Mark West Creek and the Laguna-Mark West Creek sub-watershed are home to diverse wildlife, including several endangered and special-status species. The creek serves as a wildlife corridor for bears, deer, coyotes, and foxes.
The creek is a crucial habitat for salmonids, particularly coho salmon and steelhead trout. The riparian zone hosts threatened amphibians such as the California tiger salamander, California red-legged frogs, and yellow-legged frogs.
The area serves the needs of multiple bird species, such as the white-tailed kite, northern spotted owls, Cooper's hawks, various smaller bird species, and small mammals.
Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
The Central California Coast coho salmon is an endangered species with a high risk of extinction.
Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
Once abundant in the central valley, fish have declined because of habitat loss and degradation, overfishing, climate change, and dams that block migration.
Steelhead or Coastal Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus)
Many steelhead populations in California are classified as endangered or threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act.
