Stream Flow Enhancement and Restoration Project
Client
Dry Creek Rancheria
Project Categories
Tags
Floodplain RestorationFish Passage DesignwaterUrban Creek RestorationFluvial Geomorphologynote_altCEQA/NEPAvalveNature-Based Water TreatmentpaymentsGrant WritingTribal Stewardship
The Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians manages tribal lands on the bank of the Russian River. Rancheria Creek, a tributary of the Russian River, contains valuable habitat upstream of several fish passage barriers. The Tribe wished to restore and reconnect the upper watershed habitat to the Russian River, in addition to improving habitat along the Russian River.
Restoration Actions
FlowWest secured grant funding from the Wildlife Conservation Board Stream Flow Enhancement program for a wide range of habitat improvement activities in the Rancheria Creek watershed. Restoration actions removed 10 acres of invasive Arundo along the Russian River, created a riparian corridor connecting the upper Rancheria Creek watershed to the Russian River, and installed improvements to the Tribe’s recycled water system.
Looking to the Future
Floodplain reconnection, construction of salmonid habitat features, invasive species eradication, tributary channel restoration and realignment, fish passage barrier removal, riparian vegetation restoration, and construction of a one-million gallon water storage tank were completed in the summer of 2021. These restoration actions were the first steps to allowing Rancheria Creek to provide salmonid habitat connected to the Russian River. Additional planned actions include removing passage barriers at road crossings along Rancheria Creek.
