What is Flow Enhancement?
Stream Flow Enhancement Projects change the amount, timing, and/or quality of water flowing down a stream, or a portion of a stream, to benefit fish and wildlife.
Why does it matter?
In the Navarro Watershed, our streams support diverse freshwater ecosystems including endangered and threatened species such as Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and Steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). However, in our Mediterranean climate, we have a timing problem; water is severely limited when farms, fish, and families all need it most – summer and fall. Juvenile salmon are extremely vulnerable during these summer months. When streamflow drops too low, pools become disconnected, water temperatures rise, and the amount of dissolved oxygen rapidly dwindles.
Streamflow enhancement projects look to increase the availability and quality of water in the summer and fall months by encouraging people to conserve water, coordinate diversions with neighbors, and store water for use during the dry season. Even small increases in streamflow (just 0.1 cubic feet per second!) between June – October can greatly improve the chances of survival for these keystone species.