San Gabriel Reservoir Post-Fire Emergency Restoration Project

Chambers Group provides daily environmental compliance monitoring, water quality analysis, preconstruction surveys, nesting bird surveys, terrestrial relocations including reptiles and small mammals, aquatic species including amphibians, reptiles, and fish. Our biologists work daily with over 250 construction workers to document compliance, monitor all work activities including in-water work within the reservoir and San Gabriel River tributaries. Over 35,000 fish species were safely captured and relocated to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) approved relocation sites in 2024, including the federally endangered Santa Ana sucker; state sensitive species including Santa Ana speckled dace, arroyo chub; and rainbow trout. The biologists also conducted translocations of Santa Ana sucker approximately 10 miles upstream in which the fish were weighed, measured to standard and total length, and fin clip samples were taken for DNA analysis. In addition, fish and turtle traps were employed in ponded areas that required the removal of aquatic species. Southwestern pond turtles were not observed within the impact areas, but several were observed downstream of the project during preconstruction surveys. Sensitive amphibians and reptile species captured and safely relocated included coast range newt and two-stripe garter snake.