Chamberlain Creek Instream Habitat Enhancement Project.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will allocate over $10 million in grants to 16 projects that restore, enhance, and protect salmon and steelhead (anadromous salmonid) habitat in California’s watersheds.
Among the funded initiatives, notable projects include the removal of three fish passage barriers in coastal streams, which will open more than 7 miles of previously inaccessible river habitat in direct support of California's Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future.
"These projects are implementing Salmon Strategy actions in real time. From restoring thousands of acres of habitat to improving migration pathways, advancing science-based flow management, and using cutting-edge technology, actions taken from the Salmon Strategy work," said CDFW Acting Director Valerie Termini.
Specifically, the Department reported that Trout Unlimited received $717,463 for the Chamberlain Creek Instream Habitat Enhancement Project, which will increase stream complexity, as well as the frequency and depth of pools, improving rearing habitat for Coho salmon and steelhead.
"The projects we're funding will improve the health of creeks and rivers across the state, which will help salmon survive through climate change and benefit all who depend on healthy salmon fisheries. I'm proud of this progress, with much more work ahead," assured Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot.
For the 2025 solicitation, the CDFW received 53 proposals requesting over $49 million in funding. Experts from CDFW and NOAA are responsible for conducting a technical review and making the final decisions.
Since 2000, the CDFW's Fisheries Restoration Grant Program (FRGP) has included funding from the NOAA Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, established by Congress to reverse the decline of Pacific salmon and steelhead in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska.
Additionally, these grants are supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act to help support the recovery, conservation, and resilience of Pacific salmon and steelhead.