SITE HISTORY
Due to both natural events and 100 years of intensive human use. Greenhorn Creek's width has increased from 16 and a half feet in 1871, to 50-275 feet today. In 1923, the highway department, while building a highway bridge, channelized and moved the creek from the West edge of American Valley to the middle of the valley where it flows today. In a 1963 flood, a mill pond seven miles upstream of the project area was breached, destroying 8 large beaver dams. In 1968 storms, large gravel bars were deposited in the center of the channel, pushing the creek's waters against the stream banks, causing erosion and undermining riparian vegetation. The banks became bare and the channel became shallow and braided. Water quality declined and trophy size trout were no longer caught from the creek.

In May 1988, a CRM team, made up of agency resource experts and other interested parties toured the proposed project area and made recommendations on project design, construction, and monitoring. The CRM team was interested in improving the native trout fishery in the project area. They also expected secondary benefits from the project including improved wildlife and waterfowl habitat, improved range and forest land productivity, and increased soil stability and water quality. All of these goals are part of the missions of the resource agencies that employ the team members. The CRM as a whole then met with the landowners and agreed to the following common goals:
• To restore channel stability and riparian habitat in order to increase the trout population.
• To provide roadside, flat-terrain catch and release fishing opportunities within two miles of Quincy,

PROJECT DESIGN
After extensive planning, data collection, and Filing for permit applications, construction of the project took place in the fall of 1991. The project used a combination of biological, engineering, and management restoration techniques, including:

• Reconstruction of meanders along 2,800 feet of the existing stream channel. Stream braids were filled in and water was redirected into one stable channel with

meanders of natural length for the stream type. Tree root wads and boulders were placed in layers along the new stream channel to armor it against erosion.

Reshaping of the existing 100 year floodplain. A total of 17.6 acres of flood plain were reshaped to increase the water storage capacity of the stream and slow down runoff.

• Revegetation of the project area by seeding and transplanting plants to restore areas laid bare by construction. Willows were planted in bundles and matting put down on stream banks to stabilize them. Revegetation was finished by June 1992.

• Livestock exclusion for at least three years. The landowners agreed to a grazing management plan that would keep livestock from eating the replanted vegetation, and would control and limit grazing in the project area thereafter.

• Monitoring of results. The CRM team of resource experts developed a baseline survey and collected pre-project resource information. They agreed to coordinate monitoring for five years after the project was completed.

The landowners also agreed to permit public access for fishing and education purposes (monitoring, interpretative displays, and student projects or studies), and to allow car access for the handicapped.

PROJECT RESULTS
The project was constructed between September and November 1991. All together over 125 individuals from various state, federal and local agencies and groups have cooperated to make this project happen. 

Greenhorn Creek before project

Greenhorn creek after project

Monitoring of results has been on-going since revegetation was completed in June 1992.

A five year monitoring plan was designed to track the project's experimental construction techniques. In some cases, pre-construction measurements were taken, but for most factors, post-project measurements are being compared to a control area set up in 1992.

Monitoring is being done by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the California Department of Fish and Game (CDF&G), the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), and Quincy High School students. At least 60 grade school students, 20 high schools students and 15 community college students have been involved in project monitoring. Students are collecting information on stream conditions and wildlife.

MONITORING RESULTS

The project's interim monitoring report uses two year's of data to assess the project's success so far. Although there is some information on stream conditions as a result of the project, it is still too early to tell if the main goal of fish habitat enhancement is being reached. A full

STREAM RESPONSES:
Substrate particle size changed following project construction. Before the project, sands and fine particles made up 30.7% of the stream bottom in the project area. Immediately after construction, sands and fines were only 4.7% of the stream bottom.

Stream channel pattern stability - The width was reduced to 30 feet by project construction. The project has since been subjected to three major flood events in 1995. Although the meander reconstruction did not hold in 25-50% of the project reaches, there was no significant stream bank erosion.

Revegetation success was high with 79% of transplanted trees, and 87% of container stock living after one year. Willow transplants did well, and grasses showed good germination in the first year. Long-term survival and growth will greatly affect other factors.
Fish population was surveyed before the project, but not since. However, many recently hatched brown trout have been observed in the project area.
Insect population/macroinvertebrates has not changed significantly in either the project or control sections of the stream.
Bird population has not changed in either species or numbers, and is not expected to until there has been a significant change in vegetation.