What We Do
SPAWN was initiated as part of Turtle Island Restoration Network in 1997. Each year, we engage hundreds of people to see and learn about the majestic endangered salmon, restore watershed habitat, raise native redwood trees, and study salmon health.
Why It Matters
The population of Central California Coast coho salmon has declined more than 95 percent from historic levels, and are now listed as ‘endangered’ under the Federal Endangered Species Act. Running through Marin County, Lagunitas Creek Watershed is one of the most important waterways left for these wild coho salmon, supporting 10 to 20 percent of the surviving fish.
Our programs span the Lagunitas Creek Watershed—from the redwood valleys of Mt. Tamalpais to the coastal waters of Tomales Bay—and include projects to protect salmon, redwoods, and amphibans from a myriad of threats like dam-building, vegetation removal, urban encroachment and the threat of climate change from fossil fuel projects. Each gives the public a chance to get involved in our species-saving efforts.
Latest News
By Sierra LeTourneau and John Weber Coho salmon inherently prefer to travel all the way up the watershed into tributaries, small head water streams to spawn. This can be difficult…
Article Written by Jessica Garces (SPAWN Intern) SPAWN has made incredible progress on the Chicken Ranch Beach Wetland Enhancement Project! Thanks to the hard work of SPAWN staff and interns,…
In this in-depth article by Jessica Zimmer, published on SPAWN, you’ll learn how staff, volunteers, interns and partners are restoring floodplains, installing innovative woody debris structures, working with landowners and…