Alameda Creek Steelhead Restoration:

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• Alameda Creek Steelhead Restoration
• Fish Passage through the
• Alameda Creek Flood Control Channel
• December 11, 2008
• Patricia Dustman / Eric Cartwright
• Alameda County Water District

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Fish Passage in the Alameda Creek Flood Control
Channel

• The problem.
• Barriers in the flood control channel prevent
  steelhead from accessing spawning and rearing
  habitat in the upper watershed
• The key players
• Alameda County Water District (ACWD) Water
  Supply
• Alameda County Flood Control and Water
  Conservation District (ACFCWCD) Flood Control
• Alameda Creek Fisheries Workgroup
• The challenge
• Implement a cost-effective program to provide
  for fish passage while maintaining the beneficial
  uses in the flood control channel

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Alameda Creek Watershed
CREEK
SAN RAMON
ALTAMONT
ARROYO
Alameda Creek Flood Control Channel
LIVERMORE
DE LA
HAYWARD
PLEASANTON
SINBAD CREEK
LAGUNA
SUNOL
UNION CITY
ALAMEDA
CREEK
DEL VALLE RESERVOIR
CHANNEL
A.C.F.C.
SAN ANTONIO RESERVOIR
San Francisco Bay
NEWARK
84
Barriers
DEL
FREMONT
Water Supply and Flood Control Facilities
ALAMEDA
CALAVERAS RESERVOIR
VALLE
ARROYO
MILPITAS
CREEK
HONDO
CREEK
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Channelization of the Lower Creek
Flood of 1955
Construction of Flood Control Channel (1972)
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Lower Alameda Creekthen and now
Historical channel
Flood Control Channel
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Alameda Creek Flood Control Channel today.
Approx. 12 miles (Niles Canyon to SF
Bay) Engineered channel - Earthen
bottom, rip-rap sides Beneficial uses -
Flood protection - Water supply
- Groundwater percolation -
Recreation No provision for fish passage
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Existing Facilities in the Flood Control Channel
3. Flood Control Channel Improvements
Niles Canyon
Inflow from Niles Canyon
Inflatable Rubber Dams (3)
Flow Direction (to SF Bay)
Legend Diversion Rubber Dam Drop
Structure (BART Weir)
Flood Control Drop Structure (BART Weir)
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ACWDs Inflatable Rubber Dams
Provide groundwater recharge and off-stream
diversions Operated year-round Deflated during
storms and high flows
Dam InflatedBarrier to Fish Passage
Dam DeflatedPassable to fish (most conditions)
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ACWDs Off-stream Diversions.
Divert water off-stream to percolation
ponds Operational only when dams are inflated
Trash rack on intake structure for large
debrispotential for fish entrainment
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Flood Control Drop Structure (BART Weir)
Grade stabilization structure for BART and
Railroad track piers Constructed by the Army
Corps of Engineers Approximately 9 feet high, 250
feet wide
Flow Direction
Drop Structure protects bridge piers, but is a
barrier to in-migrating fish
In-migrating steelhead attempting to pass the
Drop Structure
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Flood Control Drop Structure (BART Weir)
Drop Structure
Railroad
BART
Inflatable Dam
Flow Direction
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Projects and Schedule
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Substantial progress is being made.
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Fish Screen Projects
From concept (2005).
To reality (today).
Wedgewire screens protect fish
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Fish Ladder Planning
2001-2006 Planning Activities - Conceptual
Designs - Alternative Analyses -
Funding Opportunities 2007 Agreement -
Water District Flood Control District 2008
Preliminary Design in Progress 2010 Construction
Goal
Example Fish Ladder
Conceptual Design BART Weir/Middle Inflatable
Dam Fish Ladder
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Future Challenges

• Funding
• Local Funding
• State Grants
• Federal Grants
• Other
• Permitting
• Corps of Engineers
• Fish and Game
• NOAA Fisheries
• Other
• Operational Requirements
• Instream Flows
• Inflatable Dam Operations
• Facility Maintenance

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The Future Alameda Creek Flood Control Channel
Beneficial Uses - Flood Protection -
Water Supply - Groundwater Percolation
- Recreation - Anadromous Fisheries
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End of Presentation