We are savoring in these times of world crisis, the small, sweet success of placing rocks one by one to stabilize stream banks and of planting redwoods one by one to grow a canopy for the future. I wrote a year ago in Branching Out of our restoration project and that, ?We hope the steelhead and Chinook salmon will be happy with the clearer and cooler waters of McCoy Creek. And perhaps this year, we will find Coho in the canyon!? And indeed the big news in Piercy is that Coho salmon were officially found in McCoy Creek on July 18, 2001. The California Department of Fish and Game found Coho young of the year in four out of ten pools surveyed. Steelhead young of the year and year-plus age were found in all ten pools. The creek temperatures were wonderfully cool 56-57 degrees. We are elated to have Coho found in the creek. The last official Fish and Game survey that verified their presence was in 1979. It is cause for celebration that the Coho are still here, and an affirmation for us all to keep moving forward in our efforts to protect their habitat.

Our stream restoration project site in McCoy Creek was tested in this past winter?s big storm events. As the creek turned into a river, it moved some of the largest rocks that we had placed as bank re-enforcement. Otherwise the restoration held strong and most importantly, the slide of concern continues to stabilize and was untouched by the high water. We plan to return to work this summer to buff up the project site and continue downstream on restoration to enhance salmonid habitat.

New for the season is a series of hikes and restoration workshops in Piercy. We plan to visit Red Mountain?s South Peak, the headwaters of the East Branch of the Eel, a waterfall in McCoy Creek, and a canyon area in McCoy Creek. Two restoration workshops in McCoy Creek will cover moving huge rocks and boulders with hand-powered tools and planning a restoration project. All are free and open to the public. The complete schedule is printed in this issue and available with additional details by contacting us. Hope to see you! Happy Spring! Piercy Watersheds Association, Box 44, Piercy, 95587, 707-247-3003.


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