Russian River
Coho Water Resources
Partnership

Dutch Bill Creek | Grape Creek | Green Valley Creek | Mark West Creek | Mill Creek

Grape Creek Map of the Grape Creek watershed             - click to enlarge images-     Grape Creek Streamflow Gauge Data For more information, see Grape Creek on the Sotoyome RCD website. Grape Creek, a tributary to Dry Creek and the Russian River, flows from the western side of the Dry Creek Valley west of the city of Healdsburg. The Grape Creek system drains a basin of approximately 3.2 square miles and includes 2.9 miles of USGS blue-line streams. Elevations in the watershed range from 900 ft. at the headwaters to approximately 80 ft. at the Dry Creek confluence. Flow in this system varies seasonally, ranging from a continuous perennial flow to ephemeral, disconnected pools. Currently all the land in this watershed is in private ownership with a significant portion in vineyard cultivation. Natural vegetation types occur mostly in the upper portion of the watershed as mixed conifer, hardwood and chaparral forest. CDFG and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) surveyed Grape Creek in 1998 and 2007 respectively, and found adult and juvenile steelhead as well as steelhead redds (gravel nests where they lay their eggs). Historically, this stream supported coho salmon, but this species has not been sighted in recent years and in 2010, the Russian River Coho Salmon Captive Broodstock Program reintroduced hatchery coho into this system. There are also several partial barriers along this creek that limit salmonid passage and access to stream habitat. Grape Creek is classified as a Phase I expansion area for coho salmon recovery in the NMFS Coho Recovery Plan, 2010, making it a priority watershed for near-term coho recovery efforts. Projects (completed or pending) Instream habitat enhancement including large woody debris and rock structures to provide improved summer rearing habitat for juvenile salmonids. Streambank stabilization and riparian revegetation. Vineyard and winery water conservation. Fish passage improvement at road crossings. Frost protection alternatives. 4179 Piedmont Ave., Suite 325, Oakland, CA 94611 | Email: info@cohopartnership.org | (510) 420-4565, ext. 107 Images are made available for personal use only and may not be copied, reproduced, or used in any way. © 2009-2011 Russian River Coho Water Resources Partnership