Steelhead Flow Studies

Seventeen public agencies and nonprofit organizations signed a formal agreement in October 2006 to collaborate on a study of the stream flows and fish habitat needed for Alameda Creek steelhead trout restoration. Read the October 16, 2006 press release about the agreement.

The agencies signed a Memorandum of Understanding to conduct jointly-funded studies of how much water might be needed at critical times to support a viable steelhead population - while also considering other native fish and wildlife and minimizing potential impacts to drinking water supplies. The $240,000 technical study will be conducted in two phases by McBain & Trush, an independent fisheries consultant.

Read the December 2007 Study Plan by McBain & Trush, Alameda Creek Population Recovery Strategies and Instream Flow Assessment for Steelhead Trout. This report was prepared for the Workgroup.

Contributions of $30,000 each toward the study were made by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Livermore-Amador Valley’s Zone 7 Water Agency, Alameda County Water District, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company. The $120,000 provided by these four agencies will be matched by the California State Coastal Conservancy, for a total of $240,000. Other participating organizations include the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Alameda County Resource Conservation District, Alameda Creek Alliance, American Rivers, California Department of Fish and Game, East Bay Regional Park District, National Marine Fisheries Service, Natural Resources Defense Council, San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.