Kenwood Sonoma Creek Restoration

After the New Year's Flood of 2005/2006, the Sonoma Ecology Center (SEC) began working in conjunction with the Sonoma County Water Agency and volunteers from the Kenwood Stewardship to restore a reach of Sonoma Creek. The objectives of this project are to help relieve flooding below the Highway 12 bridge, enhance recharge of Sonoma Valley's aquifer, remove invasive plant species, and restore native riparian habitat. For information about how you can get involved in this project, contact Julie Jehly at julie@sonomaecologycenter.org.

One of the areas flooded immediately downstream of Highway 12.

In 2007 Kenwood Stream Stewards and SEC surveyed a portion of the creek immediately downstream of Highway 12.  We looked at streambank condition, vegetation, culvert size, and more. 

Preliminary results of our survey were combined with further studies in 2009. Another component of SEC's creek restoration was reviewing CalTrans documents, including plans from the bridge's original one-lane construction in 1923, road widening in 1951, bridge history, scour evaluations and countermeasures, and foundation evaluations.

A CalTrans photo taken in December 2007 of the bridge and bank.  Notice the amount of sediment deposited in the channel.

Stewardship tasks for 2010 include providing restoration input and working with SEC and project contractors for the necessary steps for on-the-ground work to begin. To learn more about this project, contact the Kenwood Stewardship leader by clicking the Stream Stewards tab, then clicking Kenwood.