Abstract
Linking Salmonids to Hillslope Processes at the Watershed Scale Track: Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management Author(s): Eric Sproles, Charley Dewberry Understanding factors that drive the distribution of salmonids within a watershed is vital in natural resource management plans that encourage healthy salmonid populations. At the watershed and subwatershed scale, we use three years of Rapid Bio-Assessment (RBA) data to map and model the location and population distribution of Coho salmon within the Siuslaw Basin. The Siuslaw Basin is situated in the Oregon Coast Range, which is composed of steep slopes that are highly sensitive to both land-use practices and high-intensity rainfall events. While previous studies have examined fish numbers at the reach scale, we look for relationships that exist between salmonid populations and the dynamics of water and sediment moving from the ridgetops through the stream system at the watershed scale. This GIS analysis helps to identify trends that exist between the management practices and processes on the hillslope and the distribution of salmonids within the catchment. Eric Sproles Ecotrust/Siuslaw Watershed Council P.O. Box 422 Mapleton , OR 97453 US Phone: 541.268.3044 E-mail: esproles@ecotrust.org Charley Dewberry Ecotrust 721 NW Ninth Avenue Portland , OR 97209 US Phone: 541-268-3044 E-mail: cdewberr@presys.com |
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