Help ensure that one of our nation's top academic institutions, Stanford University, is prevented from violating our public trust resources, harming endangered species such as steelhead trout, and putting the San Francisco Bay ecosystem and communities at risk. Stanford University, touting an environmentally sustainable philosophy, has applied to the federal government for a 50-year permit that would allow for the "incidental take" (which includes harming, degrading habitat, and killing) of four species currently listed under the Endangered Species Act (steelhead trout, California red-legged frog, San Francisco garter snake, and California tiger salamander) and one candidate species (western pond turtle).

Stanford's proposed Habitat Conservation Plan and a draft Environmental Impact Statement for the plan prepared by federal regulatory agencies are completely inadequate, both biologically and legally. The proposed conservation plan and permit would cover Stanford's development plans and operations on the more than 8,000 acre campus. Unbelievably, the conservation plan and environmental analysis omit inclusion of the ecologically damaging and obsolete Searsville Dam, a major limiting factor for one of the last, wild and threatened steelhead trout populations in San Francisco Bay. The dam and its artificial reservoir also negatively impact other endangered species, native habitat quality, stream flows, and wildlife migration within the unique San Francisquito Creek watershed.

Buried beneath the sediment behind Searsville Dam is a unique confluence valley where over six different streams once flowed for miles and merged together among adjacent wetland ponds and riparian forests before squeezing through a small gorge where the dam now stands. By removing the obsolete concrete wall, this habitat could be restored and steelhead could be given access to over 18 miles of spawning and rearing habitat above the dam.

The National Marine Fisheries Service advised Stanford in 2008 to collaborate with interested parties to restore fish passage at Searsville Dam. However, Stanford's conservation plan has no such agreement and the federal government has ignored its own recommendation. Dozens of conservation and fishing groups, and hundreds of local community members are supporting a proactive vision to remove Stanford's obsolete Searsville Dam and restore the watershed, as are prominent environmental leaders such as former congressman and co-author of the Endangered Species Act, Pete McCloskey, and the founder of Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard.

Please visit the Beyond Searsville Dam web site at: www.beyondsearsvilledam.org.