A big congratulations is in order for Dr. Jacob Katz, CalTrout’s Senior Scientist, who was honored by the Sacramento River Preservation Trust with their Founders’ Award. He was the keynote speaker at their ‘State of the Sacramento River’ dinner this November in Chico. Jacob is being recognized for his work with the Nigiri Project, working with farmers in the Central Valley to flood their fields in winter in order to mimic the natural shallow flooding that historically created productive rearing habitats for young fish.
A word from Jacob: “I am honored to be receiving the Sac River Preservation Trust’s Founders’ Award on behalf of CalTrout and our many public and private partners in the Nigiri Project. I look forward to sharing our research and ideas on ways to better manage the Sacramento Valley water for the benefit of people and the environment. California can have both its fish and farms.” We are incredibly proud of Dr. Katz for his innovative and remarkable work!
Thank you to the Sacramento River Preservation Trust for honoring Jacob and CalTrout. The Sac River Preservation Trust serves California to protect, preserve, and enhance the natural and cultural values of the Sacramento River, while also supporting ecologically sound farming practices within the Sacramento River Watershed.
Read a recent op-ed written by Jacob in the SF Chronicle for more on fish and floodplains: “How fish and farms can both survive in California”
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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.
2 Comments
When is there going to be another field demonstration of the nigiri project? I would like to know about the next step and or the progress of your project. Please respond
Hi Brian. Field season starts in January. We will pass your contact information on to our Central Valley managers to be in touch when tours begin this winter.