Deer Creek Restoration Projects Overview

(CC/Courtesy of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

Deer Creek, located in Tehama County, supports threatened native fish, diverse wildlife, and local agriculture. From high elevation mountains and meadows with cold water habitat to lower valley floor riffles and pools, Deer Creek provides high quality spawning and rearing habitat for some of the last of California’s wild salmon populations. Over many years, especially after heavy flooding in 1997, various projects in the Deer Creek watershed have combined the goal of flood protection with the goal of enhancing stream habitat for migrating fish.  An interactive map showing CDFW-funded projects and links to project descriptions are found lower on this page.

Many agencies, landowners, and local groups have worked over the past 20+ years toward improving environmental conditions along Deer Creek. Current planning is based on the Recovery Plan for Sacramento River Winter-run Chinook, Central Valley Spring-run Chinook, and Central Valley steelhead, published by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in 2014. CDFW supports many of these projects through Proposition 1 funding.

Background

Deer Creek has been identified as a conservation stronghold and as essential to the recovery of two special status species: spring-run Chinook salmon and Central Valley steelhead. Deer Creek is one of the three remaining Central Valley streams that supports a wild, genetically distinct population of spring-run Chinook salmon, a federally and state-listed threatened species. Spring-run Chinook salmon populations have collapsed in recent years creating an urgent need to improve migration routes and habitats for reproduction for this species. Deer Creek also supports fall-run and late-fall-run Chinook salmon, as well as Pacific lamprey, which are designated as State Species of Special Concern.  

The upper reaches of Deer Creek flow through the Sierra Nevada mountains. These higher elevation areas offer year-round clean and cool water able to provide high quality spawning and rearing habitat for salmonids. In order to reach the prime habitat in the upper elevation areas, migrating fish must pass through multiple barriers and low stream flows in the lower reaches of Deer Creek. 

Barriers to fish passage along Deer Creek are shown on the following map. The map shows 4 types of barriers (blue squares) (1) Physical barriers, (2) Low flows, (3) Levees, and (4) Fish ladders at Upper and Lower Deer Creek Falls. Within (1) Physical barriers, three main barriers block fish migration (1a) The Stanford Vina Ranch Irrigation Company (SVRIC) Diversion Dam, (1b) the Cone-Kimball Diversion Dam, and (1c) the Deer Creek Irrigation Diversion (DCID) Dam. Orange diamonds show the CDFW-funded projects that are described in detail by following the links at the bottom of the page; See the links at the end of this webpage for CDFW-funded project details.

Click on interactive map for more information. The blue squares are barriers to fish passage and the orange diamonds are projects to remove those barriers or otherwise enhance habitat.

Many Projects Combine to Restore Deer Creek Habitat for Anadromous Fish  

CDFW, in cooperation with its partners, has supported a comprehensive approach and funded numerous studies and projects aimed at improving the ability of fish to access habitat in the upper Deer Creek watershed. This work aims to reduce barriers, increase habitat, and manage flows throughout the Deer Creek watershed. Together, these projects will open up approximately 49 miles of high-quality fish habitat, as measured at the lowest fish passage barrier. Please select a link below to view additional StoryMaps about projects that CDFW has funded.   

•  Lower Deer Creek Flood and Ecosystem Improvement Project, Phase 1 
•  Stanford Vina Fish Passage Planning and Design Project 
•  Deer Creek Irrigation District (DCID) Dam Fish Passage Improvement Project 
•  Lower Deer Creek Falls Fish Passage Improvement Project 
•  Restoring the Deer Creek Headwaters at Childs Meadow  
•  Deer Creek Irrigation District: Ditch System Master Plan 

To see other Project Highlight StoryMaps like this one, see:  https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Watersheds/Project-Highlights 

For Information on Proposition 1/68 Projects, please see:  https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Watersheds/Restoration-Grants/Projects 

For further information, please contact:  WatershedGrants@wildlife.ca.gov