Stanislaus River Basin and Calaveras River Water Use Program
Threatened and Endangered Species Report - March 1995
Bay Delta and Special Water Projects Division, CA Dept. of Fish and Game
2.3 CANYON REACH
The canyon reach is in the uppermost portion of the study area stretching from Knights
Ferry upstream to Goodwin Dam, four river miles. Here the river flows through a bedrock
canyon with nearly vertical walls and rock outcrops. The gradient is fairly steep in this
portion of the river, 2 percent. According to the United States Army Corps of Engineers
(Corps) Rescue and Evacuation Guide, this stretch of the river has class III to class IV rapids,
depending upon the river flows. This reach has rapids with colorful names such as Mr.
Toad's Rapid, Laundry Chute Rapid, Upper and Lower Matterhorn Falls, Wrap Rock Rapid,
and Haunted House Rapid.
The predominant habitat type in the canyon reach is blue oak-digger pine and is similar
to that seen in the foothill reach. Also found in this area are valley foothill riparian, annual
grassland, riverine, and disturbed habitats. Vernal pools also potentially occur within this
reach. An additional habitat classification, rockland, can be observed in this stretch. This
habitat category describes those areas with large expanses of granitic outcrop, or banks of
bedrock and erodible soils with little or no tree or shrub component.
The riparian edge is valley foothill riparian, similar to that in the valley and foothill
reaches. The valley foothill riparian occurs in a very narrow band for the entire length of this
reach.
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