Appropriate In-Water Materials
Selection and use of gravels, cobble, boulders, and instream woody materials in streams, and other materials (e.g., oyster shells, other substrates) for reef/bed restoration will be performed to avoid and/or minimize adverse impacts to aquatic resources, special-status aquatic species, and their habitats. On-site gravels will be screened and sorted; gravels imported from a commercial source will be clean-washed and of appropriate size. As necessary to protect aquatic species, placement will be overseen by an agency-approved Monitor; implementation timing will be determined based on the least amount of overlap, or impact on, all aquatic natural resources that may be affected and the timing of their use of the receiving area. Imported gravel from outside the project watershed will not be from a source known to contain historic hydraulic gold mine tailings, dredger tailings, or mercury mine waste or tailings. Materials that may foul or degrade spawning gravels, such as sand or soil eroding from sand bag or earthen dams will be managed to avoid release and exposure in salmonid streams. Oyster shells or other substrates for reef/bed restoration will be cured and inspected to be free of pathogens and/or non-native species.