$1.1M Awarded to Marin Water for Lagunitas Creek Habitat Enhancement Work by Marin Water Mar 5, 2026 Member Submitted News CORTA MADERA — Marin Water received a $1,109,000 grant funding commitment this week from the California Wildlife Conservation Board to support its Lagunitas Creek Coho Habitat Enhancement Project – a multi-year effort to create favorable habitat for threatened and endangered aquatic species. The award, which was approved by the Wildlife Conservation Board at their February 26 meeting, will provide a major boost to funding the implementation of Phase 2 of the project. Awarded through the Proposition 1 Water Quality, Supply and Infrastructure Improvement Fund of 2014 via the Stream Flow Enhancement Program, the Wildlife Conservation Board grant and partnership enable the continuation of Marin Water’s habitat enhancement work in the Lagunitas Creek watershed through implementation, monitoring and beyond. “The Wildlife Conservation Board is proud to partner with Marin Municipal Water District to improve habitat along Lagunitas Creek,” said Jennifer Norris, executive director of the Wildlife Conservation Board. “Restoring natural stream conditions will support the recovery of coho salmon, steelhead and other native species while strengthening the health of this important watershed.” This funding will be used to fully construct two instream habitat restoration sites in Lagunitas Creek to support recovery of coho salmon, steelhead, California freshwater shrimp and other native aquatic species. The project sites will be enhanced by the strategic placement of logs, boulders and gravel, which help to break up homogenous stream habitat, create deeper and slower pools for rearing, capture incoming gravels for spawning and improve insect production for the aquatic food web. The full Lagunitas Creek Coho Habitat Enhancement Project has been underway since 2019 and will enhance 13 strategic sites encompassing 4,450 linear feet of stream channel in Lagunitas Creek from Peters Dam at Kent Lake to Samuel P. Taylor State Park on lands managed by Marin Water and California State Parks. The District completed construction of Phase 1A of the project in 2024 and is expected to complete construction of Phase 1B in 2026. Final design and permitting of Phase 2 are currently underway, with construction targeted for 2027-2028. The grant from the Wildlife Conservation Board will fund the first component of Phase 2 construction. “We are thankful for California Wildlife Conservation Board’s funding and collaboration on this tremendous project to protect the home of one of the largest remaining populations of coho salmon in Northern California and ensure the ecological health of our watershed” said Jed Smith, President of the Marin Water Board of Directors. Five of Marin Water’s seven reservoirs are within the Lagunitas Creek watershed on Mount Tamalpais. Water is diverted from the creek’s basin to provide essential water supply for more than 190,000 people in southern and central Marin. As stewards of the watershed, it is Marin Water’s duty to take care of protected and endangered species downstream of Peters Dam on Kent Lake. Including the award from the Wildlife Conservation Board, the District has secured nearly $11 million in grant funding for the implementation of the Lagunitas Creek Coho Habitat Enhancement Project. Leveraging outside funds helps Marin Water advance important projects through strong partnerships, while also representing its commitment to reducing impacts on local ratepayers to the largest extent possible. The project represents a truly collaborative approach, including a partnership between Marin Water and California State Parks as well as technical and funding support from California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Department of Water Resources Riverine Stewardship Program, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the California Wildlife Conservation Board. For more information about this project, visit marinwater.org/LCUpgrades. Established in 1947, the Wildlife Conservation Board protects, restores and enhances California’s spectacular natural resources for wildlife and the public’s use and enjoyment. WCB works in partnership with Tribes, conservation groups, government agencies and the people of California to safeguard biodiversity and expand access to nature. For more information about the agency’s Stream Flow Enhancement Program, visit wcb.ca.gov/programs/stream-flow-enhancement.
