Restoration Recommendations for Fish Species Re-population of Strawberry Creek based on High Flow and Stream Habitat Assessment

Strawberry Creek is an urbanized creek that is in the process of being restored. However, the final step of re-populating the creek with fish has not been as successful as planned. One proposed theory for the failure of these attempts has been the lack of high flow refuges. To address this possibility flow patterns were observed and diagrammed during times of high flows at various sites along the creek on the U.C. Berkeley campus. High flows are flows caused by rain storms resulting in higher than normal flows. Habitat assessment was also a concern, thus, creek characteristics of depth, width, bank angle, undercut, vegetation overhang, sediment type, bank development, creekside vegetation and flow were measured. Flow was measured at times of normal or base flow as well as at times of high flow. Six different sites of Strawberry Creek on campus were observed and assessed for flow and habitat characteristics based on observations and previously documented criteria to make larger scale restoration recommendations. Flows were found to vary significantly between base and high flow conditions. Additionally, it was found that there are very few high flow refuges in Strawberry Creek. This in addition to mostly unfavorable habitat characteristics leads to a wide range of restoration recommendations. However, implementation of such recommendations are limited due to the highly urbanized nature of the creek. Ideally, restoration should include the reduction of channelized sections and/or banks as well as the planting of more vegetation along the banks. Other recommendations which may not be as feasible would be to create more meanders or variations on ox bow to give fish areas of reduced flow.