Initial results from monitoring experiments completed by Cramer Fish Sciences fisheries biologists are available! Key findings:

Installed fyke net and trap box at the Hallwood Restoration Site

• Non-native predatory fish (largemouth bass and sunfish) have been observed within the large backwater pool at the lower end of the Project reach.
• Rearing habitat quality dramatically alters residence time and survival of juvenile Chinook salmon.
• Individual predators may be having a disproportionately large effect.

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Year 1 of post-project monitoring is currently being conducted by Cramer Fish Sciences and SYRCL fisheries biologists! This includes:

• Snorkel surveys and invertebrate sampling in the new side channel, alcoves, and main channel control locations.
• Mark-recapture study using PIT tagged hatchery juvenile Chinook Salmon to assess changes in growth, survival, and residence time in restored Hallwood side channel.
• Seining to assess predation and competition in the restored project site compared to an unrestored backwater control site.
• In addition to recapturing many wild juvenile Chinook Salmon and Rainbow Trout/steelhead, the crew has captured some other interesting fish in the trap including several lamprey!
• This summer, the project team will also be tracking natural riparian tree recruitment and survival throughout the newly restored floodplain.

Fisheries biologist standing in front of a fyke trap installed in one of the project's newly constructed side channels.

Juvenile Chinook salmon being measured and scanned for a PIT tag by a biologist.

A biologist holding an adult Pacific lamprey that was caught in the fyke trap. It was released after biometric data were collected.

Outmigrating juvenile Pacific lamprey. These small juveniles can only be identified to species by looking at their dentition.

Juvenile rainbow trout/steelhead enjoying the restored channels within the Hallwood Floodplain and Side Channel Project footprint.