Shasta and Scott River Salmonid Outmigrant Monitoring

The juvenile outmigration monitoring on the Scott and Shasta River is a descriptive research design, intended to estimate the abundance of all age classes of juvenile salmonids emigrating, and conduct bio-sampling from a sub-sample to produce mean estimates for each age class for the target species (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, and steelhead trout). Additionally, stream flow and temperature at the traps are measured to provide weekly means, minimums, and maximums.

In 2005, Coho Salmon of the Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Evolutionary Significant Unit were listed as a threatened species from the Oregon border to Punta Gorda, California under the California Endangered Species Act. The data collected from the RSTs on both the Scott and Shasta River represent one of the only long-term monitoring datasets for Coho Salmon populations and other target species, which can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of restoration projects that are intended to increase juvenile salmonid production and survival. Drought conditions over the last three years have resulted in critically dry and emergency situations for local salmon that require an expanded juvenile monitoring effort. Monitoring juvenile coho and their summer habitat will expand our baseline habitat use information, help inform Voluntary Drought Initiative agreements, and support any required law enforcement effort.