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Streamkeeper urges removal of culvert apron at Cascade Drive to help steelhead and Chinook
Summary
A Mill Valley streamkeeper told the Planning Commission that large steelhead and Chinook have been sighted in local streams and urged removal of a concrete apron and replacement of a culvert/bridge at Cascade Drive and Old Mill Park to restore fish passage; staff were asked to stay alert for grant opportunities.
Betsy Bickley, who identified herself as a Mill Valley streamkeeper, asked the commission to note barriers to fish migration near Sycamore Avenue and at Cascade Drive/Old Mill Park. Bickley cited recent sightings of large steelhead (about 2 feet long) and said Chinook made it upstream last year but were stopped by a barrier. She described the bridge/culvert as in poor condition and the nearby apron as "quite steep and slippery" and urged the city to consider removing the culvert and installing a span bridge. She also noted previous grant-seeking and said staff had helped submit a past grant application; she said the group is pursuing state funding now.
Chair Sarangel and commissioners thanked her and encouraged staff and the community to continue pursuing grants and monitoring for fish passage improvements. No formal action was taken; the comment was recorded as a public-comment request to keep the issue on staff radar and to pursue appropriate grant channels for remediation or design work.
