1. Home
  2. Caltrans Near Me
  3. District 5
  4. District 5 Current Projects
  5. Gaviota Creek Emergency Restoration

Gaviota Creek Emergency Restoration

Project Description

Permanent Restoration

  1. Scoping Phase: Permanent restoration work will complete the mitigation for the retaining wall construction in Gaviota Creek under the Gaviota Creek Emergency Scour Repair Project. The expedited Scoping Phase kicked off on October 9, 2023 and the Project Initiation Document was approved in January 2026.
  2. Project Approval and Environmental Document Phase: Caltrans is currently pursuing concurrence from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for the CEQA Statutory Exemption for Restoration Projects (SERP) for Segment A of the Gaviota Creek Improvement Project, which includes this work under the Gaviota Creek Emergency Restoration Project. This statutory exemption is part of CDFW’s Cutting the Green Tape program. For more information, please refer to: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Cutting-Green-Tape/SERP. A draft application was submitted in December 2025 and a final application was submitted in February 2026. Caltrans has determined, pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.56 (a), that the project will exclusively conserve, restore, protect, or enhance, and assist in the recovery of California native fish and wildlife, and the habitat upon which they depend, and restore or provide habitat for California native fish and wildlife.
  3. Upon completion of the environmental determinations, Caltrans will move into the design phase (Plans, Specifications, and Estimates phase) to complete the design of the proposed pool and weir fishway in coordination with required agencies.

 

The objective of the restoration work is to improve fish passage and habitat conditions within Gaviota Creek. Mitigation will involve two components: fish passage remediation and habitat improvements.

Fish Passage Remediation

  1. Three grade control structures exist along Gaviota Creek on the west side of US 101, adjacent to the new retaining wall that was constructed as a result of the emergency project. These structures affect migrating Steelhead trout as identified by the California Fish Passage Advisory Committee. These are priority locations to make improvements.
  2. Caltrans proposes to remove the three existing grade control structures that are affecting fish passage and construct the channel to support migration of all life stages of Steelhead trout through the creek reach.
  3. The design of the new fish passage system will be based on California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) fish passage design guidanc

Habitat Improvements

  1. When completed, stream channel and bank riparian vegetation will be reestablished, and additional creek areas (as a result of removing sacked concrete) will be restored and replanted as appropriate.  

Project Contact

Hallie Holden, Project Manager
 Phone: (916) 995-1421
Email: hallie.holden@dot.ca.gov

Public Information Office, Caltrans District 5
Phone: (805) 549-3318
Email: info-d5@dot.ca.gov

Documents

Accessibility Assistance: Caltrans makes every attempt to ensure our documents are accessible. Due to variances between assistive technologies, there may be portions of this document which are not accessible. Where documents cannot be made accessible, we are committed to providing alternative access to the content. Should you need additional assistance, please contact us at (916) 654-2852 or visit https://dot.ca.gov/request-ada-compliant-documents.

Title VI Information

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) assures that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and Federal Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations).

Caltrans will make every effort to ensure nondiscrimination in all of its programs and activities, whether they are federally funded or not, and that services and benefits are fairly distributed to all people, regardless of race, color, or national origin. In addition, Caltrans will facilitate meaningful participation in the transportation planning process in a nondiscriminatory manner.

Title VI Brochures

Title VI brochures in various languages