Tuesday November 11, 2025
Valley Water News —
A major step forward for fish and river health was recently achieved in South Santa Clara County with the removal of Pickell’s Dam. Once a century-old barrier on Little Arthur Creek, the dam no longer served a purpose but continued to block steelhead migration and disrupt the creek’s natural process. Valley Water and Trout Unlimited partnered to bring it down, opening the way for a healthier river ecosystem.
Located about a mile upstream from Uvas Creek, the barrier cut off more than three miles of high-quality spawning habitat for South-Central California Coast Steelhead, a species listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. With the dam now gone, steelhead can once again reach upstream habitat. The creek also regains its natural flow, gravel movement, and habitat-forming features. The project also benefits other native aquatic species, such as amphibians, that can now freely move upstream and downstream.
“This project demonstrates what can happen when public agencies, nonprofits, and tribal partners work together toward a common goal,” said Valley Water Director John Varela, who represents South Santa Clara County. “Removing barriers like Pickell’s Dam is essential for the long-term recovery of steelhead populations and the health of our local watersheds.”
Valley Water funded, permitted and provided biological support for the project, while Trout Unlimited, a national nonprofit with expertise in habitat restoration, managed design and implementation. The National Marine Fisheries Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band also played key roles in the effort.
“If we can restore creeks, we can restore steelhead,” said Tim Frahm, Project Manager at Trout Unlimited. “That’s what we did here. This creek was so impacted by this concrete, and now it’s gone. We can sit here and just relax and listen to the creek—listen to her bubbling along, and feel like she’s come alive again.”
The project demonstrates a cost-effective partnership model. Trout Unlimited secured design funding from the Resources Legacy Fund and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, negotiated landowner access, and managed construction at no cost to Valley Water. In turn, Valley Water coordinated with regulatory agencies, completed permitting, provided funding, and supported water quality and biological monitoring during construction. Valley Water will also be completing long-term monitoring and reporting.
“One of Valley Water’s missions is ecological stewardship, and partnering with a grassroots organization like Trout Unlimited is a huge win for us,” said Jennifer Codianne, Deputy Officer of Watersheds Operations & Maintenance at Valley Water. “We both brought unique strengths to the table that made this project a success. Now we have a habitat that will continue to grow in complexity. It’s a very exciting outcome for all of us.”
For steelhead, removing Pickell’s Dam restores access to long-blocked spawning grounds and healthier habitat. For the community, it’s proof that collaboration can deliver meaningful environmental improvements while also addressing infrastructure and regulatory needs.
This project shows how public agencies, nonprofits, and tribal partners can work together to strengthen watershed resilience, improve water quality, and create healthier ecosystems for future generations.