Projects & Research

California Sea Grant collaborates with Sonoma Water and other agency and non-profit partners to facilitate research and monitoring projects in support of species recovery efforts in the Russian River basin and nearby watersheds. 

CONSERVATION HATCHERY PROGRAM

Coho salmon are monitored in the stream environment at life stages to help determine the effectiveness of, and to inform strategies for, the Russian River Coho Salmon Captive Broodstock Program. This conservation hatchery program is a collaborative partnership that is working to build a self-sustaining coho population within the watershed. 

SALMONID STATUS AND TRENDS

We partner with Sonoma Water to document status and trends of native salmonid species throughout the Russian River basin as part of the Coastal Monitoring Program, a program created by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to support salmonid status and trend monitoring throughout all of coastal California using standardized methods.

STREAMFLOW AND DROUGHT

Insufficient streamflow is a significant limiting factor to the recovery of Russian River coho salmon and steelhead populations--one that is growing progressively worse as drought becomes more frequent and intense. For over a decade, we have been engaged in efforts to better understand the habitat needs and flow requirements for rearing salmon, and to estimate the impact of flow impairment on juvenile salmonids in order to support streamflow enhancement and other resource management efforts.

HABITAT ENHANCEMENT MONITORING

Our work has helped to identify limiting factors to salmonids and inform restoration priorities. Biological and environmental monitoring before and after habitat enhancement projects has also been implemented in order to document project effectiveness.