Habitat Restoration & Monitoring

Napa River Flood Protection Project

As part of the long term biological monitoring associated with the Napa River Flood Protection Project comprehensive vegetation and habitat surveys are conducted every five years designed to track achievement towards restoration goals and document habitat establishment over the 1,200 acre South Napa Wetland restoration area related to the project. Results from the most recent monitoring report can be downloaded at the link provided below.

Napa River Rutherford Reach Restoration Project

The Napa River Rutherford Reach Restoration Project (Rutherford Project) is a landowner-initiated Project implemented over a 4.5 mile reach of the mainstem Napa River south of the City of St. Helena between Zinfandel Lane Bridge and the Oakville Cross Road Bridge. The Project was designed to reduce existing bank erosion, enhance riparian and aquatic habitat and help achieve goals outlined in the Napa River sediment TMDL by utilizing a suite of approaches including: setting back berms from the top of the river bank; creating riparian buffers and inset floodplain benches; installing instream structures to improve aquatic habitat and managing non-native invasive and Pierce’s disease host plants. As part of the Rutherford Project the District conducts annual monitoring and maintenance surveys throughout the entire 4.5 mile reach documenting long term geomorphic responses to changing channels conditions and vegetation establishment at restored areas which help inform progress towards achieving project goals and adaptive maintenance needs. Results from the most recent monitoring report for the Rutherford Project can be downloaded at the link provided below.

Napa River Oakville to Oak Knoll Restoration Project

Similar to the Rutherford Project the Napa River Oakville to Oak Knoll Restoration Project (OVOK Project) was developed to restore a 9 mile reach of the mainstem Napa River from Oakville Cross Roads to Oak Knoll Avenue through active biotechnical bank stabilization, channel widening, addition of instream habitat structures and management of non-native invasive and Pierce’s disease host plants. Goals for the project also include reducing bank erosion, enhancement of riparian and aquatic habitat and achievement of goals outlined in the Napa River sediment TMDL. Funding for both the Rutherford and OVOK Projects was provided by a combination of Measure A funds and state and federal grants. Results from the most recent monitoring report for the OVOK project can be downloaded at the link provided below.

Bale Slough - Bear Creek Tributary Restoration Project

The District is proposing to implement the Bale Slough - Bear Creek Restoration Project (Project).  The purpose of the Project is to restore and enhance long-term river and floodplain function, improve the quality and resilience of aquatic and terrestrial riparian habitat, and reduce property damage and sediment delivery associated with ongoing bank erosion processes. The Project site is located on Bale Slough and Bear Creek in the unincorporated town of Rutherford in Napa County. The Project includes 6,000 linear feet of active channel restoration and enchantments along Bale Slough and Bear Creek, a tributary to the Napa River. 

A Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) has been prepared by the Napa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District in connection with this Project. The Draft IS/MND can be viewed online in the Related Documents below.