Construction will begin Oct. 3 on a project aimed at restoring fish passage in Crane Creek, a key coho stream located in the Dry Creek Valley.

Crane Creek is a Dry Creek tributary with good quality habitat for spawning and rearing young coho and steelhead, but access to much of the stream has been limited by a bedrock waterfall that makes it difficult for fish to swim upstream.

Through construction of a series of weirs and pools, the project will open up more than a mile of critical habitat for coho and steelhead to spawn (lay eggs) and for young fish to spend the first years of their lives. Construction of the $60,000 project is expected to take two weeks.

The project is a partnership between  Sotoyome Resource Conservation District (RCD), the Sonoma County Water Agency (Water Agency) and local landowners Doug Lipton and Cindy Daniel of Home Farm and Ronald and Pamela Wollmer.

 “The Crane Creek project is a great example of family farmers and local government coming together to help these endangered fish.” said Water Agency Director Mike McGuire, who represents the Fourth Supervisorial District. “We need to recognize Mr. Lipton, Ms. Daniel, and the Wollmers for their dedication to improve our local waterways. These partnerships are our best opportunity to really make a difference in the survival of the species.”

 Returns of endangered coho salmon to the Russian River have declined markedly over the past decade, but 2011 has been a banner year for returning coho adults and wild coho juveniles.

This project will help to fulfill one of the requirements of the Russian River Biological Opinion, by enhancing fish habitat on a Dry Creek tributary.

In 2010, the RCD, the Water Agency, and private landowners, completed the first Dry Creek tributary habitat enhancement project (in Grape Creek). Preliminary monitoring results indicate that coho are now spawning and rearing in and upstream of the restored area.

 “Projects like this would not be possible without the support of willing landowners,” said Kara Heckert, Executive Director of the Sotoyome RCD. “Ninety-seven percent of the land in the Russian River Watershed is privately owned.

"There are so many excellent stewards of the land out there, people who are helping to keep our water clean and our fish and wildlife healthy," Heckert said. "At the RCD, our goal is to help people to manage their land in a way that sustains natural resources while supporting local agriculture and rural communities.”