NOAA Fisheries and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are launching the SHaRP (Salmon Habitat Restoration Priorities) initiative to identify key actions for restoring salmon and steelhead habitats in California. Focusing on four streams in the Lower Russian River watershed—Green Valley Creek, Dutch Bill Creek, Willow Creek, and Mill Creek—SHaRP emphasizes community and tribal involvement for effective habitat solutions.
The Russian River historically supported large coho salmon populations and is crucial for the recovery of the endangered Central California Coast coho salmon. Each focus area presents specific habitat challenges; for instance, Green Valley Creek faces issues of water quantity and channel structure, while Dutch Bill Creek struggles with similar limitations.
The SHaRP Action Plan details local conditions, challenges, and restoration strategies for each stream. Enhancements aimed at benefiting coho salmon are also expected to support threatened CCC steelhead. The plan is part of NOAA’s broader initiative to prevent the extinction of key species and is essential for stabilizing local salmon populations.
For more details, the complete SHaRP Plan is available in a 127-page document covering various focused action plans and assessments.
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