The Willow Creek Restoration and Management Project offers a unique opportunity to aid in the recovery of native steelhead trout and perhaps even the return of coho salmon in Willow Creek. Since 2001, Stewards has been working with California State Parks and other organizations/agencies on this effort. Key components needed for a healthy salmonid population (i.e., a healthy riparian zone and adequate summer low flows) are already present. For these reasons, this project has a high potential to aid the recovery of salmonids in the watershed. Besides the landowners, other public and private partners have an interest in the success of this project. Project Partners include: Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods, California State Parks, Landpaths, California Department of Fish and Game and Prunuske Chatham, Inc.
Stewards received Proposition 13 funding administered by the State Water Resources Control Board and the Sonoma County Water Agency in the amount of $198,000, which made possible the development of an integrated watershed plan, a channel feasibility analysis, as well as, a Watershed Education Program. Additional funding in the amount of $35,000 was received from the Russian River Watershed Council, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation/Pacific Grassroots Salmon Initiative, and the Sonoma County Wildlife Commission. LandPaths also received funding from the State Water Resources Control Board and the Department of Fish and Game to work on restoration in the upper watershed.
In 2007, Stewards was awarded grants by the State Coastal Conservancy ($141,000) and the Sonoma County Wildlife Commission to begin the work of creating fish passage in the area called 2nd Bridge. In 2010, Stewards and project partners completed this phase of the project with: a technically-detailed characterization of current hydrology, geotechnical considerations and fish passage requirements; 90% technical designs; and permit application materials for a 43 foot pre-cast bridget that will pass adequate flow and re-establish channel formation processes at the location of the road crossing. Stewards and State Parks also completed all necessary CEQA documentation. Stewards was awarded a grant in the amount of $352,000 from the Department of Fish and Game and a grant in the amount of $400,000. In addition, Trout Unlimited secured $100,000 from the Sonoma County Water Agency to complete the construction phase of this project. By replacing six culverts with a single-span, precast, 43-foot long concrete bridge, channel connectivity will be reestablished through 1,000 feet of wetlands and allow for natural channel development. The project will also improve road safety, reduce flooding thus maintain public access to existing State Park facilities and residences. In addition to fish passage improvements, the project work will include monitoring in-stream habitat characteristics, tracking adult and juvenile salmonids through presence/absence surveys, and performing public outreach and education activities.
The construction project is expected to begin in spring 2011 and be finished by fall 2011. Refer to the Mitigated Declaration for Willow Creek Bridge Project below for project details.
Documents Related to the Willow Creek Watershed
The Willow Creek Watershed Management Plan 2005
Willow Creek Channel Analysis - 2005
Jan. 29, 2004 - Willow Creek public meeting results
List of Technical Documents for Willow Creek
Willow Creek Geotechnical Study - 2008
Willow Creek 30% Design Memo - 2008
80% Designs for 2nd Bridge
Mitigated Declaration for Willow Creek Bridge Project - 16.4 mg file
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