U N I T E D S T A T E S D E P A R T M E N T O F C O M M E R C E
N A T I O N A L O C E A N I C A N D
A T M O S P H E R I C A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
The Role of Water in Salmonid Recovery
Do fish really need water, and if so, how much and when???
N A T I O N A L O C E A N I C A N D A T M O S P H E R I C A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
If fish could weigh in on this…
2
N A T I O N A L O C E A N I C A N D A T M O S P H E R I C A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
What water means to fish
• The medium IS the message…• The right flow conditions at the right time
of year for each life stage • Flows are also important in shaping the
stream in which fish live– Sediment and LWD transport– In-stream complexity
N A T I O N A L O C E A N I C A N D A T M O S P H E R I C A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
Water needs for Salmonids
• Water quantity– Adequate flows for each
life stage throughout the year
• Water quality– Temperature, Sediment,
pH, etc
• Flow properties– Range of velocities in
winter (flow refuge)– Migration flows– Turbidity
N A T I O N A L O C E A N I C A N D A T M O S P H E R I C A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
Stream Habitat by life stage
• Egg (spawning gravels)• Fry (spawning gravels)• Juvenile (pools, in-channel,
side channel and off-channel)
• Smolt (lagoons and larger off-channel ponds)
• Adult Spawner (spawning gravels)
N A T I O N A L O C E A N I C A N D A T M O S P H E R I C A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
Fish Habitat by Season
• Wintering Rearing Habitat – (high flow refugia, boulder
shadows, low velocity eddys, overhangs)
• Summer Rearing Habitat– (temperature refugia, overhangs,
riparian cover, sometimes isolated pools)
N A T I O N A L O C E A N I C A N D A T M O S P H E R I C A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
In-stream Flow in Summer
N A T I O N A L O C E A N I C A N D A T M O S P H E R I C A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
Alternatives to summer in-stream water withdrawals
N A T I O N A L O C E A N I C A N D A T M O S P H E R I C A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
Rainwater Harvesting Potential in CA
N A T I O N A L O C E A N I C A N D A T M O S P H E R I C A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
Salmon Creek Save our Salmon Project
N A T I O N A L O C E A N I C A N D A T M O S P H E R I C A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
Napa and Suisun Creek Watersheds
• Napa and Suisun Creek tributaries
• Agricultural and Rural Residential Uses
• Solano RCD• Napa RCD• CA Land Stewardship
Institute (FFF)• Municipalities
N A T I O N A L O C E A N I C A N D A T M O S P H E R I C A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
Sonoma Creek Potential
• Sonoma Creek tributaries
• Agricultural and Rural Residential Uses
• Sonoma Ecology Center• Southern Sonoma RCD• Municipalities
N A T I O N A L O C E A N I C A N D A T M O S P H E R I C A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
Other Alternatives for water supply
• Recycled Water• Desalinization• Other innovations
N A T I O N A L O C E A N I C A N D A T M O S P H E R I C A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
Key watersheds for Steelhead Recovery in the North Bay
• Napa River• Sonoma Creek• Petaluma River
N A T I O N A L O C E A N I C A N D A T M O S P H E R I C A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
Questions!
N A T I O N A L O C E A N I C A N D A T M O S P H E R I C A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
Contact Info
• Kit Crump• Restoration Ecologist
• NOAA Restoration Center
• (707) 575-6080• [email protected]
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