Difference between revisions of "Steelhead in the Monterey Bay Region"

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=== Management Challenges in the Monterey Bay Region ===
 
=== Management Challenges in the Monterey Bay Region ===
  
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Both DPSs are currently designated as "Threatened" under the ESA. <ref> Steelhead ESA Listings http:://http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/ESA-Salmon-Listings/Salmon-Populations/Steelhead/Index.cfm</ref>. A "critical habitat" must be designated for species listed under the ESA. A critical habitat is an area that is essential habitat for the existence of a species. Areas designated as critical habitat are subjected to increased regulations to limit degradation of the health of the environment. This helps to ensure that the species listed under the ESA is not heavily impacted by changes made within their habitat. <ref>U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Critical Habitat; what is it? http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/wildlife/tes/docs/esa_references/critical_habitat.pdf </ref> The Central California Coast Section extends from the Russian River south to Aptos Creek, and the South Central California Coast Section extends from the Pajaro River south to just north of the Santa Maria River, effectively splitting the Monterey Bay in half.
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Both DPSs are currently designated as "Threatened" under the ESA. <ref> Steelhead ESA Listings http:://http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/ESA-Salmon-Listings/Salmon-Populations/Steelhead/Index.cfm</ref>. The Central California Coast Section extends from the Russian River south to Aptos Creek, and the South Central California Coast Section extends from the Pajaro River south to just north of the Santa Maria River, effectively splitting the Monterey Bay in half.
  
 
Steelhead once had a large run up the [[The Salinas River|Salinas River]], today the population is facing drastically reduced population sizes. Similarly [[Steelhead in the Salinas Watershed]] are also facing population size reductions. The Salinas Watershed encompass the Salinas River as well as many tributaries within the Central Coast.
 
Steelhead once had a large run up the [[The Salinas River|Salinas River]], today the population is facing drastically reduced population sizes. Similarly [[Steelhead in the Salinas Watershed]] are also facing population size reductions. The Salinas Watershed encompass the Salinas River as well as many tributaries within the Central Coast.

Revision as of 11:31, 11 April 2012

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


Summary

Steelhead present unique management challenges compared to other salmonids due to their life history plasticity. These management challenges are compounded because the Monterey Bay Region is split into two Distinct Population Segments (DPSs), the South-Central California Coast Steelhead and the Central California Coast Steelhead. A DPSs is a population of species that is discrete from other populations and reproductively isolated from other populations. [1] Steelhead in the Monterey Bay Region face difficult environmental conditions because of the unique topography of the area, and proximity to the southern limit of the species range. Both DPSs in the Monterey Bay Region are currently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).


Habitat in the Monterey Bay Region

The Monterey Bay, located on the Central Coast of California, is the centerpiece of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Steelhead in the Monterey Bay Region are of particular interest for several reasons. These fish are near the southern limit of the species range, and face environmental conditions quite distinct from Northern California populations. The Mediterranean climate of the Monterey Bay Region results in temperatures that are typically higher than those found to the north, with mild winters and productive high-flow springs supporting the highest growth rates [2]. In contrast, rainfall and stream-flow are low during the summer and fall, limiting growth rates. The small coastal streams of the Monterey Bay Region frequently feature sand-bar closed estuaries during low-flow periods that may provide ideal nursery habitat for smolts [3] [2], but also constrain potential emigration and return dates to when stream-flow is high enough to breach the sandbar [4].

Steelhead Management Challenges

There is great variability in age of Steelhead emigration and return age, along with the probability of repeat spawning. There are 32 identified possible life history trajectories for Steelhead which presents a great challenge for managing the species [5]. Changes in freshwater conditions due to water management or climate change may alter demographic rates along with the current life history trajectories, sending fish on alternative trajectories with radically different demographic results [4].

Management Challenges in the Monterey Bay Region

Both DPSs are currently designated as "Threatened" under the ESA. [6]. The Central California Coast Section extends from the Russian River south to Aptos Creek, and the South Central California Coast Section extends from the Pajaro River south to just north of the Santa Maria River, effectively splitting the Monterey Bay in half.

Steelhead once had a large run up the Salinas River, today the population is facing drastically reduced population sizes. Similarly Steelhead in the Salinas Watershed are also facing population size reductions. The Salinas Watershed encompass the Salinas River as well as many tributaries within the Central Coast.

Conservation and Restoration Efforts

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) have been working closely with the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project (MBSTP) on the restoration of Steelhead populations in the Monterey Bay Region. NMFS and MBSTP operate the Kingfisher Flat Conservation Hatchery outside Davenport, CA, in an effort to restore Steelhead populations and maintain the genetic diversity of local populations. Returning adult Steelhead are captured and spawned with both wild returning adults and with captive broodstock adults to ensure greatest possible genetic diversity. Yearlings are transported and released into rivers and streams in the Monterey Bay Region each fall.

The MBSTP also plays a large role in educating the local community about preserving salmon and steelhead populations. The group runs a Salmon and Trout Education Program (STEP). Classrooms from San Bruno to Gonzales ranging from elementary to high school are able to participate in MBSTP's program. Not only are the students educated on salmonids life cycle and habitat requirements, but the students also raise steelhead in their classroom.[7] A similar program is being conducted by the Central Coast Salmon Enhancement in the South Central Coast.

Resources at stake

Recreational and commercial fishing, biological diversity

Stakeholders

Laws, policies, & regulations

ESA, NOAA Action Plans,

Systems

Marine/Terrestrial interaction

Science

NOAA/NMFS/SWFSC, MBSTP, FISHBIO


References

  1. ↑ Environmental Commons, Date accessed April 10th 2012 http://environmentalcommons.org/hatchery-fish.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hayes SA, Bond MH, Hanson CV, Freund EV, Smith JJ, Anderson EC, Ammann AJ, MacFarlane RB. 2008. Steelhead growth in a small central California watershed: upstream and estuarine rearing patterns. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 137:114-128.
  3. ↑ Bond MH, Hayes SA, Hanson CV, MacFarlane RB. 2008. Marine survival of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) enhanced by a seasonally closed estuary. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 65:2242-2252.
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Satt
  5. ↑ Thorpe JE. 2007. Maturation responses of salmonids to changing developmental opportunities. Marine Ecology Progress Series 335:285-288
  6. ↑ Steelhead ESA Listings http:://http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/ESA-Salmon-Listings/Salmon-Populations/Steelhead/Index.cfm
  7. ↑ Monterey Bay salmon and Trout Project http://mbstp.org/General/aboutus.html

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.

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