CA Fish Passage Structure Assessment: Evaluation of Effectiveness and Durability
CalTrout is leading this effort and partnering directly with the Forum to undertake the first statewide effectiveness assessment of the durability of fish passage structures. This fish passage assessment will review a representative subset of completed hardened ramp and technical fishway fish passage structures throughout California to identify key factors resulting in successful projects and lessons learned that can improve future projects. The project will be conducted by a project team comprised of experienced fish passage engineers, researchers and technicians guided by a Technical Advisory Committee. The results of this fish passage assessment, conducted through interviews and site visits about performance criteria, durability and O&M at selected sites, will be synthesized into a Technical Report with conclusions and recommendations.
Last Dam: Restoring Steelhead Rearing Habitat through Barrier Removal on Stuart Creek
Audubon Canyon Ranch (All Hands Ecology) is leading on the removal of Bouverie Dam – the final man-made barrier to unimpeded fish passage on Stuart Creek, a major tributary to Sonoma Creek in Sonoma County known for its important steelhead spawning and rearing potential. The proposed project puts into action 100% design plans to remove the dam. Channel incision and scouring below the spillway has made the dam a depth, velocity, and leap barrier, preventing acccess to high quality salmonid rearing habitat and cool climate refugia pools in the creek’s upper reaches. The dam will be replaced by a stream simulation reach with hydraulic and sediment transport characteristics that support recent downstream spawning habitat restoration.
Coastal Del Norte Habitat Restoration Response Monitoring
This project evaluates the effectiveness of salmonid recovery actions by monitoring habitat and biological responses in the Smith River Plain’s coastal tributaries. The Smith River Alliance aims to restore natural hydrology, reconnect floodplains, and improve habitats for fish and wildlife. Monitoring will focus on areas where barriers to fish passage have been remediated or removed, in collaboration with other agencies. The project will also contribute to monitoring the summer adult salmonid population in the Smith River.
