Fall-run Chinook salmon. Xavier Mascareñas & CA DWR
On June 12th, Sustainable Conservation staff met with community members and program partners at Lagunitas Creek in Marin County to see the recent improvements to native fish and stream habitat from the first phase of the Lagunitas Creek Watershed Enhancement Project — and to witness the positive impact of simplifying California’s permitting processes to implement restoration projects faster, more affordably, and at scale.
What is a simplified permitting pathway?
Simplified permitting pathways are designed to make the permitting process for environmentally beneficial restoration more efficient, and save costs for project proponents, consultants, and agencies while ensuring robust environmental protection.
The project aims to improve 4,550 linear feet of habitat in the 103-square mile Lagunitas Creek Watershed. For Phase 1A of the restoration project, which wrapped up construction in November of last year, lead agency Marin Water focused on bolstering the creek’s habitat for three of Northern California’s most iconic and beloved protected species: California Central Coast coho salmon, California Coastal steelhead trout, and California freshwater shrimp. The project plan includes the addition of 270 logs and 11,000 tons of gravel to improve spawning and rearing habitat for these protected and endangered species.
This flyover video was taken after the completion of the first phase of construction, highlighting the favorable habitat for salmon spawning and rearing.
Marin Water Fisheries Program Manager Jonathan Koehler along with Environmental Science Associates’ (ESA) Ann Borgonovo and Jason White, whose team helped with the project engineering and construction, led Sustainable Conservation’s group through the length of Lagunitas Creek from the Inkwells – a series of round swimming holes so deep the water is several shades darker than the surrounding creek – to the border of Samuel P. Taylor State Park. Along the way, the group stopped to see some of the log and boulder structures that ESA and Marin Water fabricated and secured to the riverbank.
Photos clockwise, starting at top
Engineered stream riffle to diversify the flow and depth of water in the creek
Erosion control in the access area using logs from the restoration site
Wood structure fastened to boulders
During this past winter, a 50-year flood event inundated the creek with intense flows, and the restoration team was thrilled with how the structures fared during their inaugural season against nature’s first stress test. While the restoration team placed key structures and gravel in strategic locations, high winter flows will continue to redistribute that gravel and shape the channel, allowing the creek to form diverse, resilient habitat features on its own.
Coho salmon counts in the prior winter were the highest they have ever counted on Lagunitas Creek – although the number of fish was still only about half of the National Marine Fisheries Service’s ambitious goal for salmon in the watershed.
How Lagunitas Creek Benefitted from Programmatic Permits
For over 20 years, Sustainable Conservation’s Accelerating Restoration team has worked with government agencies and restorationists like Jonathan, Ann, and Jason to increase the pace and scale of ecological restoration. By developing expedited permitting tools, we work to put habitat restoration on a more efficient regulatory path separate from traditional development — while maintaining essential environmental regulations.
Before the group walked the creek, our expert restorationists and Accelerating Restoration Senior Project Manager Stephanie Falzone detailed how restoration-specific programmatic permits make projects easier, less expensive, and more impactful.
The permits are great for streamlining the permitting process for restoration projects, saving time and costs. Any cost savings can be applied toward project implementation, stretching each funding dollar further. Ann Borgonovo, Environmental Science Associates Principal Engineer
From design to construction, the project took advantage of six accelerated permitting pathways. These pathways, many of which were supported with technical assistance from Sustainable Conservation, helped the project break ground sooner and with more money for implementation.
Photos clockwise, starting at top:
Sustainable Conservation Senior Project Manager Stephanie Falzone discussing the Accelerating Restoration team’s efforts to simplify the permitting process for restoration projects
Marin Water Fisheries Program Manager Jonathan Koehler giving the group an overview of the Lagunitas Creek watershed before the tour
Environmental Science AssociatesWatersheds & Rivers Design Lead explaining an informational sign that shows the restoration work done on the creek
Expedited, restoration-specific pathways used by the Lagunitas Creek Watershed Enhancement Project include:
*Drafted by Sustainable Conservation through the Statewide Restoration Permitting Initiative
Ten years ago, we were lucky to have one restoration project implemented per summer. Now, it’s normal for us to have as many as five going to construction in a summer. Restoration permitting pathways helped us unlock a new pace and scale of restoration. Jason White, Environmental Science Associates Watersheds & Rivers Design Lead
Sustainable Conservation is proud to connect our donor community with the restoration efforts their generosity makes possible, as well as celebrating restoration professionals for making these transformational projects happen. Stay connected with us for future opportunities to visit project sites, learn about collaborative solutions in action, and see how strategic partnerships and smart permitting are helping restore California’s vital ecosystems.
