This past May, the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District (CCRCD) celebrated World Fish Migration Day 2026 in Pinole. Hosted next to the I-80 Fish Passage project near the AMF bowling alley, the event kicked off with local partners tabling about migratory fish and the ongoing environmental work being carried out here in Contra Costa County. This festival brings local communities and agencies together to celebrate fish and creek health. Inspiring speakers, including Vicent Medina and Louis Trevino from Cafe Ohlone and Bert Mulchaey from East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), joined the festivities. These folks’ involvement was instrumental in helping us bring the community together, and showcases the ongoing work conserving and restoring our watersheds.

A highlight of the event was the many families who stopped by the Trout in the Classroom booth to participate and learn about this hatchery program. The Classroom Aquarium Education Program is a California Department of Fish and Wildlife program that our education team brought to two schools, Prospect Sierra Elementary and Making Waves Academy. This program allows students to witness the life cycle of Steelhead trout from within their classroom, as the trout are delivered as eggs and are eventually released into a land-locked body of water. While experiencing the life stages of Steelhead trout, students form a special connection to the fish, often naming them and taking ownership of their care. Through this program, we aim to not only educate students about these incredible animals, but also to inspire students to take action to protect our local watersheds, fostering a connection to the ecosystems in which we all reside.

Fish Migration Day and the Pinole fish passage projects take the same conservation lessons and amplify them on a larger scale. By bringing the public out to tour the I-80 Fish Passage and the Tomato Stand Fish Passage project, located in the headwaters of Pinole Creek, people literally got their feet wet as they learned about the infrastructure put in place to help migrating fish. Similar to Trout in the Classroom, these tours and the Fish Migration Day event aim to establish connections and create memories that will last a lifetime. Inspiring our community to be mindful of their actions and the resulting impacts, our team at the CCRCD will continue to establish meaningful connections between fish, water, and each other.