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Coho Recovery Strategy for the Smith River
Coho salmon are listed as endangered or threatened in California under the federal and California Endangered Species Acts. The State of California has adopted a Recovery Strategy under CESA for coho salmon which identifies restoration actions and some regulatory measures which, if completed, would provide the necessary habitat and water flows to recover coho salmon. Coho salmon are very sensitive to the effects of logging, water diversion and road-building in the watershed. These fish need cool water, are sensitive to sedimentation of stream beds, and must have complex stream habitat, side channels, and wetlands in fresh water. The recovery of coho salmon would provide broad benefits to other species of wildlife and to the environment of northwestern California, from Santa Cruz County north to the Oregon border. The potential benefits include the perpetuation of this species but also the economic benefit of recovery of a sport and commercial fishery which was once a vital part of the economy from San Francisco northward. The following is a partial list of restoration projects which are included in the Coho Recovery Strategy for the Smith River: 1) Develop a program to control exotic vegetation, especially canary grass, which may be impeding salmon passage on the lower stretches of the Smith River plain tributaries.
2) Assess, prioritize, and treat barriers to fish passage on the smaller tributaries which enter the Smith on the lower Smith River. 3) Restore effectiveness of lower river sloughs and slackwater areas such as Yontocket, Tillas, and Tryon and reestablish some of the wetlands along the lower Smith River and estuary. This could involve some modification of the levee system. Allow winter flows to enter and flow through sloughs to provide more estuary and side channel habitat. 4) Investigate the feasibility of restoring channelized reaches of streams on the Smith River plain to a natural meander (particularly lower Rowdy Creek). 5) Assess, prioritize, develop implementation, and treat sediment sources (mostly legacy roads) in the recently acquired Mill Creek/Stimson property. 6) Develop a short-term plan and implement the plan to immediately add large woody debris to Mill Creek and other tributaries and develop a long-term strategy to promote natural recruitment of large woody debris. 7) Replant riparian zones to accelerate development of adequate buffer zones on Class 1 and Class 2 stream segments of the Smith and lower river tributaries. To read the California Department of Fish and Game's Coho Recovery Strategy, click here. Click the left-side links on this page to learn more about our conservation programs and to view our useful Resources pages. Smith River Alliance © 2004-2007 Smith River Alliance |
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