The marin municipal water district will restore stream habitat supporting endangered and threatened salmonids in two sections of lagunitas creek, located in western marin county, california

The Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation awarded a $2,309,989.30 Project Grant to the Marin Municipal Water District on August 28, 2023 through the WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America's Resources for Tomorrow) program (CFDA 15.507). The grant will fund the restoration of stream habitat supporting endangered and threatened salmonids in two sections of Lagunitas Creek in Marin County, California. Key project activities include the installation of 15-20 large woody debris structures and the addition of 850 tons of gravel to improve spawning and rearing habitat for coho salmon and steelhead. The project aims to mitigate the impacts of upstream water infrastructure and increase water management flexibility during the current drought. The Marin Municipal Water District will work closely with the Lagunitas Technical Advisory Group, which includes local, state, and federal agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations and land trusts, to implement the project by March 31, 2026.

This project includes installation of 15-20 large woody debris structures and 850 tons of gravel for coho and steelhead spawning to improve riffle-pool habitat, creating and improving salmonid spawning and FRY rearing habitat. The wood structures will also provide additional shelter and create scour pools, providing winter velocity refugia and summer thermal refugia. The district implements minimum instream flow schedules in lagunitas creek and due to the current drought in california, water supply is being significantly strained. This project will help mitigate the impacts that upstream water supply infrastructure has on downstream habitat for state and federally threatened and endangered species, as well as reduce drought impacts and increase water management flexibility in. The lagunitas creek stewardship plan identifies this project as a stewardship goal to support the enhancement and protection of aquatic resources. The district will work closely with the lagunitas technical advisory group, comprised of county, state, and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and land trusts.