Deadwood Creek Tributaries Restoration

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has authorized a stream and lakebed alteration agreement to support restoration efforts within the historic Brown Bear Mine property, focusing on three specific components located in Donnelly Gulch, Thorne Gulch, and Deadwood Creek. These actions, approved under Section 1602 of the Fish and Game Code, are designed as minor but critical measures to support broader site remediation by decommissioning a degraded roadway in Donnelly Gulch, placing large woody debris in Thorne Gulch to enhance habitat structure, and removing an abandoned vehicle from Deadwood Creek to eliminate pollution and obstruction. The work is targeted strictly within the existing footprint of the mine site and aims to curb illegal dumping and unauthorized occupation by improving site accessibility and environmental conditions. The project is forecasted under the title Deadwood Creek Tributaries Restoration with a posted date of July 31, 2026, and is being administered by Region 1 of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, based in Redding and Eureka. Senior Environmental Scientist Philip Cramer serves as the primary point of contact for regulatory oversight, while Mark Lancaster of the Northwest California Resource Conservation and Development Council is the executing agent responsible for implementation. All activities are coordinated through the state’s environmental permitting system, with full documentation available via the provided CEQA Net link, ensuring compliance with state ecological protection standards.