October 21, 2004

With the early rains this year, it is once again time to check Alameda Creek for fish. From now through December is spawning season for fall-run chinook salmon. We have had a handful of chinook show up during fall in recent years in the lower creek below the BART weir. This week’s storms brought the creek flow up to over 1,500 cubic feet/second Tuesday night, more than enough flow for fish to move upstream.

If you are able to, check the BART weir and/or the lower rubber dam this fall and winter after storms to look for salmon and steelhead. We have typically seen fish jumping at the BART weir at flows from 200-500 cfs in the lower creek. You can find out the current stream flow at the bottom of Niles Canyon at the USGS web site: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ca/nwis/uv/?site_no=11179000&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060.

We have found dead salmon in recent years by watching for vultures feeding in the channel and another indicator is seals, which have also been seen quite far upstream in the lower creek, an indication they are feeding on schools of fish.

If you see any salmon or steelhead in the lower creek, dead or alive, please contact me via e-mail and my cell phone at (510) 499-9185 so we can document them and rescue and move stranded fish if needed.

You can help us keep an eye on the creek and monitor fish populations and habitat by singing up to be a volunteer StreamKeeper. StreamKeepers adopt a section of the creek to monitor for fish during winter or year-round for water quality, pollutants, dumping, poaching, or habitat destruction. If you are interested in adopting a stream section for Alameda Creek or one of its tributaries, please contact me via e-mail.

Areas we particularly need designated StreamKeepers for include:

- the lower flood control channel between Hwy 880 and DeCoto Road crossing

- the lower flood control channel between DeCoto Road crossing and the lower rubber dam

- the lower rubber dam

- the BART weir

- lower Niles Canyon to Niles Dam

- Niles Canyon from Niles Dam to Stonybrook Creek confluence

- Stonybrook Creek

- Niles Canyon from Stonybrook Creek to gravel turnout

- upper Niles Canyon to Niles Dam

- confluence of Alameda Creek and Arroyo de la Laguna

- Alameda Creek in lower Sunol Valley near Sunol Golf Course and Water Temple

- Alameda Creek in Sunol Valley near gravel quarries

- Alameda Creek in upper Sunol Valley near Sunol Valley Water Treatment Plant