My Summer Internship Restoring Endangered Salmonid Habitat in Marin County

Hi Everyone

With the issues of threatened ecosystems and endangered species I figured I would post some of the highlights of my summer internship with SPAWN (Salmon Protection and Watershed Network) and TIRN (Turtle Island Restoration Network) on the Lagunitas watershed in Marin County California. This watershed has the states largest run of state listed endangered Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and another state listed endangered run of Steelhead Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). I was the Co-Manager of the programs native plant nursery and gardens.

This is a picture/photo of one of the shade houses I managed. These native plants were a key part of all the restorations.



This is a picture/photo of the restoration on the McIsaac Ranch.



These are some pictures/photos of the restoration on San Geronimo Golf Course.











Restorations such as these are required elsewhere for many endangered species and ecosystems through out the world. I think for species that have conservation and restoration programs the process of becoming and endangered species can be reversed. It is a big job. An example is as seen here is the Lagunitas watershed Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). Coho Salmon are a species that has been well documented to require pristine forests and riparian habitats to spawn. If pristine forest and riparian habitats exist the Coho Salmon will thrive and spawn in their nursery watershed while without them they would go extinct from that watershed. Restoration programs such as SPAWNS on the Lagunitas watershed for Coho Salmon are programs that similar programs can be applied to many other species including reptiles and chameleons.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

I would love to do something like that -
Thanks for posting , re-kindles my urge

Thanks!

Seems like a very rewarding job!

little leaf said:

I would love to do something like that -
Thanks for posting , re-kindles my urge

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The main part of this non profit is Turtle Island Restoration Network or TIRN. They are advocates and a conservation group for the worlds seven species of Sea Turtles. I did some advocacy and networking for TIRN, even though with my agriculture degree my responsibilities were mostly with SPAWN and their restorations and managing their native plant garden and nursery. They were all surprised about my conservation biology expertise for an agriculture degree normally those two studies/departments have always had conflicts.

https://seaturtles.org/

https://www.facebook.com/seaturtles.org

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

Motherlode Chameleon said:

The main part of this non profit is Turtle Island Restoration Network or TIRN. They are advocates and a conservation groups for the worlds seven species of Sea Turtles. I did some advocacy and networking for TIRN, even though with my agriculture degree my responsibilities were mostly with SPAWN and their restorations and managing their native plant garden and nursery.

https://seaturtles.org/

https://www.facebook.com/seaturtles.org

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

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that's so neat - I take my daughter down to Marco Island to see the hatching - I like how they turn off the lights, one time we were there, and it was a full moon - it was amazing - but we have yet to catch them hatching- lol
I ALMOST stayed in the Galapagos Islands when I went, I got invited to stay on and help on a project on how the invasive wild goats were destroying and impacting it - had I not been engaged, I would have stayed -

Seeing the sea turtles would be a wonderful sight. Looks like you guys did an amazing job.

little leaf said:

that's so neat - I take my daughter down to Marco Island to see the hatching - I like how they turn off the lights, one time we were there, and it was a full moon - it was amazing - but we have yet to catch them hatching- lol
I ALMOST stayed in the Galapagos Islands when I went, I got invited to stay on and help on a project on how the invasive wild goats were destroying and impacting it - had I not been engaged, I would have stayed -

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It is a neat correlation agriculture, herpetology, conservation biology, fisheries management, the reptile hobby? If you are a fan of sea turtles you should like TIRN's facebook page. TIRN has got programs going on all the time to help conserve endangered sea turtles in the wild such as volunteer program in the Gulf of Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, the Galapagos and etc.. .

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

Motherlode Chameleon said:

It is a neat correlation agriculture, herpetology, conservation biology, fisheries management, the reptile hobby? If you are fan of sea turtles you should like TIRN's facebook page. TIRN has got programs going on all the time to help conserve endangered sea turtles in the wild such as volunteer program in the Gulf of Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, the Galapagos and etc.. .

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

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I did like it going to follow the page - my last child will be 18 in June

This is some footage of the Coho Salmon spawning in Lagunitas Creek.

This is another video about the spawning Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch on the Lagunitas watershed.

These are a couple pictures I got today with an employee of SPAWN of some state listed Endangered Central California Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) on one of the tributary's of the Lagunitas Watershed. They were spawning with milt and eggs.

Motherlode Chameleon said:

These are a couple pictures I got today with an employee of SPAWN of some state listed Endangered Central California Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) on one of the tributary's of the Lagunitas Watershed. They were spawning with milt and eggs.

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That's pretty cool! Are there any other species of fish that you work to protect?

PattyCake said:

That's pretty cool! Are there any other species of fish that you work to protect?

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I am Co-managing a 1200 acre reservoir as a native fishery and a sport fishery. I have a list of a couple other species I want to conserve as well.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich