California’s spring creeks provide critical coldwater habitat to its coldwater species, and no spring creek in the state is bigger than the Fall River.
It not only provides water for agriculture and supports an outstanding fishery (one we’re working to improve), it’s also a hedge against an uncertain future affected by climate change.
That’s why so much effort is being put into protecting and restoring this amazing fishery, and why CalTrout, The Fall River Conservancy, Orvis, California Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the UC Davis Center For Watershed Sciences partnered on a fish tagging project:
Fall River Fish Tagging with CalTrout, FRC, UCD, DFW and Orvis from California Trout on Vimeo.
It seems the Fall River’s trout have adapted to the cold, steady year-round flows by spreading their spawning activity over a nine-month period, and this study was designed to learn more about this unique behavior.
CalTrout places a very high value on the state’s spring creeks, as do our partners. More to come on spring creeks.
Sign up to hear from California Trout! CalTrout’s mission is to ensure healthy waters and resilient wild fish for a better California. Hear about our work and how to get involved through our monthly newsletter, The Streamkeeper’s Blog, “Trout Clout” action alerts, article from our e-magazine, The Current, event invites, and much more! We respect your privacy and will never sell or share your information with other organizations.
Peter Moyle is the Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology and Associate Director of the Center for Watershed Sciences, at UC Davis. He is author or co-author of more than 240 publications, including the definitive Inland Fishes of California (2002). He is co-author of the 2017 book, Floodplains: Processes and Management for Ecosystem Services. His research interests include conservation of aquatic species, habitats, and ecosystems, including salmon; ecology of fishes of the San Francisco Estuary; ecology of California stream fishes; impact of introduced aquatic organisms; and use of floodplains by fish.
Robert Lusardi is the California Trout/UC Davis Wild and Coldwater Fish Researcher focused on establishing the basis for long-term science specific to California Trout’s wild and coldwater fish initiatives. His work bridges the widening gap between academic science and applied conservation policy, ensuring that rapidly developing science informs conservation projects throughout California. Dr. Lusardi resides at the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences and works closely with Dr. Peter Moyle on numerous projects to help inform California Trout conservation policy. His recent research interests include Coho salmon on the Shasta River, the ecology of volcanic spring-fed rivers, inland trout conservation and management, and policy implications of trap and haul programs for anadromous fishes in California.
Patrick Samuel is the Conservation Program Coordinator for California Trout, a position he has held for almost two years, where he coordinates special research projects for California Trout, including the State of the Salmonids report. Prior to joining CalTrout, he worked with the Fisheries Leadership & Sustainability Forum, a non-profit that supports the eight federal regional fishery management councils around the country. Patrick got his start in fisheries as an undergraduate intern with NOAA Fisheries Protected Resources Division in Sacramento, and in his first field job as a crew member of the California Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Wild and Heritage Trout Program.
3 Comments
It is good to see all of these organizations working together for a common goal. The video didn’t comment (or I didn’t catch it) as to how long this study will take place. Please post a link to further information on this study. I would be curious to know more about it as information comes in.
Thanks,
Greg
Thanks Greg,
We plan to tag another 250 fish in July and likely more in October. The project will be ongoing year after year as long as we can keep it funded. Each consecutive season we will install more arrays (the antennas that read the fish tags) throughout the Fall River system. This season we have funding for four arrays (Thousand Springs, Spring Creek, Lava Springs, and maybe Island Bridge). Eventually, we’ll have all the major tributaries and potential spawning areas set up with arrays to track fish as they migrate. We will keep you posted as the data begins to come in.
Drew
This is a FEEL GOOD! THANK YOU!