Stream Fish Assemblages
As an indicator of ecological health of freshwater stream systems, monitoring is conducted for a suite of species and conditions within stream aquatic habitats. Monitoring surveys look at: habitat condition, fish assemblage, and population and 
community structure. Within Point Reyes and Golden Gate, much of the monitoring efforts target, federal and state endangered: coho salmon (Oncorhychus kisutch); and federally threatened steelhead trout (O. mykiss).Coho salmon and steelhead are anadromous and the life stage requirements demand year-round, high-quality cold water, continuous riparian cover, and complex habitat and structure to accommodate development from egg to smolt stage. Monitoring of these species at multiple life stages is valuable to the understanding of aquatic conditions and a good measure of watershed health. Because coho salmon and steelhead live for more than a year in freshwater, and the conditions required to support them are highly restrictive, they are susceptible to anthropogenic impacts to the stream and riparian systems.
Reports and Publications
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Monitoring Protocol
Fish survey methods are designed to monitor three crucial periods in the life cycle of coho salmon: junvenille, smolt, and adult. Information will be collected both on a population and individual level in all three monitoring periods. Monitoring on the population level will be utilized to develop survival rates between life stages while data gathered on the individual will provide information on the relative health of the population. Contact Information Michael Reichmuth |
Monitoring Objectives
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