South Coast Habitat Restoration

06/21/2026

We 💚 garter snakes! Harmless-to-humans, these snakes are commonly seen gliding through the water in creeks and ponds, or sun bathing on rocks along the creekbed.

Fun Fact #1️⃣: When threatened, they don't always bite; instead, they release a foul-smelling musk from their scent glands to discourage predators.👃

Fun Fact #2️⃣: They lack the "dorsal stripe" found on most other garter snakes, making them look more like a camouflaged water snake.🐍

05/27/2026

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04/29/2026

‼️ Exciting news! A micro-short film about our Wheeler Gorge fish passage project has been accepted in the Illuminate Film Festival, and your vote could help us win the People’s Choice Award! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwqDwrpezmw 🎥

🐸🐍🐟🐟While we were removing creek barriers last year, filmmakers Scott Hirsch and Brendan Willing James documented the restoration project. To select the micro-short you’re viewing here (which is a condensed version of full-length short film that is still in production), visit https://bit.ly/4mWW8im and scroll down to select “Trout Camp,” listed alphabetically as #44 on the selection list. 🌟

11 likes, 1 comment. "Trout Camp Fish Passage Restoration in Wheeler Gorge CA"

04/22/2026

🌳 We love Western Sycamores! The undisputed "Grandfather of the Creek,” these creek-loving native trees are easy to spot and easy to love! Importantly for our work, sycamores help to regulate creek temps by casting shade with their broad leaves making steelhead trout happy.🐟💦

🌼 Fun Fact #1: Their seeds are held in "button-balls"—fuzzy spheres that shatter to release seeds with tiny hairs that act as parachutes.

🌼 Fun Fact #2: They are the primary host plant for the Western Tiger Swallowtail butterfly; look for their caterpillars on the undersides of the leaves!