This project addressed critically low dry-season flows in Grape Creek, a tributary to Dry Creek in the Russian River watershed of Sonoma County, by working with vineyard landowners to install off-stream ponds fed by groundwater and winter rainfall. This eliminated in-stream diversions that had historically reduced flows during salmon and steelhead migration periods. Additional work included fish passage barrier removal and streambank restoration, benefiting federally endangered Central California Coast coho salmon and federally threatened CCC steelhead.
Location: Grape Creek is a tributary to Dry Creek, which is a major tributary to the Russian River in Sonoma County, California. The Russian River runs approximately 110 miles from the north coastal Laughlin Range south through wine country before emptying into the Pacific Ocean between Jenner and Goat Rock Beach. Grape Creek lies within the federally designated Dry Creek American Viticultural Area.
Historical Presence of Anadromous Fish: Grape Creek historically supported Central California Coast (CCC) coho salmon (federally endangered) and CCC steelhead (federally threatened). Coho salmon and steelhead were historically abundant throughout the Russian River watershed, including in Grape Creek, where local landowners recall watching steelhead in the creek as far back as the 1950s and 1960s. By 2001, coho in the broader Russian River watershed had declined to fewer than four returning spawners per year, spurring the launch of the Russian River Coho Salmon Captive Broodstock Program.
Project Lead Organization: Russian River Coho Water Resources Partnership, in collaboration with Trout Unlimited’ s Water and Wine Program
Project Partners: Sotoyome Resource Conservation District; Center for Ecosystem Management and Restoration; Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District; Occidental Arts and Ecology Center WATER Institute; UC Cooperative Extension/California Sea Grant; NOAA; California State Coastal Conservancy; Natural Resources Conservation Service (EQIP); U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Sonoma County Water Agency; National Fish and Wildlife Foundation; G. Mazzera Company; Martorana Family Winery; Quivira Vineyards; Dean Witter Foundation; Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund; S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation
Project Description: This multi-landowner, watershed-scale initiative addresses critically low dry-season streamflows in Grape Creek — identified as a primary limiting factor for salmon and steelhead survival. Agricultural water diversions from the creek for irrigation and spring frost protection had historically reduced flows during the critical dry season (May–October). The project worked cooperatively with vineyard and farm owners to install off-stream ponds fed by groundwater and winter rainfall, eliminating the need for in-stream diversions. Additional components included frost fan installation, streambank and wetlands restoration, fish passage barrier removal, and monitoring. The effort was designed as a model for breaking through the conflict between agricultural water users and fish recovery needs.
Expected Completion: The Upper Grape Creek Project was completed in fall/winter 2012; streamflow monitoring and additional project development were ongoing as of 2013.
Project Effectiveness: The Grape Creek project was designated one of the National Fish Habitat Partnership’s 10 “Waters to Watch” for 2013, recognizing significant conservation gains in restoring and protecting habitat for steelhead and endangered coho salmon while ensuring vineyards retained resources for frost protection. By 2013, an estimated 496 adult coho had returned to the Russian River watershed during the rainy season, and local landowners reported noticeably more fish in the creek in recent years.