The Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project is among the largest anadromous fish restoration efforts in the US. The project will restore access to 42 miles of cold-water and high-elevation habitat on Battle Creek and 6 miles of its tributaries for winter-run and spring-run Chinook salmon and steelhead, while still producing hydroelectric power. Historically, Battle Creek was one of the most important Chinook salmon spawning streams in the Sacramento Valley. The project includes removing five Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) hydroelectric diversion dams, constructing fish ladders and fish screens on three other diversion dams, constructing tailrace connectors to prevent the mixing of North Fork Battle Creek and South Fork Battle Creek waters, increasing instream flow releases, and dedication of water rights for instream purposes at dam removal sites. Project partners include US Bureau of Reclamation, US National Marine Fisheries Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, PG&E, Battle Creek Watershed Conservancy, Greater Battle CreekWatershed Working Group, California Bay-Delta Authority, California State Water Resources Control Board, California Wildlife Conservation Board, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as well as landowners and other stakeholders. Learn more: USBR website, BCWC website. Photo shows 2010 demolition of Wildcat Diversion Dam. © US Bureau of Reclamation
The Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project is among the largest anadromous fish restoration efforts in the US. The project will restore access to 42 miles of cold-water and high-elevation habitat on Battle Creek and 6 miles of its tributaries for winter-run and spring-run Chinook salmon and steelhead, while still producing hydroelectric power. Historically, Battle Creek was one of the most important Chinook salmon spawning streams in the Sacramento Valley. The project includes removing five Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) hydroelectric diversion dams, constructing fish ladders and fish screens on three other diversion dams, constructing tailrace connectors to prevent the mixing of North Fork Battle Creek and South Fork Battle Creek waters, increasing instream flow releases, and dedication of water rights for instream purposes at dam removal sites. Project partners include US Bureau of Reclamation, US National Marine Fisheries Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, PG&E, Battle Creek Watershed Conservancy, Greater Battle CreekWatershed Working Group, California Bay-Delta Authority, California State Water Resources Control Board, California Wildlife Conservation Board, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as well as landowners and other stakeholders. Learn more: USBR website, BCWC website. Photo shows 2010 demolition of Wildcat Diversion Dam. © US Bureau of Reclamation