F25AC00319

In the 1950s, a fishway was constructed at Iron Canyon, providing access to 8.5 miles of holding, spawning, and rearing habitats for federally listed Central Valley Steelhead and Central Valley Spring-Run Chinook Salmon.

The fishway was unmaintained, became damaged, and is now a complete barrier to upstream migration.

This four-year project will restore access for Spring Run Chinook to the entirety of their historical distribution in Big Chico Creek by reconfiguring instream boulders to create a nature-like fishway that meets fish passage criteria.

In addition, non-salmonid native fish which were removed via poison from the watershed in the 1980s will be relocated upstream of Iron Canyon to help them repopulate upstream habitats and restore ecosystem elements and processes.

California Trout

THE NATIONAL FISH PASSAGE PROGRAM WORKS TO RESTORE NATIVE FISH AND OTHER AQUATIC SPECIES TO SELF-SUSTAINING LEVELS BY RECONNECTING HABITATS FRAGMENTED BY BARRIERS. THE PROGRAM ALSO STRIVES TO DELIVER BENEFITS TO HUMAN COMMUNITIES THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND OTHER ACTIONS THAT INCREASE RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS.

15.685 - National Fish Passage

FWS Headquarters (HQ) [DOI - FWS]

Fish and Wildlife Service Region 8: Pacific Southwest [DOI - FWS]

California United States

State-Wide

F24AS00062 National Fish Passage Program Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Restoring River, Floodplain, and Coastal Connectivity and Resiliency (F24AS00062)

Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been shortened from 09/30/28 to 09/23/25.