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Strategy 3. Stream/Riparian Restoration Management
Approaches described under this strategy refer to restoration of aquatic environments and the species
they support, such as unarmored three-spine stickleback and California red-legged frog. Where needed,
project activities will be guided by the assessment, prioritization, and planning described in Strategy 1 to
ensure program goals and priorities are appropriately incorporated.

Aquatic Organism Passage Improvements - Aquatic organism passage barriers affect some aquatic
species by obstructing their distribution and range, reducing available habitat, threatening genetic
diversity by isolating populations, and increasing the risks from predation, competition, and water
quality and quantity impacts. These impacts can be exacerbated even further with increases in pollutant
loads and altered habitat after wildfire events. Activities may include modifying road/stream crossings
to allow unimpeded natural flow such as replacing culverts with a free span bridge, or installing fish
ladders or other engineered solutions for fish or other aquatic species to traverse barriers. In particular,
there are a number of sites appropriate for aquatic organism passage improvement projects in San
Francisquito Creek. These sites will be evaluated, and solutions developed to maximize the ecological
benefits to be gained at these sites.

Figure 4. Locations of priority aquatic organism passage barriers in San Francisquito Creek (Copper Fire)

Invasive Eradication - As with the forest/upland environments, aquatic and riparian invasive plant and
animal species that have established a presence in ANF waterways threaten the success of native
populations. Invasive species such as crayfish or bullfrog may displace, outcompete, or prey on native
species and disrupt the ecology of the aquatic and riparian environments. Aquatic and riparian invasive
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