Project Overview

The Wildcat Creek/Brook Road Restoration Project, led by East Bay Regional Park District, will remove a concrete at-grade creek crossing in Wildcat Creek that currently blocks native fish movement, including Rainbow Trout. The crossing will be replaced with a naturalized roughened riffle and native plantings to restore stream function and improve habitat. Two new ADA-accessible bridges will reconnect the trail network, and bioretention features will treat runoff from a regraded portion of the existing parking lot, enhancing water quality before it reaches the creek.

To evaluate ecological benefits, SFEI is conducting stream and riparian monitoring before and after construction. This includes CRAM (California Rapid Assessment Method) surveys to assess ecological condition and geomorphic monitoring to document changes in channel form and stability. Monitoring results will be publicly shared through EcoAtlas and will help inform future adaptive management by tracking restoration outcomes and comparing site performance to regional reference conditions.

California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) Stream Condition Assessments

CRAM monitoring is being conducted at three key time points: before construction, immediately after construction, and one year post-construction. These assessments will evaluate changes in the ecological condition of Wildcat Creek resulting from the removal of a concrete barrier and restoration of natural stream features. Using 2 to 3 assessment areas, the surveys will capture the condition of the restored reach and track improvements in habitat quality over time. All data will be quality assured, entered into the eCRAM database, and made publicly available on EcoAtlas. 

Geomorphic Monitoring

This task is focused on evaluating changes in channel form and stability resulting from the removal of the concrete crossing and installation of a roughened riffle. Monitoring includes surveys of 3 to 5 permanent cross sections and a longitudinal profile extending through the project reach. These surveys will detect changes in bed elevation, bank position, and sediment distribution over time. At each cross section, SFEI will also conduct pebble counts to assess shifts in bed material size and composition. Surveys will occur before restoration, immediately after construction, and one year later to document short-term geomorphic responses. Field photos will complement the survey data to visually capture site changes and support future assessments.

Reporting and Outreach

Reporting and outreach includes the preparation of a short technical report summarizing the results of CRAM and geomorphic monitoring across all three time points. The report will detail observed changes in stream condition, explain how CRAM and EcoAtlas tools were applied, and highlight the ecological benefits achieved through restoration. To support regional restoration tracking, SFEI will assist EBRPD in uploading project details and monitoring results to Project Tracker, making them accessible through the EcoAtlas platform. Near the end of the contract, SFEI will also host an online meeting with EBRPD staff to present findings and demonstrate how to access project data and visualizations online.