Sulphur Creek Phase III

Funds awarded:
$480,000

Project date:
June 2005 to May 2007

Sponsor:
City Of Redding, Terra Nova Development Corp., The McConnell Foundation, Department of Water Resources, Urban Stream Restoration Program.

Project Description:
Sulphur Creek is an intermittent urban stream that drains 4.42 square miles in Shasta County and the City of Redding (COR). The project limits include the Middle Reach of Sulphur Creek from about 450-feet upstream of Market Street (state Highway 273) to the Union Pacific Railroad Culvert, which is located 2,000 feet upstream. The project also includes the East Fork of Sulphur Creek from the confluence with the Middle Reach to the Union Pacific Railroad Culvert located 2,150 feet upstream.

This portion (Phase III) of the creek has been significantly affected by historical mining, development in the upper watershed and is severely over grown with noxious plants (i.e. Himalayan Blackberries). Objectives for the Middle Reach Erosion Control and Habitat Enhancement project include:

• Restore natural channel morphology and function
  
• Enhance wildlife habitat (maximizing fish passage, spawning, rearing, escapement and improve the riparian condition.)
  
• Increase recreation and educational opportunities in the watershed
  
• Decrease flooding of existing access roads
  
• Improve water quality
  
• Protect existing Sanitary Sewer line, which crosses the Middle Reach

Sulphur Creek, looking downstream from the tunnel under the railroad crossing

Salmon that can't get further upstream at the railroad tunnel

As you can see, the East Fork of Sulphur Creek channel is heavily overgrown with brush

Shasta College students clearing brush from the East Fork channel and tunnel entrance under the railroad crossing on the East Fork