A Future For Coho on the North Coast, and Beyond
Landon Peppel
Resource Conservation Director
The Wildlands Conservancy
California’s coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, have been in a serious state of decline since the mid 20th Century. Factors such as habitat loss, hatchery genetics, overexploitation, and climate change are the leading causes of their diminishment. The extreme droughts experienced in the last decade mean critical action must be immediately taken. By focusing efforts on key coho locations there is still hope for this iconic California fish.
Eel River Estuary Preserve. Photo by Jeremy Long Photography.
The Wildlands Conservancy has strategically acquired Preserves that directly affect the future of coho salmon. To ensure that future generations have plentiful salmon in our rivers and oceans, Wildlands is restoring the Eel River Estuary, improving the redwood forest health in the Russian River Watershed at Jenner Headlands Preserve, and enhancing streamflow in the East Fork of the Scott River at the Beaver Valley Headwaters Preserve. Our vision will optimize habitat conditions in these watersheds by removing fish passage barriers, reducing sediment loads, installing large in-stream wood structures, protecting water quality through riparian restoration, and expanding the critical roles beavers play in the life history of salmonids. Visit one of these Preserves to learn more about our work saving salmon.
Beaver Valley Headwaters Preserve. Photo by Landon Peppel.