The bale slough - bear creek project advances the napa county's application of the living river principles by restoring geomorphic processes within the river and tributaries, providing environmental…

This $1,400,000 Project Grant award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9's San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund (CFDA 66.126) will support the Bale Slough - Bear Creek Project in Napa County, California. The project aims to restore geomorphic processes, provide environmental benefits, reduce flood damage, and lower fine sediment inputs within the Napa River watershed. Key activities include creating a passive floodplain enhancement area, installing habitat structures, stabilizing riparian slopes using biotechnical tools, and revegetating project sites. Expected outcomes include an expanded and complex floodplain with stable banks and a mature riparian tree canopy to support aquatic wildlife including salmonid populations. This funding will directly benefit residents of Napa County and the San Francisco Bay Area by restoring the channel to a more natural state and improving overall water quality in the region.

Expected outcomes

An expanded and complex floodplain with stable banks and mature riparian tree canopy that will be amenable aquatic wildlife including salmonid populations. Intended beneficiaries are residents of napa county and the SF BAY area who will benefit from a channel that has been returned to a more native state and that is able to contribute to improved SF BAY water quality.