METHODS
Study sites
The Merced River is the southernmost watercourse of the California Central Valley presently inhabited by Chinook salmon whose abundance has decreased by 75% since 1950 (Yoshiyama et al., 2000). From its headwaters located in Yosemite National Park, Sierra Nevada, the Merced River flows west to join the San Joaquín River (river km 190) and drains a watershed approximately 3,297 km2 in size. Meanwhile, the elevation declines from 3,048 m to about 18.3 m. Only the first 82 river km are reachable by anadromous fish with access terminating at Crocker-Huffman Dam. We estimated the percent contribution of terrestrial organic carbon sources for juvenile Chinook salmon across four longitudinally-positioned sites: Merced River
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Restoration planning identified the rehabilitation of the floodplain functions that foster recruitment of riparian vegetation and the quality of riparian habitat. Fall-run Chinook salmon is an important management species in the Merced River, and numerous state and federal resource programs include increasing its abundance in their goals. The vision has been to enhance channel, floodplain and riparian ecosystem processes and critical habitats for juvenile and adult salmonids, in coordination with local communities and stakeholders, to promote the recovery of healthy and diverse Chinook salmon and steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) populations in the Merced River, while helping to meet the abundance goals of the Anadromous Fish Restoration Program.
Robinson’s restoration reach is approximately 2.4 km long and is located 16 km downstream of Crocker-Huffman Dam. The project included a very complex suite of actions to restore Robinson’s reach which was degraded as a result of mining activities and recent flood impacts. Channel reconfiguration and the creation of a large floodplain with native vegetation increased the river channel’s ability to transport and deposit sediments under the river’s current flow regime; hence improving channel dynamics and salmon passage concerns. These actions within the channel produced improvements for salmon spawning and rearing through the creation of
In another report by Kessler et al., (2013) the possibility of analyzing a variety of restoration methods will help to determine a cost effective plan. This means that the restoration of roosting and feeding grounds for the sandhill cranes can be achieved if numerous methods are first explored. In addition to exploring a variety of restoration methods the combination of public agencies and private individuals will promote restoration and conservation efforts. A restoration project along the Dolores River in southwestern Colorado and eastern Utah that combined the public and private sectors created a program that could share ideas, finances, and other vital planning decisions (Oppenheimer et al.,
During the last 140 years the ecosystem of the Lake Tahoe Basin has experienced multiple alterations. Just as many areas have been depleted or implemented signs of struggle after initial European settlement the Lake Tahoe basin’s ecosystem has been vastly affected by man. The precedent environment of Lake Tahoe’s basin may never be restored to its original condition; however efforts are being made toward its restoration.
“One, it’s tied to putting salmon back in the river. Two, there is no funding for dams or river recirculation technology that would maximize Sierra water runoff and lessen the economic devastation to some San Joaquin Valley farmers.” (McEwen 1)
Longfellow creek is the second largest bearing creek in Seattle. Every year, salmon return to the creek but few make it all the way to spawning due to the threatened habitat. This is one of many reasons why they need our help. Restoring the habitat along the creek as well as adjacent greenspaces will help to improve the water quality and provide the appropriate habitat for the salmon to come (True, 2005). Improving the habitat will help to maintain healthy and thriving forests. They are important to our community because they absorb and filter rain water, produce clean oxygen, provide living spaces for wildlife, and create a place for people to connect with the outdoors. Due to their rapid reproduction, the invasive species are taking away food resources and living space from the native plants, increasing the competition causing native plants to die over time. If these native plants continue to degrade, many animal
When the restoration was first thought of, all that people could think about was the salmon coming back. In the article “River Restoration Project Offers a Sprinkling of Hope,” it states “When the Chinook salmon come back to the San Joaquin River, it will be a miracle,” (Daniel Weintraub). This shows how even though people had doubts
Salmon are both an indicator and keystone species to the survival of ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest. A healthy salmon species implies healthy waterways with little pollution, and an abundance of native plants and animals, as well as thriving estuaries that effectively filter pollutants. Salmon are a vital food source for predators, and carry key nutrients to plants surrounding the rivers and lakes where they spawn. Along with environmental stability, a healthy salmon population contributes to a multi-million dollar industry of thousands of workers along the Pacific
California’s diverse ecosystems will collapse because the lack of freshwater will no longer be able to preserve life. In the PPIC Water Policy Center’s study “What If California’s Drought Continues?”, the authors note that, “The most acute and severe impacts of this drought so far are on California’s freshwater habitats and forested lands and on the biodiversity they support” (Hanak, et al.). California’s wetland
Daniel Weintraub in the article , River Restoration Project Offers a Sprinkling of Hope , claims that the San Joaquin River restoration will begin in earnest thanks to changes in federal laws . Weintraub supports his claim by telling us that the new river will flow in parts that have been dry for decades , it will also provide fresh water to the Delta. The author’s purpose is to state that the newly restored river will bring back fish and help all kinds of endangered species. The author writes in an informative to for the readers.
Restoring a river? Completely possible when you have a dam holding all the water back. The San Joaquin River, the longest river in Central California, begins from the Thousand Island Lake and then reaches the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The Sacramento Bee’s Daniel Weintraub supports the plan with his article “River Restoration Project Offers a Sprinkling of Hope” where he explains the San Joaquin River Project’s stupendousness. The project plans to restore the San Joaquin River by increasing the amount of water released from the Friant Dam in an endeavor to restore the salmon in the river. Weintraub, a native of California, worked in the political field for twenty-two years, including the eighteen he worked for the Sacramento Bee. In Sacramento, republicans, big businessmen, and others live there abundantly. The San Joaquin River Project shows promise for the future and will partially reverse the effects of the Friant Dam’s placement.
The Klamath River basin has been one the most productive watersheds and lake systems in the world. It houses over one-third of the world’s pintail ducks and dozens of shoebird species. The basin has a plethora of salmon species and some of the largest trout in the world. The basin had four dams that offered hydroelectric power and water to the surrounding areas. This area was used to its full potential and had experienced serious distress to the biodiversity and damage to the aquatic ecosystem. In 2002, the river saw a die-off of over 33,000 adult salmon which really brought attention to the issue.
The purpose of this conservation assessment is to provide land managers and the general public with an overview of the distribution and status of common trout (brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis; brown trout Salmo trutta; and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss) on the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests (hereafter, GMUG). Common trout species are part of a suite of Management Indicator Species (MIS) “…which are monitored during forest plan implementation in order to assess the effects of management activities on their populations and the populations of other species with similar habitat needs which they may represent (Forest Service Manual 2620.5).” MIS assessments are revised every five years and each is a synthesis of the most recent field-based observations and peer-reviewed science pertaining to the species.
Riparian areas have been steadily declining across the United States in both area and connectivity (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife). Development and water use has significantly altered many stream and river systems in the US. Riperian areas are important for songbirds, erosion prevention, fish & invertebret habitat, trapping sediment and creating primary production. Restoring riparian areas can lead to an increase in biodiversity because there are a lot of organisms who specilize in using or living in riparian areas.
Over the past four years my studies and experiences have focused on issues surrounding water conservation. During the summer of 2016, I interned with the Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) in downtown Seattle, WA. I spent ten weeks learning about river and stream hydrology, including methods for measuring discharge and how human activities can change flow patterns. I analyzed multiple years of stream flow data from
Figure 4 3. The extent and location of streams, model IDs, and watershed and Planning Area boundaries.
Natural Resource outcomes: Historically, the Cache la Poudre River was characterized by high spring flows and periodic floods, followed with low flows in the fall. After colonization of the river, reinforcing banks and regulating peak flows caused the native flora and fauna to retreat and allow non-native species to move in, for native species thrived on the periodic floods. By restoring the Poudre back to it’s native sinuosity and original floodplain, we expect the riparian zone to be restored back to full health. Native forbs, grasses and trees will return to strengthen the river bank and restore historic ecological processes. Wildlife such as mule deer and raptor species will also benefit from this restoration and return to their habitat. Following the restoration, we will continue to implement the raptor managing project by providing limited river access for certain times in the year to protect nesting raptors such as bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, and great horned owls.