Klamath River Coho Salmon Habitat Restoration 2012

The actual project was similar to the proposed project with some differences from the proposed project. Construction of off channel ponds occurred as planned, but the channel reconstruction component in lower Seiad Creek remained in the permitting and planning stages due lack of funding and environmental permitting. A large off channel pond was constructed in lower Seiad Creek with three additional ponds constructed near Tom Martin Creek and Stanshaw Creek.

There are many benefits of this project, but the primary benefits include; an example of a monitoring based restoration approach, habitat benefits are quickly realized and they provide specific benefits to the declining population. Specifically the project will increase growth and survival of juvenile coho salmon. In this case the population is the threatened SONCC coho salmon. The project addresses two primary limiting factors for Klamath River juvenile coho salmon including; the availability of cold water habitat during summer months, the availability of high quality off-channel flood plain rearing habitats needed during winter months when river flows are high. The project will increase the actual size of existing habitat or build new habitats through excavation of ponds, alcoves and side channels. The benefits are direct and can have a quick effect. This is important in slowing population declines and keeping population sizes above critical thresholds.

The project acts as positive example for using local monitoring result to inform planning steps and project design. The project is based on findings from past studies of coho ecology specific to the Klamath River.