Along the Pacific Coast, populations of coho salmon have significantly declined over the last century. Coho salmon in California are currently estimated to be no more than 15 percent of their 1940s abundance. Private landowners, organizations such as resource conservation districts, and government agencies have responded to this decline by conserving and restoring critical habitat within the Russian River Watershed and throughout California. The stewardship of habitat, by these groups and others, has created the opportunity to take the next step in recovering coho.

Since 2001, a collaborative effort has been underway to re-establish coho in the Russian River. Partners carefully capture, rear, and spawn coho broodstock. They then release the off-spring as young fish in select tributary streams and monitor their growth and survival until the time arrives for them to move downstream and into the Pacific Ocean. This cycle will be repeated annually, along with the monitoring of adult coho returning three years after their release to tributary streams.

Reports and Related Documents

• Annual Broodstock Program Report 2004-2005 , 2005-2006
• Coho Monitor Annual Newsletter July 2005, August 2006
• Fish Identification for Native and Non-native Species in the Russian River
• ATTENTION ANGLERS

Partners

• California Dept of Fish and Game Recovery Planning
• Don Claussen Warm Springs Hatchery (Lake Sonoma)
• US Army Corps of Engineers
• National Marine Fisheries Service Recovery Planning
• Sonoma County Water Agency
• Trout Unlimited
• Institute for Fishery Resources
• California Sea Grant
• Bodega Marine Lab

Acknowledgements

Our monitoring and evaluation efforts are made possible through the support of:

• California Dept of Fish and Game Fisheries Restoration Grant Program
• Sonoma County Fish and Wildlife Commission Grant Program
• UC Cooperative Extension - Sonoma County
• UC Sea Grant Extension Program
• US Army Corp of Engineers
• Sonoma County Water Agency
• AmeriCorps Watershed Stewards Project