Klamath River System
Since 1988, three species of endemic fishes of the upper Klamath River Basin of Oregon and California have been declared as threatened or endangered. Concern about native fish survival in the Klamath system increased greatly in 2001 due to widely-publicized episodes of mass fish die-offs. These events have resulted in a concerted effort by a variety of public agencies to identify actions that will promote the recovery of native fishes in the Klamath basin. Watershed Center scientists are investigating opportunities for restoration of coho and other cold-water salmonids in the once-productive Shasta River.
Shasta River Study
The Shasta River is the fourth largest tributary to the Klamath River. Historically, the Shasta was the most productive salmon river in California for its size. But now salmon populations are reduced to a small fraction of their historical levels. The Center for Watershed Sciences has taken an interdisciplinary approach to investigating the causes for the decline of the various salmonid species within the river and to identifying opportunities that may be available to restore them.
The river's hydrology is dominated by a large spring complex that provides the majority of the water for the Shasta River, particularly during the summer. The water that emerges from the springs is unusually high in nutrients and provides for exceptionally high primary and secondary productivity. These rich springs may have fueled the historically high salmon production in the river. Today, despite the high productivity, high water temperatures within the Shasta River limit salmonid production. Watershed Center researchers are developing new and innovative approaches to help guide restoration and sustainable management of this unique resource.
Publications
- Baseline Assessment of Physical and Biological Conditions Within Waterways on Big Springs Ranch, Siskiyou County, California
Jeffrey Mount, Peter Moyle, and Michael Deas, Principal Investigators. Report prepared by: Carson Jeffres (Project lead), Randy Dahlgren, Joseph Kiernan, Aaron King, Robert Lusardi, Andrew Nichols, Sarah Null, Stacy Tanaka, Ann Willis. 2009. California State Water Resources Control Board. - Baseline Assessment of Salmonid Habitat and Aquatic Ecology of the Nelson Ranch, Shasta River, California Water Year 2007
Jeffrey Mount, Peter Moyle, and Michael Deas, Principal Investigators. Report prepared by: Carson Jeffres (Project lead), Evan Buckland, Bruce Hammock, Joseph Kiernan, Aaron King, Nickilou Krigbaum, Andrew Nichols, and Sarah Null. 2008. Report for United States Bureau of Reclamation Klamath Area Office.