Historical Landscape Form and Function

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Historical Landscape Form and Function
Napa Scientific Advisory and Review Group
Meeting May 31, 2007
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• CONTRIBUTORS
• Erin Beller
• Elise Brewster
• Andy Collison
• Al Edmister
• Shari Gardner
• Todd Keeler-Wolf
• Jonathan Koehler
• Ken Lajoie
• Robert Leidy
• Steve Rae
• Jake Ruygt

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Summary of historical conditions and changes
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Channel Network Connectivity
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1850
6
2007
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Fluvial channel network change
Historical Coyote Creek Drainage Network
1800 disconnected system
San Jose
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Fluvial channel network change
Modern Coyote Creek Drainage Network
2005 increased connectivity
San Jose
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Fine Sediment Sinks
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"State what is the character of the channel of
the Napa River at the place marked 'Tule' on
Exhibit NLS no.2. a22 The branch seems to sink
and form a marsh and the Napa spreads. a23 Has
the Napa River a distinct channel at that point
or any channel at all. q24 I examined the place
and could not find a channel at that point
similar to the channel above or below." (Squibb
1861)"
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1850
2007
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Mainstem Channel Simplification
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1850
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2007
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1871
2005
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1940/42
2005
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Channel Incision
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Zinfandel Lane
Courtesy Al Edminster
1959 Stream in incised meander banks 12-15 feet
above stream level 1996 NRCD cross section, 26
ft. deep (8m)
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Base Flow (intermittent versus perennial reaches)
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Tributaries valley floor
ca 1840
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Napa River Lower Mainstem

• Younts Mill
• Vallejos Mill (near Trancas)
• Napa City Water Company diversion dam (near
  Trancas)
• Thompson (1857 49) stated that Napa River
  "affords in many cases opportunities for
  irrigation" within the Caymus Rancho
  (approximately Zinfandel Lane to Yountville
  crossroads).
• Vines (1861) "Napa River is considerably larger
  with deep banks and water running in it" -- in
  contrast to Conn Creek (which was known as Dry
  Creek")
• Bryan (1932) and Faye (1973) Napa River a
  "gaining stream
• 1911 late summer flow data

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Near Surface Groundwater
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Riparian Forest
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Loss of broad riparian areas
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Riparian invasion of gravel bars
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1850
2007
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Riparian expansion through lateral channel
migration
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Recovery of narrow riparian corridors on channel
banks?
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ca 1870
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1908
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Reach Classification

• Confined
• Broad gravel bar
• Broad riparian forest
• Island/slough
• Floodplain wetlands
• Tidal channel
• Tidal marsh

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Confined reaches
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C
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E
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1850
2007
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Floodplain wetland reaches
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H
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F
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Island/slough reaches
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F
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Broad gravel bar reaches
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1850
2007
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Broad riparian forest reaches
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B
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G
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Tidal channel reaches
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Tidal marsh reaches
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A
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D
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F
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J
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2007
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I
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