ICHTHYOLOGY
Our Ichthyology Program's directive is to monitor salmonids utilizing direct field observation and state of the art video recording equipment. Through rigorous monitoring, we gather critical data to inform conservation strategies that support healthy salmonid populations and balanced water allocation in our region.
The Scott River watershed supports anadromous fish runs for three salmonid (Oncorhynchus) species: Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha), Coho salmon (O. kisutch) and steelhead trout (O. mykiss). Scott River coho salmon are part of the Southern Oregon Northern California Coast (SONCC) Coho Evolutionarily Significant Unit, which was listed as threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act in 1997, and again under the California Endangered Species Act in 2004.
Monitoring
Anadromous fish species are monitored during freshwater life stages through direct observation spawning ground surveys and dive surveys. Spawning ground surveys conducted in the valley portion of the Scott River Watershed (upstream of the Scott River Fish Counting Facility) are focused on collecting spawning distribution data (range and relative density), run data (sex ratio, age composition, hatchery contribution) and biological data (length, pre-spawn mortality, tissue samples). Dive surveys are focused on determining habitat utilization and relative abundance of juvenile fish.
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Spawning ground surveys targeting coho salmon were initiated on the Scott River in the winter of 2001 as a cooperative effort among local organizations, landowners, and agencies. At that time it was recognized that baseline population and run data was needed in order to implement and assess restoration plans and efforts specific to the species. These surveys have documented the presence of spawning adults throughout the watershed and been the primarily means by which the suspected historic range of the species has been evaluated and refined.
Annual Reports for the Scott River Coho Salmon Spawning Ground Surveys can be found in the Resource Library.
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Fish ladder. Scott River.
Flash boards in dam bay. Scott River.
Underwater camera equipment. Scott River.
Young's Point Fish Passage Improvement - Underwater cameras are set-up to capture juvenile and adult salmonid utilization of the largest fish ladder and dam on the Scott River.