Removing a Dam, Restoring a Watershed
In September 2021, a defunct, century-old dam was removed from Mill Creek, in the San Vicente watershed, inland from Davenport, CA.
This moment capped a decade of restoration efforts in the watershed at the southern end of San Vicente Redwoods, to bring back Coho salmon and improve redwood forest resiliency. Restoring the watershed has also helped the Amah Mutsun tribal band re-establish their relationship to the land and to their history. Their partnership and research deepens our understanding of what stewardship means, for forests, for water, and for everyone.
We invite you to hear from the many voices of the Mill Creek dam story.
This film and removal of the Mill Creek dam were made possible by the Open Rivers Fund, a program of Resources Legacy Fund supported by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Funding for the project also came from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Office of Spill Prevention and Response.
San Vicente Redwoods is an 8,852-acre stretch of forest that is currently owned and managed by four conservation organizations: Sempervirens Fund, Peninsula Open Space Trust, Save the Redwoods League, and Land Trust of Santa Cruz County.
Learn more about the Amah Mutsun Land Trust: amahmutsunlandtrust.org
Learn more about Sempervirens Fund: sempervirens.org
Пікірлер: 63
I love that you ended on an indigenous person pointing out that all species on earth are related. Because unlike what's under the hood of most religions, science CAN back up the belief that all species are related.
@JW4REnvironment
Жыл бұрын
Well said. As just one example, each breath a person takes has atoms of oxygen that Rachel Carson breathed in before. And this is true pretty much for any prior adult who ever lived on earth… We are all connected in a very material sense whether we recognize it or not…
Great project! Having removed this watershed obstruction, my next suggestion may sound strange: any thought to restoring beavers now? Based on the projects I'm seeing, it seems that man-made concrete dams and beaver dams couldn't be more different in the eyes of an ecosystem. Many restoration projects are demonstrating how critical these mammals are for recharging groundwater, making fire breaks, and boosting salmon populations among many other ecosystem enriching biological feedbacks. Hope you take a look and continue the great work!!
@jamescoleakaericunderwood2503
Жыл бұрын
Two minutes in and beavers were my first thought... YUP
@Maharani1991
Жыл бұрын
I really hope they're considering this :)
@rafaelnavarro5522
10 ай бұрын
Dude that's funny the river that runs through my city is more like a creek I've thought if going guerilla mode and making a beaver dam analog and try to get the river looking like a river😂😂😂
@Nee96Nee
10 ай бұрын
I totally agree, and if not reintroduction of beavers at least mock beaver dams. Similar to the ones that the team of Mossy Earth was a part of in Scotland
The forests have been mismanaged for many years, unfortunately. What they need to be healthy is periodic low level burns to clear out the understory and growth. With many years of fire suppression, you get this large buildup of brush such that when a fire does start, it burns out of control. This is true all over the west but especially in California. Having a serious prescribed fire policy and forest thinning program is long overdue.
@Scriptorsilentum
Жыл бұрын
seems many eastern woodlands/atlantic coastal peoples did just that - periodically torch the place to clean up the forest floors, get new growth. is it called "silviculture"? apparently it was very good forestry mgmt.
Excellent... good to see young people getting involved... 👍
Fantastic video! Love the proper management for the present and future of this property and stream.
There was a dam removal project completed on the Shiawassee River here in Michigan a few years back...actually two dam removals on that same river. There was naturally a lot of folks who did a lot of pushing back against the dam removals but the end results are beautiful knowing that river is now in a much healthier state and can now start to heal and repair the damage humans caused.
AMAZING, FREE WATERS FROM ALASKA TO TIERRA DEL FUEGO!!!
Thank you for all that you do... Respect your fellow man and please respect the land...
Beavers would help too
Excellent!
YEAH!
Makes me very happy to see this. It is a step in a large project to help people live with nature in stead of at the expense of nature. Keep up!
Nice vid. thx for the upload, I needed it. Liked and subscribed. -
You are the best!
💚
Like blood vessels blockages need to be removed so awesome
Putting in Beaver Dams will be able to more and make better and bigger rivers
So be it, the Project conductive, river hydrology connected, cover must convert it, as processes re-occur below it, the flows are the pull, so absorb it, now slowing let us grow wiser from it, the resilience of recovery must allow it be rediscovered. The genetics of those fish restore as conform to spawning in redds, patience through what is bore.
Great effort!! Now where are the beavers?
I grew up in Corrlitos in the 60s, haven't been there for many years. Would be interesting to see what its like now.
Send the first grade 2nd graders and 3rd graders that throws seeds native tree species but lots of wildflowers and other stuff that pollinators need along and bushes grasses and others
❤️ Davenport! You can park on 101 and walk to the edge of the Western Free World. It awesome.. my Dog Tuesday and I sleep in Davenport at the stoplight turnout and save 100 bucks on a room.. She'd rather have me spend the 100 bucks on the room for a nice bed .. yup .. she's a girl! 🤔🙄🤗
Look at Coastal Watershed Institute. It's been there done that.
could use that dam for water storage
doesn't seem deep enough to help fish
kzread.info/dash/bejne/dmhntZKRgrGsops.html a good reference how river should look without the trees
nice lead up, but at 9:00 is where the video should start...
too much of people talking, not enough dam removal and restoration shown, which is the title of the video. a 12min video and the dam removal starts at 9mins and is only like 1min of footage. get better at youtube
he is cuteeeeee
@zachminter6570
Жыл бұрын
alexii btw
What does it say when a video title mentions removing a dam and it makes up just 14 seconds of an almost 12 minute video?
Those damn Settlers !! Lol
why do they want fresh water going out to sea? i jst dont understand
@flyinryan1986
2 жыл бұрын
Because man made structures and most things people do hurt the natural earth cycles. It will be way better off in the long run
@11-AisexualsforGod-11
2 жыл бұрын
@@flyinryan1986 beavers?
@flyinryan1986
2 жыл бұрын
@@11-AisexualsforGod-11 watch the video fish and wild life that couldn't get to where they lay there eggs and have the next generation
Settler colonialism? You forgot to mention the patriarchy, heteronormativity, or how this impacts the transexual community.
I feel like removing this "dam" wasnt really necessary and probably did more harm than good. Its not like salmon were using this stream to spawn and the water had already found a way through the obstruction. It looks like you kinda just plowed over some trees and groundcover and then buried the stream. Getting those earthmovers in there tore up and compacted so much soil, looked very intrusive and destructive. Often its better for humans not to intervene in natural processes, even if we are trying to fix things.
@CrummyVCR
Жыл бұрын
Was thinking the exact same. Root compaction is a real problem when dealing with certain environments. A team with jack hammers a few generators , and an 8 person crew would have done the job just fine.
The silly music adds only noise pollution to this otherwise good video.
Removing a dam, then being surprised when there's not enough water.
"new normal climate change". Had to get that BS in there. The climate is always changing and what is "new normal climate change"?
you can anything you want if you not you but the nation ie united state does not honor God you will not escape his wrath and just incase you weren't sure the pandemic /wildfire/ severe shocking weather events All the wrath of God 2nd Chronicles 7:14 that what you need to fix then God won't have to spank mans tail so often and restore the watershed man destroyed in ignorance in the first place you must not have read the Basic instructions before Leaving Earth before get a copy and read it you'll see or maybe you wont only he knows
@jamescoleakaericunderwood2503
Жыл бұрын
Yeah ..I'm a repenting sinner who'd love to see the Steelhead population make a comeback there ..and they will
Don't know about that? Your culture changed things to suit your needs I agree that