Rose Valley Creek Restoration Project
Rose Valley Creek Restoration Project Public Workshop Video Recording 5/13/2021
Many public resources and cultural values take place at Rose Valley Creek. Stream and habitat restoration is being proposed for Southern California steelhead and other federally protected wildlife. Along with stream restoration, floodplain function, water-holding properties, riparian vegetation, are expected to increase. Benefits to recreational opportunities and public resources will continue.
Rose Valley Creek is a valuable tributary, via Howard Creek, to the Sespe Creek Wild and Scenic River, a large tributary to the Santa Clara River that flows to the Pacific Ocean. This series of tributaries adds important critical habitat for federally endangered Southern California steelhead, while supporting other protected species including threatened California red-legged frogs.
The Rose Valley Lakes were constructed by the Navy Construction Battalion known as the “SeaBees“during a period beginning in the 1950’s through the 1970’s when they provided many services to the Forest Service. The SeaBees trained in Rose Valley and used the area familiarize personnel with heavy equipment operation while performing a variety of services to the Forest Service under a special use permit. It was during this time that several dams were constructed with the lakes filling in behind them (NHC, 2019). Recreational fishing is common at the lower, and largest, lake. However, the upper two lakes completely dry each year, and the lower lake reaches very low levels, or dries completely by fall. This proposal to restore Rose Valley Creek is required to address ongoing predation of native aquatic species from introduced aquatic invasive species in Rose Valley Lakes.
Known threats to these protected species is primarily from aquatic invasive species through predation, disease transmission, and competition for resources. Despite the lakes routinely drying each year, they continue to harbor aquatic invasive species that are known to prey on native aquatic species.
The Southern California Steelhead Recovery plan lists non-native species as a “Very High Threat” to steelhead in Sespe Creek (NMFS, 2012).
The executive summary for the Southern California steelhead recovery plan captures this challenge:
"The goal of this Recovery Plan is to prevent the extinction of southern California steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the wild and to ensure the long-term persistence of viable, self-sustaining, populations of steelhead distributed across the Southern California Distinct Population Segment (DPS). It is also the goal of this Recovery Plan to re- establish a sustainable southern California steelhead sport fishery. Recovery of the DPS will require the protection, restoration, and maintenance of a range of habitats throughout the DPS in order to allow the natural diversity of O. mykiss to be fully expressed (e.g., anadromous and resident forms, timing and frequency of runs, and dispersal between watersheds)"
--Executive Summary (NMFS, 2012).
The Los Padres National Forest is proposing to restore Rose Valley Creek to its historical stream function, form, and habitat to benefit native aquatic species as well as provide streamside recreation. Guidance within the Forest Plan is to address issues with invasive aquatic species and to promote the south-central steelhead population.
CalTrout, an environmental non-profit focused on healthy fish habitat in California, has received grant funding from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Forest Service through the National Fisheries and Wildlife Foundation to begin looking at what restoration is needed for Rose Valley Creek, what this might look like, and the feasibility of such an effort. CalTrout is working collaboratively with the Los Padres National Forest to design this restoration project.
California Trout and others have demonstrated a strong commitment to work towards this recovery by many efforts to secure both the recent grant awarded by California Department of Fish and Wildlife to California Trout, Inc. subsequent to matching funds provided by California Trout (CDFW, 2017), as well as building communication and collaboration with stake holders.
Rose Valley Scoping Meeting Video May 24, 2022
Rose Valley Scoping Meeting - May 24, 2022