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Post Project Appraisal of Village Creek Restoration, Albany, CA
Melissa Asher, University of California, Berkeley
Kaumudi Atapattu, University of California, Berkeley
LA 227 Restoration of Rivers and Streams, Fall 2005.
ABSTRACT: Village Creek, located in Albany, California, is the lower tributary of Marin Creek. In 1998, the
University of California at Berkeley daylighted a 900-foot stretch of the Creek and restored it to an
1,125 feet long open channel flanked by 0.77 acres of riparian and aquatic habitat. The objective
of the project was to increase aquatic habitat, provide conveyance for a 100-year flood, and
recreate the natural stream dimensions for a bankfull channel, floodplain, and upper bank. This
appraisal evaluates the current hydraulic and geomorphological conditions to determine the change
from initial implementation and design. The study of the newly formed channel complexity showed
changes in gravel and sand bars, as well as pools, riffles, and glides. A comparison between the
current state of the creek and the intended design allowed the determination of extent to which the
restoration meets the intended goals. Longitudinal and cross-sectional surveys along with channel
mapping revealed an increase channel complexity and minor changes in the channel shape. In
addition, an evaluation of the vegetation shows significant improvement in the riparian habitat.
However, there was no observed development in aquatic habitat in Village Creek.
SUGGESTED CITATION: Melissa Asher and Kaumudi Atapattu,
"Post Project Appraisal of Village Creek Restoration, Albany, CA"
(December 12, 2005).
Water Resources Center Archives.
Restoration of Rivers and Streams.
Paper asher.
http://repositories.cdlib.org/wrca/restoration/asher
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