Educational Resources

NOAA Fisheries Uplists Central California Coho

For Immediate Release: May 28, 2004

Contact: Todd Steiner, SPAWN, 415-488-0370 x 103 or Reuven Walder, 415-488-0370 x 102

Today, the federal agency NOAA Fisheries, released a status review of 27 salmon and steelhead species and changed the status of Central California coho salmon from “Threatened” to "Endangered.”

The term "endangered species" means any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, while the term "threatened species" means any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

“This is important development for the coho salmon of Marin County” which hosts the California’s largest remaining run of wild coho salmon in California,” said  the director of SPAWN, the Salmon Protection and Watershed Network.  “With only about 250 females returning to spawn each year, these fish are extremely vulnerable and need as much protection as the law can provide.”

Reuven Walder, SPAWN’s watershed biologist said, “Marin’s coho salmon are endangered by continued development in its habitat.  Just last week, a road adjacent to an important creek was paved without any County, State or federal oversight, and a few months ago we had to sue the County to prevent the building of a 4,000 foot structure 20 feet from the creek bank.  The remaining habitat must be protected if we are going to save and restore these amazing animals.”

The Lagunitas Creek Watershed located in Marin County has the largest reported population of wild coho salmon in California, yet it remains severely depressed having declined by 90 percent from historical records.  Before the building of dams that supply the County with its drinking water, approximately 5,000 adults were believed to spawn here each year.  Today, 500 spawners (males and females combined) is considered a good year.

Additional information on the new listings can be found at www.nwr.noaa.gov

Background on Lagunitas Creek Watershed

• Lagunitas Watershed coho have been reduced by 90% since the 1940's. Estimates of the annual coho and steelhead population in the Lagunitas watershed were 6,000 about sixty years ago. Yet, while greatly reduced, they represent approximately 10 percent of all wild California coho surviving today.  The estimated 500 fish that return to this system yearly are considered one of the most robust runs in the state.
  
• Specific current impacts to the Lagunitas coho include loss of habitat (over 50% since the 1940's) caused by large dams (mostly for reservoirs) and other barriers to migration, small rock dam construction for recreational pleasure, sedimentation and destruction of riparian habitat from development and land use practices, trampling of redds (nests) by humans and animals, pollution of streams, changes in hydrology leading to non-natural water flow from development, water diversion from creeks, water withdrawal from reservoirs and groundwater wells, as well as introduction of non-native fish species ( large-mouth bass, blue gill ).
  
• Several scientists and agency personnel have expressed the view that protection and restoration of the LCW coho salmon population is critical to recovery of the entire central California coho population.
  
• Located in west Central Marin County, at 103 square miles, it is the largest watershed in the County and the largest drainage area into Tomales Bay.  It originates on the northern slopes of Mount Tamalpais and flows north approximately 25 miles through Tomales Bay and into the Pacific Ocean.
  
• The primary stream is Lagunitas Creek, which is fed by several relatively large streams including: Nicasio Creek, San Geronimo Creek, Olema Creek, Devil's Gulch and Deadman's Gulch

SALMON PROTECTION AND WATERSHED NETWORK
a project of Turtle Island Restoration Network • POB 400, Forest Knolls, CA 94933
Phone: 415-488-0370 • Fax: 415-488-0372 • Email: spawn@spawnusa.org