UAS Flights

As a “Good-Neighbor” in the Trinity River watershed regarding the use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), while conducting work for the Trinity River Restoration Program, staff of TMC member organizations and contractors will conduct UAS activities under “fly for work” rules (FAA Part 107 or future equivalents), will make reasonable efforts to contact private and public landowners within flight plans prior to the flights, and will annually report usage of UAS (date, agency, and purpose) for listing on the TRRP website.

– TMC motion approved March 28, 2018

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) – also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or “drones” – are coming into use by TRRP partners and contractors. UAS provide a convenient and economical tool for collecting topographic data and aerial photography over small areas, such as channel rehabilitiation sites, and perhaps even for biological surveys (for example, Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Migration). Airspace is legally available for UAS operating over private property without landowner contact. In 2018, TRRP’s Trinity Management Council (TMC) approved guidance for TRRP partners and contractors regarding private landowner contact and public transparency (side panel). This page provides the listing of UAS activities.

7/11/2018GMA Hydrology, Inc.Hamilton Ponds (Grass Valley Creek)Under contract to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in support of fine sediment inputs, TRRP synthesis reporting

Dates Pilot Agency or Company Location Purpose of flights
10/5/2017 GMA Hydrology, Inc. Near the Trinity Dam Blvd bridge (“New Bridge”) in Lewiston Gravel Implementation Monitoring, under contract to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
2/1-2/2018 GMA Hydrology, Inc. Near Sky Ranch Road area of Junction City As-built conditions for Deep Gulch and Sheridan Creek Channel Rehabilitation sites, under contract to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
7/5/2018 GMA Hydrology, Inc. Rush Creek Confluence Under contract to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in support of delta sediment inputs, TRRP synthesis reporting
7/6/2018 GMA Hydrology, Inc. Indian Creek Confluence Under contract to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in support of delta sediment inputs, TRRP synthesis reporting
7/11/2018 Yurok Tribe South Fork (near Butter Creek) South Fork Wood Project (Watershed Restoration)
7/12/2018 GMA Hydrology, Inc. Buckhorn Reservoir Under contract to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in support of fine sediment inputs, TRRP synthesis reporting
7/15/2018 Yurok Tribe Indian Creek (Watershed Restoration site) Indian Creek Connectivity (pre-restoration conditions)
9/19-20/2018 Yurok Tribe South Fork (near Butter Creek) South Fork Wood Project (Watershed Restoration)
10/9-30/2018 Yurok Tribe South Fork (near Butter Creek) South Fork Wood Project (Watershed Restoration)
12/28/2018 Yurok Tribe Indian Creek (Watershed Restoration site) Indian Creek Connectivity (pre-restoration conditions)
 various 2019  Yurok Tribe  Chapman Ranch area  Channel rehabilitation “Chapman Ranch Phase A” project.
 11/20-21/2019  GMA Hydrology, Inc.  Chapman Ranch area  As-built conditions for Chapman Ranch Phase A Channel Rehabilitation site, under contract to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
 Summer, Fall 2020  Yurok Tribe and Hoopa Valley Tribe  near confluence of Dutch Creek and Trinity River  Channel rehabilitation construction monitoring of “Dutch Creek” project.
 Late 2020  Yurok Tribe  near confluence of Dutch Creek and Trinity River  As-built conditions for Dutch Creek Channel Rehabilitation site, under contract to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
 February, 2021  Yurok Tribe  Lewiston  Mapping current conditions of Sawmill gravel storage area and Cemetery Side Channel.

 

Professional UAS in use to support river restoration.

Professional UAS in use to support river restoration.