If you haven’t had a chance, we highly recommend reading Dewey Watson’s article in the Sebastopol Times, Making room for coho to grow in the Atascadero watershed. The article describes Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District’s Iron Horse Floodplain Enhancement project constructed in 2025 and the project they’re constructing this summer/fall directly upstream, the Lower Green Valley Creek Confluence Reach project.
These projects restore off-channel and floodplain habitat for coho and other aquatic species in Green Valley Creek, tributary to the Russian River. The multi-benefit projects reflect strong partnerships in the restoration community and showcase the rewarding, and sometimes immediate, benefits these efforts can have in our watersheds. PCI designed, permitted, and provided construction oversight support for the projects. Thank you to Gold Ridge RCD for including PCI on the project team and to Hanford ARC for being a valuable partner in constructing this year. Implementation funding for both projects was provided by CDFW’s Fisheries Restoration Grant Program and NOAA’s Restoration Center. Additional partners include CDFW’s Cutting the Green Tape team, North Coast Regional Water Board, US Army Corps of Engineers, Permit Sonoma, CDFW Lands Division, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, ALTA Archaeology, and private land owners.