In 2006, Natural Resources Science and Permitting staff and Water Resources staff from SHN’s Eureka office implemented a Wetland Mitigation Plan that was developed by SHN in 2001 for Kernen Construction. The project site is located near the town of Blue Lake and is adjacent to Hall Creek, a tributary to the Mad River and an important Coho salmon stream. The project included three separate and diverse wetland features.

The largest wetland area was excavated several feet deep to create open water habitat. After excavating the pool, large wood (i.e., stumps) and island features were added to create structural and vertical diversity for wildlife. The second wetland was constructed as a linear feature running parallel to Hall Creek. This wetland has a berm, separating it from nearby industrial activities, as well as a series of perpendicular berms within the wetland. The series of berms, combined with topography, allows water to pool in each cell at varying depths, with deep water on the west end and shallow water on the east end. The third wetland feature was designed to be shallow, and was constructed to blend the pond’s shape with the surrounding riparian vegetation.

The three wetland areas were excavated to various depths to create a variety of habitats that will support a diverse assemblage of native vegetation and wildlife species. The mitigation project is off to a good start, as each of the three wetlands filled with water during the first storms of the wet weather season, establishing the most critical element of any wetland construction project - hydrology. SHN’s Botanist and Wildlife Biologist will monitor the site for the establishment of wetland plants and wildlife use for a period of 5 years and continue to make remedial measure recommendations for this adaptive and evolving project.

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