The yurok tribe fisheries department will create instream habitat and new floodplain areas along a 1-mile section of weaver creek, a tributary of the trinity river in weaverville, california

Award Summary

The Yurok Tribe Fisheries Department received a $4.64 million Project Grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Program (CFDA 15.580) awarded on October 28, 2025. The grant funds the design and construction of instream habitat and floodplain restoration along a one-mile section of Weaver Creek, a Trinity River tributary in Weaverville, California. Project deliverables include creation of over 5 acres of new floodplain habitat, approximately 1 acre of constructed riffle features, channel fill, and low-flow channel modifications designed to maintain a single-threaded wet channel during summer baseflow conditions. These habitat improvements will support the recovery of Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed coho salmon by ensuring water remains instream rather than evaporating or receding subsurface, thereby increasing salmonid survival rates.

Beyond primary habitat restoration objectives, the project delivers secondary environmental and community benefits including riparian habitat improvements, invasive plant species control, and reduction of fine sedimentation from historical urbanization and land use impacts. The work is supported by a diverse stakeholder coalition representing recreation interests, government agencies, water managers, and local landowners, with the majority of project implementation occurring on Bureau of Land Management land. The award has an anticipated completion date of June 30, 2028. This Project Grant is representative of the Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Program's focus on collaboratively developed, multi-stakeholder projects that restore fisheries and aquatic habitat health across western river systems.

Weaver creek has been identified by the state of california and national marine fisheries service recovery plans as providing critical habitat for the ESA-listed coho salmon. The project will include the construction of numerous habitat features including over 5 new acres of floodplain habitat and nearly one acre of constructed riffle and incorporate beneficial channel fill and low flow channel modification. The project elements will ensure a single threaded wet channel is present during summertime baseflow conditions, enabling water to remain instream instead of evaporating or retreating subsurface, and providing a better chance of salmonid survival. The project will provide the additional benefits of improving riparian habitat, controlling invasive plant species, and reducing fine sedimentation from past urbanization and land use changes. The project is primarily located on bureau of land management land and is supported by a diverse stakeholder group representing recreation, government agencies, water managers, and local landowners.