Earthsky Interviews
Private: Knowles Creek
10-18-2002 - Biodiversity
_DB:_ A century ago, as many 1/2 million salmon migrated here from the sea. But populations in the Siuslaw are down to about 1% of that. Charley Dewberry is a restoration ecologist based in Portland, Oregon – part of the Knowles Creek Restoration Project.
_Charley Dewberry:_ We really need to be looking, not only at what’s going on in the stream channel, but also what’s going on upslope. And, one of the things that was very clear to us early was that all parts of the landscape aren’t equal for salmon.
_JB:_ During winter floods, coho habitat becomes vulnerable to sudden bursts of water caused when pockets of debris collapse. Fallen logs from large, old growth trees help form a shield to protect salmon habitat. That’s why, Dewberry said, maintenance outside the stream – stormproofing roads to reduce debris flows and preserving old growth forest – is as important as work done instream.
_DB:_ So far, the restoration efforts are working. Dewberry said salmon in Knowles Creek are up from a record low of 10 in 1992 to about 4,000 – considered the minimum needed for a sustainable population. Thanks to the “U.S. Forest Service”:http://www.fs.fed.us/ and to the “National Fish and Wildlife Foundation”:http://www.nfwf.org/ – supporting the conservation of native fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats. We’re Block and Byrd for Earth and Sky.
The following person was interviewed for today’s program. Our thanks to:
Charles Dewberry
Restoration Ecologist
Ecotrust
Portland, OR
Websites:
“Fact Sheets – Coho Salmon”:http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/1salmon/salmesa/pubs/99cohofs.htm (NOAA Fisheries – National Marine Fisheries Service)
“ADF&G Wildlife Notebook Series”:http://www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/FISH.GAME/notebook/fish/coho.htm (The State of Alaska)
“BLN Builds Cascades on Siuslaw”:http://www.4j.lane.edu/partners/eweb/ttr/habitat/cascades.html – The Register-Guard ( Eugene School District J4)
“Science Alone Can’t Save the Salmon”:http://www.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2000/02/02222000/uncle_10307.asp – ENN (February 22,2000)
ENN
“Watershed work turning coho habitat around”:http://www.4j.lane.edu/partners/eweb/ttr/watershed/wtshd.html – The Register-Guard ( Eugene School District J4)
“Office of Protected Resources”:http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/species/fish/coho_salmon.html (NOAA Fisheries – National Marine Fisheries Service)
“Riding the Silver Cycle”:http://www.psmfc.org/habitat/ssriding.html (Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission)
“California Partners for Fish and Wildlife”:http://partners.fws.gov/pdfs/CA-needs.pdf (US Fish and Wildlife Service)