Salmonids
at home in Icicle Creek:
Fish and biologists explore new habitat
Wild Fish Conservancy has begun a long-term study of ecological change
in the Icicle Creek watershed. In August 2006, Wild Fish Conservancy
staff conducted snorkel surveys spanning 18 miles of the mainstem Icicle
to collect data on fish species composition, distribution, and relative
abundance during base flow conditions. Eleven species of fish were
observed, including trout, salmon and char. The presence of bull trout
in the upper basin suggests that recent improvements in fish passage
have given pioneering migrant fish the potential to utilize a far broader
range of habitat in the Icicle Creek watershed than in previous years. In
January 2007, night-time snorkel surveys revealed small groups of juvenile
rainbow trout, coho salmon, and chinook salmon amidst entrained ice floes
and along ice shelves at the channel margins. As the 2007 spring field
season begins, there is much more to learn. Wild Fish Conservancy staff
will continue to explore how recolonization occurs and how the return
of migratory fish affects the health of the watershed. They will also
be partnering with Barn Beach Reserve to develop education and outreach
opportunities to communicate their findings to students and the public.
The Wild Fish Conservancy gratefully acknowledges the Icicle Fund’s
commitment to environmental stewardship in the Wenatchee River Basin,
and its financial support of this research program in the Icicle Creek
watershed.
STAFF BIOS:
Kurt Beardslee, WT Executive Director: BA,
Commercial Art, Burnley School of Professional Art (1969). Art Director,
Coffin, Christianson, Todd Film Production (included production of educational
films for American Science Foundation) (1969-1972); freelance graphic
art and design (1972-1974); Owned and managed furniture design and manufacturing
company (1970-1989); Executive Director, Wild Fish Conservancy (1991-present).
Develops and oversees all WFC research, restoration, and advocacy programs,
participates in field work and data collection. Develops and drives policy,
staffing and growth for organization.
Jamie Glasgow , M.Sc., Science/Research
Director, Ecology. BS,
Biology, Wake Forest University (1994); MS, Fisheries, University of
Washington (1999). Conservation research fellowships, Claire E. and Evelyn
S. Egvedt Trust; Yakima Flyfishers Conservation Committee. Designed and
implemented a stream monitoring project to evaluate the effects of logging
road closures, revegetation, and culvert replacements on tributaries
of the Tolt Reservoir; Coordinated the UW School of Fisheries “Salmon
in the Classroom” program; Researched and compiled annotated bibliography
of published and ongoing riparian research in the Northwest for the UW
Center for Streamside Studies. Science/Research Director, Wild Fish Conservancy
(1999-present) Oversees and participates in design, implementation, monitoring,
and analysis of all WFC restoration, research, and data collection projects.
Eliot Drucker, Ph.D. Science/Research Director, Physiology.Masters
and Doctoral degrees in Biology at Harvard University (1993, 1996) with
research interests in the behavior, ecology and physiology of Pacific
Northwest fishes. His scientific work continued at the University of
California, Irvine as a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research
Fellow in Biosciences Related to the Environment (1997-2003). Dr. Drucker’s
published studies include analyses of fish swimming performance and foraging
strategies.
Attendees are invited to join the speakers
for informal discussion and information sharing following the presentation.
To learn more about this program contact Jody Marquardt at Barn Beach
Reserve (jmarquardt@nwi.net) or Mark Oswood at NCW Audubon (moswood@nwi.net). |
