Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement Project, 2018

The Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement Project provides a unique opportunity for Sonoma Water and landowners to enhance habitat for endangered fish species in the Russian River watershed while continuing to deliver water to approximately 600,000 customers. The National Marine Fisheries Service and California Department of Fish & Wildlife biologists have determined that excessive water velocities and lack of suitable rearing habitat in Dry Creek threaten the recovery of endangered Coho and Steelhead.

The Habitat Enhancement Project is creating habitat features that provide low-velocity areas for juvenile Coho and Steelhead along six miles of the 14-mile length of Dry Creek, while still allowing Sonoma Water to use Dry Creek as a means of moving water downstream for water supply purposes. The first mile of the project, known as the Demonstration Project, was completed in 2014 near Lambert Bridge.

Working with willing landowners, five additional miles of habitat enhancements will be constructed by 2020. Sonoma Water and its contractors are currently designing and constructing miles 2 & 3 of the project, and conducting preliminary design for miles 4-6 of habitat enhancements. The continued cooperation of property owners and the support of the community are key to the success of this program. Learn More