Ross Taylor and Associates

2021 marks the 25th year that RTA has been involved with the Mono Basin Restoration Program. Ross Taylor has served as the State Water Board-appointed fisheries scientist since 2009 and was a co-author of the 2010 Synthesis Report. This report provided the watershed and fisheries science to recommend streamflow changes needed to accelerate and maintain the restoration of Rush and Lee Vining Creeks.

The little bit of rain in the past week was enough to raise the water level in local creeks and rivers, and stimulate the movement of juvenile coho salmon into over-wintering habitats, such as these off-channel ponds. On November 24th we caught 16 coho, on December 22nd we caught 52 coho and one juvenile steelhead.

Food insecurity is a big issue in Humboldt County, especially with the pandemic and the holidays. At Ross Taylor and Associates we're happy to contribute to Food for People, one of our local food banks.

This summer, RTA relocated fish and amphibians for numerous restoration projects in Humboldt and Mendocino counties. We purchased a Photarium from the Wild Fish Conservancy to provide high-quality photos for reports and presentations. Next steps - a better mono-color background and a small squeegee to clean the front of water drops. Assistance on photography by Ishan Steelhead.

The second year of the Martin Slough Enhancement Project is well underway, with in-channel work occurring on the Eureka municipal golf course property. RTA is again conducting the fish and amphibian relocations prior to dewatering, in-channel excavation and construction of habitat features. The main channel section contained juvenile coho salmon, cutthroat trout, tidewater gobies, three-spine sticklebacks and sculpin. We captured and relocated a juvenile western pond turtle. The East Tributary and its pond were loaded with red-legged frog tadpoles and larval rough-skinned newts. Nearly 1,700 tadpoles and 400 newts were captured and relocated.