Bearpen creek is a tributary to austin creek in the lower russian river watershed in sonoma county, california

Approximately 6,000 feet of the creek is located on 900 acres of property managed by the shelterwood collective, with a mission to heal interconnected ecosystems through land stewardship, forest restoration and wildfire risk reduction practices rooted in native cultures. As part of their stewardship of the site, shelterwood is committed to incorporating habitat enhancement measures for native fish species in the creek, including coho salmon (oncorhynchus kisutch) and steelhead (oncorhynchus mykiss). Shelterwood has engaged the kashaya pomo tribe, sonoma water, USFWS and the occidental arts and ecology center to advance their mission on the site. The lower 3,700 feet of bearpen creek on the site is perennial, and biologists from the california department of fish and wildlife have documented juvenile coho salmon on the site. A non-functioning flashboard DAM is located in the perennial portion of the creek, with a drop of approximately 1.5 feet at low flow conditions that creates a total barrier to free migration of juvenile coho during summer months, and presents a partial barrier to upstream migration of adults. Velocities have not been studied yet, but due to the relatively narrow rectangular constriction presented by the concrete DAM frame, IT is likely that there is also a partial velocity barrier at the site. This project will complete the 65% design for the removal of a fish passage barrier at bearpen creek to provide increased habitat for coho salmon.