Fall Creek Fish Ladder Improvement Project

By Julie Horner

Work has begun on a project to improve Felton’s Fall Creek ecosystem. The San Lorenzo Valley Water District has begun upgrading the 30-year-old Fall Creek fish ladder located at the end of Fall Creek Road near the entrance to the Fall Creek Unit of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park with a goal of improving fish passage and operational conditions. The project modifies the fish ladder and screened intake structure to meet California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) fish passage design standards.

Improvements to the structure address fish jump heights (6-12 inches is recommended, the current is set too high at 18 inches); sediment buildup, which interferes with optimum Steelhead habitat; and subsurface water seepage around structures that were improperly footed into the streambed. There are currently four concrete weirs in the fish ladder, each creating 4-foot deep pools that create graduated drops for fish to pass. One new weir will be installed upstream, and two additional weirs will be installed downstream for a total of seven weirs to reduce overall jump height.

According to Carly Blanchard, SLVWD Environmental Programs Manager, to complete the project, the area will be “dewatered” using the existing surface water pump system, part of Felton’s drinking water delivery network. A fisheries ecologist has been on site to assist with the relocation of any fish and lamprey eels from the area before diverting the stream flow. The existing structures are slated to be completely demolished and reworked at a cost of approximately $2.7 million; the project was awarded a grant of $1.1 million from the CDFW Proposition 1 Watershed Restoration Grant Program. The estimated completion date is October 2023.

“Aligning the fish ladder design with current standards will improve fish passage and have a profound positive impact on the Fall Creek watershed,” SLVWD Environmental Programs Manager Carly Blanchard said. “It will not only benefit the salmonid species but also contribute to the overall health and vitality of our aquatic habitats. As stewards of our local watershed, we are proud to be leading this initiative and look forward to witnessing the long-term benefits it will bring to our community and the environment.”

“SLVWD is proud to have developed an improved fish ladder design in collaboration with regulatory agencies that not only meets fish passage standards but also significantly optimizes operations within our water system.” SLVWD Manager Rick Rogers said. “Our goals are to ensure successful fish passage while enhancing operations, access and maintenance of the facility.” 

Fall Creek is Felton’s primary drinking water source.

Read more at slvwd.com/fall-creek-fish-ladder-improvement

Julie Horner writes about life in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Reach out to Julie at leap2three@gmail.com.