In January 2026, 80 volunteers representing 13 different fly fishing clubs spent the day cleaning up Putah Creek, the closest CDFW-Designated Heritage and Wild Trout Water to the San Francisco Bay Area. This watershed, which now hosts a dynamic annual Chinook Salmon run in addition to a healthy population of resident Rainbow Trout, benefited from the efforts of these volunteers to improve access and stream bank integrity.
The Northern California Council of Fly Fishers International has scheduled a 2nd cleanup effort for June 13th that will cover key access points and include garbage clean-up as well as other restoration work to be done. The plan calls for current “existing trails” to be opened to a width of roughly 4 to 6 feet. Riparian areas marked with signs (and with irrigation lines) are to be left alone as these support local plants (including milkweed) that sustain endangered monarch butterfly populations.
Volunteers should bring necessary equipment & tools, including gloves, weed whackers, large clippers, hedge trimmers, etc., with clarification that power tools are either electric (need spare batteries) or gas (with gas filling only in the parking lot areas). No chainsaws are to be brought to the event by volunteers due to liability issues. All volunteers need to sign the “hold harmless” liability form for insurance purposes prior to beginning work for the event.
People who have pickup trucks that can assist in trash removal to debris bins in Winters after the cleanup are asked to bring them. If you are a member of a fly-fishing club, it would be good to set up car pools to save gas and due to limited parking at the various access points on Putah Creek.
The plan is to meet at Steady Eddy’s Coffee House, located at 5 E Main St, Suite A, in Winters at 7:30 AM on June 13th, where people/groups will be assigned to one of the team leaders (selected by John Feaster) and head to their designated access point. Work should commence about 8 AM and finish by noon.
Volunteers will plan to meet back at Access Area #5 where lunch will be served to all the volunteers (starting at about 12:30 PM) – featuring Taveritte's Italian Sausages along with Salads and other side dishes provided by Preserve Restaurant. Water will be provided as well (bring your own beer or favorite beverage). All you need to do is bring a folding chair and enjoy the time together after the cleanup.
You can find more information and sign up to volunteer at the NCCFFI website (link HERE) or via the QR code on the flyer.
