Protecting fish habitat

Throughout the Santa Clara Valley watersheds, the water district is helping protect and restore fish habitat. Concern for fish has resulted in dramatic changes in the ways the water district constructs flood protection projects.

The district's countywide fisheries management plan integrates fish migration/passage, Shaded Riverine Aquatic cover, temperature flow, water quality and other habitat issues.

In many areas, the water district has planted shade trees and strategically placed tree root wads to provide shade to creeks. This helps keep the water temperature cool enough for fish. Other efforts which benefit fish include removal of barriers to migration, installation of spawning gravel, creation of deep pools, and monitoring of surface water quality.

Fish ladders

Three fish ladders have recently been constructed to help fish bypass dams and other barriers.

One of our first migrating salmon, estimated at about 10 pounds and 20 inches.

For the first time in perhaps six decades, Chinook salmon are slipping past the district campus in search of suitable spawning grounds in the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains. The migration is made possible by completion of a $1.5 million fish ladder at the Alamitos drop structure. The project allows salmon and steelhead trout to bypass the 1930s-era dam using a series of steps to navigate the difference in river elevation.

Alamitos Fish Ladder

In 2000, the district - working with the Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat Collaborative Effort (FAHCE) - removed two barriers further downstream on the Guadalupe River to help open up 16 miles of river for migratory salmon and steelhead. In addition, the district has recently completed a fish screen project and fish ladder/fish screen project on Coyote Creek and two fish screen/fish ladder projects on Upper Penitencia Creek. In 2001, the district completed another fish ladder further upstream at Masson Dam.