Estuary Passage Improvement Program

The purpose of this project is to complete a vital step for the restoration of steelhead trout in the Bay Area's most important steelhead streams. The project already has produced engineering designs and cost estimates to modify seven key barriers to fish migration. Conducting these analyses is essential to define the ecologically-preferred alternative for these sites, to verify their technical feasibility, and to solidify political support and permitting feasibility for these projects. With the products we create, local project proponents are in a strong position to attract construction funding.

This project initially focused on four barriers to steelhead migration in the Bay Area, pictures of which are found below. These barriers are located on Upper Penitencia Creek (a tributary of Coyote Creek), San Anselmo Creek (a tributary of Corte Madera Creek in Marin County), Stuart Creek (a tributary to Calabazas Creek in the Sonoma Creek watershed), and Ritchey Creek (a tributary to the Napa River). We are gratified that the "YSI barrier" on Upper Penitencia Creek is in final design and implementation phase. The "Lansdale" project on San Anselmo Creek has been awarded an implementation grant recently. The Stuart Creek site is being examined for acquistion and restoration. The Ritchey Creek project in Bothe Napa State Park has not yet been funded for final design and implementation although it remains one of the region's highest passage priorities.

This project has been supported by the California State Coastal Conservancy, the Bella Vista Foundation, and the Giles W. and Elise Mead Foundation. Additional design projects for two barriers on Stonybrook Creek, tributary to Alameda Creek, and on mainstem Alameda Creek (the "BART weir") were supported by the Coastal Conservancy and American Rivers.

View upstream at Alum Rock Park site, Upper Penitencia Creek,
Coyote Creek watershed, Santa Clara County.
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View upstream at Landsdale site, San Anselmo Creek,
Corte Madera Creek watershed, Marin County.
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View upstream at Stuart Creek Site,
Sonoma Creek waterhed, Sonoma County.
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View upstream at entrance road site, Ritchey Creek,
Napa River watershed, Napa County.
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