Restoration of the Klamath River tributaries will be critical to the success of dam removal. The Scott River, one of the primary tributaries to the Klamath River, produces the greatest number of federally threatened coho salmon in the Klamath Basin. However, mining, agriculture, and development have significantly altered hydrologic function and degraded riparian habitat resulting in less-than-optimal conditions for coho salmon. CalTrout and our partners are working together on the East Fork Scott River to promote access to and increase the quantity and quality of coho spawning and rearing habitat.
The East Fork Scott River contains 20%, or 60 miles, of modeled anadromous habitat in the Scott River watershed. In 2021, a local landowner sold a pivotal piece of property on the East Fork, with undeniable potential to become a coho salmon stronghold. The Wildlands Conservancy (TWC) purchased the 6,094-acre ranch, encompassing 6.7 miles of coho critical habitat, now called The Beaver Valley Headwaters Preserve (‘Preserve’). The acquisition of this property by a conservation landowner presents an unparalleled opportunity for landscape-level restoration in the headwaters of the Scott River. The property contains three tributary confluences to the East Fork, all within two miles, each with different seasonal and complementary benefits to coho in various life stages. This interconnection of vital habitat types in such proximity is invaluable to species survival and ecosystem resilience. Additionally, the project is located less than a mile from the mainstem Scott River. The Preserve represents the salmonid gateway to the entire East Fork watershed.
Our team is embarking on an ambitious journey to recover coho salmon and TWC’s Beaver Valley Headwaters Preserve presents an incredible opportunity to do just that. The project team is in the design phase, funded by CalTrans. CalTrout is currently seeking funding to implement this restoration project on the Preserve to enhance miles of aquatic habitat, restore fish passage to an important cold-water tributary, increase water efficiency and groundwater recharge, and promote inclusion of tribal and underserved communities through education, outreach, and partnership. When the project is complete, it will have transformed the landscape of the East Fork Scott River and enhanced community and ecosystem resilience to climate change.
The project benefits from a broad partnership of over a dozen organizations including TWC, Quartz Valley Indian Reservation (QVIR), the Karuk Tribe, NOAA Fisheries, the Scott River Water Trust (SRWT), the Scott River Watershed Council (SRWC), Siskiyou County Department of Education, California Department of Transportation, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California State Water Resources Control Board, and others. TWC, CalTrout and a host of project partners are working as a team to promote public engagement and education opportunities on the Preserve. The project will focus on employing local community members and tribal youth, boosting economic vitality to the 8,000 residents of the Scott Valley.
Cover Photo and Video Production: Pusher, Inc.
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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.