The Navarro River watershed, like many watersheds on California’s Northern Coast, has been degraded by centuries of land use practices that undervalued or didn’t understand the importance of healthy aquatic ecosystems.  Today, many of streams and rivers are in poor habitat condition because of a lack of complex structure, including features like riffles, deep pools, and off-channel habitat. Restoring fish habitat means ensuring adequate flow as well as improving the form and function of the creeks.

One key element missing from the watershed is large woody debris. Large wood in streams both provides habitat and accelerates changes to the channel that improves conditions for fish, such as creating deeper pools, slowing water velocity and providing cover for over-summer habitat. Historically, wood was removed from the creeks because people either harvested the material or believed that it was a hinderance to fish passage. Now, much attention is focused on restoring or accelerating recruitment of large wood structures in the creeks. Although they may look funky, those big wood jams are essential habitat for our native species!