San Lorenzo Fish Passage.P65

Critical Times for Fish Passage Common Human-Made Santa Cruz County in the San Lorenzo River Fish Passage Impediments in the Resources Conservation District Watershed Watershed San Lorenzo River Watershed The Santa Cruz County Resource Conservation District (SCCRCD) is a non-regulatory, non-for - ◆ November through May ◆ Road crossings, particularly culverts. profit entity. The mission of the SCCRCD is to is a critical period for adult steelhead trout and help people protect, conserve, and restore natural ◆ Permanent and seasonal dams. resources through information, education, and coho salmon passage. From the moment stream technical assistance programs. The District provides flow breaches the sand bar at the ocean, adults ◆ Structures installed to control stream gradient . an active program for the conservation of soil, water, may begin to swim up river to spawn. plant, and wildlife resources in Santa Cruz County.

◆ February through June Informational Resources is a critical period when juvenile fish (called smolts) Photo provided by Swanson Hydrology & Geomorphology Santa Cruz County migrate from the streams to the ocean. Resource Conservation District Steelhead trout live in freshwater streams for What Can You Do (831) 464-2950 their first 1-4 years, while coho salmon stay in to Improve Fish Passage? Natural Resources Conservation Service freshwater streams for just their first year. (831) 475-1967 You can be aware of the issue and participate in www.nrcs.usda.gov ◆ June through October projects to restore fish passage. There are many opportunities to participate in local watershed County of Santa Cruz Planning Department is a critical period for juvenile fish as they seek groups and to attend local watershed educational (831) 454-2580 favorable conditions within and among workshops. A local non-profit organization iden- www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us streams. Fish Passage Problems tified more than 20 human-made migration im- California Department of Fish and Game Associated with Improperly pediments on the mainstem of the San Lorenzo (831) 649-2870 Installed Culverts: River between the Felton Covered Bridge and www.dfg.ca.gov the Waterman Gap Culvert during 2001. Most ◆ of those were legacy structures serving no use- National Marine Fisheries Service Water inside culvert is too shallow during fish www.nmfs.noaa.gov migration. ful purpose. Each of the impediments can be modified to improve fish passage. ◆ Culvert outlet is perched above the Army Corps of Engineers streambed. www.spn.usace.army.mil You can include provisions for fish passage when ◆ Movement of water inside the culvert is too planning new alterations to the river bed or banks. United States Fish and Wildlife Service fast. Local resource professionals and permitting www.fws.gov agencies (see list of Informational Resources on the last page of this brochure) will provide perti- nent guidelines. By seeking out the appropriate technical assistance you can minimize your im- pacts while you enjoy the river.

It is important to note that any type of dam put in the San Lorenzo River or it’s tributaries, be it a flashboard dam or a small rock dam, requires a This brochure has been produced by the salmonid life cycle permit consultation with the California Depart- Santa Cruz County Resource Conservation ment of Fish and Game. District with Senate Bill 271 funds provided by California Department of Fish and Game. Fish? Fish? Fish? Fish? Fish? Fish? Fish? Fish? Fish? Fish? . s e i r a t u Adult Adult Adult Adult Adult b i Juvenile Juvenile Juvenile Juvenile Juvenile r

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Impediments on Movement Impediments on Movement Impediments on Movement Impediments on Movement Impediments on Movement Impediments on Movement Impediments on Movement Impediments on Movement Impediments on Movement Impediments on Movement h

Less separation of competing species.

To allow their yearly spawning migration. yearly spawning To allow their Limit or prevent summer migration from Limit or prevent use of over-wintering

Increase predation. To diversify populations and genetics. To diversify populations To reduce competition among different To reduce competition To find relatively cool and well-oxygenated To find relatively Increased stress, injury, or predation/ To find favorable over-wintering habitat. To find favorable over-wintering To find food.

Disrupt spawning migrations. To maximize available spawning and rearing available spawning To maximize

Over-crowding of available spawning Under-utilization of tributary habitat.

Why is Fish Passage Important Passage is Fish Why Important Passage is Fish Why Why is Fish Passage Important Passage is Fish Why Why is Fish Passage Important Passage is Fish Why Important Passage is Fish Why

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ species for limited resources. species for limited

water, particularly during summer. water, particularly ◆ ◆ thermally-stressed mainstems to coolwater steelhead trout steelhead trout steelhead trout steelhead trout steelhead trout

THE THE THE THE THE

under the Federal ESA and as under the California ESA. The under the Federal Endangered coho salmon coho salmon coho salmon coho salmon coho salmon

WATERSHED WATERSHED WATERSHED WATERSHED WATERSHED

threatened

SAN LORENZO RIVER LORENZO SAN RIVER LORENZO SAN

SAN LORENZO RIVER LORENZO SAN SAN LORENZO RIVER LORENZO SAN RIVER LORENZO SAN s

The San Lorenzo River watershed is habitat The San Lorenzo River and coho salmon. for steelhead trout of fishing success Anecdotes and estimates trout and coho salmon suggest that steelhead in the watershed, and the were once plentiful was once described as one San Lorenzo River rivers south of the largest steelhead-producing Steelhead trout and of the Russian River. began to decline in coho salmon populations trout are now listed as the 1960’s. Steelhead threatened listed Species Act (ESA). Coho salmon are a endangered to decline of these fishes has been attributed and sedimentation, use of stream flow, to the obstructions to migration. Compared and efforts necessary to reduce sedimentation of conserve stream flow, elimination and the obstructions to migration is simple rewards are immediately obvious.

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S S o o o o o t t t t t In the In the In the In the In the Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Fish Passage Fish Passage Fish Passage Fish Passage Fish Passage Obstructions Obstructions Obstructions Obstructions Obstructions San Lorenzo River San Lorenzo River San Lorenzo River San Lorenzo River Swanson Hydrology & Geomorphology Swanson Hydrology & Geomorphology San Lorenzo River Swanson Hydrology & Geomorphology Swanson Hydrology & Geomorphology Swanson Hydrology & Geomorphology

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Santa Cruz County Resource Conservation District 820 Bay Avenue, Suite 107 Capitola, CA 95010