Tag Archives: Restoration

Notes from the Field: Sunol Valley Fish Passage Project

March 18, 2026

The Alameda Creek watershed covers an area of nearly 700 square miles and is populated by over 200,000 people. For decades, migrating fish in Alameda Creek were blocked by a gas pipeline and concrete barrier that crossed the creek in Sunol Valley. Although high flows during wet winters occasionally allowed fish to pass, the structure prevented reliable migration for most of the year. By relocating the pipeline approximately 100 feet downstream and burying it 20 feet beneath the creek bed, fish, regardless of species or season, can now move freely upstream for the first time in generations.

A Snapshot of California’s First Nature-Based Solutions Summit

March 2, 2026

On January 29, 2026, the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) hosted California’s first Nature-Based Solutions Summit, bringing together a diverse group of leaders to share experiences, offer insights, and discuss next steps. Nature-based solutions are not a side dish; they are the full meal. They are investments in public safety, economic resilience, workforce development, and cultural restoration.

Restoration Round-Up: A Scott River Restoration Story

December 9, 2025

“The Yurok Tribe worked hard to build a bridge, based on trust and mutual respect, between local tribes, local farmers and residents, and CalTrout,” said Barry McCovey, the director of the Yurok Tribe Fisheries Department. “Together, we are working to fix two of the biggest threats to salmon in the Scott River Valley by restoring fish habitat and modernizing water conveyance infrastructure. This mutually beneficial outcome could only be achieved through collaboration.”

Restoration Round-Up: Arroyo Grande Creek Stream Gauge Modification Project

August 4, 2025

Investing in faster, more cost-effective regulatory processes for restoration pays dividends for both ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. Thanks to a coalition of local partners led by Creek Lands Conservation (CLC), the Arroyo Grande stream gauge has now been modified to allow federally threatened South-Central California Coast (SCCC) steelhead to once again access eight miles of upstream spawning and rearing habitat.

Notes from the Field: Lagunitas Creek Watershed Enhancement Project Field Trip

July 2, 2025

On June 12th, Sustainable Conservation community members, program partners, and staff met up at Lagunitas Creek in Marin County to see the recent improvements to native fish habitat and stream functions through 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.

Restoration Round-Up: South Fork Ten Mile Habitat Enhancement

April 22, 2025

The Ten Mile River, flowing through coastal Mendocino County, provides vital habitat for California’s endangered coho salmon. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has been leading habitat restoration efforts in the Lower Ten Mile River watershed for over a decade. Their latest project, the South Fork Ten Mile Habitat Enhancement — Phase 2, represents a significant step in revitalizing key salmon habitat and restoring natural floodplain functions.

Here’s how California can conserve 30% of our lands and coastal waters by 2030 | Ashley Boren & Wade Crowfoot in the Sacramento Bee

November 11, 2024

In their recent Sacramento Bee op-ed, Sustainable Conservation CEO Ashley Boren and California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot call for California to deepen its commitment to achieving the state’s “30×30” goal of conserving 30% of its lands and coastal waters by 2030. For Boren and Crowfoot, this ambitious target isn’t just a policy objective; it’s…

Sustainable Conservation Publishes Key Report on Accelerating Ecological Restoration in the Sacramento Valley and Beyond

October 1, 2024

Sustainable Conservation is proud to announce a new report, “Accelerating Restoration in the Sacramento Valley and Beyond: Progress and Next Steps to Cut Green Tape in California.” Read the full report here. Read the list of recommendations with agencies, partners, and timelines here. Authors: Erika Lovejoy, Katie Haldeman, Stephanie Falzone, Shayan Kaveh Background California is…

Restoration Round-Up: Butano Creek Floodplain and Streamflow Enhancement Project

November 29, 2023

by Eric Epstein From county-level programs to multi-agency statewide permits, our Accelerating Restoration program’s impact has grown exponentially in three decades. Hundreds of organizations and landowners have used the permits we’ve helped put in place to restore miles of critical riparian habitat, revitalize our rivers, protect iconic species, and reconnect our surface and groundwater resources.…