Sturgeon: Another Anadromous Fish

Salmon and Steelhead often dominate the discussion of ocean going fish and habitat considerations inland. That other pre-historic like creature fits into that ocean going circle also..the sturgeon. There are several dozen species of sturgeon around the world. The Western U.S. has these behemoths in several rivers. I recall standing gazing down on the Snake River near Hells Canyon dam at first light. The amazing sight of a giant sturgeon leaping from the water and landing on its’ side broke the morning silence. Dare I say, sturgeon tastes amazing!

Green Sturgeon Range

Sturgeon Restoration Projects, Pacific NW

COLUMBIA RIVER STURGEON RECOVERY EFFORTS

Climate Models & Cutt’s

I glaze over any more with the mish mash of models, ‘mights’, ‘maybe’s', ‘could’s’ and I am skeptic, yes I use that word..skeptic, over the agenda’s of a few climate change advocates or the pre-conceived outcomes many studies show. This Western study has some typical model suggestions and vagueness, but it  ultimately leans heavy upon habitat enhancements as the only probable salvation for Western trout. The in your face man made infringements upon the water and edges of the waters is most critical at all times. Floods, volcanoes, run off, droughts….’maybe’. Improved models? Really? 

WESTERN TROUT WELLNESS STUDIES AND HABITAT NEEDS   

Cutthroat Trout fishindex.blogspot.com

Manhole Art, Eugene, Oregon

I stepped from my rig on E. 13th Street in Eugene, Oregon. I looked down and found a pretty nice discovery. I found it to be creative by whomever envisioned or designed it. I wonder if there are a variety of these beautiful manhole covers by East Jordan Iron Works in Eugene and elsewhere?

Eugene, Oregon on E. 13th Street

“East Jordan Iron Works, Inc. has been a part of the East Jordan, Michigan, community for over 125 years.  William E. Malpass and his father-in-law, Richard W. Round, established the foundry November 8, 1883, to service the area’s booming lumber industry.  At the time, the foundry produced castings for machine parts, ship parts, agricultural uses, and eventually railroads.  Soon after the company was founded, W.E. Malpass called upon his brother James, a journeyman machinist in England, to join the firm.”

Stocking the ‘put and take’ trout in remote lakes

I am not even sure anymore of all the methods used to put hatchery trout into lakes. I do see the occasional tanker truck back up to a boat ramp and shoot out hundreds of assorted sized fish. I recall seeing a plane bomb a lake in the Wallowa’s Eagle Cap Wilderness almost 40 years ago with brook trout. And, I know a man that use to pull a string of pack mules into Cascade lakes in the 50′s with tin containers of small trout. These methods for putting in hatchery trout are still used in parts of the country. But, given the economic times and fuel costs (helicopters/planes/tankers), I know there is an old fashioned way being used these days.

A friend and supporter of SwittersB is participating in a ‘backpack the fish in’ exercise in Oregon this weekend. An old, large compartment framed pack is called for. From there an ODFW worker inserts a durable plastic container and the fish and enough water are introduced to the pack’s compartment to sustain the fish. A 6 mile hike into a nearby lake is the target. Stout legs going in and a light load coming out. What could be better. Check your local fishery programs for similar outings where the put ‘n take trout are stocked and not adversely effecting native species through escapement. 

Here is an except from the Eugene Register Guard in July, 2010 about the program: ”About 150 other volunteers did the same, keeping up a nearly 30-year tradition of volunteers — usually the anglers themselves — stocking the high lakes they love, or at least the lakes they’ve always wanted see.

It began at 9 a.m. on July 17 at Oakridge’s fish hatchery, which sits just off Salmon Creek, near the Middle Fork of the Willamette River. First Roberts and Gore met Erik Moberly, the ODFW employee in his fourth year as head organizer for the volunteer stocking event, which runs every other year, with lakes being stocked by helicopter in the off years.”

Outdoor Pledge (Just Leave Nanny Out of the Equation!)

Outdoor Life, 1962

Great idea. Just don’t let it be a vehicle driven by those that aim to control every aspect of your life. All sounds good ’til the never ending reg’s result.

 

The 1927 Mississippi River Flood

“At Vicksburg, Mississippi, alone, the river was 80 miles wide. This flood shifted the influence of flood policy in the U.S., which is still impacting us today. Everything — our levee policies, the way we engineer all of these things — was built out of what people learned from the 1927 flood.”    U.S. Major Floods (Mississippi River Flood, 1927)

McKenzie River (Oregon) Environmental Assessment of Flows

McKenzie River (Oregon)

This is an interesting study on the McKenzie River drainage, a significant tributary of the Willamette River. The report is informative re data collected, comparisons made and how it could be applied to other rivers by the Department of Interior. The Nature Conservancy was also involved in the study.

Key Elements

• This report presents the results of a study that is part of the Nature Conservancy Sustainable Rivers Project begun in 2002 in partnership with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

• The study objective was the creation of an environmental flow framework for the McKenzie River basin, Oregon, necessary to sustain aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

• The goal of this report is to provide a hydrologic, geomorphic, and ecological baseline assessment for basin stakeholders.

The McKenzie River Study

Reed Canyon & Fish? (Inner City Discovery)

My 93 y/o aunt lives adjacent to Reed Canyon and the headwaters of Crystal Springs. I never paid  much attention. So, recently I was driving her to an appointment and what did I see but an obvious habitat improvement project. But, why there? I did a little query and what do you know, a fish habitat story worth following: The Reed Canyon Restoration Project

“Between 1973 and 1993, four population inventories found 16 species of fish from eight different families in Reed Lake. These included: Chinook Salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (juveniles and adults); Steelhead and/or Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (juveniles and adults); Cutthroat Trout, Oncorhynchus clarki (juveniles and adults)…”

Crystal Springs (Reed Canyon) SwittersB

Crystal Springs from Reed Canyon (Habitat Improvement) SwittersB

Crystal Springs (Reed Canyon) SwittersB

It will be interesting to followup on this project over time to see if a safe passage way can be established/maintained.

Fly Fishing in Iran with Amir Salehi

I have had the pleasure, while writing a blog, to see the broad appeal of fly fishing around the world. Some parts of this world seem harder to explore than others, to gather a sense of fly fishing. One of these places was Iran. Iran is often overshadowed by ranting, fist waving leaders. In fact, Iran is an immensely beautiful country, full of expansive history, sophisticated culture and beautiful people.

Recently, SwittersB was fortunate to make the acquaintance of Amir Salehi, via Maryam Peigahi on Facebook. Currently, Amir lives in Sweden. However, he was so kind to provide information about his early fly fishing in Iran.

Mountain Stream by Amir Salehi (SwittersB)

Amir writes: “I worked as journalist for more than 6 years in Iran on a hunting and fishing magazine : “Nature Funds Courier” and wrote mostly articles on fly fishing and catch and release fishing to teach the culture to Iranian for being ethical while they fish.

The book “Mahigiri dar Iran ” which means “fishing in Iran ” is an encyclopedia of fishing in Iran and I wrote the fly fishing part of the book.    Some pictures from Lar my favorite place in Iran is attached.”

Further Amir writes: “In north of Iran there is a chain of maintains called “Alborz”. These mountains contain plenty of springs and rivers that support the water of cities as well.

Brown Trout is the purely native specie of Alborz Mountains, with its own specie type. The Lar area was one of the most important ones, which recently became national park. These mountain have variety of wildlife species such as Alborz Mouflon, Persian ibex, Persian leopard, wolf, Persian partridge, etc.  It was Iran kings hunting area and fishing area as well.

In 1860s sport fishing was brought to the country by diplomats from French, USA and Britain. Britain, and USA diplomats also had a special summer camp in Lar area. After the starting the Dam project in Lar, it became even more popular where Italian engineers, who were working there started to catch brown trout from Lar. Other rivers in Alborz also had the native Brown Trout. The record for a Brown Trout in Iran is for Karadj river, which was hooked and landed by an American diplomat in late 70s (The brownie more than 1 meter long).”

A special note, within the week comes the Persian New Year, Nowrūz, which transpires upon the vernal equinox. Read the attached link to learn the ancient heritage of this special event. I hope to learn more about Iran’s fly fishing from Amir. However, he may be too busy catching Atlantic Salmon and other species in Sweden.

Oregon Coastal Cutt’s: Amazing Video

Horatio Nailknot over on FB shared this amazing underwater video by David Saiget. For me it was  informative and I think you will agree beautifully done.

Behind The Bubble Curtain: The Underwater World of Coastal Cutthroat Trout