Routine dredging is performed approximately once every 4 years in the lower reaches of Novato Creek, Warner Creek, and Arroyo Avichi to maintain channel cross-sectional area required to convey design flow and maintain flood protection. The project reach consists of: 5,630 linear feet of Novato Creek from Diablo Ave. to 500 feet downstream of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Bridge, 1,780 linear feet of Warner Creek from Diablo Ave. to the confluence with Novato Creek, and 680 linear feet of Arroyo Avichi Creek from South Novato Blvd. to the confluence with Novato Creek.

Three cofferdams have been installed: one in Warner Creek at Diablo Ave., one in Novato Creek at the Novato Fair Shopping Center bridge, and one behind Rowland Blvd. a few hundred feet beyond the Railroad Bridge. These cofferdams and their associated pumps are designed to prevent water from flowing through the project during dredging. This year approximately 40,000 cubic yards of sediment is expected to be removed from the creek beds and disposed of at Redwood Landfill. Then a meandering low-flow channel, designed to ease the passage of fish, will be graded into the creek bed after the excess sediment is cleared.

Separate from the dredge project, there is work going on at the Lynwood Pump Station. The discharge pipes, steel support beams for the pumps, and intake grates are being replaced due to corrosion. Additionally the channel leading to the pump station intake was dredged. This is why the basin behind Rowland Blvd. was temporarily drained.

Dredging began on July 8,, 2008 and is estimated to be finished by the end of October. The construction contract was awarded to Blue Iron Inc. of Sacramento, the same firm that dredged the channel in 2004.

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