What is Healthy?
The desired conditions for Redwood Creek coho salmon populations are described in numerical targets for each life stage, as well as the critical habitat conditions that support those life stages. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) recovery plan for this species (2012) lists specific goals for the number of adult spawners and redds (nests), juveniles, and smolts (young fish migrating out to sea), and the amount of woody debris in the stream.
What Are the Biggest Threats?
- Historic hydrological changes and habitat loss that have affected anadromous fish migration, increased sedimentation, and reduced the number of pools and other critical habitats
- Current hydrological changes and habitat loss including water withdrawals, drought, channel incision, and a loss of downstream floodplain connectivity
- Ocean-related factors such as over-harvesting of salmonids as well as their prey (e.g., sardines) and changes to ocean food webs related to climate change
- Potential invasive aquatic species including exotic mollusks such as New Zealand mud snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) and the spread of invasive Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
- The effects of climate change such as higher water temperatures, longer droughts, more intense rainfall, and disruptions in the ocean food web
What is The Current Condition?
The overall condition of Redwood Creek’s coho salmon is Poor. Two of three year classes have been hovering near extirpation since 2008. Numbers of adults and redds are only at approximately 12 percent of the NMFS recovery goal, and smolts are at about 9%. The amount of woody debris is also below recovery goals.
What is the Current Trend?
Overall, this species is Declining. Over the last nine years (three generations) two of three year classes have remained at dangerously low levels in Redwood Creek, while the third year class recently declined. Wood loading is improving however, and the numbers of pools per mile have not changed.
How Sure Are We?
We have Moderate confidence in this assessment based on the amount and quality of data we have on coho life stages, but there is some uncertainty around juvenile and smolt estimates.
What is This Assessment Based On?
- NMFS Federal Register documents (NMFS 2012, 2015)
- National Park Service inventory and annual monitoring (Carlisle et al., 2016)
- Redwood Creek Watershed Assessment (Stillwater Sciences, 2011)
What Don’t We Know?
Key information gaps include:
- The timing and magnitude of salmonid migration between streams using Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag technology would provide valuable information on habitat needs during multiple life stages
resources
Carlisle, S., Reichmuth, M., & McNeill. B. (2016). Long-term monitoring of coho salmon and steelhead trout during freshwater life stages in coastal Marin County: 2014 annual report. Natural Resource Report. NPS/SFAN/NRR—2016/1142. Fort Collins, Colorado: National Park Service. Available from https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/546839.
Carlisle, S., & Reichmuth. M. (2015). Long-term monitoring of coho salmon and steelhead trout during freshwater life stages in coastal Marin County: 2013 annual report. Natural Resource Report. NPS/SFAN/NRR—2015/956. Fort Collins, Colorado: National Park Service. Available from: https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/522417.
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). (2012). Final CCC Coho Salmon ESU Recovery Plan. National Marine Fisheries Service, West Coast Region, Santa Rosa, California. Available from: http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/publications/recovery_planning/salmon_steelhead/domains/north_central_california_coast/central_california_coast_coho/ccc_coho_salmon_esu_recovery_plan_vol_i_sept_2012.pdf.
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). (2015). Recovery Plan for North Central California Coast Recovery Domain – California Coastal Chinook Salmon, Northern California Steelhead, Central California Coast Steelhead – DRAFT. Available from http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/recovery/plans.htm.
Stillwater Sciences. (2011). Redwood Creek Watershed Assessment. Berkeley, California: Stillwater Sciences. Prepared the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/management/redwood-creek-watershed-assessment.htm.
