April 15, 2009
During this time of economic downturn and water droughts in California, it is more important than ever for restorationists, fisheries biologists, and planners to come together to learn about pioneering habitat restoration techniques and to create long-term sustainable solutions to climate and policy issues that affect the restoration field and salmonid recovery. The Salmonid Restoration Federation (SRF) is planning a full season of restoration field school and symposia.
On July 23-24 SRF and the Salmon River Restoration Council will co-host the 4th Annual Spring-run Chinook symposium on the Salmon River in the Klamath River basin. On August 28-30 SRF and Trees Foundation will produce the 12th Annual Coho Confab on the Mendocino Coast to highlight estuary issues and monitoring techniques including macro-invertebrate sampling, and to feature restoration tours on the Big River and other coastal drainages.
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In October, SRF and Pacific Watershed Associates will offer an Erosion Control Field School that will highlight road improvements and decommissioning techniques on the Garcia River.
In early March of this year SRF successfully held the 27th Annual Salmonid Restoration Conference entitled "Elements of Watershed Restoration" in Santa Cruz, California. Hosting the conference in Santa Cruz provided wonderful opportunities to view projects on the Central Coast and highlight issues that pertain to coastal watershed and coho salmon recovery.
Hundreds of participants came from all regions of California to attend workshops on topics including estuary restoration, fish passage design and implementation, coho use and restoration of off-channel habitat, and watershed monitoring and assessment. All-day field trips featured tours highlighting resource management for steelhead and coho salmon conservation in Santa Cruz County, including the following: a tour of San Lorenzo River and Soquel Creek projects; Carmel River restoration projects; southern coho streams and the NOAA lab and broodstock program; coho salmon and steelhead enhancement projects on the Santa Cruz North Coast; dams and daylighting in relation to progress and opportunities in San Francisquito Creek; and half-day tours of fish passage projects and sustainable agriculture projects after those morning workshops.
The plenary session featured Dr. Peter Moyle and Dr. Josh Israel from UC Davis, who discussed the state of California salmonids; Mike Furniss from Redwood Sciences Lab addressed climate change and salmonid recovery; Dr. Astrid Scholz of Ecotrust gave a presentation on how marine ecology and oceanic conditions affect salmonids; and Dr. Bob Curry of Watershed Systems highlighted the status of restoration efforts in Monterey Bay and adjacent watersheds.
Concurrent sessions addressed biological, policy, and environmental and physical issues affecting salmonids. Covered were the following topics: water diversions in California; FERC relicensing restoration opportunities; central & south coast steelhead: biology, genetics, and recovery strategies; fire ecology, forests, and fisheries; dam removal and modifications for salmonid recovery, restoration at the crossroads; juvenile steelhead and coho salmon: central coast habitat and population research; hydrologic and geomorphic legacy issues; and coho salmon recovery and restoration: putting theory into practice.
The 28th Annual Salmonid Restoration Conference will be held in Redding, CA in March 2010.
For more info regarding our trainings please visit www.calsalmon.org
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TOC for Forest & River News, Spring 2009