California drought threatens coho salmon with extinction

The lack of rain this winter could eventually be disastrous for thirsty California, but the drought may have already ravaged some of the most storied salmon runs on the West Coast.

LINK (via:SF Gate)

California may have hit its driest point in 500 years.

Mystery compound found to kill coho salmon

Stormwater runoff from highways appears to contain one or more unidentified compounds shown to be highly toxic to coho salmon and perhaps other salmon as well.

The problem has been studied only a few years. Now, experiments at Grover's Creek Hatchery in North Kitsap have confirmed that polluted stormwater has the ability to kill adult coho before they can spawn.

LINK (via: The Kitsap Sun)

Feds propose critical habitat

Federal fisheries managers are proposing to designate critical habitat for two threatened species of fish.

NOAA Fisheries says it wants to designate about 2,288 miles of freshwater and estuarine habitat in Washington and Oregon for lower Columbia River coho salmon. The agency is also proposing about 1,880 miles of critical habitat in Puget Sound for Puget Sound steelhead.

Lower Columbia River coho was listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act in 2005, while Puget Sound steelhead was listed in 2007.

LINK (via: Oregon Live)

Working for Idaho's Extinct Coho Salmon

The Northwest’s declining salmon runs have spurred marathon legal battles and inspired billions in spending to save the iconic species.

But Idaho’s coho salmon were never listed as endangered before they went extinct in 1987. Very few people noticed when the fish were gone. But the Nez Perce Indian tribe noticed. And thanks to its extraordinary efforts, coho are once again returning by the thousands to Idaho waters.

Earthfix reporter Aaron Kunz explains.

LISTEN (via: Northwest Public Radio)