California Stream Gage Improvement Program Grant funding: Installation of 5 historical USGS stream gages in the Napa River Watershed

The County is proposing to upgrade 3 and install 2 new stream gaging units to record streamflow data in the Napa River (at Calistoga) and 4 tributaries in the Napa River Watershed (Milliken Creek, Redwood Creek, Dry Creek and Conn Creek). Streamflow data will be made publicly available via the California Data Exchange Center as per the requirements of the California Department of Water Resources grant. This project will rely on tying into existing Napa County Flood Control & Water Conservation District OneRain sensor infrastructure at 3 of the 5 sites. Stream gage equipment will be paired with and installed within this existing OneRain telemetry infrastructure. Two locations (Conn Creek at Skellenger Lane, and Dry Creek at Solano Avenue) will require the installation of new gaging stations. The Project sites, consisting of existing streams and creeks, likely support local movement patterns of terrestrial wildlife species and provides food and cover resources for common avian and amphibian species, especially those areas near ephemeral drainages and streams. Temporary effects due to noise and increased human activity during Project activities should not interfere with these local movement patterns over time or affect the ability of these species to forage or reproduce. No removal of vegetation and no earth disturbance is proposed. Furthermore, work will occur outside the bird nesting season so there is no potential impact to nesting birds and raptors protected under the Migratory Bird Act. Additionally, various Best Management Practices are proposed to be implemented to reduce any impacts.