In Fall 2023, Verdantas completed the Hallwood Side Channel and Floodplain Restoration Project to restore critical rearing habitat for juvenile salmonids in California’s Lower Yuba River. Decades of geomorphic and hydraulic disruption from Gold Rush-era activity had severely limited habitat connectivity and function.

We partnered with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Yuba Water Agency to support their goals of doubling natural production of Central Valley anadromous fish and enhancing regional fisheries. Over five years, we designed and executed a phased restoration plan that reconnected the river to its floodplain, improved lateral connectivity, and reduced predator habitat.

We created or enhanced 157 acres of rearing habitat, including 2 miles of perennial channels and alcoves and 6 miles of seasonal side channels. Our team collaborated with federal, state, and local partners and worked closely with aggregate mining landowners to deliver innovative, cost-effective solutions that supported both ecological and operational goals.

To measure impact, we implemented a multi-year monitoring program. Since completion, the project has demonstrated measurable ecological improvements: increased salmonid residence times, a higher ratio of native to non-native species, reduced predator presence, and robust riparian vegetation recruitment.

Project Highlights:

• Rehabilitated or enhanced 154.7 acres of seasonally inundated riparian floodplain.
• Constructed 1.7 miles of perennial side channels and 5.7 miles of seasonal channels, alcoves, and swales.
• Delivered long-term improvements in habitat quality and ecosystem function