The Rockwads Project

Improving Rearing Habitat for Juvenile Salmon and Steelhead Trout

Date / April 27 - May 3, 2026

Purpose / Rearing Habitat for Salmon

Impact Status / Ongoing

Retrieving Almond Trees

To address lack of natural rearing habitat in the upper reaches of the Sacramento River, 25 natural ‘rockwad’ structures - which are made of almond tree canopies and large boulders

Building Rockwad Structures

The structures were hand build by bolting the almond trees to the boulders.

Creating Habitat with Rockwads

The rockwads were placed into the Sacramento River. The ‘rockwads’ are intended to help provide juvenile salmon and trout refuge against larger predators as well as opportunities to feed which aims to entice them to stay in colder waters longer, thus increasing their odds of healthy maturation for their journey to the Pacific Ocean.

“The diverse makeup of the ‘rockwads’ - with the boulder and woody debris - create an ideal setting for foraging, cover, and rest for the small juvenile salmon and trout. With less debris naturally entering the upper portions of the Sacramento River, we must provide opportunities that these young fish historically found during their outward migration.”

Roger Cornwell, President of SAVER
“Placing the structures in this specific section of the river pairs with key times in the juvenile salmon’s early rearing and migratory passage along the Sacramento River. “We hope the addition of more structures will ultimately mean more salmon fry will grow to a healthier, robust size so they can better overcome challenges downstream.”

Jeff Souza, Biologist with Tehama Environmental Solutions

Project Partners

Our Funding, Implementation and Supporting Partners

SRSC, SAVER, RD108, GCID, USFW, CDFW, Bureau of Rec, City of Redding, BIDA, CVPIA

Salmon on Ricelands