Riparian Corridor
Seven perennial tributaries of the northern Sacramento River are located in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, making it one of the largest contributing watersheds to supply the river. Riparian communities line these seven tributaries and their accompanying drainage networks. About 4,000 acres (1,619 ha) of riparian habitat occur in the park, ranging from headwaters at the top of Shasta Bally at 6,209 feet (1,893 m) to the bottom of the Clear Creek valley around 700 feet (213 m).
Since this community type spans across most elevations in Whiskeytown, the composition of life varies both along creeks and between them, adding greatly to park biodiversity. In addition to variations in elevation, differences in the slope, aspect, water temperature, substrate, structure composition of surrounding vegetation, and ability of water also affect riparian diversity.
Riparian plant communities provide wildlife “travel corridors” and habitat for aquatic species of plants, animals, and invertebrates. Plant species to look for in riparian communities include orange tiger lilies, the huge leaves of Indian rhubarb, and California wild grape. Native Americans once ate the fleshy leafstalks of the Indian rhubarb. Also in the park is the Himalayan blackberry, a nonnative invasive species that is very prevalent along stream in the lower elevations. Park staff is removing some blackberry in sensitive native-plant or cultural landscapes.
Wildlife species that you may be able to spy in the creeks include foothill yellow-legged frogs that blend in with the rocky creek bottoms. Along the edges and sometimes in the water you can find aquatic garter snakes, black salamanders, and Pacific giant salamander.
Birds that can be found along streams include kingfishers, American dippers, Wilson’s warblers, Bullock orioles, song sparrows, yellow-breasted chats, and Pacific-sloped flycatchers. Black bears and even mountain lions have been known to roam around the cool and wet creeks to cool off during summer months.
Following stream rehabilitation, spring run chinook salmon, a federally threatened species, have recently been observed in Clear Creek below Whiskeytown Dam. Recent habitat restoration efforts could potentially triple the present productivity of federally listed salmon and steelhead within the park boundary.
