Restoration of Clear Lake Hitch Habitat and Land Repatriation
RESTORATION & REPATRIATION IN CLEAR LAKE
Pinecrest wrote a successful $2.3M grant and initiated a grassroots and multi-stakeholder effort in Lake County to restore the watershed of Schindler Creek, restore wetlands and wildlife habitat, and repatriate ancestral indigenous lands. Clear Lake Hitch (Lavinia exilicauda chi), known as “Chi” in the Pomo language, is a critically endangered species of fish endemic to Clear Lake and was a staple of indigenous diets. Clear Lake Hitch use to spawn in great numbers in Schindler Creek although they are now nearly extirpated from this watershed. This project proposes to restore the channel and riparian corridor of Schindler Creek, restore adjacent wetland habitat, and return land to indigenous uses. Partners and collaborators on this project include the Lake County Resource Conservation District, Lake County Land Trust, Elem Indian Colony, Robinson Rancheria, Redbud Chapter of the Audubon Society, Clear Lake Keys Property Owners Association, Helix Environmental Planning, Wolf Creek Archaeology, McMillen Engineering, Native Sage Consulting, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CalTrans, and California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife.
