HUMBOLDT HUMBOLDT COUNTY FISHERIES THE STATE HUMBOLDT HUMBOLDT - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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HUMBOLDT HUMBOLDT COUNTY FISHERIES THE STATE COUNTY FISHERIES THE STATE HUMBOLDT HUMBOLDT COUNTY FISHERIES: THE STATE COUNTY FISHERIES: THE STATE OF OUR SALMON OF OUR SALMON

Analysis conducted by Ali Freedlund.

Humboldt County Salmon Humboldt County Salmon y

 Humboldt County has the second and third largest

y g salmon bearing basins in California

 Majority (over 50%) of Humboldt caught salmon  Majority (over 50%) of Humboldt-caught salmon

• riginated in the Sacramento River and over 1/3 of

salmon landings in Eureka were estimated to come from the Klamath

 Many of our salmon stocks are considered  Many of our salmon stocks are considered

functionally independent H b ld C l l bl i

 Humboldt Count salmon are valuable in many ways

North Coast Dialogues

Fisheries Analysis

Questions Asked Questions Asked

 What is the current state of salmon stocks in  What is the current state of salmon stocks in

Humboldt County? Wh h j h l ?

 What are the major threats to salmon?  What opportunities exist to protect or restore salmon

pp p fisheries?

North Coast Dialogues

Fisheries Analysis

Where are the Coho? Where are the Coho?

16,000 18,000

• n

10,000 12,000 14,000

• ho Salmo

Coho 1965 4 000 6,000 8,000 umber of C Coho, 1965 Current run 2,000 4,000 Klamath Humboldt Bay Eel Mattole Nu Klamath Humboldt Bay Eel Mattole North Coast Dialogues

Fisheries Analysis

Chinook Numbers Chinook Numbers

Chi k i H b ldt C t ' T L t B i

350,000 400,000 k

Chinook in Humboldt County s Two Largest Basins

250,000 300,000 ,

• f Chinook

150,000 200,000 Number o Chinook historic run 1965 Current run 50,000 100,000 Klamath Eel River North Coast Dialogues

Fisheries Analysis

Other Chinook Basins Other Chinook Basins

5000 6000 nook 3000 4000 ber of Chin Chinook run, 1965 1000 2000 3000 Num Current run 1000 Redwood Creek Mad River Mattole North Coast Dialogues

Fisheries Analysis

Steelhead Steelhead

250,000 300,000 ad 150,000 200,000

• f Steelhea

Steelhead, 1965 Current Run 50 000 100,000 Number o 50,000 Klamath Redwood Mad River Eel Mattole Klamath Redwood Creek Mad River Eel Mattole North Coast Dialogues

Fisheries Analysis

Threats to Salmon Threats to Salmon



Degradation of Stream and Estuary Habitat



Pollutants from storm-water runoff (pesticides, heavy metals, petroleum products, fertilizers and other agricultural wastes, etc.)



High sediment loads /



Higher in-stream temperatures/climate change



Ocean conditions



Predation: High ocean mortality



Invasive species



Dams and major diversions



Unmonitored small diversions



Over fishing



Gravel Mining



Deforestation for development



Fish migration barriers

North Coast Dialogues

Fisheries Analysis

Changes in Stream and Changes in Stream and Estuary Habitat Estuary Habitat Estuary Habitat Estuary Habitat 1912

North Coast Dialogues

Fisheries Analysis

Changes in Stream and Changes in Stream and Estuary Habitat Estuary Habitat Estuary Habitat Estuary Habitat 1944

North Coast Dialogues

Fisheries Analysis

Changes in Stream and Changes in Stream and Estuary Habitat Estuary Habitat Estuary Habitat Estuary Habitat 1993

North Coast Dialogues

Fisheries Analysis

Pollutants from storm Pollutants from storm-

• water runoff

water runoff

 “most stream quality indicators decline when  most stream quality indicators decline when

watershed impervious cover exceeds 10%, with severe degradation expected beyond 25%.” g p y

North Coast Dialogues

Fisheries Analysis

Opportunities Opportunities pp pp

 Removing the Klamath dams (and other fish migration barriers)

g ( g )

 Returning critical water to the Eel  Monitoring other water diversions to ensure enough water for

fish

 Ensuring essential habitat in estuaries/wetlands  Incorporating storm-water filtration systems, green design

materials and riparian setbacks in development designs.

 Continue to treat sediment sources and minimize impacts to  Continue to treat sediment sources and minimize impacts to

salmon from agriculture, gravel mining and forest management.

North Coast Dialogues

Fisheries Analysis

Watershed Restoration Watershed Restoration

 Between 1995 and 2002, Humboldt County generated more

than $65 million for restoration.

 2002 alone generated more than 300 new restoration jobs in

the public, private and tribal sectors.

North Coast Dialogues

Fisheries Analysis

Conclusions Conclusions

 The more we can protect our forested landscape from

p p development, the better for salmon survival.

 The more we can maintain or improve on water quality and

i h b f l i l quantity, the better for salmon survival.

 The more we design water infiltration systems and use low

impact green materials in construction, the better for salmon impact green materials in construction, the better for salmon survival.

 Klamath and Eel river dams are major impediments to

recovering fisheries.

 The more we provide high-quality habitat (riparian setbacks

and wetlands protections) the better for salmon survival and wetlands protections), the better for salmon survival.

North Coast Dialogues

Fisheries Analysis