Tuolumne River Mainstem Channel Restoration Upstream of Old La Grange Bridge Project by Turlock Irrigation District Jul 9, 2025 With this project, Modesto Irrigation District (MID), Turlock Irrigation District (TID) and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) provided more than 7.5 acres of mainstem restoration, more than 2.5 acres of floodplain habitat and more than 50,000 cubic yards of spawning gravel. These actions are expected to result in a five-fold increase of trout and salmon habitat upstream of Old La Grange Bridge. Spawning habitats were created by cleaning, washing and returning gravel originally removed from the river during the Gold Rush to the lower Tuolumne River in the form of riffles and gravel bars. In addition to the creation of a spawning habitat, large wood features and boulder clusters were added to increase in-channel habitat complexity and diversity. The project began in June 2024 and was completed four months later in mid-October. The total cost of the project was estimated at $7.8 million, which includes a grant from the California Department Fish and Wildlife, along with MID, TID and the SFPUC’s self-funded commitment of $2.3 million. The project was successfully completed under budget and is an example of the multiple restoration projects included in MID, TID and SFPUC’s Healthy Rivers and Landscapes work. In July 2025, 1,200 adult spring-run Chinook salmon—originally released as part of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program—made their way to the Tuolumne River, where they’ve found abundant habitat and cold, clean water in which to spend the summer prior to spawning in the fall. This remarkable development represents an important milestone for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program and highlights the positive impact of TID, MID and SFPUC’s longstanding stewardship and science-based management of the Tuolumne River. Watch a short video on the project here.
