Dam demolition in Santa Cruz Mountains benefits endangered salmon

The removal of the 100-year-old dam in Santa Cruz County benefits endangered fish by providing a habitat for spawning. The dismantling of the Milk Creek Dam opens the door that has been closed for over 100 years to endangered fish such as coho salmon. Salmon spawn upstream. Heavy equipment was brought in this week to remove the Milk Creek Dam. Ian Rowbotham, Head of Land Management at the Semperbilence Foundation, said the key to the project was the release of old sediments trapped behind the dam. It is described as the durable limestone boulder that Coho salmon relies on. This is the side that was missing downstream of the dam. Salmon can rely on gravel and sand to lay eggs and grow into the next generation of fish, “says Robosum. Monterey Bay Salmon & Trout Project We release 25,000 coho salmon hatcheries each year. Anything that helps them survive is welcome. “It’s a big problem for us. All kinds of obstacles that impede the passage of fish in the Santa Cruz Mountains are being addressed and we are trying to remove those barriers. 

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