Area	North Fork Garcia
Topic	Tour: Lower NF Garcia 2003 Stream Photos (Ground/Restoration)

 

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This photo shows the mouth of the North Fork Garcia River looking upstream from the mainstem on February 10, 2003. Terraces have developed here as a result of sediment over-supplied when flood conditions create back pressure from the mainstem Garcia River. The terrace has decreased in size, however, from 1997 to 2003 indicating a recent reduction in sediment transport in the lower North Fork. Picture by Patrick Higgins.


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The lower North Fork Garcia River flows from a pool (at left), into a run and spills over a riffle in the distance. This location is less than 100 yards upstream of its convergence with the mainstem Garcia. The pool is formed by scour action against mature alder roots, and the undercut bank provides ideal cover for steelhead juveniles and adults. Photo by Pat Higgins. 2/10/2003.


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This corner pool in the lower North Fork Garcia River is partially formed by root masses of two stumps side by side at right of center in the photo. The lower, darker stump looks as if it was buried by bedload and has re-emerged. This suggests that this tree was growing at the streams edge before being buried by some massive sediment evulsion. This tree represents the old stream grade (pre-1860) while the stump further up the bank toward the background was cut more recently, and represents a more recent past (1950's) elevated stream grade. The stream is down-cutting indicating that there have not been huge sediment evulsions related to the most recent wave of logging (1985-present). Photo by Pat Higgins. 2/10/2003.


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Craig Bell is shown in this February 2003 photo in the lower North Fork Garcia River. Behind him is a large wood structure installed by the Mendocino Watershed Service in 1994. The structure is still functioning as intended, forming a scour pool suitable for adult steelhead holding and some juvenile rearing. Some rearing habitat values may be compromised in summer because the lower North Fork sometimes dries up. Photo by Pat Higgins. 2/10/2003.


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Mature alders and shrubs maintain the stability of the bank of the North Fork Garcia River pictured here. The stream is scouring under the roots of the alder creating a pool with suitable steelhead habitat at least in winter and spring. Photo by Pat Higgins. 2/10/2003.


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This photo shows a recently fallen redwood spanning the lower North Fork Garcia River. The tree is still sprouting despite having toppled into the stream. The over-story canopy here is conifer and alder, which provide shade. Photo by Pat Higgins. 2/10/2003.


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Craig Bell holds up a piece of roe used as bait for illegal steelhead fishing on the North Fork Garcia, which is closed because it is a spawning stream. Behind Craig is a pool formed by a combination of redwood and alder roots and the remnants of a large wood structure installed in 1994. Photo by Pat Higgins. 2/10/2003.


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Close up of bait, roe (which has turned white) wrapped in orange mesh, used for poaching in the North Fork Garcia by unknown parties. Photo by Pat Higgins. 2/10/2003.

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