Mattole Coho Recovery Strategy

1. Mattole Coho Recovery Strategy Mattole River and Range Partnership

2. Mattole River -Southern Extent of SONCC Coho ESU -64 River Miles; 304 square miles -No dams; No hatcheries -Functionally Independent Population (1 of 19; Williams et al. 2006) -Also: CC Chinook-Threatened NC Steelhead-Threatened

3. -Historic Population -USFWS- 20,000 adults (DFG 1960) -Stillwater Sciences- 20,000 adults (2010) -Southern Coastal Basin Stratum (Williams et al. 2008) -11,000 Spawner Density Threshold -Mattole River- 6,500 -Humboldt Bay Tribs-5,700 -Lower Eel/Van Duzen-7,900 -Bear River-1,900 -Depensation Threshold- 250 adults; 1 fish/IP Km (Williams et al. 2008) Mattole River

4. Population averaged below Depensation level for last 20 years • 2009/2010 Lowest Adult returns on Record- 2 redds documented • Coho mostly confined to headwaters- upper 12 miles of watershed • Tributaries with coho presence: • Historic = 50 • 2010 = 2 • Abundance of juveniles from dive surveys • 2002 = 2549 • 2010 = 76 Mattole River

5. Determination of Priority Areas and Recovery Strategies

6. NOAA IP

7. Juvenile Presence with IP Values

8. Juvenile Presence with IP Values

9. SpawningLocation with Ripple Redd Density

10. Limiting Factors and IP- Sediment

11. Limiting Factors and IP- Wood/Complexity

12. Limiting Factors and IP-Temperature

13. Limiting Factors and IP-Flow

14. Priority 1 Areas • Coho still present; watershed conditions generally good; should respond quickly to restoration • Priority 2 Areas • Coho observed in last 10 years; habitat conditions generally improving, intermediate response time • Priority 3 Areas • no or very few coho observed in last 20 years; habitat potential low or habitat degraded • Priority 4 Areas • no contemporary use; habitat potential low or habitat severely degraded Priority Watershed Areas

15. Priority Streams

16. Priority 1 Strategies: Avoid Extirpation • Tank and Forbearance Program • Wetland Enhancement and Groundwater Recharge Program • Recovery Rearing Program • Instream Habitat Enhancement Program (i.e. LWD input and off channel habitat improvement) • Properly Screened Diversions Program • Priority 2 Strategies: Increase Abundance and Distribution- Recovery • Land Conservation and Acquisition Program • Good Roads, Clear Creeks Program (i.e. sediment reduction) • Education and Outreach Programs • Forest Thinning Program Priority Recovery Strategies

17. Mattole Tank and Forbearance Program- Restoring Instream Flows Priority 1 Recovery Strategies

18. Basics • Provide tanks to local landowners and institutions to restore flow to headwaters mainstem and all tribs • Plan to install 90 tanks in next decade • Forebearance agreement restrict summer pumping for 15 years • Location • Upstream of Bridge Creek (RM 52) • Current State • 20 tanks currently installed • Obstacles- • Funding- not many categories for streamflow • County Building Permit Policy • What’s next • Working with NOAA to connect streamflow to fish passage • What’s needed • Funding • County Cooperation Mattole Tank and Forbearance Program

19. Mattole Wetland Enhancement and Groundwater Recharge Program- Restoring Instream Flows Priority 1 Recovery Strategies

20. Basics • Mitigate Climate Change • Restore streamflow, slow water habitat, floodplain connectivity, steam function and complexity, supply food for fish • Creation of 640 ponds in next decade • Ponds include wetlands and engineered beaver ponds • Locations • All low gradient headwaters tributaries • Current State • Designing pilot project in Lost River and Thompson Creek • Many field trips, presentations, workshops, outreach • Obstacles • “New tool”- fear and concerns • Funding • Permits • What’s next • Collaboration • Outreach on benefits • Create and permit design • What’s needed • DFG support, specifically engineers and permit staff Mattole Wetland Enhancement and Groundwater Recharge Program

21. Mattole Recovery Rearing Program- Ensuring Survival Priority 1 Recovery Strategies

22. Basics • Capture all coho salmon in headwaters and rear in artificial tanks on South Fork Bear Creek • Spring and Fall releases • In operation until population above depensation level of 250 adults • Locations • RM 47 and above, plus South Fork Bear Creek • Current State • Formed Interagency Working Group (NMFS, BLM, USFWS, DFG, MSG) in June • Finalizing Proposed Action, RRMP, 5-Year Plan, HACCP • Obstacles • “New tool”- fear and concerns • Permitting • Funding • DFG Fisheries Branch • Time! • What’s next • 11-9-10 meeting with DFG Fisheries Branch • What’s needed • DFG Fisheries Branch support • Funding • Continued support Mattole Recovery Rearing Program

23. Mattole Instream Habitat Enhancement Program- Improving Summer and Winter Juvenile Rearing Habitat Priority 1 Recovery Strategies

24. Basics • Constructing LWD projects, alcoves, engineered beaver ponds, and slough enhancement to improve summer and winter rearing conditions • Locations- throughout watershed • Current State • In past focused mainly on summer rearing habitat • Installed approx 50 structures in headwaters, estuary, and important tribs for coho • Designing off channel habitat features and engineered beaver ponds • Obstacles • “New tool” – fear and concern for winter projects • What’s next • Alcoves in Thompson Creek • Program plan for winter rearing habitat • Continue raising funds • What’s needed • Funding Mattole Instream Habitat Enhancement Program

25. Mattole Properly Screened Diversions Program- Reducing direct take from trapping or impingement Priority 1 Recovery Strategies

26. Basics • Fabricate and install DFG approved fish screens on every intake in Mattole River • Current State • Forbearance program land owners are only ones that have them • Obstacles • Funding and outreach • What’s next • Sell at Whitethorn Construction and other outlets • What’s needed • Outreach • Funding • Landowner Cooperation Mattole Properly Screened Diversions Program