On the Garcia we are having trouble with poaching. Big time poaching – with fencing across the river to act as gill nets – with multiple locations along the river. Done at night.
This can help ruin your coho run – especially during drought.
Helpful insights on rainfall predictions and the role of predation in species health.
Stephen
From: FISH1IFR@aol.com
To: omni@mcn.org, Discussion@lists.mcn.org CC: ncwaternet@lists.mcn.org, environment@lists.mcn.org Sent: 1/8/2012 1:30:46 P.M. Pacific Standard Time Subj: Re: [NCWaterNet] [MCN-Discussion]- sea lions & water year worries
Just two observations:
(1) sea lion predation on incoming salmon runs is normal, and indicates a healthy ecosystem — salmon advocates may have to gulp a couple of times when they see “all the sea lions” at the mouth of the Klamath River just lining up for their salmon lunch, but this is what sea lions do — eat salmon
– at the mouth of the Klamath River. Even at its most, however, the
“huge numbers” of sea lions some people complain about can only eat a very small fraction of the incoming adult spawners….. and this type of predation is, of course, part of the competition in the wild that keeps salmon evolving and improving as a species in its abilities to evade these predators, improving the stocks.
(2) It is too early to seriously worry about whether this will be a drought year yet. This year is still following the classic La Nina-type weather patterns as predicted — very dry December and VERY WET early months or 2012 well into April. But of course, every water-year is a white-knuckle ride! This is especially true since most of our “predictor” models are based on average year rainfall patterns, not La Nina or El Nino pattern extremes… but of course, “average” is a mathematical fiction, not a real event in most years.
But I would not be terribly concerned about 2012 being a dry or critically dry water year until we have seen what rainfall January brings. And even then, its all a game based on playing the odd (which among scientists are more politely called “exceedence levels”). If January is also critically dry then we are much more certain to be in trouble for the rest of this year. But even now there is contingency planning in process, as is always wise, for worst cases. As they say in the Middle East, “Trust in God, but always tie your camel.”
— Glen Spain
In a message dated 1/7/2012 9:57:39 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, omni@mcn.org writes:
Excellent insight Scott This could be pretty tragic – no rain is expected for couple of weeks. We may be seeing a dramatic reduction in this winter run and a reduction in salmon in many of our rivers. Anyone have helpful thoughts on this? ~BC
