Redwood Creek Estuary Monitoring, Redwood National Park, 1980-present
Fish and Wildlife Branch, Redwood National Park. Redwood Creek Estuary Monitoring, Redwood National Park, 1980-present. 1980
These reports summarize Redwood National Park Fish and Wildlife Branch biological and physical monitoring activities in the Redwood Creek estuary. Monitoring has occurred in the Redwood Creek estuary since 1980. The purpose of estuary monitoring is to estimate fish population numbers and growth; record estuary water quality and water elevations; determine cross section changes; and document breaching incidents. Monitoring was initiated to determine how fish were using the estuary. Monitoring continued because the Redwood Creek estuary is impaired. The Redwood Creek Flood Control Project in Orick, 3.4 miles of levees and associated infrastructure completed by the US Army Corps of Engineers in 1968 altered the form, function, resiliency, and biological productivity of the estuary and lower river. The flood control levees changed the estuary configuration and water circulation reducing water quality. Approximately 50% of the estuary has filled in with sediment and/or become isolated from the embayment. As a consequence, quantity and quality of salmonid habitat has decreased. The estuary is not entirely within the national park. Private lands, primarily agricultural pastures, occupy areas that once contained sloughs, high-flow channels and riparian floodplain forest, key elements that contributed to the biological functioning of the estuary. Restoration of hydraulic, sediment transport, and floodplain processes is needed to help the estuary regain some of its former form and physical and biological function to support salmonid habitat. Threatened juvenile salmonids rear in the Redwood Creek estuary in summer and fall. Impaired estuary function is a limiting factor for salmonid production in the Redwood Creek watershed. Fish studies on extended estuary rearing for chinook (Riemers 1973) and steelhead (Bond, et al. 2008) has shown increased ocean survival and return as spawning adults.
- Type
- Project
- Authors
- Fish and Wildlife Branch, Redwood National Park
- Units
- REDW
- Keywords
- Fisheries, Redwood Creek
Products
- 2006-2012 Redwood Creek Estuary Monitoring: Fish Data Release
- 2013 Redwood Creek Estuary Monitoring
- 2014 Redwood Creek Estuary Monitoring
- 2015 Redwood Creek Estuary Monitoring
- Estuarine Management and Research Activities: Mouth of Redwood Creek 1983
- Estuarine Management and Research Activities: Mouth of Redwood Creek 1984
- Estuarine Management and Research Activities: Mouth of Redwood Creek 1986
- Estuarine Management and Research Activities: Mouth of Redwood Creek 1987
- Estuarine Management and Research Activities: Mouth of Redwood Creek 1985