Early low water flows leave native fish vulnerable to human activity

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff

Report Date:

http://www.dfw.state.or.us

GOLD BEACH, Ore – Abnormally low water this time of year in south coast streams is leaving native fish and redds (fish nests) vulnerable to disturbance. Wild winter steelhead are just starting to spawn while fall chinook fry are leaving their redds and emerging from stream gravel.

Biologists surveying wild winter steelhead spawning report an uptick of recreationists driving across creeks and streams and landowners cleaning up native streamside vegetation. This is attributed to the warm, dry weather.

Normally at this time of year, water flows would be much higher, and it would be raining. People would not be driving across streams or maintaining streamside vegetation.

Flows now are typical of late spring said district fish biologist Steve Mazur. He is concerned about people disturbing spawning fish and redds that are now being exposed due to low water.

Driving across streams can destroy the redds and fry and lower water quality by stirring up silt and gravel. Native streamside vegetation keeps streams cooler, provides cover for the fry, and stabilizes the riparian area.

Mazur asks coastal residents and visitors to help preserve wild fish by not driving ATVs or vehicles across streams. He also asks landowners to leave native streamside vegetation.

Mazur said winter steelhead spawn in south coast streams until early May. Spawning surveys continue through April.

The winter steelhead spawning surveys are a monitoring action included in the newly adopted Rogue-South Coast Multispecies Conservation and Management Plan.

More Reports


OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Thursday, February 10th, 2022
Chewaucan River:  A large portion of the river will be covered in ice during the winter
Phillips Reservoir: Ice continues to accumulate on Phillips near the Mason Dam boat ramp
Pilcher Reservoir: Pilcher Reservoir currently is frozen over
Wolf Creek Reservoir: Ice conditions are good
Agate Lake: Agate Lake has been filling rapidly with diversions from Little Butte Creek
Applegate Reservoir: Applegate Reservoir Fishing Report
Cooper Creek Reservoir: Stocked Last Week
Coos River: Steelhead fishing has been slow but anglers are still catching a few
Coquille River: Coquille River Report
Diamond Lake: Anglers seem to be doing okay from the recent reports
Emigrant Reservoir: The reservoir is currently at 7 percent
Expo Pond: Fishing should be fair and may improve slightly with the warming this week
Fish Lake : Anglers were still catching fish through the ice this past weekend
Galesville Reservoir: Without any recent rain the reservoir is dropping again
Howard Prairie Reservoir: There is some open water, but access is limited
Hyatt Lake: Ice depths are unknown and ice fishing is not recommended
Illinois River: With water levels continuing to drop and water gin clear, smaller presentations are best to fish
Lake Selmac: Lake Selmac Fishing Report
Lost Creek Lake: Trout fishing should be good
Medco Pond: Fishing should be slow
Rogue River- Upper: The summer Steelhead run is about over
Tenmile Lakes: Fishing for steelhead in Tenmile Creek has slowed down
Umpqua River: Steelhead fishing has slowed as the river has gotten low and clear
Kilchis River: The Kilchis River is very low and clear
Necanicum River: The hatchery winter steelhead run on the Necanicum River is winding down
Nehalem River: The Nehalem remains in good shape for the third week in a row
Nehalem River- North Fork: The North Fork Nehalem is very low and clear
Nestucca River: This will be one on the best bets for hatchery winter steelhead for the remainder of the season
Three Rivers: Three Rivers is very low and clear
Wilson River: The Wilson River has a wild broodstock hatchery run
Clackamas River: Fishing effort has decreased over the last couple weeks, as the river has been on the drop
Detroit Reservoir: Currently the reservoir water level is about 20 feet above the bottom of Mongold boat ramp
Eagle Creek: Currently this system is low and clear
EE Wilson Angling Pond: Will Be Stocked This Week
Green Peter Reservoir: The water level has been slowly rising of late
Quartzville Creek: The river is currently running high at around 530 cfs
Sandy River: nglers have been catching a steady number of fish, when conditions allow
Santiam River ( North Fork) : Trout season has ended for the year and will start back up again on May 22
Timber Linn Lake: Will be stocked this week
Waverly Lake: Will Be Stocked This Week
Grande Ronde River: Flows in the Grande Ronde River again have remained consistent
Imnaha River: Anglers have reported catching some steelhead in the Imnaha River
Umatilla River: There have been a total of 895 steelhead counted at TMFD up to date for the this run year
Wallowa River: Some steelhead anglers have been successful this winter on the Wallowa River
Fishing for hybrid bass has been hit or miss
Ana Reservoir

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff

Report Date:

Fishing for hybrid bass has been hit or miss with only a few reports coming in recently. As typical catch......

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