Council authorizes MOU with Yosemite Rivers Alliance to restore fish habitat at Carpenter Road parcel

The Modesto City Council voted unanimously to authorize a memorandum of understanding with Yosemite Rivers Alliance (formerly Tuolumne River Trust) to carry out habitat restoration at the Carpenter Road parcel of the Tuolumne River Regional Park.

Toby Wells, director of engineering services and the city engineer, described the city’s role as managing partner for the park and said the MOU allows the nonprofit to perform restoration construction while the city reviews plans and facilitates permitting. “We’re facilitating. They’re doing all of the work,” Wells said.

Hillary Moke, program director for the restoration team, told council members the project aims to “create a better and active floodplain with high levels of water for juvenile steelhead and Chinook salmon for rearing habitat.” She said the work builds on upstream spawning habitat projects and could include interpretive signage to educate park visitors about salmon life cycles.

Members of the public spoke in favor of the partnership; Ron West, who said he has served on the Tuolumne River Regional Park Citizens Advisory Committee, urged council members to attend and support the partnership. After brief council discussion and confirmation of the project scope, the council moved, seconded and approved the MOU and authorized the city manager (or designee) to execute the agreement.

The staff presentation noted the land is the recipient of a state grant to restore fish habitat and that Modesto serves as the managing partner for the Tuolumne River Regional Park. Details such as final construction schedules and signage plans will be refined in subsequent project materials and plan reviews.