Two dam removal projects in Southern California are moving forward. Rindge Dam on Malibu Creek and Matilija Dam on Ventura River have degraded their surrounding watersheds and the native fish have suffered. One of the largest threats to trout, steelhead, and salmon are dams. CalTrout has been fighting for the recovery of Southern California steelhead and fish passage improvement in these areas for decades. Dam removal is an incredibly slow process due to the coordination needed between multiple agencies and organizations. The hefty price tag to do the job further complicates matters.
Rindge Dam Plans
A removal plan for Rindge Dam is set to be finalized within the next couple months by the California Department of Parks and Recreation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This plan has been in the works since the 1990s. Rindge Dam has been decommissioned since 1967 after filling with sediment. Since its construction 90 years ago, steelhead have not been able to reach high quality spawning grounds in upper Malibu Creek. Southern steelhead recovery is one of CalTrout’s Key Initiatives. The NMFS’ Southern Steelhead Recovery Plan classifies Malibu Creek as a Core 1 watershed. Core 1 populations are those populations identified as the highest priority for recovery actions based on a variety of factors. The dam limits access to high quality aquatic spawning and rearing habitat, captures sediment and alters flow, impacting the amount and quality of downstream habitat. Though we’re a step closer in removing Rindge Dam, the project will likely not begin until 2025.
RESTORATION
WRITTEN BY
Alisan Amrhein
CalTrout Communications Associate
Alisan has a Masters in Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School, UCSB and has been an invaluable member of the team since she joined CalTrout in 2016.
Alisan is the Marketing Associate and social media guriu at CalTrout.