Restoration of Clear Lake Hitch Habitat and Tribal Land Repatriation

RESTORATION & REPATRIATION IN CLEAR LAKE

Pinecrest initiated a grassroots and multi-stakeholder effort in Lake County that has received $3.5M in State grants to restore the watershed of Schindler Creek, restore wetlands and wildlife habitat, and repatriate ancestral indigenous lands. Clear Lake Hitch (Lavinia exilicauda chi) 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 repatriate some of these lands to their ancestral indigenous owners. Partners on this project include the County of Lake, Redbud Audubon Society, Lake County Land Trust, Clear Lake Keys Property Owners Association, Elem Indian Colony, California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Hana Resources, and Native Sage Consulting.

A poster from the Clear Lake Integrated Science Symposium describing the various phases of the project can be downloaded here.