Conn Creek Land Lab Pilot Project (Request No. 1652-2026-093-001-R3)

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has authorized the Conn Creek Land Lab Pilot Project under Fish and Game Code section 1652, with the Abuelitos Foundation as the lead entity responsible for implementation. The project centers on ecological restoration along an unnamed tributary in St. Helena, California, through the installation of approximately 69 small grade control structures made of rock and wood. These structures, designed to stabilize stream channels and reduce erosion, include gully stuffing and rock detention types, each standing 1 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide, placed at intervals of 15 to 30 feet apart. In addition to these structural interventions, the project includes the restoration and reseeding of areas impacted by unauthorized social trails and construction activity, aiming to rehabilitate native vegetation and improve watershed health. The project is managed by the Fish and Wildlife, Region 3 - Bay Delta office in Fairfield, with Tod Mostero of the Abuelitos Foundation serving as the primary point of contact for project execution and Michael Stuhldreher, an Environmental Scientist with the department, acting as the official regulatory liaison. The initiative was posted as a forecast on July 6, 2026, and is located entirely within the St. Helena area of California, targeting long-term habitat enhancement and erosion control in a sensitive riparian environment. All activities are designed to align with state environmental standards and are intended to serve as a pilot for similar restorative efforts in other regions.