Give salmon and steelhead access to diverse habitat by removing barriers and getting obsolete DAMS OUT.
There are thousands of dams in California, most of which were built and are operated for water supply and flood protection benefits with little consideration for their effects on fish. As a result, native salmon and steelhead have lost large amounts of their habitat. Dams and barriers block migration upstream to high quality habitat and restrict migration of juvenile fish to the ocean. We are working to remove barriers and get obsolete dams out to give native salmon and steelhead access to the clean, cold water of their native spawning and rearing habitats once again.

FOCUS AREAS
Reconnect Habitat PROJECTS
Cedar Creek Barrier Removal
North Coast
Cedar Creek, a tributary of the South Fork Eel River, has approximately 9 miles of salmon and steelhead habitat currently inaccessible to Chinook, coho, and steelhead. Migration is blocked by a 5 ft....
Learn MoreCochran Creek Fish Passage and Channel Restoration Project
North Coast
The project’s primary goals are to improve fish passage to sustain anadromous populations of coho, steelhead, and coastal cutthroat trout, as well as to enhance and expand tidal, brackish,...
Learn MoreEel River Dams License Renewal – Potter Valley Project
North Coast
Improve streamflows and expand spawning habitat for Eel River salmon and steelhead in the upper mainstem Eel River. Work with Regional Coalition partners (Sonoma Water, Mendocino County Inland Water...
Learn MoreHarvey Diversion Fish Passage
South Coast
The goal of the project is restore passive fish passage at this location and stabilize sediment transport through this reach.
Learn MoreHighway 76 – Pauma Creek Fish Passage
South Coast
Remove the only total fish passage barrier between a robust rainbow trout population in Pauma Creek and the Pacific ocean.
Learn MoreI-5 Trabuco Creek Fish Passage Project
South Coast
The main goal of this project is to enable steelhead passage through this total barrier at the Interstate 5 bridge array on Trabuco Creek and provide access to 15 miles of upstream high quality...
Learn MoreKlamath Dams Removal
Mt. Shasta-Klamath
Recover Klamath River salmonid populations by removing 4 dams on the Klamath River (Iron Gate, Copco 1, Copco 2, and JC Boyle) and opening up fish passage to over 400 miles of potential spawning and...
Learn MoreMatilija Dam Removal
South Coast
Support the Matilija Coalition, Ventura County Watershed Protection District and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in securing funding to finalize a dam removal design and associated re-evaluation of...
Learn MoreMill-Shackleford Bridge Fish Passage Restoration
Mt. Shasta-Klamath
This project addresses Watershed Restoration Grant Program Funding Priority 3: Protect and Restore Anadromous Fish Habitat. Specifically, the project will result in 1) the removal of a human‐caused...
Learn MoreRindge Dam Removal
South Coast
Remove an outdated dam in Malibu Creek canyon, a high priority steelhead recovery river with designated critical habitat for steelhead. This dam has reduced water storage capacity and poses a...
Learn MoreSanta Clara River Floodplain Restoration
South Coast
Restoration of floodplain processes by focusing on the removal of non-native, invasive plants and revegetation with native species to reestablish critical habitat for sensitive species and riparian...
Learn MoreSanta Margarita River – Sandia Creek Fish Passage
South Coast
The proposed bridge replacement project on the Santa Margarita River at Sandia Creek Drive removes a high priority fish passage barrier, improves trail user experience and safety, protects the public...
Learn MoreSearsville Dam Fish Passage
Bay Area
Ensure passage for juvenile and adult steelhead in San Francisquito Creek beyond Searsville Dam.
Learn MoreWoodman Creek Project
North Coast
Remove the Northwestern Pacific Railroad barrier at the mouth of Woodman Creek and restore the historic channel-mouth configuration to allow unimpeded coho, Chinook, and steelhead access to 10-14...
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