Events - Event View

-Chris Waterston, Associate Biologist - Division of Environmental Analysis, Caltrans District 12 (Orange County) will talk about collaboration with U.S. Forest Service on future check dam removal in several locations in upper San Juan Creek that fall under Caltrans jurisdiction (Hwy 74, Ortega Hwy), and other aspects of biological evaluation at state road crossings. He is also part of the Trabuco Stakeholder Group for the Interstate 5 bridge array fish passage barrier in Orange County, so we can cover latest on that also.

Noting here that Julie Donnell, Cleveland National Forest fish biologist, says they are focusing on check dam removal in Silverado Creek the week of March 20. She’ll be in the field then, but may have demo photos to share for the meeting.

-Bob Blankenship, President - Trout Unlimited South Coast Chapter, will give an update on Fish Passage Design on Santa Margarita River at Sandia Creek confluence. This project was funded last year by CDFW-Fisheries Restoration Grant Program for 65% engineering design for fish passage through this barrier upstream of Camp Pendleton; and was recently approved by the Coastal Conservancy Board for additional funding for 100% design and permitting.

-Joshlynn Russell, Grant Coordinator for San Luis Rey Watershed Council (SLRWC), will give an update on the water conservation project funded last year by CDFW entitled Upper San Luis Rey Groundwater Recharge and Habitat Protection. As a reminder, this project is to improve agricultural irrigation efficiency (weather station and soil moisture sensor installation and training) and residential grey water usage (laundry-to-landscape and rain barrels) for improved water conservation. The goal is to sustainably manage water availability to residents and businesses while providing habitat protection for the resilient trout population in Pauma Creek and the broader San Luis Rey basin.