170 likes | 183 Vues
Salmon Spawning Habitat and Sediments. Brad Dunker Municipal Creeks Coordinator Municipality of Anchorage Parks & Recreation. Overview. Salmon ecology and behavior during in-migration and spawning What are some impacts of fine sediments on salmon habitat
E N D
Salmon Spawning Habitat and Sediments Brad Dunker Municipal Creeks Coordinator Municipality of Anchorage Parks & Recreation
Overview • Salmon ecology and behavior during in-migration and spawning • What are some impacts of fine sediments on salmon habitat • Why sediment control and road crossings are important to salmon
Salmon Ecology • Important factors include: • Temperature • Habitat availability • Water velocity • In-redd flows
Temperature • 13-16° C= ideal temperature for fish to gain weight (in lab) • 22-25° C fish stop feeding/spawning • +25° C mortality occurs • Especially critical for juvenile salmon
Habitat and Velocity • Substrate is important for embryonic and juvenile salmon survival • Provides: • UV Protection • Crushing/Vibration impacts • Cover from predation • Water Velocity is related to substrate and causes impacts on redds
Habitat and Sediment • Fine sediments (% of fines) is critical to habitat quality • Reduces: • Oxygen Supply • Metabolic waste removal • Ability to stabilize temperature • Success of aelvan emergence
“Good” Sediments? • Natural Gravel transport • Gravels native to that stream system that naturally flows downstream • Human Gravel transport • Gravels not native to that stream system that are placed by construction activities or restoration projects
Gravel information • Handling: • Typically handled around 10 times before it is placed in a culvert/streambed • Sits in yards after it is processed gaining sediments • Must meet native gravel size criteria to be effective
Construction Tips • Equipment • RUBBER TIRES! • Environmentally-friendly fluids in equipment • Storage sites away from stream bank • Gravel quality and specs