Area	Lower Garcia / Estuary
Topic	Tour: River Level #3 Lower Garcia at Oz & Hopper Farm

 

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This photo shows the Hooper Farm on the lower mainstem Garcia River, known locally as Oz. This field is farmed organically, with apples trees growing in the distance near the farm house. Photo by Pat Higgins. Spring 1995.


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The alder trees at left are part of a riparian buffer left on the farm to protect fields from flood flows. Floods sometimes occupy this terrace but the riparian strains large wood, traps soil and bedload, and prevents high velocity river currents from intruding into the field. Photo by Pat Higgins. Spring 1995.


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The Oz Hole on the Hooper property was one of the best juvenile rearing and adult steelhead holding spots on the lower Garcia River in 1995, when this picture was taken. See Picture #6 to see the same location in August 2002 with the hole much diminished by gravel movement. Photo by Pat Higgins.


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This deep slot at lower Hooper's shows prime summer rearing habitat for juvenile steelhead with good depth and cover and sufficient rearing space to accommodate larger, older age steelhead juveniles. Photo by Pat Higgins. Spring 1995.


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This photo was taken looking upstream at upper Oz (top of Hooper property) at a riffle during spring 1995. Note the healthy riparian zone upstream with alders and over-topping conifers. Photo by Pat Higgins.


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This August 2002 photo shows the Oz Hole much diminished by shifts in gravel that occurred from 1997-1999, and most of the river flow has been diverted into a different channel out of view to the right. Note how the gravel point bar grew into this hole in comparison with Picture #3 when the current velocity dropped as the result of diversion of water to the other channel. Photo by Pat Higgins.


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This photo shows the mainstem Garcia River looking upstream toward the Oz Hole in spring 1995. Note how coarse materials are on the bar here. Photo by Pat Higgins.


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This photo shows the back terrace behind a large gravel berm at Oz in spring 1995. Photo by Pat Higgins.

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