Something fishy in Glen Ellen

The restoration of Stuart Creek to its historic haven for spawning steelhead trout continues just west of Glen Ellen. The Sonoma Land Trust bought the property in 2011, and this year received a $700,000 grant from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Fisheries Restoration Grant Program. The goal is to remove barriers — like an old bridge culvert along Arnold Drive west of Highway 12 — for trout swimming up Sonoma Creek and into the 2.5 mile Stuart Creek Run.

Workers will eliminate steep drop-offs while creating a series of five pools up a gradual incline along Arnold Drive westward to Highway 12. The Sonoma Ecology Center will replant the project areas with trees, plants and shrubs to enhance the natural habitat. Though designed for the return of the once-abundant steelhead, the area will ultimately include a picnic area and trail.