Watershed Overview:
Wolverton Gulch is a tributary to Barber Creek located in Hydesville, California and drains into the Van Duzen River at Starvation Flats. It is located 40o 32’18” North latitude and 124o 06’39” West latitude with a length of approximately 3.7 miles. Elevations in Wolverton Gulch range from 40 feet at the mouth to 1000 feet above sea level at its headwaters. The watershed is primarily in private ownership with some PALCO ownership in the upper reaches.

Wolverton Gulch is currently involved in the Coastal Watersheds Project conducted by the CA Department of Fish and Game.
For more information on this project, contact Steve Cannata at 725-1015 or go to the web site www.coastalwatersheds.ca.gov/ and click on the Van Duzen.

Landowners : Claude and Berta Young

The Youngs are long time residents of the Lower Van Duzen River Basin and have been concerned with conservation and watershed issues for many years. They and other community members were influential in defining Wolverton Gulch as a Class 1 stream during a proposed timber harvest plan in the upper reaches.

Over the past decade, the Youngs established a relationship with the Hydesville School District. Working with Mr. Jim Rizza, science teacher, students in grades 7/8 participated in stream restoration, planting to improve the riparian zone, and the removal of invasive species. For the past three years, through the Gifted and Talented Science in the Schools project and a mini-grant from the Clean Water Institute, the Youngs have worked with Sal Steinberg conducting macro invertebrate and water quality studies. In Fall of 2006, the Youngs became participants in the Van Duzen Watershed Project, which involves more intensive water quality monitoring in the creek, and will continue through Winter and Spring of 2008.

Land Owner Claude Young

For a report for the Clean Water Institute, go to http://fovd.org/htm/Wolverton/wolverton_creek_report.htm

For pictures showing students in Wolverton Creek go to http://fovd.org/htm/educational_projects.htm.

A Stream Inventory Report was conducted by the CA Department of Fish and Game in 1997 through the Salmon and Steelhead Restoration and Enhancement Program of the North Coast Basin Planning Project.

Restoration work by Eel River Watershed Improvement Group was conducted in 1999 to encourage fish passage. Northwest Resources conducted a project in 2001 to restore summer stream flows and salmonid habitat, and prevent excessive sedimentation on 1780 feet of Wolverton Gulch and 300 feet of Barber Creek by placement of stock water, exclusion and control fencing. For more information about the restoration projects go to the California Watershed Portal:
California Watershed Portal

Paul Trichilo and Karen Bromley