Wood Creek Phase III Restoration Project Breaks Ground to Improve Salmon Habitat

Press release from the Northcoast Regional Land Trust: 

The Northcoast Regional Land Trust (NRLT), in partnership with landowners Sean and Kathy O’Day, the County of Humboldt, and other project partners, is proud to announce the groundbreaking of the Wood Creek Phase III – Felt Ranch Off-Channel Rearing Habitat Project.  This major restoration project builds on over a decade of collaborative work to restore tidal wetlands, improve salmon habitat, and enhance climate resilience in the Humboldt Bay watershed. 

“The Wood Creek Phase III project will expand on previous restoration successes by rerouting Wood Creek from a roadside ditch back into a natural channel, restoring habitat for salmon and other wildlife and reducing flooding in the Wood Creek drainage,” said NRLT Executive Director Dan Ehresman.  “It’s a true community effort that will benefit wildlife, agriculture, and surrounding communities for generations to come.” 

About the Project 

Wood Creek Phase III, located on the Felt Ranch property with tie in to NRLT’s Freshwater Farms Reserve, is the latest step in a multi-phase, multi-partner effort to restore tidal connectivity and fish rearing habitat in one of the Humboldt Bay’s largest tributaries, the Freshwater Creek Watershed. This phase will: 

• Create more than 7,500 feet of high-quality salmon rearing habitat and improve fish passage
• Restore 12 acres of wetlands with increased tidal influence and diverse native plant communities
• Support working lands by reducing flood duration and creating drought-resistant spring-fed habitats 

Coho presmolt

This phase is supported by funding from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW’s) Cannabis Restoration Grant Program (CRGP), Point Blue Conservation Science’s Roots Program, the State of California’s Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB), and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). Planning for this project was led by the Buckeye Conservancy, with funding from CDFW’s Fisheries Restoration Grant Program (FRGP) and the California State Coastal Conservancy (SCC). 

Project partners include Michael Love & Associates, Thomas Gast & Associates Environmental Consultants, GHD, GR Sundberg Inc., Samara Restoration, Pacific Earthscape, Wiyot Tribe Natural Resources Department, Cal Poly Humboldt, and others.

“Supporting restoration and protection of California’s diverse ecosystems is critical to maintaining the health of our state’s natural resources and these grants reflect our ongoing commitment to safeguarding habitats that support wildlife, water quality and resilient landscapes,” said CDFW Director Charlton H.  Bonham in a news release announcing $6,740,000 in funding for this project. 

Community Invitation to Public Presentation 

As part of this effort, NRLT will host a free public presentation, which will include Q&A with project partners and optional walking tour: 

Wood Creek Restoration: Past, Present, and Future 

Thursday, September 25: Presentation 5:30 – 6:30 PM, optional walking tour 6:30 – 7:00 PM Freshwater Farms Reserve Barn, 5851 Myrtle Ave, Eureka 

Free and open to the public. Please RSVP at ncrlt.org. 

Community members are encouraged to attend to learn more about the project and see restoration progress firsthand. 

About the Northcoast Regional Land Trust 

The Northcoast Regional Land Trust conserves wild and working lands across northwestern California for the benefit of our region’s farms, forests, watersheds, wildlife, and people. Since 2000, NRLT has protected over 65,000 acres in Humboldt, Del Norte, and Trinity Counties through voluntary conservation efforts and partnerships with landowners, tribes, and public agencies. 

To learn more, visit www.ncrlt.org. 

Photos and interviews available upon request.