Field Tour Coordinators: Eric Ginney, Environmental Science Associates, and Tricia Bratcher, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
 

This tour will visit important past, and ongoing current, fish passage projects on remaining stronghold streams home to the remaining populations of imperiled Winter-run and Spring-run Chinook Salmon, as well as Steelhead. Importantly, it will illustrate post-fire sediment dynamics in key tributaries, effects on channel morphology, irrigation diversions, and fish passage and screening facilities, and lessons learned that may be applied to other future projects. Speakers will include agencies, districts, NGOs, and contractors involved in the projects.

 

To orient participants to the species, remaining habitat, challenges, and the history of actions to recover the species (including fish passage challenges), the tour will start with a brief presentation / primer. The presentation will cover geology, geomorphology, fish population distribution and use of habitat, the 2024 Park Fire, and other factors.

 

The tour (itinerary is being finalized) will examine fish passage projects on Battle Creek (potentially including recent dam removals), Paynes Creek, Antelope Creek, Mill Creek, Deer Creek, and potentially also Big Chico Creek and Butte Creek.