Enhancing our regional ecosystem : Auburn fish ladder project

nto s e uc m k ra e ttonwo c r o o a c d s Why Build a Fish Ladder ? Fish such as and steelhead are anadromous, meaning they are born in freshwater and , migrate downstream to the ocean where Plantings Fish they spend a few years maturing, then return to Sierra streams to . Fish To improve ecosystem function and diversity, ladders are designed to provide migrating fish with support to pass around The fish in Auburn Ravine include Chinook native vegetation species were planted salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), a particular obstruction like this gauging station. The streambed in Auburn within the bed and along banks of the steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Ravine has gravel areas that make suitable spawning habitat for anadromous Auburn Ravine fish ladder. Site specific plants were chosen to promote Sacramento pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus salmonids like fall and late fall-run Chinook salmon and steelhead trout. grandis), Sacramento sucker natural nutrient filtration, water quality, By installing this fish ladder on Auburn Ravine, a partial barrier to upstream (Catostomus occidentalis), Lamprey WHEN DO trapping functions, and s (Entosphenus tridentatus) and Speckled te habitats has been removed making it easier for salmon and steelhead to and stabilization controls. Dace (Rhinichthys osculus). Salmon, elhead reach these upstream spawning areas. THE FISH RUN? These vegetation species include steelhead and lamprey all use Auburn native sedge and rush grasses, willow, l a Ravine for spawning while the remaining alder and cottonwood. This restored fish are year-round residents. riparian habitat provides shading and w m cooler temperatures for aquatic illo species, as well as a corridor for migratory w p s e r p c wildlife movement. e e a y ckled d salmon

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Why Walls and Rocks? The fish ladder you see before you has been constructed using walls and rocks weighing up to 8,000 Chutes and Pools pounds! These heavy, durable materials Ideal natural anadromous fish habitat includes were used in the construction of the FUN FACT “steps” of chutes and pools. The chutes are the Not only do walls and fish ladder in order to reduce future areas you see with faster moving, more shallow erosion. Keeping erosion to a minimum is rocks prevent erosion, water flowing over elevation changes of one to important to ensure that design grades but native wetland two feet. The pools are the deeper, slower moving are maintained and the fish passage sedge and cattails sections of the stream created from areas without remains functional under a wide range provide high erosion a change in elevation. These chutes and pools of stream flows for years to come. resistance, as well! connect together to create a “step ladder” that fish use to swim upstream. Concrete walls, large FANCY boulders, medium-sized rocks and smaller cobble are placed in strategic locations to mimic natural THAT! stream conditions. These natural “steps” slow down Over 85% of the flow of the water by gradual changes in surface precipitation in elevation of the stream, providing fish easier access the Auburn Ravine to upstream habitat. watershed occurs between November and April. cattail