Location: Beckwourth Ranger District lands; T 26N R 15E Sec 33                                                                         

Sponsors: Plumas Corporation; USDA – Plumas National Forest 

Project Type: Restoration

Est. Cost:  $65,000                   Amount Funded: $64,000 of Majority funds May 2005

Est. Start Date:  September 2005              Est. End Date: September 2006

Project Description: 

Using the pond and plug technique the project entails eliminating 1,000 feet of gully on Last Chance Creek, and 800 feet of gully at the mouth of Jordan Creek. This would involve the construction of three ponds and four plugs on Last Chance Creek mainstream, and two ponds and three plugs on Jordan Creek.  The supplemental project would also include 2 1/2 miles of major fence repair around Jordan Flat.  The rebuilt fence would serve to improve grazing management within the FS allotment by controlling cattle movement in Jordan Flat and would exclude cattle use in the project area for a minimum of three years to allow vegetative regrowth to occur.

Project Goals/Objectives:

This project area is now characterized as a xeric meadow with incised channels.  The goal of the project is to restore the function of the floodplain/channel system.  The objective of the project is to eliminate the gully and return the channel to the elevation of the floodplain.  The project is justified because its implementation will result in restored floodplain function, thus attenuating flood flows, contributing to late summer releases, and improving water quality and riparian area productivity for wildlife and meadow productivity for cattle production (which is the primary land use in this area).

Project Activities:

June 1, 2005 – September 30, 2005: advertised & awarded construction and fencing contracts; construction began 9/26; removed 2 miles of old fence; revegetation of plugs with native grass seed begun.

October 1, 2005 – December 31, 2005: completed pond and plug restoration and 2.5 miles of fence construction; completed revegetation of plugs with native grass seed.

Expenditures through 12/31/05: $63,994.98

2006 Annual Progress Report (Final)