Difference between revisions of "Coho Salmon Crisis in the Central California Coast ESU"

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(Laws, policies, & regulations)
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== Summary ==
 
== Summary ==
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=== Current Issue ===
 
=== Current Issue ===
  
 
Marin County's Lagunitas Creek Watershed, once held out as a statewide model for fisheries restoration, is now hanging in the balance with an unprecedented 90% decline in coho salmon returning to spawn so far this year. Fisheries and watershed biologists say that several years of exceptionally reduced winter rainfall have contributed to the worst coho salmon return in recorded history. The decreased rainfall translates as reduced creek flow which prevents salmon from effectively swimming upstream and being more vulnerable to predation in the open ocean.
 
Marin County's Lagunitas Creek Watershed, once held out as a statewide model for fisheries restoration, is now hanging in the balance with an unprecedented 90% decline in coho salmon returning to spawn so far this year. Fisheries and watershed biologists say that several years of exceptionally reduced winter rainfall have contributed to the worst coho salmon return in recorded history. The decreased rainfall translates as reduced creek flow which prevents salmon from effectively swimming upstream and being more vulnerable to predation in the open ocean.
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=== History ===
 
=== History ===
  
 
Lagunitas Creek Watershed offers unique spawning grounds in that it is in the midst of a developed area. While historic Coho salmon runs numbered in the thousands a hundred years ago, subsequent redwood logging operations followed by road and housing construction reduced the original salmon habitat to 40% of its original size.  The 7 dams  spread throughout the area also significantly blocked off historic salmon habitat while also reducing gravel needed for spawning while also increasing creek sediment. In the early 1980s, restoration efforts started with the lobbying of a ''Trout Unlimited'' to the county make efforts to halt the salmon fishery decline.
 
Lagunitas Creek Watershed offers unique spawning grounds in that it is in the midst of a developed area. While historic Coho salmon runs numbered in the thousands a hundred years ago, subsequent redwood logging operations followed by road and housing construction reduced the original salmon habitat to 40% of its original size.  The 7 dams  spread throughout the area also significantly blocked off historic salmon habitat while also reducing gravel needed for spawning while also increasing creek sediment. In the early 1980s, restoration efforts started with the lobbying of a ''Trout Unlimited'' to the county make efforts to halt the salmon fishery decline.
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===Significance===
 
===Significance===
  
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== Resource/s at stake ==
 
== Resource/s at stake ==
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Fishery biologists fear that the severe decline in returning Coho Salmon may result in a spawning failure and  possible extinction for the year. Biologically speaking, diminished population size can negatively effect the genetic diversity of the population and reduce fitness or viability for the future. Economically, reduced salmon numbers can negatively impact human communities that have relied on salmon fishing for income and tourism.  
 
Fishery biologists fear that the severe decline in returning Coho Salmon may result in a spawning failure and  possible extinction for the year. Biologically speaking, diminished population size can negatively effect the genetic diversity of the population and reduce fitness or viability for the future. Economically, reduced salmon numbers can negatively impact human communities that have relied on salmon fishing for income and tourism.  
  
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Fimrite, P. 2009. Crisis Situation for Marin's coho salmon. San Francisco Chronicle. 01092009 Section B1
 
Fimrite, P. 2009. Crisis Situation for Marin's coho salmon. San Francisco Chronicle. 01092009 Section B1
 
'''NEED MORE REFERENCES!'''
 
'''NEED MORE REFERENCES!'''
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== Links ==
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* Other [[Watershed Issues]]
  
 
== Disclaimer ==
 
== Disclaimer ==
  
 
This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of [[CSUMB]], its staff, or students.
 
This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of [[CSUMB]], its staff, or students.

Revision as of 10:41, 27 January 2009

A watershed-related issue examined by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB.

Summary

Current Issue

Marin County's Lagunitas Creek Watershed, once held out as a statewide model for fisheries restoration, is now hanging in the balance with an unprecedented 90% decline in coho salmon returning to spawn so far this year. Fisheries and watershed biologists say that several years of exceptionally reduced winter rainfall have contributed to the worst coho salmon return in recorded history. The decreased rainfall translates as reduced creek flow which prevents salmon from effectively swimming upstream and being more vulnerable to predation in the open ocean.

History

Lagunitas Creek Watershed offers unique spawning grounds in that it is in the midst of a developed area. While historic Coho salmon runs numbered in the thousands a hundred years ago, subsequent redwood logging operations followed by road and housing construction reduced the original salmon habitat to 40% of its original size. The 7 dams spread throughout the area also significantly blocked off historic salmon habitat while also reducing gravel needed for spawning while also increasing creek sediment. In the early 1980s, restoration efforts started with the lobbying of a Trout Unlimited to the county make efforts to halt the salmon fishery decline.

Significance

This unprecedented decline is particularly troublesome because the Lagunitas Creek Watershed is considered one of California's most critical ecosystems for endangered coho salmon. Historically the Lagunitas Creek Watershed has been California's largest wild salmon run, regularly supporting 10% of the state's Coho Salmon population. The Lagunitas Creek watershed salmon population is also considered considered critical for the coho salmon population of the entire central California coast. Salmon have been regularly taken from this watershed to supplement populations in regional watersheds. This local scale salmon decline is consistent with the recent plummeting of statewide salmon populations that prompted the closure of chinook salmon fishing along the west coast.

Location

Lagunita Creek Watershed[1]winds through San Geronimo Valley on the northwest side of Mount Tamalpaisis in Marin County, California.

Resource/s at stake

Fishery biologists fear that the severe decline in returning Coho Salmon may result in a spawning failure and possible extinction for the year. Biologically speaking, diminished population size can negatively effect the genetic diversity of the population and reduce fitness or viability for the future. Economically, reduced salmon numbers can negatively impact human communities that have relied on salmon fishing for income and tourism.

Stakeholders

  • SPAWN (Salmon Protection and Watershed Network)[2]
    • Created in 1996, sponsors salmon-watching creek walks during spawning season and has saved more than 15,000 salmonids from diminishing summer pools.
  • Trout Unlimited[3]
    • Trout Unlimited- lobbyists
  • The Marin Municipal Water District[4]
    • Required by the state to help the coho as mitigation for raising Peter's Dam, started counting coho redds in the early 1990s and now works with SPAWN to monitor releases from the dam, install woody debris in the creeks and replant vegetation.
  • National Marine Fisheries biologists[5]
    • What do the biologists do? Study salmon populations
  • Area Residents
    • Community members and schools organize work parties and teach children about the historic coho migration
  • Regional Fishers & Fish-related industry
    • Many communities depend on the fish as a source of income

Laws, policies, & regulations

  • In 2005 Coho salmon were listed as endangered under the United States Federal Endangered Species Act [6]

(...What laws, policies, and/or regulations are involved?...)

Systems

  • Climate change may be contributing to warmer and drier winters with less rainfall. The resulting creek flow limits salmon ability to navigate to the spawning grounds.
  • The salmon form part of the food web that with their disappearance may become deranged
  • The Coho salmon habitat and watershed integrity were negatively impacted by logging and development which reduced available habitat, stream connectivity and flow. The resulting decreased

creek gravel and increased sediment contribute to reducing critical spawning habitat.

Science

Examining whether restoration efforts actually improved the watershed conditions? Whether reduced creek water flow is more due to changes in weather patterns alone or a combination of weather patterns in conjunction with development in the watershed reducing its capacity or decreasing flow (...What scientific studies are or would be relevant / already completed?...)

Tools

...What analytical (e.g. modeling) tools were or could be used?... Fish could be tagged and tracked Fish that are assisted out of drying ponds could be monitored Weather models could be impletmented to predict requried rainfall (Research this one big time!)

Future research

(...What knowledge gaps remain?... ...Suggest a CWSP MS thesis topic that could contribute to the issue... ...Suggest a topic for a hypothetical study that had unlimited resources...) Given unlimited money the remaining population's genotype could be assessed to deem if there is sufficient diversity remaining for repopulation. If so, a breeding program that tracks and pairs individuals could be started to increase genetic diversity. Especially important if this population was used to restock other locations.

References

Fimrite, P. 2009. Crisis Situation for Marin's coho salmon. San Francisco Chronicle. 01092009 Section B1 NEED MORE REFERENCES!

Links

Disclaimer

This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.