Lagunitas Creek Coho Habitat Enhancement

The Lagunitas Creek watershed supports one of the largest populations of Federally listed Central California Coast coho salmon, making it one of California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s four high priority watersheds for recovery of this species. Marin Water manages several dams in the watershed, which are a vital source of water supply for Marin County however this infrastructure impedes fish migration to the upper watershed, as well as prevents the transport of coarse sediment and large wood downstream, reducing both quantity and quality of habitat.

As a steward of the watershed, Marin Water ramped up ongoing stream enhancement efforts through an ambitious project aimed to add substantial amounts of wood and gravel downstream of Peter’s Dam to improve habitat conditions for coho salmon in perennially cool reaches of Lagunitas Creek. The project has been accomplished through a truly collaborative effort, including a partnership between Marin Water and California State Parks, as well as technical and funding support from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Department of Water Resources Riverine Stewardship Program, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and the California Wildlife Conservation Board.

ESA has supported Marin Water throughout many of the project’s phases. ESA first assisted in developing the Lagunitas Creek Watershed Enhancement Plan for eight miles of Lagunitas Creek and San Geronimo Creek on State Parks and Marin Water lands. The overall goal of the Enhancement Plan was to identify priority sites and actions to improve adult spawning and juvenile rearing habitat for coho salmon in a manner that is as self-sustaining downstream of the dams. The Enhancement Plan built on decades of stewardship and restoration in the Lagunitas Creek Watershed by Marin Water. Through literature review and field reconnaissance, along with input from partners in the watershed, ESA and Marin Water identified thirteen priority habitat enhancement sites to place large wood and gravel to account for the deficit caused by upstream dams. ESA then advanced the sites through final design, permitting, and CEQA/NEPA as part of two phases. Construction has been ongoing since 2024. ESA has also helped expand Marin’s Water’s watershed stewardship capacity to pursue grand habitat restoration efforts that have transformed habitat conditions for coho salmon in Lagunitas Creek. Marin Water has accomplished this work with grant funding from California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Department of Water Resources, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. For more information on this project, visit marinwater.org/LCUpgrades.