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In March, a biologist with the California Coastal Program visited Rodeo Creek, a potential project site that is part of the National Park Service’s Golden Gate National Recreation Area in Marin County, California. Rodeo Creek historically supported extensive stream, wetland, and lagoon habitats fed by numerous small springs. Over the past 150 years, land use and agricultural activities have caused channel incision, gully formation, and widespread loss of natural riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian wetlands. In addition, there is a small dam that separates Rodeo Creek from Rodeo Lagoon which impedes fish passage fish passage
Fish passage is the ability of fish or other aquatic species to move freely throughout their life to find food, reproduce, and complete their natural migration cycles. Millions of barriers to fish passage across the country are fragmenting habitat and leading to species declines. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Fish Passage Program is working to reconnect watersheds to benefit both wildlife and people.
Learn more about fish passage and fragments lagoon habitat.
The purpose of this site visit was to identify opportunities for the Coastal Program to support National Park Service efforts in restoring habitat within the Rodeo Creek watershed for sensitive species such as steelhead, California red-legged frog, western pond turtle, and tidewater goby. The Coastal Program biologist met with two National Park Service ecologists to assess potential restoration areas. This included looking at the surrounding trail and road infrastructure, as well as the small dam impeding the connection between the creek and upper lagoon. The dam was constructed in 1937 to provide supplemental freshwater for the former U.S. Army post and has since accumulated significant sediment from the upper watershed. Although it still provides freshwater habitat, it disconnects much of the lagoon from upstream areas and continues to hinder fish passage.
Other potential restoration sites were visited in the upper Rodeo watershed to assess gullies that rapidly drain the hillslopes and valley bottom. Restoration options under consideration include mechanically filling gullies as well as using low-tech, process-based techniques such as wood-and-soil plugs and beaver dam analogs to reestablish riparian wetland and stream function.
The Coastal Program biologist will assist with further evaluating ways to improve the habitats in the watershed, and will provide technical assistance and develop potential restoration recommendations for discussion with the National Park Service.
