“The fact that salmon and steelhead may soon be thriving in an additional 42 miles of Battle Creek is a story of partnerships,” DFG Director Ryan Broddrick said. “Wide support and cooperative efforts between state and federal agencies, the Pacific Gas and Electric Co., environmental groups, local community groups, and sport and commercial fishing organizations are the reason the Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project has become a reality.”

The project will remove several hydroelectric diversion dams in Battle Creek, as well as increase water flow while protecting fish and creating passages. The restoration project, funded by the California Bay Delta Authority, will allow for maximum anadromous fish habitat restoration to support the Central Valley Project Improvement Act.

Battle Creek offers the geologic and hydrologic conditions to support state- and federally-listed spring- and winter-run Chinook salmon and steelhead. Restoration of habitat in Battle Creek will allow for improvement of these fish populations, which will enhance the consistency in state and federal water project operations and the salmon harvest.

“We are proud to have worked with the communities around Battle Creek to help make this historic project possible,” said Steve Thompson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service California and Nevada Manager. “We are fully committed to this partnership effort to return winter-run and spring-run Chinook salmon and steelhead to the Battle Creek watershed.”

Anadromous fish hatch in freshwater, spend up to two years in their natural stream and then swim to the ocean for one to five years before coming back to the freshwater stream to spawn.

Battle Creek has a relatively high and stable flow of water throughout the year, something unusual in California, making it a uniquely drought-resistant habitat for salmon and steelhead. Instead of seasonal rains rapidly flowing out of the watershed, large portions of annual rainfall percolates through the underlying volcanic rock and then emerges as cold springs. Snow melting from Mount Lassen provides cool surface water throughout much of the spring and early summer. This relatively stable base flow and cold water temperature offers an unparalleled restoration opportunity.

“The restoration of this magnificent habitat after nearly 100 years of blockage and human manipulation provides an incredible opportunity to recover three new independent populations of threatened and endangered Chinook salmon and steelhead in a stream where previously, these fish were only barely hanging on,” said Michael Tucker, a fisheries biologist with the National Marine Fisheries Service. “The restoration of these Battle Creek populations to self-sustaining levels is considered an extremely important step toward the final recovery of these species. With the commitment of final funding for this project, today is a day for all to celebrate the eminent return of these fish to their native home in Battle Creek.”

“Battle Creek is currently the biggest watershed restoration and dam removal project in the state and demonstrates the commitment of California residents to conserving our state’s precious natural resources,” said Dawit Zeleke, Regional Director for The Nature Conservancy's California program. “The Nature Conservancy is proud to contribute research and funding, through a generous grant from The David & Lucile Packard Foundation, to bring salmon and steelhead back to this once wild and beautiful river.”

Historically, Battle Creek was the only Sacramento River tributary downstream of the Pit River capable of supporting all four runs of Chinook salmon and steelhead. In the early 1900s, miners built numerous diversion dams across the creek to provide hydroelectric power to Iron Mountain Mine near Keswick. The dams blocked migrating salmon and steelhead from accessing their spawning habitat and reduced water quality in Battle Creek to the point where these fish and resident trout could barely exist.

The Pacific Gas and Electric Co. later acquired the project as part of its vast hydroelectric operations to provide power for its customers. In 1999, the company voluntarily joined forces with four public agencies to pursue one of the largest and most significant ecological restoration efforts in California. The collaborative effort resulted in the landmark restoration plan that includes the removal of five diversion dams, construction of screens and ladders on three dams on Battle Creek, and increased stream flows.

“Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is proud to continue its tradition of responsible environmental stewardship,” said Randy Livingston, PG&E’s Senior Director of Power Generation. “This agreement is an example of private industry, public stakeholders, public agencies and a wide variety of others working together to restore the fishery while maintaining a renewable energy source. With the release of funding we are excited about this project and its contribution to the many fishery restoration efforts now underway in California.”

Benefits of the restoration project are not confined to just salmon and steelhead. The project will boost populations of the native wild rainbow trout throughout a large portion of Battle Creek. DFG fishery biologists expect the trout population in these areas will increase to between 5,000 and 7,000 trout per mile due to restoration habitat changes.

“This project exemplifies the importance of diverse groups coming together to support common goals,” said Kirk Rodgers, the Bureau of Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific Regional Director. “Projects like this help restore fish populations and improve state and federal water operations’ reliability.”

For more information about the project, visit the Bureau of Reclamation Web site, www.usbr.gov/mp/battlecreek or the Battle Creek Conservancy Web site, www.battle-creek.net.

###