Based on visual observations and growing concern about the condition of Hot Creek, CalTrout has been working with local fly fishing guide, Kevin Peterson, and the Department of Fish & Wildlife (DFW) to assess the condition of this iconic fishery.
CalTrout, working with DFW and Eastern Sierra Fishing Guides Association, conducted electro-shocking yesterday to get a sense of the numbers and species distribution in Hot Creek. Along with the preliminary fish survey work, CalTrout is monitoring water temperatures and will be partnering with DFW to study the insect populations to better understand the condition of the food-web and if or how it be impacting the fishery.
In October, CalTrout will again partner with DFW and the Eastern Sierra Fishing Guides Association to implement a comprehensive fish population study of Hot Creek. The big cause of lower fish numbers relative to years past is very likely a result of four years of serious drought and the lack of flushing flows needed to “cleanse” the streambed of sediments. The on-going effort is a good example of CalTrout’s approach to restoration — engaging in regional fisheries issues in a collaborative manner while using science as a basis for decision making.
Photo: © Jim Stimson Photography
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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.