During the recent 2021-22 drought, CDFW’s Bay Delta Region funded several grant projects focused on conserving streamflow in priority watersheds in Sonoma and Mendocino counties to lessen drought impacts to coho salmon and steelhead trout. One such project, Rain Catchers in Your Neighborhood, led by the North Coast nonprofit Conservation Works, brought the community together to learn about the importance of water conservation and how to catch and store rainwater.
In Santa Rosa, Riebli Elementary students learn about watershed conservation and decorate their rain storage tanks as part of Earth Day activities. Courtesy photo
“One of the most rewarding parts of this project was seeing people make the connection between their own water use and conditions in local streams that support coho salmon and steelhead,” said Shay Richardson, the CDFW senior environmental scientist who helped identify and facilitate funding for the project.
Juvenile salmonids seek refuge in pool habitat during the summer months and rely on flow between pools to provide food and maintain suitable temperature and dissolved oxygen conditions. When streamflow becomes disconnected in dry or drought years, large-scale fish die-offs can occur.
Through the Rain Catchers in Your Neighborhood project, rainwater harvesting systems were installed in 2025 and 2026 at community centers within priority coho salmon and steelhead watersheds, including elementary schools, retreat centers and community gardens. Rainwater harvesting systems consist of a roof or other structure to collect rain and a large tank for storage. Participants agreed to use the systems to store rainwater during the rainy season for use during the summer, to offset summer water usage and reduce the need for water diversions in salmon-rearing tributaries in the Russian River and Navarro River watersheds.
Conservation Works installed seven 5,000-gallon systems at community sites and provided 10 rural residential landowners with 5,000-gallon water storage tanks. Conservation Works also partnered with Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District (RCD) to install a 400,000-gallon rainwater harvesting system designed to reduce reliance on summertime groundwater.
The rainwater harvesting system at Larkfield Community Garden in Larkfield-Wikiup, Sonoma County. Courtesy photo
Conservation Works invited community members to participate in installation of the 5,000-gallon tanks and also hosted outreach events that focused on water conservation and awareness of drought impacts to salmon and steelhead.
One event provided hands-on educational activities teaching over 400 elementary school students lessons on the salmon life cycle and the importance of using rainwater harvesting to support watershed health. At a community garden site, students from a nearby elementary school visit the garden monthly and use stored rainwater from the tank system to irrigate the garden.
"What we've learned through this project is that people truly care about the impact they make on their ecosystems and simply need regional support to turn that care into action,” said Conservation Works Conservationist Lily Roberts. “Thanks to CDFW and our partner RCD, we were able to bring more rainwater catchment to communities who need it. The tanks provided to rural landowners will leave a lasting mark on the streams, the land and on the families who use them, just as the education we provided to elementary school students will leave its own mark on the next generation."
Following the rainy season, Richardson has visited several of the Rain Catchers in Your Neighborhood project sites to see how the stored water is now being put to use.
Rainwater harvesting systems were installed in 2025 and 2026 at community centers within priority coho salmon and steelhead watersheds, including elementary schools, retreat centers and community gardens. Courtesy photo
“As we anticipate dry conditions this summer, this project highlights how communities can take action in their local watersheds to conserve streamflow and support habitat for coho salmon and steelhead,” Richardson said.
The rain catchment systems are estimated to reduce about 505,000 gallons in annual summertime watershed diversions across Navarro River tributaries (Neefus Gulch, Soda Creek and Meyer Gulch) and Russian River tributaries (Green Valley, Mill, Mark West and Dutch Bill creeks).
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Media Contact:
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120