Water Resources Collections and Archives

The restoration of a one-mile stretch of the lower Wooden Valley Creek on the cattle ranch owned by the McQueeny family in Napa County, California addressed denuded stream banks lacking native riparian vegetation and canopy cover that have resulted in salmonid habitat degradation and species decline (Marcus and CSPA, 2004). A primary concern of the McQueeny restoration demonstration project is the impact of high summertime stream temperatures on steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and the threat of continued bank incision in close proximity to the McQueeny home (Marcus and CSPA, 2004; Marcus, October 18, 2010; McQueeny, November 2, 2010 and November 20, 2010). Existing studies of the McQueeny property, Wooden Valley Creek, and larger Suisun Creek watershed restoration describe restoration baselines, restoration processes, and intended goals and outcomes (Circuit Rider Productions, 2007; Jackson, 2007; Purcell and Cover, 2007; Marcus and CSPA, 2004). Our research aims to fill a gap in the connection between the abundance of research, design, process, and outcome data (quantitative) and rancher/landowner implementation data (qualitative).

Restoration literature in general calls for participatory, collaborative processes, and adaptive management (Beechie et. al, 2010; Downs et. al, 2002; Kondolf, 1998; Kondolf et. al, 1995; Palmer et. al, 2005; Wohl et. al, 2005). Nevertheless, we argue that this restoration project is an example of how restoration planning, and especially post-project monitoring, may not include specific indicators or means for evaluating how landowners/stakeholders facilitate or impact restoration success. We investigate not only re-vegetation interim achievements, but also how this landowner-involved restoration process is impacted by landowner decision-making and by largely undocumented adaptive maintenance activities independently carried out by the landowner. Evidence suggests that these factors are critical to the potential success or failure of the project in restoring riparian vegetation, improving bank stability, and ultimately enhancing stream conditions for steelhead trout (O.mykiss).