Prairie Creek Stream Gage at O' Rew Restoration Site - CalSIP Installation
Summary
SCH Number
2026031062
Public Agency
California Department of Water Resources
(DWR)
Document Title
Prairie Creek Stream Gage at O' Rew Restoration Site - CalSIP Installation
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/25/2026
Document Description
As part of the California Stream Gage Improvement Program, the California Department of Water Resources has executed a contract with the Yurok Tribe Environmental Department to install a stream gage on Prairie Creek within the O' Rew Restoration Site. The proposed project would install a real-time gaging station consisting of a datasonde with sensors to monitor temperature, pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity; bubbler and transducer to measure stage; a logger to record data; and telemetry radio to transmit real-time data. Frequent discharge measurements with a velocimeter will be paired with stage data collected from the station to develop a relationship curve and estimate water quantity.
A small concrete pad (approx. 4' x 4') will be constructed approximately 75' from the channel to house the data logger and electronics. A reinforced silt fence will be installed temporarily downslope of the proposed concrete pad to ensure no concrete leaves the project area or enters the stream. Concrete will be mixed by hand onsite, and all dirty concrete tools and materials will be transported and cleaned at an off-site concrete washout. Conduit will be buried approximately 6" below the surface using hand tools from the concrete pad to the bankfull mark of the stream channel with no instream disturbance. There will be no riparian or turbidity impacts. Any soil disturbing activities will occur after April 15 and the disturbed areas will be covered with straw.
Contact Information
Name
Brian Humphrey
Agency Name
California Dept. of Water Resources
Job Title
Sr. Environmental Scientist (Specialist)
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Orick
Counties
Humboldt
Regions
Northern California
Cross Streets
Highway 101, Prairie Camp Creek Road
State Highways
Highway 101
Schools
Orick Elementary School
Waterways
Prairie Creek
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15304. Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project will result in minor ground disturbance as a result of the installation of a small concrete pad and conduit buried 6" deep using hand tools that would extend from the concrete pad to the bank full mark of Prairie Creek with no instream disturbance. Proposed activities qualify for categorical exemptions 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land). Proposed activities will not result in a significant impact to the environment and none of the exceptions described in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply. Furthermore, proposed activities are not anticipated to result in impacts to riparian, turbidity increases, or ground disturbance or changes to the streambed or bank.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15306. Information Collection
Reasons for Exemption
The purpose of this project is to install a stream gage to monitor real-time water quality and quantity data for Prairie Creek within the O' Rew Restoration Site. The station will monitor temperature, pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and stage. Proposed activities qualify for categorical exemptions 15306 (Information Collection). Proposed activities will not result in a significant impact to the environment and none of the exceptions described in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply. Furthermore, proposed activities are not anticipated to result in impacts to riparian, turbidity increases, or ground disturbance or changes to the streambed or bank.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.