Stillwater Sciences

08/24/2026

Stillwater Sciences is proud to celebrate the completion of the Los Angeles River California Environmental Flows Framework (CEFF), a collaborative effort to develop science-based flow recommendations that support a healthier, more resilient, and multi-benefit LA River. Working alongside Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), City of LA Department of Water and Power, City of LA Sanitation & Environment, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the Stillwater team evaluated how future flow and channel modifications can advance watershed goals related to biodiversity, water quality, recreation, climate resilience, and more. THANK YOU to the many partners and stakeholders who contributed to this important milestone for the future of the LA River!

08/20/2026

🌊 TONIGHT! Colorado river scientists are putting their river restoration skills to the test!
Tonight is the Great Poudre Design Off, a collaborative competition bringing together river scientists, engineers, designers, students, and managers to tackle real-world restoration challenges on Colorado's Lower Poudre River.
Teams will apply process-based restoration principles and develop resilient, cost-conscious designs that improve river health and function. Designs will be judged by an expert panel, with one team earning ultimate bragging rights as champion.
A night of learning, collaboration, creativity, food, drinks, and river restoration, sponsored in collaboration with the Colorado Riparian Association.

We can't wait!

08/07/2026

Exciting milestone for the Blue River Wildfire Ready Action Plan (WRAP) as the Blue River Watershed Group presents the final plan to help communities, water resources, and critical infrastructure become more resilient to wildfire impacts.

Stillwater Sciences, along with key project partners JW Associates,
supported this important effort as part of the project team, contributing technical analyses and planning focused on watershed resilience, river and floodplain restoration, wetland enhancement, and pre-disaster mitigation strategies that can help watersheds recover more effectively from future wildfire events. The plan also advances a pipeline of priority projects ready for future funding and implementation.

Read more in the link below!

A project aiming to prepare watersheds in Summit County for the impacts of post-wildfire conditions, like flooding and landslides, is nearing completion. Partner organizations gave a final presentation about the Blue River Wildfire Ready Watershed...

06/26/2026

**New Publication from Stillwater scientists**

We’re excited to share a new peer-reviewed publication in the California Fish and Wildlife Journal: "Evaluation of an effort to manage invasive Sacrament pikeminnow to support steelhead recovery in a small coastal watershed."

Led by Stillwater scientists Matt McKechnie, Terra Dressler, Ethan Bell, and Ken Jarrett, this study evaluates a multi-year effort to reduce invasive pikeminnow populations in Chorro Creek and support recovery of federally threatened steelhead. It is the result of nearly 10 years of working on suppressing the invasive Sacramento pikeminnow population in Chorro Creek.

The research highlights how targeted, cost-effective suppression efforts can reduce invasive predator pressure and improve conditions for native fish—providing valuable insights for watershed management and salmonid recovery across California and beyond.

Congratulations to the authors and project partners on this important contribution to applied fisheries science! 🎉🐟🎉

Read the article here:

RESEARCH NOTE Matt A. McKechnie1*, Terra Dressler2, Ethan Boucher Bell1, Ken Jarrett1, and Carolyn Geraghty3 1 Stillwater Sciences, 1203 Main Street, Morro Bay, CA 93442, USA (MAM)2 Stillwater Sci…

06/24/2026

A ripple is a small action or change that creates expanding impacts, influencing things beyond its original source. At Stillwater, we believe that small actions can create far-reaching impacts for environmental change.🌾🌊🐝🐟

06/23/2026

Stillwater is proud to see our own Restoration Engineer Kayla Schultz contributing to new research on river processes and restoration. This recently published study in River Research and Applications highlights the critical role beaver dams play in maintaining floodplain connectivity—offering valuable insights for restoration planning and design. Congratulations Kayla! 🎉

Read the article here:

As ecosystem engineers, beavers (Castor canadensis) modify river corridor form through dam building. When beavers are removed from a river corridor, their unmaintained dams wash out, altering the str...

06/01/2026

We love this time of year--time to be part of the summer program from Sacramento Splash! We love helping to introduce these young people to the world of science!

05/29/2026

Better BEE careful! Stillwater biologists Lauren and Kipp show you how it's done, as they conduct bee surveys during a restoration project on the North Coast.

05/27/2026

Communities across California’s Central Coast are shaping the future of watershed resilience. 🌊

The City of Morro Bay is seeking public input on potential watershed projects to address flooding, water quality, and long-term climate impacts in the Morro Creek watershed. These efforts are part of a broader push to develop solutions that protect infrastructure, enhance habitat, and support a more resilient coastal system.

Stillwater Sciences is proud to support this initiative as the technical consultant leading development of the Morro Creek Watershed Management Plan. Our team, which includes local partners from the Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District, Wallace Group, Ashley & Vance Engineering, Inc., Yeh and Associates, and Rincon Consultants, is providing hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, evaluating conceptual alternatives, and advancing designs to help identify effective, science-based solutions for the community.

Stillwater is eager to support this project to help shape watershed solutions that reflect local priorities and deliver lasting environmental benefits.

🔗 Check out this video, featuring Stillwater Senior Fisheries Ecologist Ethan Bell: https://www.ksby.com/morro-bay/city-of-morro-bay-seeks-community-input-on-potential-watershed-projects

Flooding that took place in Morro Bay back in 2022 and 2023 caused severe damage. Now, the city and county are studying potential plans to prevent such damage in the future.

05/20/2026

We are having an absolute blast at the SERCAL (California Society for Ecological Restoration) conference in Fortuna. We've loved meeting all the people who have stopped by our table (and grabbed a sticker!), and have had the opportunity for amazing collegial conversations at the poster sessions!