Water, Land and Related Resources North Coastal Area of California and Portions of Southern Oregon: Main Report, Sediment Yield and Land Treatment

Excerpts from the report: The study area covers the North Coastal Area of California and includes all streams and rivers that drain into the Pacific Ocean from the Russian River in the south to the Smith River near the Oregon border in the north. The Klamath and Smith River drainages in Oregon are included. The total area encompasses about 25,415 square miles, of which about 19,650 square miles are in California and 5,765 square miles are in Oregon. The study area was divided into eight major river basins -- Russian, Mendocino Coastal, Clear Lake, Eel, Mad, Klamath, Trinity, and Smith -- as shown on the location map. These basins are located either partially or entirely in the California counties of: Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Modoc, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Trinity; and the Oregon counties of: Curry, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, and Lake. The survey had six major objectives: 1. To estimate the sediment yield by sources and causes under present conditions. 2. To estimate the future sediment yield under expected use and management. 3. To formulate a land treatment program that would reduce the sediment yield and to estimate the costs of remedial measures. 4. To evaluate the physical effects of the recommended program. 5. To evaluate the potential development that could he obtained through U.S. Department of Agriculture programs. 6. To coordinate USDA programs for watershed protection, flood prevention, agricultural water management, and related purposes with similar activities of state, local, and other federal agencies.