Juvenile coho salmon observed in newly colonized habitat.

Project Title

Recolonization of the Cedar River by Pacific salmon: population, community and ecosystem-level effects

Description

Although removal of barriers is a common restoration technique for restoring fish habitat, we know little about the success of such actions. This project is a long-term study to examine the ecological effects of recolonization of the Cedar River above Landsburg Diversion by Pacific salmon.

The project includes the following objectives:

• Assess spatial and temporal changes in habitat characteristics of the lower Cedar River between Landsburg Diversion and Cedar Falls.
• Determine spatial and temporal patterns in nutrients and algal biomass, and whether these factors change with number of returning adults.
• Quantify spatial and temporal patterns of resident trout, juvenile coho and chinook, and fish diversity in the lower Cedar River between Landsburg Diversion and Cedar Falls, and how these variables correlate with environmental conditions (e.g., wood abundance, nutrient concentrations, algal biomass).
• Estimate movement, growth and survival of resident trout and coho salmon, and how these measures correlate with environmental data such as slope, abundance of large woody debris and nutrient concentrations.

Investigators

Peter Kiffney, George Pess, and Earl Prentice (Fish Ecology Division)

Collaborators

Joe Anderson and Tom Quinn (University of Washington), and Seattle Public Utilities

Support

Seattle Public Utilities, NOAA Fisheries, Washington Sea Grant

Project Status

Data collection and analyses ongoing.

Relevant Publications

Kiffney, P., J. Anderson, and G. Pess 2006. Community and ecosystem attributes of the Cedar River watershed above Landsburg Diversion after arrival of Pacific salmon. Draft Technical report submitted to Seattle Public Utilities.

Kiffney, P. M., C. J. Volk, and J. Hall. 2002. Community and ecosystem attributes of the Cedar River and tributaries before arrival of anadromous salmonids. Technical report submitted to Seattle Public Utilities.

Riley, S., P. Kiffney, and C. Inman. 2001. Habitat inventory and salmonid stock assessment in the Cedar River and tributaries. Technical report submitted to Seattle Public Utilities.

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