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KRIS and Prop 50 Contents | KRIS Web Home |
| KRIS Can Help Track Pacific Salmon Recovery | |
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The distribution and abundance of coho salmon, chinook salmon and steelhead trout in rivers in the North Coast IRWMP area of California has been significantly reduced due to habitat loss, water quality impairment and inadequate fisheries management. The recent economic cost of salmon population decline on California's North Coast has been significant, but the potential loss to future generations is even greater. |
Chart from KRIS Klamath-Trinity V 3.0 shows Salmon River spring chinook trends. Data from Salmon River Restoration Council and Klamath National Forest. |
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| Salmon are recognized under the Clean Water Act as "beneficial uses" in the North Coast region. Water quality trends are judged, in part, by salmon population trends. KRIS systems gather recent and historic data from agencies, NGO's and Tribes, making this information readily available in a form suitable for Prop 50 and for Pacific salmon recovery monitoring. Recovery planning is part of requirements under the U.S. and California Endangered Species Acts (ESA). | |
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The joint decision making needed for recovery of salmon populations will require a scientific support system to help prioritize restoration measures. The KRIS database could certainly serve in this capacity, if completed for the North Coast IRWMP region. Northern Californians have long enjoyed fishing as a social event and enjoyed their delicious catch around the family table. This should lead to public support for recovering salmon and steelhead under ESA, which includes the goal of sustainable, fishable populations that will also fully restore North Coast quality of life |
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