You are here:
INFLUENCE OF STREAM NETWORK-SCALE HABITAT OF A COASTAL OREGON WATERSHED ON COHO SALMON AND OTHER NATIVE FISH
Citation:
WIGINGTON JR, P. J., J L. Ebersole, J P. Baker, M A. Cairns, H. Lavigne, J E. Compton, M R. Church, R D. White, S G. Leibowitz, B. Miller, AND B. Hansen. INFLUENCE OF STREAM NETWORK-SCALE HABITAT OF A COASTAL OREGON WATERSHED ON COHO SALMON AND OTHER NATIVE FISH. Presented at 2003 Headwater Stream Ecology Research Forum, Corvallis, OR, January 16, 2003.
Description:
EPA's Western Ecology Division is undertaking research addressing catchment-scale dynamics of freshwater habitat productivity for native fishes. Through partnerships with state and federal agencies and private landowners, current field efforts focus on linkages among stream chemistry, discharge, physical habitat, water temperature, and fish performance measures. Ultimately, our goal is to identify how human land use affects biologically important habitat attributes, against a backdrop of natural landscape and watershed dynamics. To achieve this goal, we have initiated a multi-year research plan for coastal Oregon watersheds. First-year activities include a PIT-tagging mark-recapture study that is providing information on seasonal coho salmon abundance, movement, and growth in the West Fork Smith River watershed. We are quantifying tributary/mainstem movement of juvenile coho salmon and colonization of intermittent stream channels, and relating juvenile coho salmon growth to indices of habitat quality. Year-round sampling of fish, water chemistry, streamflow, temperature, and physical habitat is in progress and will provide spatial and temporal resolution to relationships among fish distribution, survival and growth at a watershed scale.