure installation, clearing of non-native vegetation, and biotechnical bank stabilization portions of the project. Volunteers installed 20,000 native plants.

The existing stream channel contained a series of dams and debris racks with mortared rock walls on both banks in various locations. Hanford ARC removed the walls and dams through a 600-foot reach and realigned the channel to increase sinuosity. This work required an 800-foot active stream bypass during all work in the channel. We installed a series of seven vortex weirs (or riffle starters) to recreate plunge pools similar to those below the dams. Bank fill was incorporated into 380 feet of vegetated geogrid. Cut slopes were stabilized with fabric and pinned with willow cuttings. Other features included longitudinal scour pools and boulder toe protection.