Dry Creek
About Dry Creek:
From its outlet in Warm Springs Dam, Dry Creek meanders 14 miles to the Russian River. The creek is home to endangered coho salmon and threatened Chinook salmon and steelhead (including steelhead raised at the Don Clausen Fish Hatchery). The creek also serves as a conduit for water that is released from Lake Sonoma by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the winter for flood control purposes and by the Water Agency in the summer for water supply.
The biological opinion proposes enhancing six miles of habitat along Dry Creek over a 12- year period to create low velocity areas for juvenile coho and steelhead.
Dry Creek Studies:
The Russian River Biological Opinion found that summer flows in the upper Russian River and Dry Creek are too high for optimal juvenile coho salmon and steelhead habitat. Current summer flows in the creek range from 110 to 175 cubic feet per second (cfs), which makes it difficult for the juvenile fish to thrive. The Biological Opinion recognizes that large reductions in the summertime flows in Dry Creek would impair the Water Agency’s ability to deliver water to its customers. Therefore, the Biological Opinion requires habitat enhancement of six miles of Dry Creek to improve summer rearing conditions for coho salmon and steelhead while allowing the Water Agency to maintain the existing flow range in Dry Creek of 110 to 175 cfs for water supply purposes.
The Draft Fish Habitat Enhancement Feasibility study was released in April 2011. The study finds that there are 45 opportunities for habitat enhancement in Dry Creek. A final feasibility study will be released later in 2011, followed by a more detailed study focused on the highest priority habitat enhancement projects.
A second study was also released in April 2011. The Biological Opinion requires that the Water Agency study the feasibility of building a pipeline to bypass Dry Creek in the unlikely event that habitat enhancement is unsuccessful. The “Plan B” study, "Feasibility Study for Dry Creek Bypass Pipeline Project" analyzed options for getting water from Lake Sonoma into a pipeline (the inlet); potential routes (the alignment); and putting water from the pipeline into the Russia River or Dry Creek (the outlet).
An overview of the two studies and the studies themselves can be viewed at:
- Overview of Draft Habitat Enhancement & Draft Pipeline Feasibility Studies (PDF)
- Habitat Enhancement Study, April 2011 (PDF)
- Habitat Enhancement Presentation, May 2011 (PDF)
- Pipeline Feasibility Study - Final (PDF)
- Pipeline Feasibility Presentation, May 2011 (PDF)
In 2010, a Dry Creek Current Conditions Inventory (PDF) was released.
Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement Demonstration Project:
The Water Agency is working with a willing group of Dry Creek landowners on a one-mile habitat enhancement demonstration project. The purpose of the project is to demonstrate to regulators, landowners, and local decision makers the feasibility of Dry Creek habitat enhancements on a smaller scale and, in particular, to determine how they could be constructed, what they may ultimately look like, and how effective they are before implementing the full six miles of habitat enhancements on Dry Creek. The project is centered on Lambert Bridge, near the middle of Dry Creek
On November 15, 2011, the Water Agency Board of Directors approved the demonstration project and the environmental document (described below) analyzing the project. If all goes smoothly, construction could begin in Summer 2012.
- Press release on Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement Demonstration Project
- Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement Demonstration Project Presentation to Board, 11/15/2011
- Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement Demonstration Project - Flier (PDF)
Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Habitat Enhancement Demonstration Project
The Sonoma County Water Agency (Water Agency) is the Lead Agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the proposed Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement Demonstration Project (Dry Creek Demonstration Project). The Water Agency prepared an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (Initial Study) for the project in accordance with CEQA. The Water Agency’s Board of Directors approved the Initial Study on November 15, 2011.
- Full Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact Report, including Appendices (PDF, 25MB)
- Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact Report, no appendices (PDF, 5MB)
- Appendix A: Notice of Preparation and Comment Letters (PDF, 1MB)
- Appendix B: Special Status Species (PDF, <1MB)
- Appendix C: Plants Observed (PDF, <1MB)
- Appendix D: 60 Percent Design Report (PDF, <1MB)
- Appendix E: Mitigation Monitoring Plan (PDF, <1MB)
Dry Creek Advisory Group:
The Dry Creek Advisory Group, representing a range of interests, is meeting periodically to inform efforts to implement the Biological Opinion in the Dry Creek watershed. Members are available to local residents and community organizations to answer questions and share information about the Advisory Group's work.