Plunge Creek Conservation Project
Restoring a Living Stream
The Plunge Creek Conservation Project restores natural flows and reconnects water with the land. Developed by the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District, the project combines groundwater recharge with habitat restoration to revive a vital ecosystem. Funding from the California Department of Water Resources and the Proposition 84 grant program, administered by the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority, made this work possible.
The project reestablishes conditions that support both water and wildlife. It brings back the flooding cycles that shaped this landscape and provides habitat for species that depend on them. The restored area now supports the endangered San Bernardino kangaroo rat and the Santa Ana River woollystar, two species that once thrived here before decades of mining and infrastructure disrupted their environment.
A New Approach to Conservation
The project represents the first Safe Harbor Agreement awarded in Southern California by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. This agreement allows temporary relocation of the San Bernardino kangaroo rat while the habitat is restored, ensuring both the safety of the species and the success of the project. It also authorizes the cultivation of the Santa Ana River woollystar and other native plants that support a healthy ecosystem.
The effort demonstrates how water management and conservation can work in concert. By creating space for natural flooding and native vegetation, the project improves both groundwater recharge and ecological resilience. The restored landscape now acts as a living system that supports biodiversity while replenishing the aquifer beneath it.
Design and Monitoring
Construction included two pilot channels designed to reintroduce intermittent flooding and restore more than 200 acres of riverine habitat.
Invasive grasses were removed to make room for native species, and seed collection programs reestablished vegetation such as California buckwheat, desert wishbone bush, mulefat, tarragon, and deerweed.
Biologists and ecologists continue to monitor the site, tracking the San Bernardino kangaroo rat for up to ten years after project completion to understand long-term outcomes.
-
Construction included two pilot channels designed to reintroduce intermittent flooding and restore more than 200 acres of riverine habitat.
-
Invasive grasses were removed to make room for native species, and seed collection programs reestablished vegetation such as California buckwheat, desert wishbone bush, mulefat, tarragon, and deerweed.
-
Biologists and ecologists continue to monitor the site, tracking the San Bernardino kangaroo rat for up to ten years after project completion to understand long-term outcomes.
Plunge Creek now stands as proof that thoughtful restoration can revive natural processes, strengthen groundwater supplies, and sustain the diverse species that share this landscape.
Stewardship in Action
The Plunge Creek Conservation Project is more than an environmental restoration effort. It reflects a philosophy of stewardship that connects water supply, land management, and species protection into one system. The project serves as a model for how agencies can work collaboratively to achieve both ecological and operational goals.
