Arroyo Seco River Steelhead Barrier Removal Awarded $1.29 Million in 2026 Restoration Funding

ARROYO SECO, Monterey County — October 28, 2026. The Arroyo Seco River Fish Passage Project at Sycamore Flats has received $1,288,949 in restoration funding from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Fisheries Restoration Grant Program. The agency included the award in its January 20, 2026 announcement of salmon and steelhead restoration projects statewide.

What is the obstruction on the river?

The state says the project would remove an existing concrete vehicle ford spanning the Arroyo Seco River. The crossing is identified as a priority migration barrier for federally threatened south-central California coast steelhead. A ford can impede river flow and fish movement, especially under seasonal low-water or other challenging hydraulic conditions.

What does the grant support?

According to the official award list, the goal is to eliminate the barrier and improve conditions for steelhead to migrate through the affected stretch of the river. The grant recipient is Trout Unlimited, Inc.. The announced figure applies to this specific Sycamore Flats Arroyo Seco project, not to every fisheries project in Monterey County.

Does the funding mean the crossing is already gone?

No. A grant award establishes funding for an approved restoration scope. Before on-the-ground work can occur, project managers must address final designs, site access, environmental conditions and any applicable construction approvals. California58 has not independently confirmed the removal date, contractor mobilization or a finished restored channel as of October 28.

How is this different from the Cachagua Creek project?

CDFW separately awarded $184,774 for planning and design work at a Cachagua Creek ford. That is a different waterway and crossing in the broader Carmel River system. The $1.29 million Arroyo Seco award relates to the Sycamore Flats barrier-removal scope; the two grant awards should not be conflated or counted twice as one project.

What should visitors check?

Any river recreation or road crossing near an active work zone should follow posted agency restrictions. This announcement is not a current closure notice or a guarantee that a specific trailhead is accessible. The Arroyo Seco River can present rapidly changing flows and seasonal access conditions.

Official source

California Department of Fish and Wildlife — January 20, 2026 Fisheries Restoration Grant Program awards. CDFW identifies the Arroyo Seco River Fish Passage Project — Sycamore Flats and the $1,288,949 award to Trout Unlimited. Later construction progress requires separate verification.

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