California Code of Regulations › Title 14 - Natural Resources › Division 1 - Fish and Game Commission-Department of Fish and Game › Subdivision 3 - General Regulations › Chapter 3 - Miscellaneous › Exhibit C - Incidental Take Authorization Standards for In-Stream Gravel Extraction During the Candidacy Period for Coho Salmon

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
1. A
				  gravel extraction plan including design features, mitigation measures, and
				  enhancement recommendations that minimize impacts to salmonids shall be
				  prepared by the operator and submitted to the Department for review and
				  approval before extraction may begin. The maximum amount permitted to be
				  removed shall be no more than the amount of sand and gravel that is annually
				  replenished in the proposed extraction area, and cumulative extraction
				  quantities shall be consistent with the long-term average annual sustained
				  yield based on estimates of mean annual recruitment.
2. Extraction of gravel shall be accomplished
				  by "skimming" or grading of gravel from bars above the low water channel unless
				  another technique is approved in advance by the Department. The gravel bars
				  shall be sloped from the bank down towards the thalweg and downstream to avoid
				  stranding of salmonids. No holes or depressions shall be allowed to remain in
				  the extraction area. No extraction of the streambanks shall be
				  allowed.
3. Low flow channel
				  confinement shall be maximized by utilizing the low flow silt line, where
				  available, in designing the vertical offset. The silt line measurement shall be
				  taken on or before July 15th of any year unless an alternate date is approved,
				  in advance, by the Department. The vertical offset shall be at least one foot.
				  A larger vertical offset, as determined by the Department, may be necessary to
				  maximize the low flow channel confinement.
4. Gravel bar stability shall be protected by
				  minimizing extraction on the upstream one-third of gravel bars. No extraction
				  shall be allowed in riffle sections. The Department shall review proposed
				  gravel extraction plans during an annual site inspection and make specific
				  recommendations to protect salmonid habitat.
5. Channel crossing construction shall not
				  begin before June 15. Removal of channel crossings shall be completed by
				  September 30. If temporary culverts are installed, they will be installed in
				  such a manner so that they will not impede the passing of fish up and down
				  stream.
6. Large woody debris (LWD)
				  shall be stockpiled before gravel extraction begins and redistributed on the
				  gravel bar after the extraction site has been reclaimed at the end of the
				  extraction season. To the extent possible, vehicular access onto gravel mining
				  sites shall be controlled to minimize the loss of LWD from firewood
				  collectors.
7. Trees exceeding 1
				  inch DBH shall not be removed, and clumps of smaller trees shall not be removed
				  except by prior approval of the Department. The disturbance or removal of
				  vegetation shall be minimized, shall not exceed that necessary to complete
				  operations and shall be limited to areas where extraction has occurred within
				  the past two years.
8. The project
				  shall comply with Section
				  1601 or
				  1603 of
				  the California Fish and Game Code, and a Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreement
				  shall be obtained from the Department. Any measures identified by the
				  Department as necessary to protect coho salmon shall be incorporated into the
				  signed agreement and shall be fully implemented.