Jeff Miller has dedicated more than ten years to fighting the good fight. Chipping away with a remarkable, resilient enthusiasm, Miller has helped the Alameda Creek Alliance create major changes in the urban south bay watershed. Jeff Miller understands the determination and guile needed to make changes in highly populated watersheds. We’d like to congratulate Jeff and the Alameda Creek Alliance on their continued efforts to restore Alameda Creek. In 2008, plans were made to create a fish ladder at the BART Weir. The large cement structure blocks adult steelhead and salmon from entering the spawning gravel of the upper watershed.
Below is a clip of Jeff Miller talking about the early days of restoring salmon and steelhead to Alameda Creek, and later, explaining why he feels anadromous fish are so important.
Hi Jeff~
I’m a concerned steelhead fisherman living in Carmichael, CA.
I fish the American River as well as coastal rivers up north.
I have witnessed the rapid decline in our salmonid fisheries over the years and I am heartbroken.
My sadness is far less over potentially lost angling opportunities as it is over the potential loss of what were once magnificent runs of fish in CA’s natal streams and rivers.
The first steelhead I ever gazed upon was in 1972. I was romping around in the Alameda Creek (between Isherwood and Thornton AVE.).
I was absolutely mesmerized by the abundance of aquatic life in such a seemingly-sterile, urban watershed.
Aside from the carp and suckters, the steelhead were always the biggest and most beautiful fish in the receding creek’s ponds and puddles. They would often have lampreys attached to their dorsal and lateral surfaces.
I’d heard stories from the old timers about abundant salmonids and other native fish and wildlife species (pre-rip-rap/flood mitigation of the creek).
I went on to graduate from Humboldt State with a degree in Natural Resources Interpretation (1989) and worked for various public and private resource agencies as an interpreter. I’ve always enjoyed sharing my love for and protection of our natural heritage and I know my childhood adventures in and around Alameda Creek greatly inspired this.
My passion for fishing (I fish 300+ days a year) is certainly an extension of the fascination I experienced as a boy, connecting with something greater and grander yet always changing and trying, against great odds, to survive against increased vulnerability.
I saw a “Restoring the Alameda Creek” brochure from EBMUD and/or EBRPD on my parents’ kitchen counter in their Fremont home during a visit 2 or 3 years ago. I was elated to see that someone cared enough to at least look into the possibilities…
I later learned from a former co-worker (CA. DF&G;region II) that her daughter (civil engineer) was on the demolition team to remove one of the dams in Sunol.
Indeed, it is a small world.
Every time I make that drive through Niles Canyon I feel as though I am in a place removed from the constraints of time/space, a microcosm of everything sacred and good in the world.
I’ve always imagined how it must have been 100 years ago and now, thanks to some dedicated folks like yourself… I also ponder how wonderful it will be to go to “The Spot” or some other way point along the creek and with Nikon… instead of G-Loomis in hand… ‘catch’ a wild steelhead.
Thanks Jeff for what you are doing to keep the dream alive. I am very interested in this and other projects regarding sustained, healthy runs of pacific salmon and steelhead.
I want to get involved so I will contact you at some point to discuss how I can help.
Gratefully,
Mark Lynn
What a great post. What an inspiration for everyone who is asking ‘Where is all this stuff I’ve asked for?’
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