Carbon Storage in U.S. Pacific Northwest Coastal Dunes: the Role of Invasive Beachgrasses and Sand Supply - Stepanek, John (Oregon State University, 2023)
Despite intense interest in global warming, the carbon storage capacity of coastal dunes, which take up much of the Pacific coastline, had not been well studied – until now. In this Master’s thesis, the author “measured the carbon storage capacity of coastal foredunes in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, where dunes occur on roughly 45% of the coastline. . .” (from the Abstract). Carbon storage of two introduced beachgrass species is contrasted with that of the native dunegrass. This is an interesting look at an often overlooked ecosystem. Sally D. Hacker was the major professor.
Keywords: American beachgrass = Ammophila breviligulata; American dunegrass = Leymus mollis; carbon; Clatsop Plains; climate; European marram grass = Ammophila arenaria; introduced species; Nehalem Bay; Pacific City (Or.); Sand Lake; Siltcoos Dunes; Siuslaw River; Snowy plover = Charadrius nivosus; South Beach (Or.); terrestrial vegetation; Umpqua Dunes

Coherence among Oregon Coast coho salmon populations highlights increasing relative importance of marine conditions for productivity - Davis, Melanie J.; Anthony, James; Ward, Eric J.; Firman, Julie; Lorion, Christopher (Fisheries Oceanography, 2023)
Anadromous fish like salmon have to live in two worlds: freshwater and the ocean. The scales of these two worlds are quite different: the freshwater environment works at the scale of a single stream, and environmental changes or stressors at the stream level affect a single population of fishes. On the other hand, oceanic changes or stressors cam affect broad regions or entire evolutionary significant units. By analyzing stock recruitment data for about sixty years along the Oregon Coast, some patterns become clear. Over this period, there have been significant changes in how fisheries are managed, from riparian buffers in forested lands to adding large woody debris to denuded streams. Despite these changes, it seems that oceanic conditions, especially the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation, which has dominated the marine environment since 1990, are determining population levels, rather than conservation efforts at the stream level. “If Oregon Coast coho salmon populations become more synchronous, managers can expect to face new challenges driven by reductions in the population portfolio effect and increasingly variable marine conditions due to climate change” (from the Abstract).
Keywords: Alsea River; Beaver Creek; climate; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; ecosystem health; mathematical modeling; North Pacific Gyre Oscillation; Oregon Coast; Pacific Decadal Oscillation; population biology; Productivity; Salmon River Estuary; Siletz River; Siuslaw River; Umpqua River; Yaquina River

Endangered Species Management Plan for the Marbled Murrelet - Singleton, Ryan; Yeates, Alice; Kirkland, Jennifer (Oregon Dept. of State Lands, 2023)
In 1992, the Federal government listed the marbled murrelet under the Endangered Species Act as having a threatened status. Oregon recognized the species as threatened in 1995, and in July, 2021, Oregon reclassified the marbled murrelet as endangered under the Oregon Endangered Species Act. This document sets out the plan under which Oregon will act to conserve and restore the marbled murrelet. The State will do this primarily through management of state lands to develop and preserve habitat for nesting birds.
Keywords: depleted populations; Elliott State Forest; habitat restoration; habitats; Lower Umpqua River; Marbled murrelet = Brachyramphus marmoratus; restoration ecology; South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve; terrestrial vegetation

Estimating juvenile salmon estuarine carrying capacities to support restoration planning and evaluation - Hall, Jason; Roni, Phil; Ross, Kai; Camp, Meghan J.; Nuckols, Jason; Ruffing, Claire (Estuaries and Coasts, 2023)
What is the carrying capacity of salmon habitat in a time of global warming and rising sea levels? To answer this question, the authors of this paper took a hard dive into the literature, involving over 4,500 printed estimates of densities of juvenile salmonids in estuaries and floodplains. This data was then used in a habitat expansion approach to estimate historic, current potential and predicted population densities after sea level rise. “We demonstrate the habitat expansion approach by applying the quantiles of observed juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and coho salmon (O. kisutch) densities (fish/ha) to spatial data describing current, historical or potential, and predicted (based on seal level rise) habitat extents for 16 coastal Oregon estuaries to estimate carrying capacities” (from the Abstract). This information will be important in the design and evaluation of restoration projects. This is an open-access article.
Keywords: Alsea Bay; Chetco River; Chinook salmon = Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; Coos Bay; Coquille River; Elk River; juvenile fish; natural resource management; Necanicum River; Nehalem River; Nestucca Bay; Rogue River; Salmon River; sea levels; Siletz Bay; Siuslaw River; Sixes River; Tillamook Bay; Umpqua River; Yaquina Bay

Freshwater mussel populations in Pacific Coast watersheds (Oregon, USA): occurrence, condition, habitat, and fish species overlap - Scully-Engelmeyer, Kaegan; Blevins, Emilie; Granek, Elise F.; Constable, Ronald J., Jr. (Hydrobiologia, 2023)
Freshwater mussels provide several valuable ecosystem services, including biofiltration, which removes nutrients, sediments, algae, harmful bacteria and heavy metals from the environment. Despite their value, freshwater mussel life cycles are not well understood, and their populations are declining throughout the west. This article concerns the dominant freshwater mussel in Oregon, the western pearl mussel, Margaritifera falcata. “To understand M. falcata population ecology in Oregon’s coastal watersheds, we analyzed stream survey data on presence/absence of mussels collected over a recent eleven-year period, explored co-varying habitat characteristics, and summarized mussel distribution and host fish co-occurrence. We also collected M. falcata and compared condition indices among eight locations” (from the Abstract). This is an open-access article. Additional data is included in a supplementary file.
Keywords: Alsea River; Beaver Creek; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; depleted populations; Devil’s Lake; geographical distribution; life history information; Salmon River; Siletz River; Siuslaw River; Umpqua River; Western pearl mussel = Margaritifera falcata; Yachats River; Yaquina River

Implications of metrics and methodology for juvenile salmonid monitoring in western Oregon streams - Constable, Ronald J. Jr.; Suring, Erik (Northwest Science, 2023)
Since 1998, the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife has monitored populations of juvenile coho salmon in Oregon streams for population density and abundance. The Dept. has monitored juvenile steelhead trout since 2002. ODFW uses two methods to monitor fish populations: electrofishing and snorkeling. Neither method works in every setting: electrofishing doesn’t work in non-wadable streams and is too expensive to use everywhere, and some streams are too shallow for snorkeling. An early study had indicated that there would be many juvenile fish in areas where there were many parental fish. Sampling, however, revealed variations in juvenile fish abundance that were not explained by parental abundance. Was the problem with the operating assumption or with the methods of counting fish? Researchers learned that sampling for population density did not provide desired results, and that sampling for abundance was more accurate. Snorkeling turned out to be extremely accurate, and the standard for water depth for snorkeling could be lowered by 10 cm., making more streams available for this method. These changes will give ODFW better ability to monitor vulnerable salmonids.
Keywords: Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; juvenile fish; population count; steelhead trout = Oncorhynchus mykiss; Umpqua River Basom; Upper Smith River

Large Downed Wood as Post-fire Refugia for Terrestrial Salamanders in Pacific Northwest Forests - Stephens, Paige N. (Oregon State University, 2023)
“Climate change, wildfire, timber harvest, and land conversion alter the availability of downed wood in forests of the western United States. Numerous taxa rely on downed wood for temperature and humidity refugia, and downed wood may play a key role in enabling the persistence of climate-sensitive, low-vagility species like terrestrial salamanders (family Plethidontidae) after high severity wildfire. However, few studies have quantified the relationship between the quantity, size, and quality of downed wood and terrestrial salamander occupancy—especially in harsh microclimate conditions following high severity fire” (from the Abstract) In this Master’s thesis, areas burned in 2002 are compared with unburned areas and areas burned in 2017. The author examined occupancy, abundance, diversity and relationships with downed wood. Lisa M. Ellsworth was the major professor.
Keywords: Acker Fire; amphibians; Apple Fire; Big Bend Fire; Columbia River Gorge; Dunn’s salamander = Plethodon dunni; ecosystem health; Ensatina = Ensatina eschscholtzii; forest fires; habitats; large woody debris; logging; Mt. Hood National Forest; North Umpqua Complex Fire; North Umpqua River; Oregon slender salamander = Batrachoseps wrighti; salamanders; Umpqua National Forest; Western red-backed salamander = Plethodon vehiculum; Willamette National Forest

Northwest Forest Plan: The first 25 years (1994-2018): Watershed condition status and trends - Dunham, Jason; Hirsch, Christine; Gordon, Sean; Flitcroft, Rebecca; Chelgren, Nathan; Snyder, Marcia; Hockman-Wert, David; Reeves, Gordon; Andersen, Heidi; Anderson, Scott; Battaglin, William; Black, Tom; et al. (General Technical Report PNW, 2023)
"This report describes status and trends in watershed condition across the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) area over the first 25 years since its inception in 1994. The program charged with this task is the Aquatic and Riparian Effectiveness Monitoring Program (AREMP), which has assembled information from field data collection, spatial datasets, and a host of landscape models to evaluate the status and trends in aquatic resources in streams and watersheds. Field data included hydrologic measurements (stream wetted widths and temperatures), geomorphic responses (instream wood and sediment), and biological responses (macroinvertebrates and aquatic organism passage)” (from the Abstract). Forest manager’s efforts have shown incremental progress in improving aquatic conditions in Federal forests, but in a context of climate change. More planning and adaptions in monitoring methods are warranted.
Keywords: climate; environmental law and policy; erosion; general; hydrology; landslides; large woody debris; logging; Pacific Northwest; precipitation; riparian areas; sediment; terrestrial vegetation; water temperature

Oregon shellfish farmers: Perceptions of stressors, adaptive strategies, and policy linkages - Green, Kristen Marie; Spalding, Ana K.; Ward, Melissa; Levine, Arielle; Wolters, Erika Allen; Hamilton, Sara Luanne; Rice, Lauren (Ocean and Coastal Management, 2023)
The demand for oysters in the United States exceeds supply, marking the oyster growing as an industry meriting support. On the west coast, growers must cope with climate change, particularly ocean acidification, as well as regulatory problems and labor shortages. In order to help resource managers help oyster farmers, the authors of this paper went to the growers. In 2022, they conducted detailed interviews with Oregon oyster growers, and their comments abundantly populate this paper. “To expand and enhance United States oyster production, and support domestic food security and livelihoods, a better understanding of the limitations that oyster farmers’ experience, and corresponding pathways forward for adaptation is needed. Through semi-structured interviews conducted with commercial Oregon shellfish farmers, we assess the environmental, economic, social and regulatory stressors impacting oyster growing operations, and the corresponding adaptive strategies employed or envisioned by aquaculture farmers” (from the Abstract). The authors note adaptive strategies oyster growers adopt to cope, and advocate for more targeted outreach to support the oyster growers.
Keywords: aquaculture; aquatic invertebrates; bivalves; climate; commercial fisheries – shellfish; Coos Bay; economics; environmental law and policy; mollusks; Netarts Bay; ocean acidification; oysters; South Slough; Tillamook Bay; Umpqua River estuary; Yaquina Bay

Oregon Water Quality Index Summary Report: Water Years 2013-2022 - Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality, (Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality. Laboratory and Environmental Assessment Division, 2023)
Trends in water quality. Raw data for earlier years is available in spreadsheet format.
Keywords: agriculture; bacteria; dissolved oxygen; forestry; human impacts; land use; nitrogen; pH; phosphorus; water pollution; water quality; water temperature

Oregon's 2022 Integrated Report - Oregon. Dept. of Environmental Quality, (Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality, 2023)
This website gives information about water quality in Oregon and lists those waters considered to be impaired. Four points of access are provided: an interactive story map, an interactive web map, a searchable database, and a GIS geodatabase.
Keywords: algae, bacteria, dissolved oxygen, eutrophication, general, habitats, pH data, sediments, water pollution, water quality, water temperature

Situation Analysis for Oregon’s Emergent Seaweed Aquaculture Industry - Considine, Megan E.; Kirchner, Gway; Carter, Jena; Waters, Tiffany (The Nature Conservancy, 2023)
At present, seaweed aquaculture is an underdeveloped industry in Oregon. Pacific dulse is the only species cultivated today in the state. The industry has, however, great potential, and can provide significant ecological services by cleaning seawater and providing habitat for marine animals. There is potential for mitigating climate change by buffering acidic ocean water and sequestering carbon. It would be worthwhile to investigate possible products such as biofuels, fertilizer and animal feed. Possible negative impacts such as overharvesting of wild stock, lack of genetic diversity, and competition for nutrients should be explored, and a stronger regulatory environment is needed. This is a most interesting introduction to what could be a beneficial and profitable industry.
Keywords: algae; aquaculture; Bandon (Or.); Carbon sequestration; climate; environmental law and policy; Garibaldi (Or.); Newport (Or.); ocean acidification; Pacific dulse = Palmaria mollis; Port Orford (Or.); purple sea urchin = Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

Sixth Oregon Climate Assessment - Fleishman, Erica; Oregon Climate Change Research Institute.,, (Oregon State University. Oregon Climate Change Research Institute, 2023)
“This sixth Oregon Climate Assessment builds on the previous assessments by continuing to evaluate past and projected future changes in Oregon’s climate and water supply. Like the fifth assessment, it is structured with the goal of supporting the state’s mitigation planning for natural hazards and implementation of the 2021 Oregon Climate Change Adaptation Framework.” (from the Abstract)
Keywords: agriculture; air temperature; climate; climate change; coastal hazards; depleted populations; economics; fish; forest fires; human impact; hydrology; introduced species; phenology; precipitation; sea level; snowpack; terrestrial vegetation; water temperature; wildlife

Status of the European Green Crab, Carcinus maenas, (aka 5-spine crab) in Oregon Estuaries. Report for 2022 - Yamada, Sylvia Behrens; Royer, Cameron; Schooler, Shon; Flitcroft, Rebecca; Vance, Mitch; Randall, Andrea; Fisher, Jennifer (Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. Aquatic Nuisance Species Project, 2023)
The invasive European green crab is a voracious predator of bivalve molluscs, small crustaceans and other organisms. It has been present in Oregon since the late 1990s. The population grows when winter waters are warm, as they are during El Niños. Since 2015, however, “recruitment has been good every year. Since green crabs live for 6 years, these recent strong year classes can produce larvae until 2027. . . Now that populations in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia have built up, we have evidence for local production and for larvae sources from a genetically distinct population on Vancouver Island. . .” (from the Executive Summary)
Keywords: aquatic invertebrates; Coos Bay; crustaceans; El Nino; European green crab = Carcinus maenas; Grays Harbor (Wa.); introduced species; Netarts Bay; Pacific Decadal Oscillation; population count; Salmon River; Siuslaw River; Tillamook Bay; Umpqua River estuary; Willapa Bay (Wa.); Yaquina Bay

Western Aquatic Invasive Species Resource Center - Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission,., (Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, 2023)
“This website reflects the collaborative efforts of many states and provinces in the western United States and other regions of the country to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species by focusing on their pathways of introduction, sharing information and best management practices, achieving consensus on protocols and standards as well as regulations, developing and implementing outreach campaigns to raise public awareness, and providing training.“ (home page) A rich, current resource.
Keywords: introduced species

Concentration-Runoff Relationships of Contrasting Small Mountainous Rivers in the Pacific Northwest, USA: Insights into the Weathering of Rhenium - Ghazi, Layla (Oregon State University, 2022)
The author of this Master’s thesis uses a rare trace element (Rhenium) to explore differences in sediment loads in the Umpqua and Eel rivers. Because rhenium behaves differently from other elements, it is a useful tracer of the oxygenation of carbon in rocks. “The results of this study suggest that dissolved Re [rhenium] in the Eel and Umpqua River basins is likely derived from OCpetro [oxidation of petrogenic carbon] oxidation, and Re fluxes are higher in areas with higher erosion rates, suggesting that tectonic setting is one factor that controls OCpetro oxidation” (from the Abstract).
Keywords: Calapooya Creek; chemistry; Clear Water River; Cow Creek; Eel River Basin; geology; hydrology; Little River; Little Wolf Creek; Lookingglass Creek; North Umpqua River; precipitation; Rhenium; Runoff; sediments; South Umpqua River; Steamboat Creek; streamflow; Umpqua River; Umpqua River Basin

Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms [web page] (2022)
This OHA website is a helpful introduction to harmful algae blooms, which have affected water quality at several sites in the Umpqua River watershed.
Keywords: algae; aquatic vegetation; Diamond Lake; Elk Creek; Fish Lake; Lemolo Lake; South Umpqua River; toxicity; Umpqua River

Earthquake and tsunami impact analysis for coastal Lane, Douglas, and Coos counties, Oregon - Allan, Jonathan C.; O’Brien. Fletcher E. (Open-File Report (Oregon. Department of Geology and Mineral Industries), 2022)
This sobering document examines the potential impacts of different scenarios of major earthquakes. Relative distance to high ground is the most important factor in limiting deaths and injuries. Casualties, economic losses and debris generated are estimated. This is an honest look at the elephant on the coastline.
Keywords: Bandon (Or.); Barview; Charleston (OR.); coastal hazards; Coos Bay; Dunes City (Or.); earthquakes; Florence (Or.); geology; landslides; North Bend (Or.); Reedsport (Orr.); tsunamis; Umpqua South Jetty; Winchester Bay (Or.)

Empirical Analyses of Forestry Interactions with Climate Uncertainty and Threatened Species - Johnson, Kelsey K. (Oregon State University, 2022)
In this doctoral dissertation, the author addresses two questions about climate change and forestry. In a changing climate, when you replant after harvesting timber, do you re-plant the same species as before, or do you plant a species you believe will do better in a changing climate? This question takes up the first half of the work, and is concerned with forests in the Eastern United States. The second question is concerned with the ideal widths of no-cut riparian zones in Oregon coastal forests. These are important questions with important answers. David J. Lewis was the major professor.
Keywords: Alsea River; Beaver Creek; climate; climate change; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; forestry; logging; North Umpqua River; Oregon Coast; riparian areas; Salmon River Estuary; Siletz River; Siuslaw River; South Umpqua River; Umpqua River; Yaquina River

Estimating the value of threatened species abundance dynamics - Lewis, David J.; Kling, David M.; Dundas, Steven J.; Lew, Daniel K. (Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 2022)
How much are people willing to pay for marginal increases in abundance of threatened species? This paper looks at the value the public places on Coho salmon. “Results provide direct evidence that conservation activities that achieve immediate abundance gains for a threatened species (or prevent immediate losses) produce significantly higher benefits than activities that gradually achieve the same abundance gains.” (from the Abstract)
Keywords: abundance; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; depleted populations; ecological values; economics; general; Oregon Coast

Event scale analysis of streamflow response to wildfire in Oregon, 2020 - Long, Will B.; Chang, Heejun (Hydrology, 2022)
After wildfires, heavy rains increase runoff, leading to further degradation of a landscape. In this article, the authors examine several Oregon watersheds after the Labor Day Fires of 2020. Runoff did increase, although there were complicating factors, such as ongoing drought.
Keywords: Clackamas River; forest fires; Labor Day Fires; Little North Santiam River; Molalla River; North Santiam River; North Umpqua River; precipitation; Runoff

Fish and Temperature Data from Hinkle Creek Summer 2021 [dataset] - Warren, Dana; Bladon, Kevin; Roon, David; Swartz, Allison (2022)
This “data set has two components. The first component of the data set includes information about age 1 and older fish collected from two sections of the South Fork of Hinkle Creek in summer 2021 . . . The second component of this study is stream temperature from the mainstem of the South Fork Hinkle Creek, and also includes two data files. The first data file includes stream temperature (in Celsius) from summer 2021 . . . The second data file includes maximum daily temperatures from each site in 2021 and from data collected at these sites from 2006 to 2011, before the Archie Creek Fire impacted this site (in Sept. 2020).” (from the Abstract) This dataset is described in Warren, Roon, Swartz, Bladon. “Loss of riparian forests from wildfire led to increased stream temperatures in summer, yet salmonid fish persisted.” Edosphere. 13:9 (Sep.2022), e4233, an open-access article. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4233
Keywords: cutthroat trout = Oncorhynchus clarki; forest fires; Hinkle Creek Study; human impacts; logging; North Fork Hinkle Creek; South Fork Hinkle Creek; steelhead trout = Oncorhynchus mykiss; Umpqua River Basin; water temperature

Loss of riparian forests from wildfire led to increased stream temperatures in summer, yet salmonid fish persisted - Warren, Dana R.; Roon, David A.; Swartz, Allison G.; Bladon, Kevin D. (Ecosphere, 2022)
in September, 2020, the Hinkle Creek watershed was almost entirely burned in the Archie Creek Fire. Most riparian cover was lost in the blaze, causing higher summer water temperature in the creek. While higher temperatures stress cold-water fish such as trout, the warmer waters can cause more food to be available. The interplay between thermal stress and food availability may determine survival. This article gives data immediately after the fire, without increased sediment loads or other longer-term impacts of forest fires, but showing the resilience of some salmonid species.
Keywords: cutthroat trout = Oncorhynchus clarki; forest fires; Hinkle Creek Study; human impacts; logging; North Fork Hinkle Creek; South Fork Hinkle Creek; steelhead trout = Oncorhynchus mykiss; Umpqua River Basin; water temperature

Nonfishing impacts on essential fish habitat - Kiffney, Peter; Thompson, Jamie; Blaud, Brianna; Hoberecht, Laura (NOAA White Paper NMFS-NWFSC-WP-, 2022)
Many human activities that are not directly related to fishing can harm essential fish habitat. This publication looks at 19 different human activities that can damage essential fish habitat, from climate change to forest management to noise pollution, and more. The authors describe for each activity what is known to affect essential fish habitat, potential impacts, “and provide proactive conservation measures designed to minimize or avoid them” (from the Plain Language Summary).
Keywords: agriculture; Alsea River; aquaculture; climate; dams; dredging; energy; general; industrial development; Industrial waste; logging; mining; Noise; oil spills; Oregon Coast; ports; Sewage; shipping; Yaquina River

Predicting springtime herbicide exposure across multiple scales in pacific coastal drainages (Oregon, USA) - Scully-Engelmeyer, Kaean M.; Granek, Elise F. (Ecological Indicators, 2022)
Springtime in coastal Oregon brings many things, including high runoff of herbicides from coastal forests. In this article, the uthors describe a study of herbicide runoff at 3 different scales of sub-basin size. While several important variables were identified, steep slopes combined with clearcuts and herbicide use combined to bring the highest concentrations of pollutants in runoff.
Keywords: Coos River; forestry; herbicides; logging; Millicoma River; Nehalem River Basin; Siletz River Basin; Smith River Basin (Umpqua); Umpqua River; water pollution

Riparian buffer effects on headwater-stream vertebrates and habitats five years after a second upland-forest thinning in western Oregon, USA - Olson, Deanna H.; Ares, Adrian (Forest Ecology and Management, 2022)
This most interesting article addresses the effects of different riparian borders on fish and amphibians in streams after a second thinning. The consideration of amphibians as indicators of ecosystem health is appreciated. While different widths of riparian borders favored different species, in general the broadest border (~70 m.) benefitted the most species.
Keywords: Alsea River; amphibians; Callahan Creek (Siletz); Coastal giant salamander = Dicamptodon tenebrosus; Coastal tailed frog = Ascaphus truei; cutthroat trout = Oncorhynchus clarki; depleted populations; fish; Green Peak Creek (Alsea); logging; North Soup Creek (Lower Umpqua); riparian areas; Rough-skinned newt = Taricha granulosa; Sculpins = Cottidae spp.; Siletz River; terrestrial vegetation; Torrent salamanders = Rhyacotriton spp.; Umpqua River; Western red-backed salamander = Plethodon vehiculum

Salmonid egg-to-fry survival and capture methods: Bibliography - Shinn, Hope (NCRL Subject Guide, 2022)
"Fish biologists at NMFS’ California Central Valley Division are interested in the variety of methods used to examine the survival of fish eggs in a rivers where salmonids dig nests in gravel. They are also interested in how salmonid egg-to-fry survival is calculated. To that end, the NOAA Central Library conducted a literature search and present their findings in this bibliography." (Background & Scope)
Keywords: bibliography; Chinook salmon = Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; chum salmon = Oncorhynchus keta; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; cutthroat trout = Oncorhynchus clarki; developmental stages; juvenile fish; life history information; Pink salmon (humpback) = Oncorhynchus gorbuscha; steelhead trout = Oncorhynchus mykiss

A systematic revision of the genus Juga from fresh waters of the Pacific Northwest, USA (Cerithioidea, Semisulcospiridae) - Strong, Ellen E.; Johnson, Paul D.; Johnson, Paul D.; Whelan, Nathan V. (European Journal of Taxonomy, 2022)
This open-access publication gives a revised taxonomy of a ubiquitous genus of Pacific Northwest freshwater snails.

Umpqua River, Douglas County, Oregon - Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries,; Oregon Emergency Management,,; Virginia Institute of Marine Science,; National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (U.S.), (Oregon Maritime Tsunami Response Guidance, 2022)
Unless a boat is at sea, if there is a nearshore earthquake triggering a tsunami, there is no time for the owner to get the boat to safer waters. If the earthquake is distant, however, there will be a minimum of about 4 hours to move the boat offshore. This publication offers a thorough discussion of issues boat owners face, and what they should do. Colored maps, colored pictures.
Keywords: coastal hazards; earthquakes; Gardiner (Or.); harbors; Maritime transportation; ports; Reedsport (Or.); tsunamis; Umpqua River estuary; Winchester Bay (Or.)

Umpqua River Tsunami Modeling: Toward Improved Maritime Planning Response - Allan, Jonathan C.; Zhang, Joseph; O’Brien, Fletcher E.; Gabel, Laura L. S. (Open-File Report (Oregon. Department of Geology and Mineral Industries), 2022)
“Distant tsunamis affecting the West Coast of the United States over the past two decades have resulted in significant damage to ports and harbors as well as to recreational and commercial vessels attempting to escape the tsunami. Although local tsunamis will strike the coast within minutes after the start of earthquake shaking, providing little time to evacuate, distant tsunamis are expected to arrive some four to 12 hours after the event, providing time to respond. This study evaluates new tsunami modeling results completed for both distant and local tsunamis impacting the Umpqua Estuary, including the towns of Winchester Bay and Reedsport” (from the Executive Summary). This report offers a technical background for “Maritime Tsunami Response Guidance (MTRG) publication.” MTRG-2022-OR-01 - Port of Umpqua: https://www.oregongeology.org/pubs/mtrg/MTRG-2022-OR-01_Port-of-Umpqua.pdf
Keywords: coastal hazards; earthquakes; harbors; Maritime transportation; ports; Reedsport (Or.); tsunamis; Umpqua River estuary; Winchester Bay (Or.)

UPRLIMET: UPstream Regional LiDAR Model for Extent of Trout in stream networks - Penaluna, Brooke E.; Burnett, Jonathan D.; Christiansen, Kelly; Arismendi, Ivan; Johnson, Sherri L.; Griswold, Kitty; Holycross, Brett; Kolstoe, Sonja H. (Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group), 2022)
“In conclusion, we offer a prediction model development and evaluation framework for how to systematically consider the upper distribution limit of fish that could be broadly applied to watersheds and fishes. Distribution boundaries are fundamental for species conservation as well as for understanding how species might respond to environmental change; policy makers and managers reference distribution maps to determine management decisions, policies, and regulations.” (p.12)
Keywords: Coffee Creek (Rogue); Ecola Creek; Fairy Creek; geographic distribution; Limpy Creek; mathematical modeling; North Fork Umpqua River; Panther Creek; temporal distribution; Umpqua River Basin; West Fork Smith River

Water Quality Index - Oregon. Dept. of Environmental Quality, (2022)
Trends in water quality. This website includes an interactive map and subbasin reports giving trends in recent years.
Keywords: bacteria; dissolved oxygen; nitrogen; pH; phosphorus; pollution; solids; water quality; water temperature

Abundance trends for adult Pacific lamprey in western Oregon (USA): Historic declines, recent increases, and relative contributions from coastal rivers - Clemens, Benjamin J.; Weeber, Matthew A.; Lewis, Mark; Jones, Michelle (Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 2021)
Pacific lamprey is an anadromous species, spending most of its life in the ocean, but returning to coastal streams to spawn. In general, lamprey counts at dams tend to show steep declines in lamprey populations. How accurate is this information? The authors contrast dam counts with redd surveys in coastal streams and come up with a different conclusion.
Keywords: abundance; Bonneville Dam; Columbia River; depleted populations; Gold Ray Dam; mathematical modeling; North Umpqua River; Pacific lamprey = Entosphenus tridentatus (Lampetra tridentata); population count; Rogue River; Umpqua River; Winchester Dam

Beyond Salmon: Biocultural Restoration on the Central Oregon Coast - Craig, Amanda (University of Oregon, 2021)
In this beautiful and moving Masters of Landscape Architecture thesis, the author seeks to use the traditional knowledge of Native peoples to inform environmental management. “Using a literature review and semi-structured interviews, four categories for changes, and a set of practice principles were developed that could inform future restoration efforts on the Central Oregon Coast or elsewhere. This research was conducted with the understanding that indigenous peoples are experts of their own culture and realities. Drawing insight and inspiration from the experiences and cultural practices of the Hanis and Miluk Coos, Quiich [Lower Umpqua], and Sha'yuushtl'a [Siuslaw] peoples and their centuries of place-based knowledge, this research is intended to provide a lens through which to view the environmental world, illuminating a unique perspective on human environmental relationships and reciprocity” (from the Abstract).
Keywords: Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians; Coos Bay; ecosystem health; environmental law and policy; human impacts; indigenous knowledge; Native Americans; natural resource management; Siuslaw River; Umpqua River

Characteristic scales of drainage reorganization in Cascadia - Struble, William T.; Roering, Joshua J.; Dorsey, Rebecca J.; Bendick, Rebecca (Geophysical Research Letters, 2021)
The organization of river basins varies over geologic time. Tectonic forces, uplift and erosion can cause a stream to be “captured” by a neighboring river basin. Stream captures are relatively common in the Oregon Coast Range. In this most interesting article, the authors describe a process of modeling stream networks at different geographic scales. “Integration of these ‘synthetic’ drainage networks into a margin-parallel river system, similar to the modern Willamette Valley, supports field observations of stream capture and river network reorganization. We propose that these methods are useful for predicting future drainage configurations and isolating the relevant tectonic processes responsible for changing river networks” (from the Abstract). This is an open-access article.
Keywords: Columbia River; Cow Creek; geography; geology; Klamath River; mathematical modeling; paleosciences; Rogue River; Siletz River; South Umpqua River; topography; Umpqua River Basin; Yaquina River

Differences in mate pairings of hatchery- and natural-origin coho salmon inferred from offspring genotypes - Auld, H. L.; Jacobson, D. P.; Rhodes, A. C.; Banks, M. A. (Integrative Organismal Biology, 2021)
In this open-access article, the authors explore the relationship between genetics and mate selection, potentially quite important in managing hatchery salmonids. “Using genotyping-by-sequencing, we identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with variation in mate pairings from a natural context involving hatchery- and natural-origin coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)” (from the Abstract).
Keywords: Calapooya Creek; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; genetics; hatchery salmonids; reproductive behavior; Umpqua River; wild salmonids

Eroding Cascadia—Sediment and solute transport and landscape denudation in western Oregon and northwestern California - O’Connor, Jim E.; Mangano, Joseph F.; Wise, Daniel R.; Roering, Joshua R. (Geological Society of America Bulletin, 2021)
This article gives an extensive look at erosion, sedimentation and denudation in coastal Oregon and northern California.
Keywords: Alsea River; climate; coastal hazards; Cow Creek; Days Creek; erosion; flooding; geology; hydrology; Nehalem River; North Umpqua River; precipitation; Rogue River; sediments; Siuslaw River; South Umpqua River; Umpqua River; Umpqua River Basin; Willamette River

Evolution of Cascadia Landscapes: Drainage Reorganization Inferred from Topographic Transformations and Dendrochronological Dating of Landslide-Dammed Lakes - Struble, William Truin (University of Oregon, 2021)
This doctoral dissertation begins by examining the question of dating past landslides in the Oregon Coast Range. Although it is assumed that the famous earthquake of 1700 C.E. caused many landslides, no landslide has been definitely dated to that event. The author examines two coastal lakes formed by landslides, Wasson and Klickitat Lakes, and using Carbon14 dating and evidence from tree rings, dates them to the winters of 1819/1820 and 1751/1752, respectively. He also dates other landslides to major precipitation events. The dissertation ends with a look at stream networks and the phenomenon of streams being captured by neighboring basins.
Keywords: coastal hazards; dendrochronology; earthquakes; erosion; geography; geology; Klickitat Lake; landslides; mathematical modeling; North Fork Alsea River; paleosciences; precipitation; Smith River; topography; Umpqua River Basin; Wasson Lake

Exploring biophysical linkages between coastal forestry management practices and aquatic bivalve contaminant exposure - Scully-Engelmeyer, Kaegan; Granek, Elise F.; Nielsen-Pincus, Max; Lanier, Andy; Rumrill, Steven S.; Moran, Patrick; Nilsen, Elena; Hladik, Michelle L.; Pillsbury, Lori (Toxics, 2021)
Current forestry management practices are not doing very well at keeping herbicides and pesticides within the boundaries of the forest. In this important article, the authors describe a study of bivalves to look for contamination from pesticides and other chemicals used in forestry. They found pesticides in 38% of bivalves sampled, with some watersheds more contaminated than others, and with seasonal variations. The authors mildly note, “Details about types and levels of exposure provide insight into effectiveness of current forest management practices in controlling transport of forest-use pesticides” (from the Abstract). Good data visualization. This is an Open-Access article.
Keywords: agriculture; Alsea River; aquatic invertebrates; bivalves; clams; commercial fisheries - shellfish; Coos Bay; forestry; fungicides; herbicides; human impacts; metabolism; molluscs; mussels; Nehalem River; Nestucca River; oysters; Pacific oyster = Crassostrea gigas; pesticides; precipitation; recreational fisheries – shellfish; Siletz River; Siuslaw River; Smith River (Umpqua); Softshell clam = Mya arenaria; stress; toxicity; Western pearl mussel = Margaritifera falcata; Yaquina River

Factors Influencing Streamflow Generation Processes in Rain-dominated, Coastal Watersheds in Oregon - Pazdral, Rosemary (Oregon State University, 2021)
The water in Oregon coastal streams comes from rainfall. As climate change shifts the timing and quantity of rainfall, already threatened species will be further stressed. This impressive doctoral dissertation examines how factors such as slope, lithology and land cover affect streamflow in watersheds stressed by climate change. Many coastal watersheds were examined. Mary Santelmann and Rebecca Flitcroft were co-major professors.
Keywords: Alsea Bay; Beaver Creek (Umpqua); coastal hazards; Coquille River estuary; flooding; geology; hydrology; Nehalem River estuary; North Sister Creek (Umpqua); Panther Creek (Umpqua); precipitation; Schooner Creek; Siletz Bay; Smith River; Umpqua River Basin

Fifth Oregon Climate Assessment - Dalton, Meghan M.; Fleishman, Erica; Oregon Climate Change Research Institute.,, (Oregon State University. Oregon Climate Change Research Institute, 2021)
“Consistent with its charge under Oregon House Bill 3543, the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute (OCCRI) conducts a biennial assessment of the state of climate change science, including biological, physical, and social science, as it relates to Oregon and the likely effects of climate change on Oregon. . . This Assessment is structured with the goal of serving as a resource for the state’s mitigation planning for natural hazards and implementation of the 2021 Oregon Climate Change Adaptation Framework.” (from the Abstract)
Keywords: agriculture; air temperature; climate; climate change; coastal hazards; depleted populations; economics; fish; forest fires; human impact; hydrology; introduced species; phenology; precipitation; sea level; snowpack; terrestrial vegetation; water temperature; wildlife

Flood Insurance Study: Douglas County, Oregon and Incorporated Areas. v.3 of 3 - U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency., (2021)
Revised: March 23, 2021.""Flood Insurance Study Number 41019CV002B" The first volume outlines the study, outlines flood problems and protection measures, notes hydrological analyses, and gives floodplain information. The second volume addresses the map revision. V.3 gives flood profiles of individual stream reaches.
Keywords: Canyon Creek; climate; coastal hazards; Cow Creek; Deer Creek; Elk Creek; environmental law and policy; flooding; hydrography; hydrology; Lower Cow Creek; Myrtle Creek; Newton Creek; North Myrtle Creek; North Umpqua River; Pass Creek; planning; precipitation; Scholfield Creek; School Creek; Smith River; South Myrtle Creek; South Umpqua River; Umpqua River

Flood Insurance Study: Douglas County, Oregon and Incorporated Areas. v.2 of 3 - U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency., (2021)
"Revised: March 23, 2021.""Flood Insurance Study Number 41019CV002B" . Volume 2 of this FIS Report addresses the physical map revision for Douglas County. Volume 3 gives flood profiles of individual stream reaches.
Keywords: Canyon Creek; climate; coastal hazards; Cow Creek; Deer Creek; Elk Creek; environmental law and policy; flooding; hydrography; hydrology; Lower Cow Creek; Myrtle Creek; Newton Creek; North Myrtle Creek; North Umpqua River; Pass Creek; planning; precipitation; Scholfield Creek; School Creek; Smith River; South Myrtle Creek; South Umpqua River; Umpqua River

Flood Insurance Study: Douglas County, Oregon and Incorporated Areas. v.1 of 3 (2021)
"Revised: March 23, 2021.""Flood Insurance Study Number 41019CV002B" The first volume outlines the study, outlines flood problems and protection measures, notes hydrological analyses, and gives floodplain information. The second volume covers individual streams and addresses the map revision. V.3 gives flood profiles of individual stream reaches.
Keywords: Canyonville; climate; coastal hazards; Drain; Elkton; environmental law and policy; flooding; hydrography; hydrology; Myrtle Creek; Oakland; planning; precipitation; Reedsport; Riddle; Roseburg; Sutherlin; Umpqua River Basin; Winston; Yoncalla

Geologic controls on paleodrainage incision and morphology during sea level lowstands on the Cascadia shelf in Oregon, USA - Klotsko, Shannon; Skakun, Matthew; Maloney, Jillian; Gusick, Amy; Davis, Loren; Nyers, Alexander; Ball, David (Marine Geology, 2021)
In late Quaternary glaciation, sea levels were much lower than in the present. Coastal rivers wound their ways across the gently sloping coastal plain to the Pacific Ocean. The sediments off the Oregon Coast record traces of these paleorivers as they flowed to the sea. In this paper, the authors examine the submerged drainage systems of two Oregon paleorivers about 40 kilometers apart, the early Siuslaw and Umpqua rivers. The two streams made quite different impacts on the land, from the gently winding Siuslaw, with multiple cross-connections between channels to the more deeply incised bed of the early Umpqua River. This is a most interesting look at the pasts of two neighboring streams.
Keywords: continental shelf; geology; paleosciences; remote sensing; sediments; Siuslaw River; sonar; Umpqua River

HF003: Stream Discharge and Bedload Accumulation in Gauged Watersheds at the South Umpqua Experimental Forest, Coyote Creek, 1963 to 1981 and 2001 to Present - Jones, Julia A.; Rothacher, Jack S. (Forest Service Research Data Archive, 2021)
“Stream discharge is collected on four small watersheds in the Coyote Creek drainage within the South Umpqua Experimental Forest in the southwest Oregon Cascades. . . Watersheds 1, 2, and 3 were harvested with differing silvicultural methods in summer 1971, and watershed 4 is the control. High resolution temporal data is provided as well as daily, monthly and annual summary data. . . Annual bedload accumulation totals from each of the four watersheds is also provided beginning 2001” (from the Abstract). This document links to data files and metadata.
Keywords: Coyote Creek; hydrology; logging; natural resource management; nutrients; sediments; South Umpqua Experimental Forest; South Umpqua River; streamflow; terrestrial vegetation; water quality

Landscape genetics of American beaver in coastal Oregon - Epps, Clinton W.; Petro, Vanessa M.; Creech, Tyler G.; Crowhurst, Rachel S.; Weldy, Matthew J.; Taylor, Jimmy D. (The Journal of Wildlife Management, 2021)
American beavers have often been moved from one location, where their dams and flooding might be a nuisance, to another, where they help with stream and water table restoration. The authors review the history of trapping and translocations of beavers in the Oregon Coast Range. “Management requires a better understanding of the ability of beaver to disperse and colonize empty habitat, and the distances or landscapes over which a beaver, if translocated, is unlikely to return. We evaluated genetic structure and applied a landscape genetic approach to characterize landscape features that influence genetic flow for beaver in the Coast Range of Oregon.” (p.1464)
Keywords: Alsea River; Coos River; Coquille River; genetics; geographical distribution; habitats; human impacts; Necanicum River; Nehalem River; Nestucca River; North American beaver = Castor canadensis; North Umpqua River; Siletz River; Siltcoos River; Siuslaw River; Sixes River; South Umpqua River; topography; Trask River; Umpqua River; Wilson River; Yaquina River

Landscape genetics of American beaver in coastal Oregon - Epps, Clinton W.; Petro, Vanessa M.; Creech, Tyler G.; Crowhurst, Rachel S.; Weldy, Matthew J.; Taylor, Jimmy D. (The Journal of Wildlife Management, 2021)
American beavers have often been moved from one location, where their dams and flooding might be a nuisance, to another, where they help with stream and water table restoration. The authors review the history of trapping and translocations of beavers in the Oregon Coast Range. “Management requires a better understanding of the ability of beaver to disperse and colonize empty habitat, and the distances or landscapes over which a beaver, if translocated, is unlikely to return. We evaluated genetic structure and applied a landscape genetic approach to characterize landscape features that influence genetic flow for beaver in the Coast Range of Oregon.” (p.1464)
Keywords: Alsea River; Coos River; Coquille River; genetics; geographical distribution; habitats; human impacts; Necanicum River; Nehalem River; Nestucca River; North American beaver = Castor canadensis; North Umpqua River; Siletz River; Siltcoos River; Siuslaw River; Sixes River; South Umpqua River; topography; Trask River; Umpqua River; Wilson River; Yaquina River

Let the fish do the talking: How fish behavior is linked to patterns of temperature and stream discharge - Kirkland, John; Flitcroft, Rebecca; Grant, Gordon (Science Findings, 2021)
This article is aimed at the intelligent layperson and describes the work of two fisheries scientists to explore the environmental conditions coho salmon need in order to carry out migrations and how these conditions might be affected by climate change. Understanding coming changes will help managers adjust water releases from dams to better help the salmon. The article includes information about a new data visualization tool, the “ichthyograph.”
Keywords: climate; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; Columbia River; geographical distribution; migration; reproductive behavior; Snake River; streamflow; temporal distribution; Umpqua River; water temperature; Willamette River

Management of anadromous lampreys: Common threats, different approaches - Clemens, Benjamin J.; Arakawa, Hiroaki; Baker, Cindy; Coghian, Stephen; Kucheryavyy, Aleksandr; Lampman, Ralph; Lança, Maria João; Mateus, Catarina Sofia; Miller, Allison; Nazari, Hassan; Pequeño, Germán; Sutton, Trent M.; et al. (Journal of Great Lakes Research. Supplement, 2021)
This review article summarizes what is known about the statuses of many lamprey species around the world. The usual suspects, primarily human activity and climate change get the blame for most population declines. Management of the Pacific lamprey is a bright spot, largely due to the efforts and advocacy of Native Americans. The Western river lamprey, on the other hand, suffers from inadequate research, which is needed in order to support conservation.
Keywords: Alsea River; Beaver Creek; climate; Cummins Creek; dams; depleted populations; human impacts; land use; Pacific lamprey = Entosphenus tridentatus (Lampetra tridentata); River lamprey = Lampetra ayresi; Salmon River,; Siletz River; Siuslaw River; Tenmile Creek; Umpqua River; water use; Yachats River; Yaquina River

Marine Mammals Before Extirpation: Using Archaeology to Understand Native American Use of Sea Otters and Whales in Oregon Prior to European Contact - Wellman, Hannah P. (University of Oregon, 2021)
In this doctoral dissertation, the author explores Native American exploitation of marine mammals, particularly sea otters. DNA analysis was performed on 20 ancient sea otter specimens from archeological sites at Seaside. Additionally, analysis was performed on 158 cetacean specimens. “These analyses provided new insight regarding precontact ancestral tribal use of sea otters and cetaceans and the historical ecologies of the animals. This dissertation provides a socio-ecological dataset with implications for potential reintroductions of sea otters and the conservation of cetaceans in Oregon today” (from the Abstract).
Keywords: archeology; Blue whale = Balaenoptera musculus; genetics; Gray whale = Eschrichtius robustus; human impacts; Humpback whale = Megaptera novaeangliae; Lower Umpqua River; Native Americans; Palmrose Site; Par-Tee Site; Sea otter = Enhydra lutris; Seaside (Or.); Tahkenitch Lake; Tahkenitch Landing

Oregon Water Futures Project Report: 2020-21 Community Engagement - Reyes-Santos, Alaí; Holliday, Cheyenne; Dalgaard, Stacey; Evans, Taren; Witherill, Kristiana Teige (University of Oregon, 2021)
This document is a most interesting look at water quality concerns held by groups whose voices are often unheard. “The Oregon Water Futures Project is a collaboration between the University of Oregon, water and environmental justice interests, Indigenous peoples, communities of color, and low-income communities. Through a water justice lens, we aim to impact how the future of water in Oregon is imagined through storytelling, capacity building, relationship building, policymaking, and community-centered advocacy at the state and local level. In 2020, project partners co-conceptualized and facilitated a series of conversations with Native, Indigenous Latin American, Latinx, Black, Southeast Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, Arab, and Somali communities, including webinars on Oregon water systems, phone interviews, and virtual online gatherings” (from the Abstract). Well illustrated.
Keywords: ecological values; environmental education; flooding; water availability; water quality

Oregon Water Quality Index Summary Report: Water Years 2011-2020 - Oregon. Dept. of Environmental Quality. Laboratory and Environmental Assessment Division, (Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality, 2021)
More information available at: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/wq/Pages/WQI.aspx
Keywords: North Umpqua River; South Umpqua River; Umpqua River; water pollution; water quality

Outdoor recreation experiences at Diamond Lake, Oregon (USA), before, during and after a biological disruption - Allen, Mary E.; Burns, Robert C. (Managing Visitor Experiences in Nature-Based Tourism, 2021)
This book chapter is concerned with the effects of natural resource manager’s efforts to restore a fishery and address deteriorating ecological conditions in Diamond Lake. The invasive Tui chub had decimated the trout fishery. Managers took radical steps to kill the Tui chub, and had to close the lake. The study described here examines how recreational experiences were affected while the environment was in decline, during the closure and afterwards. Recreational displacement and management implications are discussed.
Keywords: Diamond Lake; ecosystem health; introduced species; Lemolo Lake; natural resource management; Rainbow trout = Oncorhynchus mykiss; recreation; Tui chub = Gila bicolor; water quality

Pacific Northwest Littoral Data - Peterson, Curt D.; Kingen, Kara E.P. (2021)
“This document contains five data tables in PDF file formats, that are used to characterize littoral subcell (beach, river mouth, and inner-shelf) conditions in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) region . . . These data have been compiled from pre-existing data sets . . . for the purposes of predicting possible beach erosion from potential future sea level rise (SLR) . . . The five data tables include Heavy-mineral tracers (Table 1), Heavy-mineral data (normalized) (Table 2), Subcell beach profile settings (Table 3), Subcell beach profile parameters (Table 4), and Subcell shelf profile parameters (Table 5)” (p.1). The data supports the manuscript Peterson, C. D., Doyle, D. L., Rosenfeld, C. L., Kingen, K., (2020). Predicted Responses of Beaches, Bays, and Inner-Shelf Sand Supplies to Potential Sea Level Rise (0.5-1.0 m) in Three Small Littoral Subcells in the High-Wave-Energy Northern Oregon Coast, USA. Journal of Geography and Geology. v.12:.2. ( https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/geology_fac/189/ )
Keywords: Agate Beach; Alsea River; bathymetry; beach profiles; climate; Columbia River; Coos River; Coquille River; erosion; Florence, Or.; heavy minerals; Lincoln City, Or.; Nehalem River; Nestucca River; Netarts, Or.; Newport, Or.; Nye Beach; Otter Rock; Reedsport, Or.; Rogue River; Salmon River; Sand Lake; sea level; Seal Rock; Siletz River; Siuslaw River; Sixes River; South Beach, Or.; The Capes; Umpqua Jetty; Umpqua River; Whale Cove; Wilson River

Shifting signals: Correlations among freshwater, marine and climatic indices often investigated in Pacific salmon studies - Gosselin, Jennifer L.; Crozier, Lisa G.; Burke, Brian J (Ecological Indicators, 2021)
This article is about the correlations and cross-connections between different environmental indices, and how they can be better used to understand environmental conditions in a changing climate. The authors used 43 freshwater, marine and climate indices to examine 72 river sites in Washington, Oregon, California and Idaho. “As the climate continues to change, it becomes more evident that maintaining a mindset encompassing static processes limits our abilities to explain patterns among environmental indices. This recognition in the context of multiple climatic teleconnections will help foster the development and utility of more resilient methodological approaches that account for changing correlations” (p.17). This is an open-access article.
Keywords: Alsea River; California Current; Chinook salmon = Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; climate; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; Coquille River; environmental monitoring; Lower Umpqua River; mathematical modeling; North Fork Nehelem River; Siletz River; South Umpqua River

Umpqua Basin Stream Temperature Characterization – Reference Site 2021 Update and North Umpqua Comparison Site Analysis (Covering Project Duration 1998-2021) - Denise Dammann Consulting.,; Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers., (Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers, 2021)
“This is the continuation of a long-term summer stream reference temperature monitoring project in the Umpqua Basin of Southwestern Oregon. This report is an update of that project focusing on 2021 stream temperature conditions and comparing that to the air and stream temperature data collected since 1998. In 2020, the project was expanded into the North Umpqua Subbasin and this report will include analysis of stream temperature monitoring of historic sites in that subbasin during a similar timeframe” (p.1). “Prepared by: Denise Dammann Consulting for Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers (PUR)” (p.1).
Keywords: Calapooya Creek; Camp Creek; Canton Creek; climate; East Fork Rock Creek; North Myrtle Creek; North Umpqua River; Pass Creek; Rock Creek; South Umpqua River; temperature; Umpqua River Basin; Upper Steamboat Creek; water temperature; Windy Creek

Understanding Freshwater Mussel Distribution, Abundance, and Demography in the South Umpqua River Basin, Oregon: Impacts of Land Use and Stream Hydraulics - Johnson, Laura (University of Oregon, 2021)
Despite their many valuable ecosystem services and their threatened status, freshwater mussels are not well studied. This Master’s thesis represents an attempt to rectify this situation in the South Umpqua watershed. “The percentage of forest cover within the drainage basin area was the best predictor of mussel abundance, and indicates that the cumulative impact of anthropogenic land use may be degrading mussel habitats. Our data also suggested a relationship between invasive Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) and suppressed mussel abundances” (from the Abstract) The author suggests monitoring of the invasive Asian clam, outreach to educate land owners about the importance of freshwater mussels, and wider riparian buffer zones to protect the mussels.
Keywords: Asian clams = Corbicula fluminea; Chinook salmon = Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; Cow Creek; cutthroat trout = Oncorhynchus clarki; depleted populations; geographical distribution; human impacts; introduced species; logging; Myrtle Creek; Pacific salmonids = Oncorhynchus spp.; population biology; South Umpqua River; steelhead trout = Oncorhynchus mykiss; Western pearl mussel = Margaritifera falcata

Using a difference-in-difference and synthetic control approach to investigate the socioeconomic impacts of Oregon’s marine reserves - Fox, Haley K.; Swearingen, Thomas C. (Ocean and Coastal Management, 2021)
In this article, the authors used two different methods to measure the impacts of Oregon’s marine reserve system. “We compared treatment and control units before and after marine reserve implementation using both difference-in-differences (DID) and synthetic control approaches. Each approach yielded different results, potentially providing a more complete picture of marine reserve impacts and long-term trends while also highlighting the need to consider the variability of ACS [American Community Survey] data collected from small communities.” (from the Abstract)
Keywords: Coos Bay (Or.); demographics; economics; Florence (Or.); Lincoln City (Or.); marine reserves; Reedsport (Or.); statistics; Tillamook (Or.); tourism; Waldport (Or.); Yachats (Or.)

Assessing beaver occupancy and dam building potential: a case study in the Umpqua watershed of Southwestern Oregon - Petro, Vanessa M.; Stevenson, John; Taylor, Jimmy D. (Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference, 2020)
In the fall of 2017, the authors surveyed 144 sites in the West Fork Cow Creek watersed, looking for beaver activity and beaver dams. The authors selected for both sites they considered either suitable or unsuitable for beaver dam construction. “The objective of our study was to improve understanding of beaver populations and their damming activities to better inform stream restoration projects in western Oregon. In this paper, we discuss new methods for defining beaver use by 1) including a temporal component for characterizing beaver activity, and 2) expanding beaver habitat modeling exercises to include non-damming populations” (p.2). Many factors go into determining whether beavers build dams, and this study represents beginning steps in our understanding of this question.
Keywords: American beaver = Castor canadensis; Ashur Creek; dams; geographical distribution; habitats; human impacts; South Umpqua River; temporal distribution; West Fork Cow Creek; West Fork Elk Valley

Bias and consequences in attempts to estimate historical salmon abundance - Cramer, Steven P.; Caldwell, Lucius K. (Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 2020)
Were salmon more abundant in the “good old days,” or have fisheries scientists over-estimated their abundance in the past? This article is a critique of previous methods of estimating the abundance of coho salmon before the environmental stresses of recent years. The authors claim that, “the revised simulations indicate that Oregon Coast coho abundance during 1892-1956 probably varied within a range similar to recent decades” (from the abstract). This work was primarily funded by the Oregon Forest Industries Council and the American Forest Resource Council.
Keywords: abundance; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; commercial fisheries – salmon; historical; mathematical modeling; recreational fisheries – salmon; statistical analysis

Climate change vulnerability assessment for Pacific Lamprey in rivers of the Western United States - Wang, Christina J.; Schaller, Howard A.; Coates, Kelly C.; Hayes, Michael C.; Rose, Robert K. (Journal of Freshwater Ecology, 2020)
The authors used a climate modeling program to explore the impacts of a range of predicted climate changes on 15 river basins in Oregon, Washington, California and Idaho, including the Necanicum and Umpqua river basins on the Oregon Coast. “Our results reveal that the Umpqua HUC consistently exhibited the highest level of climate change vulnerability. . . In the Umpqua, actions that can increase flow, create backwater habitat, restore riparian vegetation that increases stream shading (leading to decreased stream temperature) . . . and reduce stream and floodplain degradation may have a higher likelihood of mitigating the increasing risk from climate change impacts“ (p.51). This is an open-access article.
Keywords: air temperature; climate change; habitat restoration; human impacts; mathematical modeling; Necanicum River; Pacific lamprey = Entosphenus tridentatus (Lampetra tridentata); precipitation; streamflow; Umpqua River Basin; water temperature

Developing novel robust models to improve the accuracy of daily streamflow modeling. - Mohammadi, Babak; Ahmadi, Farshad; Mehdizadeh, Saeid; Guan, Yiqing; Pham, Quoc Bao; Linh, Nguyen Thi Thuy; Tri, Doan Quang (Water Resources Management, 2020)
In this article, the authors discuss different methods for enhancing models of daily streamflow, using two sites in Canada and two sites in the United States, including the hydrologic station at Elkton. Proposed boosted models showed improvement over classic multi-layer perception and time series models.
Keywords: Elkton (Or.); hydrology; mathematical modeling; neural networks; precipitation; streamflow; Umpqua River

Ecosystem Functions of Pacific Northwest Estuaries: The Role of Ocean and Watershed Drivers in Eelgrass and Coho Salmon Dynamics - Magel, Caitlin L. (Oregon State University, 2020)
This wide-ranging doctoral dissertation aims to “investigate ocean and watershed dynamics to better understand the key drivers and consequences of ecosystem change in Pacific Northwest (PNW) estuaries” (from the Abstract). Topics explored include eelgrass and macroalgae, coho salmon and the Dungeness crab catch.
Keywords: Alsea Bay; Beaver Creek; carbon dioxide; climate; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; Coos Bay; dissolved oxygen; Dungeness crab = Metacarcinus magister (Cancer magister); eelgrass = Zostera marina; El Nino; Oregon Coast; Pacific Decadal Oscillation; pH; phosphate; precipitation; salinity; sea lettuce = Ulva spp.; Siletz Bay; Siuslaw River estuary; Umpqua River; upwelling; water temperature; Yaquina Bay

The Effects of Minimum Air Temperature and Maximum Air Temperature on Summer Stream Temperature at Reference Temperature Sites, Umpqua Basin - Denise Dammann Consulting.,; Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers., (Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers, 2020)
Stream temperatures affect all resident or transient stream organisms, and are critical to many species, including vulnerable salmonids. A 1998 stream temperature study in the Umpqua Basin led to the selection of five sites in the Umpqua and South Umpqua Rivers for further stream temperature data collection. The sites were selected for having different climatic conditions and the distance from the test site to the ridgetop. Researchers have access to over twenty years of data from these five sites, giving a valuable baseline for future studies. This investigation looks at possible relationships between air temperatures and stream temperatures in the five reference sites in 1999 and 2020. “Prepared by: Denise Dammann Consulting for Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers (PUR)” (p.1). Appendices are available: https://tinyurl.com/yc25m5up
Keywords: Calapooya Creek; Camp Creek; climate; North Myrtle Creek; Pass Creek; South Umpqua River; temperature; Umpqua River; Umpqua River Basin; water temperature; Windy Creek

Final Coastal, Columbia, and Snake Conservation Plan for Lampreys in Oregon - Clemens, Benjamin J.; Anlauf, Kara Janaye; Weeber, Matt; Stahl, Tom; Oregon. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, (Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, 2020)
The conservation plan described in this document is intended to “identify, acknowledge, and support actions needed to conserve lampreys in the service of the mission of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife” (p.3) It gives management strategies and identifies areas needing monitoring, research and evaluation. ODFW acknowledges that it lacks the resources to fully address factors limiting lamprey populations, and will need to coordinate with other groups working on natural resource issues.
Keywords: Alsea River Basin; climate; conservation plans; dams; depleted populations; environmental law and policy; habitats; human impacts; natural resource management; Pacific brook lamprey = Lampetra pacifica; Pacific lamprey = Entosphenus tridentatus (Lampetra tridentata); population biology; predation; River lamprey = Lampetra ayresi; Siletz River Basin; Siuslaw River Basin; streamflow; Umpqua River Basin; water temperature; Western brook lamprey = Lampetra richardsoni; Yachats River Basin; Yaquina River Basin

GIS data and method for determining maximum-considered local and distant tsunami wave arrival data for the Oregon coast - Gabel, Laura L. S.; O’Brien, Fletcher; Allan, Jonathan C. (Open-File Report (Oregon. Department of Geology and Mineral Industries), 2020)
This is a highly technical report showing the methodology used to develop maps giving arrival times for local and distant earthquake-generated tsunamis. The report discusses issues leading to misleading or untrue wave arrival times and the techniques used to correct these problems.
Keywords: coastal hazards; earthquakes; geology; Oregon Coast; tsunamis

Location, location, location: for coho salmon, it’s all about the neighborhood - Kirkland, John (Science Findings, 2020)
Coho salmon require different habitats at different stages of life, from gravel ripples for spawning, to deep pools for summer rearing, to sheltered sites for surviving winter torrents. These different habitats need to be connected. The research described in this article shows that habitat connections may be more important than the quality of any individual habitat. This article is intended to make research accessible to the general public. It gives a good overview of what researchers are learning about the needs of coho salmon.
Keywords: Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; depleted populations; geographic distribution; geology; habitats; human impacts; landslides; sediments; Umpqua River Basin

Map and Model Input and Output Data for the North Charlotte Creek Basin, Douglas County, Oregon, for Analysis of Debris-Flow Initiation Resulting from the Storm of November 17 - 19, 1996 - Baum, Rex L.; Lewis, Adrian C.,; Coe, Jeffrey A.; Godt, Jonathan W. (U.S. Geological Survey, 2020)
In November, 1996, a winter storm brought heavy rainfall and landslides to the Oregon Coast Range. Over 150 landslides took place near North Charlotte Creek. This webpage includes a topographic map of the study area, 2.4 square kilometers along the creek, where many debris flows occurred. It includes links to GIS data, including a file of landslide and debris flow polygons. “U.S. Geological Survey data release.”
Keywords: coastal hazards; geology; landslides; North Charlotte Creek; precipitation; sediments; Umpqua River

Mapping landslides on EO data: performance of deep learning models vs. traditional machine learning models - Prakash, Nikhil; Manconi, Andrea; Loew, Simon (Remote Sensing, 2020)
Contemporary science has revolutionized the mapping of landslides. Using Earth Observation images from satellites, researchers have access to high-resolution imagery. Much effort has gone into teaching computers how to “read” myriad images and identify features such as landslides. This article introduces a method for identifying landslides with computers and compares it to the Statewide Landslide Information Database for Oregon (SLIDO). The study area covers land from Coos Bay to Eugene, including much of the Smith River and the Lower Umpqua River. Illustrated. This is an open-access article.
Keywords: coastal hazards; geology; landslides; machine learning; map; mathematical modeling; neural networks; remote sensing; Smith River; Umpqua River

Pacific salmon and steelhead 2015-2020: bibliography - Riley, Trevor; Rowley, Katie; Shinn, Hope; Roberts, Jamie; Cheever, Erin (NCRL Subject Guide, 2020)
This annotated bibliography focuses mainly on government publications and has broad geographic coverage.
Keywords: bibliography; Chinook salmon = Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; chum salmon = Oncorhynchus keta; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; general; Oregon Coast; Pink salmon (humpback) = Oncorhynchus gorbuscha; steelhead trout = Oncorhynchus mykiss

Patterns of river discharge and temperature differentially influence migration and spawn timing for Coho Salmon in the Umpqua River Basin, Oregon - LovellFord, Rachel M.; Flitcroft, Rebecca L.; Lewis, Sarah L.; Santelmann, Mary V.; Grant, Gordon E. (Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 2020)
In this article, the authors identify the different characteristics that induce spawning in the Umpqua and Smith Rivers.
Keywords: Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; North Umpqua River; reproductive biology; Smith River; streamflow; Umpqua River; water temperature; Winchester Dam

River network and reach-scale controls on habitat for lamprey larvae in the Umpqua River Basin, Oregon - Jones, Krista L.; Dunham, Jason B.; O’Connor, Jim E.; Keith, Mackenzie K.; Mangano, Joseph F.; Coates, Kelly; Mackie, Travis (North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 2020)
This paper reports on a study to document potential burrowing habitat for larval Pacific lamprey and Western brook lamprey in the Umpqua Basin. Additionally, the study examined water temperatures that were favorable for smallmouth, an introduced species that preys on lamprey. Finally, the authors looked at factors that support burrowing habitat heterogeneity on the reach scale.
Keywords: depleted populations; habitats; introduced species; juvenile fish; Little Wolf Creek; North Umpqua River; Pacific lamprey = Entosphenus tridentatus (Lampetra tridentata); Slide Creek; Smallmouth Bass = Micropterus dolomieu; South Fork Calapooya Creek; South Umpqua River; Umpqua River; water temperature; Western brook lamprey = Lampetra richardsoni

Seasonal variability in a nascent population of a non-indigenous colonial ascidian (Didemnum vexillum) near Winchester Bay, Oregon - Knorek, Zofia R.; Hansen, Bruce P.; Rumrill, Steven S.; Groth, Scott D.; Galloway, Aaron W. E. (Aquatic Ecology, 2020)
Colonial tunicates are concerning to shellfish growers. They foul gear, smother shellfish, and interfere with the settlement of shellfish larvae. The invasive colonial tunicate Didemnium vesillum, colorfully called “sea vomit,” has shown up at two sites in Oregon, at Charleston Marina in Coos Bay and at Umpqua Aquaculture in Winchester Bay. This species is considered to be one of the 100 most dangerous invasive species in Oregon. In this article, the authors describe five years of monitoring the Winchester Bay colony, from 2011-2016. Over that time, the size of the colony declined. The authors warn, however, that because this species is extremely adaptable, it can propagate vigorously, and stress that any populations should be regularly monitored.
Keywords: aquaculture; introduced species; sea vomit = Didemnum vexillum; South Jetty; tunicates; Umpqua Aquaculture; Umpqua River estuary; Winchester Bay

Spatial distribution of run type genotypes in juvenile O. mykiss from the Eel and North Umpqua Rivers - Miller, Michael (Reviewing and Synthesizing the State of the Science Regarding Associations between Adult Run Timing and Specific Genotypes in Chinook Salmon and Steelhead: Report of a workshop held in Seattle, Washington, 27–28 February 2020, 2020)
Extended abstract. Steelhead trout spring and summer runs are smaller than fall runs and tend to be dependent on barriers to fall migration. “There is a striking difference in the spatial distribution of winter and summer juveniles throughout the North Umpqua basin: middle and upper Steamboat Creek appear to be exclusively used by summer-run, whereas other locations throughout the North Umpqua Basin are primarily winter-run. Thus, the fish ladder on Steamboat Creek does not appear to have facilitated winter-run access, consistent with the idea that falls/rapids in lower Steamboat are acting as high-flow barriers which exclude winters (even during relatively dry winters)” (p.26). The author suggests that in areas where there are spring or summer runs but fall runs are not impeded by barriers, that managers protect the smaller runs by managing to decrease fall spawner access; for example, by restoring barriers dependent on water flow and by promoting “natural flow and temperature regimes” (p.27).
Keywords: Eel River (California); life history; Little Falls; North Umpqua River; reproductive biology; Steamboat Creek; Steamboat Falls; steelhead trout = Oncorhynchus mykiss

Tide gates: operation, fish passage and recommendations for their upgrade or removal - Souder, Jon A.; Giannico, Guillermo R. (ORESU-T, 2020)
Many of Oregon’s coastal streams and wetlands have tide gates. This publication is intended to help natural resource managers decide how to treat existing tide gates in order to help migratory fishes and other estuary residents. Should the tide gates be removed, or can they be upgraded to better allow fish passage? The report has two main sections. “The first includes an overview of the technical aspects of tide gates, including non-traditional ones. The second contains findings from a review of scientific literature about upgrading or removing tide gates as well as conclusions from a review of estuary restoration projects involving tide gates. Based on those findings, we’re also including recommendations to guide future investments in, and monitoring of, restoration projects associated with tide gates” (p.3).
Keywords: Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; dike removal; environmental law and policy; fish passage; general; Pacific salmonids = Oncorhynchus spp.; Salmon River Estuary; Tide gates

Trematode prevalence and an invasive freshwater snail: fewer infections and parasites likely contribute to the success of an invasive snail - Larson, Michele D.; Krist, Amy C. (Biological Invasions, 2020)
A famous biological theory, the enemy release hypothesis, states that introduced species do well because their natural enemies (predators or parasites) are not present in new territory. In this paper, the authors assess the invasive New Zealand mud snail’s susceptibility to flatworm parasites when it invades new territory. In the Lower Umpqua River, the invader had overwhelmed native freshwater snails – almost no natives were found. Parasitism was found, but reduced compared to native species.
Keywords: gastropods; introduced species; Lower Umpqua River; mollusks; New Zealand mud snail = Potamopyrgus antipodarum; parasites; trematodes

Umpqua Basin Agricultural Water Quality Management Area Plan (Oregon Dept. of Agriculture, 2020)
“Developed by the Oregon Department of Agriculture With input from the: Umpqua Basin Local Advisory Committee, Douglas Soil and Water Conservation District & Umpqua Soil and Water Conservation District” All related reports may be seen at the Oregon State Library website.
Keywords: agriculture, pesticides, sediments, water pollution, water quality, water temperature

Umpqua Basin Low Flow Monitoring Report of 1998-2018 Data - Denise Dammann Consulting.,; Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers., (Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers, 2020)
“Low flow streamflow measurements have been taken at high priority sites throughout the Umpqua Basin since 1998 in partnership with Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) and Douglas County. . . This report compiles the 21 years of low flow measurements (1998-2018) from these sites, compares interannual data to look at trends, and relates the data to climactic conditions to better understand stream flow resiliency” (p.2). Colored charts.
Keywords: Berry Creek; Billy Creek; Calapooya Creek; Camp Creek; Canyon Creek; Cavitt Creek; Coffee Creek; Cow Creek; Days Creek; Deer Creek; Elk Creek; Hardscrabble Creek; Hubbard Creek; Little River; Lookingglass Creek; Morgan Creek; North Myrtle Creek; North Umpqua River Basin; Paradise Creek; Pass Creek; Quines Creek; South Myrtle Creek; South Umpqua River; Starveout Creek; Tenmile Creek; Umpqua River Basin; Weatherly Creek; Windy Creek; Wolf Creek

Understanding Freshwater Mussel Distribution, Abundance, and Demography in the South Umpqua River Basin, Oregon: Impacts of Land Use and Stream Hydraulics - Johnson, Laura (University of Oregon, 2020)
“This thesis provides baseline information necessary for conservation and management of native mussel populations in the South Umpqua River basin. We documented all three PNW genera within the basin, but only one species (Margaritifera falcata) was widespread. Species richness and mussel abundances werel owest at downstream sites. We found widespread evidence of recent M. falcata reproduction, but the lower South Umpqua River populations are likely non-viable. The percentage of forest cover within the drainage basin area was the best predictor of mussel abundance, and indicates that the cumulative impact of anthropogenic land use may be degrading mussel habitats.” (from the Abstract) The invasive Asian clam may also have contributed to the decline of native mussels. This is a valuable look at an important indicator species.
Keywords: agriculture; Anodonta spp.; aquatic invertebrates; Asian clam = Corbicula fluminea; bivalves; Cow Creek; depleted species; habitats; human impacts; hydrology; introduced species; land use; logging; molluscs; mussels; South Umpqua River; theses; Western pearlshell = Margaritifera falcata; Western ridged mussel = Gonidea angulate

Western Oregon adult coho salmon spawning survey data report - Sounhein, Briana; Lewis, Mark; Weeber, Matt (Monitoring Program Report (Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds), 2020)
Good statistics on wild salmon runs. The Oregon Coast saw lower than average runs, with wild salmon spawning at 76% of the 29-year average.
Keywords: abundance; Alsea River; Beaver Creek (Lincoln); Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; Coos Bay; Coquille River; fecundity; Floras Creek; geographic distribution; hatchery salmonids; Mill Creek (Siletz); Mill Creek (Yaquina); Necanicum River; Nehalem River; Nestucca River; North Umpqua River; Salmon River; Siletz River; Siuslaw River; Sixes River; South Umpqua River; temporal distribution; Tillamook Bay; Umpqua River; wild salmonids; Yaquina River

Western Oregon adult coho salmon spawning survey data report - Sounhein, Briana; Lewis, Mark; Weeber, Matt (Monitoring Program Report (Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds), 2020)
The COVID-19 epidemic reduced the number of spawning surveys. Available data showed a strong skew based on geography: the Lower Columbia wild salmon runs were larger than normal, the Oregon Coast region had 88% of the 30-year average, while wild salmon runs in southern Oregon were greatly reduced.
Keywords: abundance; Alsea River; Beaver Creek (Lincoln); Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; Coos Bay; Coquille River; fecundity; Floras Creek; geographic distribution; hatchery salmonids; Mill Creek (Siletz); Mill Creek (Yaquina); Necanicum River; Nehalem River; Nestucca River; North Umpqua River; Salmon River; Siletz River; Siuslaw River; Sixes River; South Umpqua River; temporal distribution; Tillamook Bay; Umpqua River; wild salmonids; Yaquina River

Zooplankton invasion on a grand scale: insights from a 20-yr time series across 38 Northeast Pacific estuaries - Dexter, Eric; Bollens, Stephen M.; Cordell, Jeffery; Rollwagen‐Bollens, Gretchen (Ecosphere, 2020)
This paper summarizes the results of over 20 years of observations of zooplankton invasions of Pacific Northwest estuaries, from 2006-2016. “Our results show that some estuaries across the region are invaded by multiple zooplankton species and that the geographic extent of invasion is far greater than previously reported for at least five species of copepods . . . We propose that the geographic distribution of these invaders is strongly constrained by geomorphic characteristics that define the salinity and mixing regimes in these estuaries, reflecting the strong role that physical forces play in structuring estuarine zooplankton communities.” (from the Abstract) This is an open-access publication.
Keywords: aquatic invertebrates; Chetco River; Coos River; copepods; Coquille River; estuarine dynamics; habitats; introduced species; Rogue River; salinity; Siuslaw River; Tillamook River; Umpqua River; water temperature; Yaquina River; zooplankton

2019 Steamboat Creek Snorkel Survey - Dewberry, Charley (Pacific Rivers, 2019)
In 2019, a 100,000 acre area was set aside as a sanctuary for steelhead trout and other salmonids in the North Umpqua River Basin. The Frank and Jeanne Moore Steelhead Sanctuary is an important source of cold water for Steamboat Creek and the North Umpqua River. In the summer of 2019, snorkel surveys of steelhead trout and cutthroat trout were done on Steamboat Creek and its major tributaries. The surveys showed abundance and distribution of the fish, as well as landscape evaluations and identification of areas that would benefit from restoration activities.
Keywords: abundance; age composition; Big Bend Creek; Cedar Creek; City Creek; cutthroat trout = Oncorhynchus clarki; East Fork Steamboat Creek; Frank and Jeanne Moore Steelhead Sanctuary; geographical distribution; Horse Heaven Creek; juvenile fish; Little Rock Creek; North Umpqua River; population count; Reynolds Creek; Singe Creek; Steamboat Creek; Steelhead Creek; steelhead trout = Oncorhynchus mykiss

Anadromous population responses to multiple instream restoration treatments [abstract] - Jenkins, Brian (American Fisheries Society. Oregon Chapter. Meeting & Symposium, 2019)
This abstract describes work done by the Smith River Watershed Council to evaluate population trends for anadromous salmonids and lampreys after efforts to restore habitats in the West Fork of the Smith River. Restoration efforts seem to be paying off, with upward trends in populations.
Keywords: Chinook salmon = Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; habitat restoration; land use; natural resource management; Pacific lamprey = Entosphenus tridentatus (Lampetra tridentata); population count; steelhead trout = Oncorhynchus mykiss; West Fork Smith River; Western brook lamprey = Lampetra richardsoni

Analysis of Fire Severity in Southwestern Oregon Using Aerial LiDAR - Wolken, Karin M. (Oregon State University, 2019)
In this Master’s thesis, the author uses Light Imaging and Detection (LIDAR) data taken before the 2017-2018 Rogue-Umpqua forest fires in order to estimate the severity of the fires. The author found that principal component analysis models were the most accurate predictors of fire severity.
Keywords: climate; forest fires; High Cascades Complex fires; mathematical modeling; North Umpqua River; remote sensing; Rogue River; Siskiyou Mountains; South Umpqua Complex fires; South Umpqua River; Umpqua North Complex fires; Umpqua River

Assessing the diversity of Western North American Juga (Semisulcospiridae, Gastropoda) - Strong, Ellen E.; Whelan, Nathan V. (Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2019)
Before genetic analysis, taxonomists relied on differences in morphology to identify different species. This practice had its limitations. Genetic science has revolutionized taxonomy. In this article, the authors describe their use of genetic analysis to test the diversity of freshwater snails in the genus Juga. These snails are slow to mature, reproduce at a low rate, and do not disperse their offspring widely. These factors make them vulnerable to habitat loss. It is important to identify unique species that may be threatened by changing environmental conditions. Surprisingly, the authors found less genetic diversity within morphological variation than was expected. One author was a Federal employee: therefore, this is an Open Access publication.
Keywords: genetics; Juga spp.; North Fork Umpqua River; population biology; Sawyer’s Rapids; Siuslaw River; taxonomy; Umpqua River; Yoncalla Creek

Assessing the Feasibility of a Sea Otter Reintroduction to Oregon through a Coupled Natural-Human Lens - Curran, Lorne S.; Kone, Dominique V.; Wickizer, Benjamin J. (Oregon State University, 2019)
This report is the product of a National Science Foundation grant designed to encourage interdisciplinary studies among graduate students. The authors assess various locations on the Oregon Coast for suitable sites for reintroducing sea otters. An earlier attempt to reintroduce sea otters from Alaska to Oregon failed, perhaps because the historic Oregon population was more closely related to California sea otters than to the Alaskan otters. Public opinion, possible conflicts and habitat suitability are considered.
Keywords: archeology; Cape Blanco; commercial fisheries; genetics; habitats; human impacts; population biology; Port Orford; reintroduced species; Sea otter = Enhydra lutris; tourism; Umpqua River; Yaquina River

Canton Creek Snorkel Surveys (2011-2019) - Dewberry, Charley (Pacific Rivers, 2019)
“In 2011, a partnership was formed among Pacific Rivers, the Phoenix School in Roseburg, Oregon, the Cow Creek Tribe, and the BLM to begin collecting baseline information prior to designing a restoration project within the Canton Creek Drainage basin. . . This project provides an opportunity to collect background information for designing an effective restoration project within the context of the North Umpqua drainage” (from the Overview, p.2). Snorkel surveys were conducted in 2011 and 2013-2019 in Canton Creek, a major tributary of Steamboat Creek, and several of its tributaries.
Keywords: abundance; age composition; Canton Creek; Chilcote Creek; cutthroat trout = Oncorhynchus clarki; Francis Creek; geographical distribution; juvenile fish; life history; Mellow Moon Creek; No Man Creek; North Umpqua River; Pass Creek; population count; steelhead trout = Oncorhynchus mykiss

Classification of Native Vegetation of Oregon - 2019 - Kagan, James S.; Brunner, Rachel L.; Christy, John A. (Oregon Biodiversity Information Center, 2019)
“This classification is an update of the 2004 classification of native vegetation of Oregon by Kagan, Christy, Murray and Titus. As before, this classification lists the native plant associations known to occur in Oregon, and includes both successional and climax vegetation types that were part of the presettlement landscape of Oregon and can still be found in the state. It serves as an index to the diversity, distribution and relative rarity of the state's native plant associations, and as a guide to their literature.” (from the introduction)
Keywords: bibliography; depleted populations; species list; terrestrial vegetation; wetland vegetation

Climate vulnerability assessment for Pacific salmon and steelhead in the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem - Crozier, Lisa G.; McClure, Michelle M.; Beechie, Tim; Bograd, Steven J.; Boughton, David A.; Carr, Mark; Cooney, Thomas D.; Dunham, Jason B.; Greene, Correigh M.; Haltuch, Melissa A.; Hazen, Elliott L.; Holzer, Damon M.; et al. (PLoS One, 2019)
This article is a major scientific overview of the vulnerability of Pacific Coast anadromous salmonids to climate change. “Nearly all listing units faced high exposures to projected increases in stream temperature, sea surface temperature, and ocean acidification. . . Anthropogenic factors, especially migration barriers, habitat degradation, and hatchery influence, have reduced the adaptive capacity of most steelhead and salmon populations. Enhancing adaptive capacity is essential to mitigate for the increasing threat of climate change. Collectively, these results provide a framework to support recovery planning that considers climate impacts on the majority of West Coast anadromous salmonids” (from the Abstract). Projections were made about Oregon coast coho salmon.
Keywords: Oregon Coast, Pacific salmonids = Oncorhynchus spp., Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch, climate change, depleted populations, ecosystem health, endangered species, habitats, hatcheries, human impacts, life history, ocean acidification, water temperatur

Diatoms from Western North America. 3. Signature Diatoms of the Cascadia Bioregion - Bahls, Loren L. (Loren L. Bahls, 2019)
“Presented here is a selection of 107 morphologically distinct signature taxa from the US portion of the Cascadia Bioregion. For each taxon one or more high-resolution digital images are provided along with information about habitat, ecology and distribution.” (p.6)
Keywords: Diamond Lake; diatoms; geographical distribution; habitats; North Umpqua River; taxonomy

Drainage evolution and freshwater fish zoogeography in coastal Oregon and Washington - Markle, Douglas F. (Northwestern Naturalist, 2019)
Some of the major events that have affected the evolution of fishes on the Pacific Northwest Coast include Miocene basalt flows, the rise of the Coast Range, glaciation and geographic isolation. This most interesting article examines the evolutionary history and species richness (or lack of it) in freshwater fishes in the region. “My purpose is to describe discrete geographic areas based on geological features, habitat, and distribution discontinuities in coastal freshwater fishes in Oregon and Washington” (p.73).
Keywords: Alsea River; Chehalis River; Chetco River; Columbia River; Coos River; Coquille River; evolutionary biology; fishes; geographic distribution; geography; geology; habitats; Klamath River; Nehalem River; Nestucca River; Olympic mudminnow = Novumbra hubbsi; Oregon chubs = Oregonichthys spp.; paleosciences; Puget Sound; Rogue River; salinity; Siletz River; Siuslaw River; Sixes River; Trask River; Umpqua River; Willapa Bay; Yaquina River

Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7(a)(2) Biological Opinion and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Essential Fish Habitat Response for Approving the 4 Apples Association Mining Plan of Operations Whitehorse Creek-Cow Creek . . . - Kratz, Kim W.; NMFS West Coast Region,, (National Marine Fisheries Service. West Coast Region, 2019)
This document sets out the reasons for the National Marine Fisheries Service approving a mining operation on Starveout Creek, in the Cow Creek-Whitehorse Creek basin. The full title of the document is: Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7(a)(2) Biological Opinion and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Essential Fish Habitat Response for Approving the 4 Apples Association Mining Plan of Operations Whitehorse Creek-Cow Creek (6th field HUC No.: 171003020701) Douglas County, Oregon (DOI-BLM-ORWA-M070-2018-0007 EA).
Keywords: Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; Cow Creek; environmental impact statement; environmental law and policy; mining; South Umpqua River Basin; Starveout Creek; water quality; water temperature; Whitehorse Creek

Eocene initiation of the Cascadia subduction zone: A second example of plume-induced subduction initiation? - Stern, Robert J.; Dumitru, Trevor A. (Geosphere, 2019)
In this article, the authors postulate a fascinating scenario to explain the development of the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The authors theorize that the Yellowstone mantle plume head “destroyed the existing Cordilleran subduction zone and allowed the new Cascadia subduction zone to form by collapse of thermally weakened oceanic lithosphere over the hot western margin of the plume head.” (from the Abstract) This is an elegant approach that solves problems and answers questions. Nicely illustrated.
Keywords: geology; paleosciences

FEMA Flood Map Service Center (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2019)
This searchable website gives the most recent flood maps for the Oregon Coast.
Keywords: Coastal hazards, flooding, maps, Salmon River estuary, Netarts Bay, Siletz River, Depoe Bay, Yaquina River, Alsea River, Beaver Creek, Yachats River, Siuslaw River, Umpqua River

[Forest] Laws and Rules - Oregon. Department of Forestry, (2019)
This website provides current laws on all aspects forest practice in Oregon, including general administrative rules, rules on water protection, reforestation, and using chemicals on forest lands. As they are periodically updated, it is best to refer to the web site rather than the print version previously published.
Keywords: environmental policy and law; human use and impacts; land use planning; logging; riparian areas; water quality. water temperature

Fourth Oregon Climate Assessment Report. State of Climate Science: 2019 (Oregon State University. Oregon Climate Change Research Institute, 2019)
Oregon state law requires a comprehensive assessment of climate change in Oregon. “The first chapter summarizes the current state of knowledge of physical changes in climate and hydrology, focusing on the period since the previous Oregon Climate Assessment Report (OCAR3, Dalton et al. 2017); and the second chapter covers the impacts. The second chapter is, verbatim, the Northwest chapter of the Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4) which was released by the federal government November 23, 2018. It is available for download separately: https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/downloads/NCA4_Ch24_Northwest_Full.pdf “ (from the Abstract)

Genetic divergence outpaces phenotypic evolution among threespine stickleback populations in old freshwater habitats - Currey, Mark C.; Bassham, Susan L.; Cresko, William A. (Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2019)
The three-spined stickleback is a highly adaptive species, capable of thriving in oceanic, estuarine and freshwater environments. Its abundance and differing life histories make it a good subject for studying the interplay between environment and genetics. In this paper, the authors exhaustively examine the genetic and physiological characteristics of this species. “To address the degree of congruence between genetic and phenotypic divergence, we directly compared Oregon stickleback to much younger (post-glacial) Alaskan populations. We found phenotypic variation in Oregon Stickleback to be primarily partitioned between oceanic and freshwater habitats . . . However, the main axis of genetic divergence was between coastal and inland regions regardless of habitat type” (from the Abstract). Interestingly, scattered populations of inland fish retain physical characteristics typical of the oceanic residents.
Keywords: Alaska; Columbia River; Coos River Basin; Crooked River; Cushman Slough (Siuslaw); Dean Creek (Umpqua); Deschutes River Basin,; evolution; genetics; geography; Lily Lake (Siuslaw); Luckiamute River Basin; McKenzie River Basin; Millport Slough (Siletz); Molalla River; morphology; Oregon; Page Road (Umpqua); phenology; population biology; Santiam River Basin; Siletz River Basin; Siuslaw River Basin; South Jetty (Siuslaw); Ten Mile Creek Basin; Three-spined stickleback = Gasterosteus aculeatus; Umpqua River Basin; Willamette River Basin

Headwater streams and wetlands are critical for sustaining fish, fisheries, and ecosystem services - Colvin, Susan A. R.; Sullivan, S.; Mazeika P.; Shirey, Patrick D.; Colvin, Randall W.; Winemiller, Kirk O.; Hughes, Robert M.; Fausch, Kurt D.; Infante, Dana M.; Olden, Julian D.; Bestgen, Kevin R.; Danehy, Robert J.; et al. (Fisheries, 2019)
In 2019, the Trump Administration proposed amending the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Act to narrow the definition of wetlands, and to remove millions of acres from protection. In resonse, the American Fisheries Society published this article, an “AFS Special Report” on the value of headwaters and wetlands, particularly of streams that are dry part of the year. The Biden Administration subsequently reversed the Trump amendment, but the U.S. Supreme Court, in Sackett vs. the Environmental Protection Agency, ruled in favor of narrowing the definition in 2023. Many aspects of this slow-moving environmental disaster are still in litigation. The article includes a photograph of Crowley Creek on Cascade Head.
Keywords: Calapooia River; Cascade Head National Scenic And Research Area; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; Crowley Creek; depleted populations; ecosystem health; environmental law and policy; general; Oregon chub = Oregonichthys crameri; wetlands; Willamette River

Insights into estuary habitat loss in the western United States using a new method for mapping maximum extent of tidal wetlands - Brophy, Laura S.; Greene, Correigh M.; Hare, Van C.; Holycross, Brett; Lanier, Andy; Heady, Walter N.; O’Connor, Kevin; Imaki, Hiroo; Haddad, Tanya; Dana, Randy (PLoS One, 2019)
This article recounts the techniques that led to the production of the 2017 maps to model the effects of sea level rise. The authors used lidar digital elevation models and other elevation models to develop new maps of current and historical wetlands on the United States West Coast. Their work shows that about 85% of historical wetlands have been lost, with most losses near major river deltas. “The new maps will help interested groups improve action plans for estuarine wetland habitat restoration and conservation, and will also provide a better baseline for understanding and predicting future changes with projected sea level rise” (from the Abstract).
Keywords: climate, habitats, human impacts, salinity, sea level, wetland vegetation, wetlands, remote sensing, mathematical modeling

An integrated approach to fisheries resource management [abstract] - Coates, Kelly (American Fisheries Society. Oregon Chapter. Meeting & Symposium, 2019)
This abstract succinctly describes the approach of the Cow Creek band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians to fisheries management. “The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians uses an integrated approach to resource management which interweaves the social/cultural, ecological, and economic values of the Tribe into all resource management decisions. Under an integrated approach all natural resources are considered cultural resources, the two are not approached with separate management strategies or desired outcomes. Instead, the Cow Creek team works collaboratively across disciplines to manage for a common outcome under common goals and objectives.”
Keywords: Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe; Native Americans; natural resource management

Natural Chimerism in the Invasive Colonial Ascidian Didemnum vexillum - Weinberg, Rachel Beth (Dept. of Biology, Marine Biology, 2019)
“Colonial, asexually reproducing organisms are typically treated as genetically homogenous entities composed of clonal units. However, processes such as fusion and somatic mutation may lead to the integration of multiple genetic lines in a single physiologically continuous organism. This state, known as chimerism, has been documented in a broad range of sessile modular taxa, including plants, fungi, slime molds, and colonial metazoans such as ascidians.” (from the Abstract) This thesis describes a process to quantify how much chimerism was present in a given colony. Twenty tunicate colonies were studied in Winchester Bay, and fifteen colonies in Half Moon Bay, California. The Umpqua River estuary colonies had about 70% chimerism, which is the highest percentage of chimerism identified in colonies studied to date.
Keywords: aquatic invertebrates; genetics; introduced species; molecular biology; sea vomit = Didemnum vexillum; taxonomy; tunicates; Umpqua River estuary; Umpqua triangle; Winchester Bay

Oregon Coast Coho Conservation Plan 2019 Annual Report - Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, ([Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife], 2019)
“Wild OC Coho Salmon spawner abundance estimates for the ESU increased from 74,060 fish in 2018 to 95,138 in 2019. Fishing harvest was less than the allowable harvest approved by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) under Amendment 13 (A-13). Overall, overwinter rearing habitat likely continues to limit freshwater productivity” (p.1).
Keywords: Alsea River; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; conservation plan; Coos Bay; Coquille River; depleted populations; habitat restoration; large woody debris; Mill Creek (Siletz); natural resource management; Necanicum River; Nehalem River; Nestucca River; North Umpqua River; restoration ecology; Siletz River; Siltcoos Lake; Siuslaw River; South Umpqua River; Tahkenitch Lake; Tenmile Lake; Tillamook River; Umpqua River; Yaquina River

Patterns of riparian policy standards in riverscapes of the Oregon Coast Range - Boisjolie, Brett A.; Flitcroft, Rebecca L.; Santelmann, Mary V. (Ecology and Society, 2019)
This article examines fisheries management in the Oregon Coast Range from the point of view of the entire riverscape, in order to identify critical fish-bearing streams and regulatory gaps that have impacts on the fisheries. Portions of streams that fall under fisheries management plans, as well as those that are unregulated, are identified. There are gaps in protection for riparian areas in private forest lands, and particularly in agricultural lands. An appendix identifies streams studied and percentages of stream length that fall under major fisheries management plans. This is an open-access publication.
Keywords: agriculture; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; depleted populations; environmental law and policy; general; geographic information system; habitats; human impacts; logging; natural resource management; Oregon Coast; riparian areas

Predicting larval lamprey habitat in the North Umpqua River [abstract] - Mackie, Travis; Coates, Kelly (American Fisheries Society. Oregon Chapter. Meeting & Symposium, 2019)
Oregon’s coastal Native Americans have long regarded lampreys as important food sources. Recent declines in lamprey populations have spurred research. This abstract describes a project jointly conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Cow Creek band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians to develop a model that will identify burrowing habitat for lampreys. In 2017, the tribe surveyed Rock Creek and Steamboat Creek, in order to check the validity of the model and to improve it.
Keywords: Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe; depleted populations; geographic distribution; habitats; juvenile fish; mapping; Native Americans; North Umpqua River; Pacific lamprey = Entosphenus tridentatus (Lampetra tridentata); Rock Creek; Steamboat Creek

PSU researchers find suspected microplastics in Oregon oysters - Woods, Tiffany (Confluence, 2019)
In April and July, 2017, Britta Baechler, a Portland State University doctoral student, purchased Pacific oysters each from six different oyster growers on Oregon’s Pacific coast. Out of the 120 oysters, she found on average 11 suspected microplastics, mostly tiny fibers, per oyster. The data is preliminary, pending analysis of the microparticles, but the implications of a world awash in plastic, are disturbing.
Keywords: aquatic invertebrates; bivalves; Coos Bay; human impacts; molluscs; Netarts Bay; North Bend (Or.); Pacific oyster = Crassostrea gigas; Plastic; pollution; Tillamook Bay; Umpqua River estuary; Winchester Bay; Yaquina Bay

Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species of Oregon (Oregon Biodiversity Information Center, 2019)
This document is more than a list of threatened, sensitive and endangered species. The authors discuss the regulatory environment, provide access to resources for learning more about listed species, and give the bioregions where the species are found. A valuable resource.
Keywords: Amphibians, birds, fish, invertebrates, mammals, reptiles, depleted populations, endangered species, geographic distribution, natural resource management, spatial distribution,

Reoccurrence of the Umpqua chub (Oregonichthys kalawatseti) in the North Umpqua after almost a century - Penaluna, Brooke E.; Ellenburg, Loretta (Northwestern Naturalist, 2019)
The Umpqua chub is a small minnow unique to the Umpqua Basin, and historically has been an important part of the basin’s food web. For 93 years, however, it was not found in the North Umpqua River Basin. That changed in 2019, when, in one day, 34 Umpqua chub were captured in a trap downstream from Winchester Dam. Does this discovery show that the chubs were simply missed in previous surveys, does it show seasonal movement, or does it represent a genuine extension of the range of the little fish? Stay tuned…
Keywords: depleted populations; endangered species; geographic distribution; Hestness Park; North Umpqua River; predation; Smallmouth Bass = Micropterus dolomieu; Umpqua chub = Oregonichthys kalawatseti

Western Oregon adult coho salmon spawning survey data report - Sounhein, Briana; Lewis, Mark; Weeber, Matt (Monitoring Program Report (Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds), 2019)
Good statistics on salmon runs. Wild coho spawning was low in 2018, at 58% of the 28-year average.
Keywords: abundance; Alsea River; Beaver Creek (Lincoln); Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; Coos Bay; Coquille River; fecundity; Floras Creek; geographic distribution; hatchery salmonids; Mill Creek (Siletz); Mill Creek (Yaquina); Necanicum River; Nehalem River; Nestucca River; North Umpqua River; Salmon River; Siletz River; Siltcoos Lake; Siuslaw River; Sixes River; South Umpqua River; Tahkenitch Lake; temporal distribution; Tenmile Lake; Tillamook Bay; Umpqua River; wild salmonids; Yaquina River

Western Oregon adult winter steelhead and lamprey, 2018 redd survey data report - Jacobsen, Ryan; Nott, Jonathan; Brown, Eric; Weeber, Matt; Lewis, Mark; Oregon. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, (Monitoring Program Report OPSW-ODFW, 2019)
“This report provides a summary of results from winter steelhead spawning ground surveys conducted in Lower Columbia (Oregon side only) and Oregon Coast basins in 2018. Also included is a brief summary of lamprey data collected from the same monitoring efforts. . . Total winter steelhead redd estimates were approximately 98% of both the 5- and 10-year averages for the Oregon Coast (OC) Distinct Population Segment (DPS). . . Regional patterns are apparent for winter steelhead redd density, proportion of hatchery origin spawners and spawn timing. Indices for Pacific Lamprey were lower in 2018 in the Lower Columbia compared to recent years, but above average in the Oregon Coast.” (p.1) Statistics are not given for Individual sites on the Oregon Coast other than the Umpqua River and the Nestucca River.
Keywords: depleted populations; Nestucca River; North Umpqua River; Pacific lamprey = Entosphenus tridentatus (Lampetra tridentata); population count; reproductive behavior; steelhead trout = Oncorhynchus mykiss; Winchester Dam

1500 years of lake sedimentation due to fire, earthquakes, floods and land clearance in the Oregon Coast Range: geomorphic sensitivity to floods during timber harvest period - Richardson, Kristin Noel Duckworth; Hatten, J. A.; Wheatcroft, R. A. (Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 2018)
Lakes are natural sinks for sediments. Sediment cores from lakes can provide much information about their surrounding areas. Loon Lake is a landslide-formed lake dating from the sixth century C.E. In this article, the authors report on about 1500 years of information about the environment around Loon Lake. The sedimentary record shows several major earthquakes, including the 1700 event, as well as the influence of heavy logging in the period from 1939 to 1978. “The high mass accumulation rate and greater frequency of thick event deposits during the early contemporary period point to the extraordinary role of timber harvesting in priming the landscape for subsequent sedimentary delivery during floods.” (from the Abstract)
Keywords: Loon Lake, Lake Creek, Mill Creek, Umpqua River, sediments, geology, paleontology, paleosciences, earthquakes, floods, landslides, terrestrial vegetation, logging

The aquatic conservation strategy of the Northwest Forest Plan—A review of the relevant science after 23 years - Reeves, Gordon H.; Olson, Deanna H.; Wondzell, Steven M.; Bisson, Peter A.; Gordon, Sean; Miller, Stephanie A.; Long, Jonathan W.; Furniss, Michael J. (General Technical Report PNW-GTR, 2018)
"Chapter 7." The Northwest Forest Plan, enacted in 1994, had a profound impact on the way aquatic and riparian areas are managed in forested areas of the Pacific Northwest. This chapter is a review of the impact, successes and areas for possible improvement of the Plan. Ecologically sensitive streams and species are identified. The .pdf file includes two appendices; Appendix1 covers invasive riparian species and Appendix 2 addresses climate change.
Keywords: amphibians; Applegate River; climate; Coquille River; depleted populations; ecosystem health; environmental policy and law; fish; general; habitats,; human impacts; landslides; logging; McKenzie River; Myrtle Creek; North Umpqua River; riparian areas; sedimentation; Siuslaw River; Smith River; water temperature

Biogeochemical Signals of Mountainous Forested Watersheds' Response to Disturbance - Guerrero-Bolaño, Francisco J. (Oregon State University, 2018)
A large quantity of small particles of organic matter in rivers comes from small mountainous streams. Thus, small mountainous watersheds play a critical role in the carbon cycle. Some organic matter export is driven by natural causes: fire, landslides, floods, while in recent years most particulate export has come from anthropogenic causes such as logging and road-building. “In this dissertation, we studied patterns of POM [particulate organic matter] mobilization, transport, and deposition to understand better how fundamental biogeochemical processes in forested mountainous watersheds respond to disturbances triggered by natural and human forcings” (from the Abstract). Different watersheds respond to disturbances in different ways, and the author advocates for understanding a watershed’s history in order to understand how the watershed responds to environmental changes.
Keywords: Alsea River; carbon; chemistry; coastal hazards; earthquakes; floods; forest fires; geography; geology; human impacts; hydrology; isotopes; landslides; logging; nitrogen; Umpqua River

Cenozoic marine formations of Washington and Oregon: an annotated catalogue - Nesbitt, Elizabeth A. (PaleoBios, 2018)
Most of the geologic formations visible on the Oregon Coast date from the Cenozoic Era (66 million years ago – present). This article is a valuable guide to current knowledge and nomenclature about these formations. The author provides an annotated list of 70 fossiliferous formations. The history of name changes and time assignments for various formations is given. If you want to be sure you are using the currently accepted name for a formation, this is a great reference. This is an open-access article.
Keywords: paleosciences, geology, sediments, methane

Climate change and Oregon law: What is to be done? - Brickley, Alan K.; Schell, Steven R.; Sullivan, Edward J. (Journal of Environmental Law & Litigation, 2018)
The legal system often seems to change more slowly than the social and environmental milieu in which it functions. It is encouraging to find good minds looking at the problems caused by climate change and their repercussions on the legal system. In this article, the authors offer some practical advice Oregonians can use to adjust their laws to climate change. “We examine two aspects of that response. The first concerns planning and regulation of land, and the second concerns the effects of climate change on property law. We suggest that traditional property law doctrines, such as reliction, avulsion, property boundaries, and public easements should be reexamined in the light of this crisis” (p.239). If we are to adapt to climate change, our institutions must adapt, and forward-looking publications like this will help.
Keywords: climate; environmental law and policy; land use; water use

Deep-seated landslides drive variability in valley width and increase connectivity of salmon habitat in the Oregon Coast Range - Beeson, Helen W.; Flitcroft, Rebecca L.; Fonstad, Mark A.; Roering, Joshua J. (JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 2018)
A significant percentage of land in the Oregon Coast Range is subject to deep-seated landslides. Many landslides have ancient origins, and have been postulated to date as far back as the Pleistocene. The authors of this paper define deep-seated landslides as cases in which a majority of slopes fail in a given watershed. “We explore how the presence of extensive deep-seated landsliding affects valley floor width and the quantity and connectivity of seasonal habitat for Coho Salmon by comparing these metrics in five subbasins in the Umpqua River Basin with extensive DSLs to five subbasins in the Umpqua River Basin without deep-seated landsides. We hypothesize that DSLs promote variable valley width and hence a higher frequency of anomalously wide valleys and that this results in greater connectivity between seasonal habitat types.” (p.1326) This is an open-access article.
Keywords: Charlotte Creek; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; Dean Creek; geographic distribution; geology; habitats; Halfway Creek; Herb Creek; landslides; paleosciences; Rock Creek; Sand Creek; Scare Creek; Scholfield Creek; sediments; Sweden Creek; Tyee Formation; Umpqua River; Yellow Creek

Density and population viability of coastal marten: a rare and geographically isolated small carnivore - Linnell, Mark A.; Moriarty, Katie; Green, David S.; Levi, Taal (PeerJ – Life & Environment, 2018)
To the surprise of many, a small population of Pacific martens has been discovered living along the Oregon coast, west of Highway 101 in coastal dune forests. This population is divided into two parts bisected by the Umpqua River and is relatively isolated. The authors live-trapped and collared adults as part of the study. The Oregon Dunes turned out to support the smallest home ranges and highest population density of martens in all North America. Prospects for the long-term survival of this group are not good. The authors suggest that banning trapping of coastal martens would help their future survival. Maps, photographs.
Keywords: Coos River; fecundity; human impacts; mathematical modeling; Oregon Dunes Recreational Area; Pacific marten = Martes caurina humboldtensis; population biology; Siuslaw River; Umpqua River

Detecting the effects of management regime shifts in dynamic environments using multi-population state-space models - Falcy, Matthew R.; Suring, Erik (Biological Conservation, 2018)
Oregon populations of wild coho salmon were in decline until they were listed by the Federal Government as threatened populations in 1998. Subsequent efforts to restore coho included reducing hatchery production, restoring habitats and cutting allowable harvests. At the same time, ocean conditions improved, favoring adult salmon survival. In this paper, the authors’ objective “was to assess change in the freshwater production of juvenile production of juveniles (smolts) through time in order to determine if recent increases in adult abundance could be related to management affecting the freshwater juvenile production” (from the Abstract). Interestingly, the authors did not find any improvement in the survival of juvenile fish per spawning salmon. Instead, they attribute the rebound in coho population to improved ocean conditions. Various aspects of this complex fishery management issue are discussed.
Keywords: Alsea River Basin; Beaver Creek; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; Coos River Basin; depleted populations; habitats; human impacts; juvenile fish; Lower Umpqua River Basin; mathematical modeling; natural resource management; Nehalem River Basin; Siletz River Basin; statistical analysis; Yaquina River Basin

An examination of whitewater boaters’ place attachment and specialization in four different river settings - Kainzinger, Silvia; Arnberger, Arne; Burns, Robert C. (Environmental Management, 2018)
This article explores attachment to a specific area (place attachment) and specialized skills (recreation specialization) among whitewater boaters on four rivers. “Findings suggest that place attachment dimensions vary in river setting and specialization levels. Management should take into account that boaters exhibit different place attachment based on the specialization level and resource proximity to their home” (from the Abstract). This is an open-access article.
Keywords: Lower Youghiogheny River (Penn.); North Umpqua River; recreation; Salza River (Austria); tourism; Upper Deschutes River

Expansion and systematics redefinition of the most threatened freshwater mussel family, the Margaritiferidae - Lopes-Lima, Manuel; Bolotov, Ivan N.; Do, Van Tu; Aldridge, David C.; Fonseca, Miguel M.; Gan, Han Ming; Gofarov, Mikhail Y.; Kondakov, Alexander V.; Prié, Vincent; Sousa, Ronaldo; Varandas, Simone; Vikhrev, Ilya V.; et al. (Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2018)
In this article, the evolution, distribution and taxonomy of the freshwater pearl mussel family, Margaritiferidae, is explored. Fossils as well as genetic data were used to model the diversification of this family. Maps, charts.
Keywords: aquatic invertebrates; bivalves; evolution; general; genetics; geographic distribution; molluscs; morphology; mussels; phylogeny; taxonomy

[Forest] Laws & Rules - Oregon. Department of Forestry, (2018)
This website provides current laws on all aspects forest practice in Oregon, including general administrative rules, rules on water protection, reforestation, and using chemicals on forest lands. As they are periodically updated, it is best to refer to the web site rather than the print version previously published.
Keywords: environmental law and policy; forestry; human use and impacts; land use planning

Formation of population genetic structure following the introduction and establishment of non-native American shad (Alosa sapidissima) along the Pacific Coast of North America - Hasselman, Daniel J.; Bentzen, Paul; Narum, Shawn R.; Quinn, Thomas P. (Biological Invasions, 2018)
American shad is a kind of herring native to the Atlantic coast of North America. Like the salmon, it is anadromous, spending part of its life cycle in freshwater and part in the ocean. Between 1871 and 1886, shad were introduced to the Sacramento River in California and to the Columbia River. These introductions were enough to allow the fish to spread along the west coast, and there is a significant population resident in the Umpqua River. In this article, the authors explain how they were able to use genetic microsatellite locations to identify different populations of shad. They explore what genetic differences can tell them about the different populations. It is interesting to note that some shad in the Columbia River have adopted unique freshwater life cycles, and one landlocked population also has a freshwater life cycle. The data tends to show that most shad are faithful to the locations where they have spread, and tend not to stray much beyond the original founding event. This is true of the shad in the Umpqua River.
Keywords: Columbia River; genetics; geographic distribution; introduced species; Klamath River; life history; population biology; Rogue River; Shad = Alosa sapidissima; Umpqua River

A framework to evaluate vulnerability of upriver migrants to existing hydroelectric infrastructure and climate change [PowerPoint Presentation] - Flitcroft, Rebecca; Lewis, Sarah; Arismendi, Ivan; Davis, Chante; Giannico, Guillermo; Penaluna, Brooke; Santelmann, Mary; Safeeq, Mohammad; Snyder, Jeff (International Conference on Engineering and Ecohydrology for Fish Passage, 2018)
Good charts.
Keywords: Chinook salmon = Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; climate; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; Columbia River; dams; Pacific lamprey = Entosphenus tridentatus (Lampetra tridentata); steelhead trout = Oncorhynchus mykiss; streamflow; Umpqua River; water temperature; Willamette River; Winchester Dam

A genetic reconstruction of the invasion of the calanoid copepod Pseudodiaptomus inopinus across the North American Pacific Coast - Dexter, Eric; Bollens, Stephen M.; Cordell, Jeffery; Soh, Ho Young; Rollwagen-Bollens, Gretchen; Pfeifer, Susanne P.; Goudet, Jérôme; Vuilleumier, Séverine (Biological Invasions, 2018)
A planktonic copepod, Pseudiaptomus inopinus, native to the shores of China, Korea and Japan, has invaded the estuaries of the Pacific Northwest. This article addresses the question of how the species spread in the northwestern Pacific. Did it spread by migration from one estuary to its neighbors? Did it spread from a migrant pool offshore? Or did it spread by irregular random pulses? The authors used genetics to answer this question and concluded that a pulsed model of spread by ballast water at irregular intervals fits the data. “The stochastic pattern of long-range dispersal observed in P. inopus suggests that planktonic invaders may spread across estuarine systems in a highly unpredictable manner.” (p.1592)
Keywords: Tillamook Bay, Yaquina Bay, Umpqua River estuary, Coos Bay, Coquille Bay, introduced species, aquatic invertebrates, crustaceans, copepods, Pseudiaptomus inopinus, geographic distribution, ballast water, genetics, molecular biology

The impact of persistent dynamics on suspended sediment load estimation - Gray, Andrew B. (Geomorphology, 2018)
The largest source of material transported from the land to the ocean comes through sediment flow in rivers, mostly from small mountain rivers. Sediment transport is important in shaping coastal landforms, plays an important role in global carbon cycling, and transports pollutants. This article focuses on West Coast streams from Washington to California, and looks at persistent factors influencing sediment load. Particularly surprising were lingering effects of the Great Christmas Floods of 1964.
Keywords: climate; flooding; hydrology; Klamath River; mathematical modeling; Rogue River; sediments; Siuslaw River; Smith River; South Umpqua River; Umpqua River

Landscape influence on the local distribution of western pond turtles - Horn, Robert B.; Gervais, Jennifer A. (Ecosphere, 2018)
How does an animal determine the best environment in which to live? Sedentary animals have no choice. Migratory animals have a wide range of options, and have a wide scale of choices. It turns out that the question of scale is important in determining the distribution of the western pond turtle, an animal that has limited mobility. There is an interplay of multiple factors at work. This article reports on a 1999-2000 survey of western pond turtles in the Umpqua River Basin. Important factors included levels of solar radiation, location of ponds, pond size, and area of nearby wetlands. The South Umpqua turned out to have the most turtles in the river, and the most turtles in nearby ponds. This is an open-access publication.
Keywords: geographic distribution; habitats; North Umpqua River; South Umpqua River; temporal distribution; Umpqua River; Umpqua River Basin; water temperature; Western pond turtle = Actinemys marmorata (Clemmys marmorata); wetlands

Longitudinal thermal heterogeneity in rivers and refugia for coldwater species: effects of scale and climate change - Fullerton, A. H.; Torgersen, C. E.; Lawler, J. J.; Steel, E. A.; Ebersole, J. L.; Lee, S. Y. (Aquatic Sciences, 2018)
Cool patches in rivers serve as refuges for cold-water species such as trout and salmon. What happens to cool patches in a warming climate? In this article studying multiple streams across the Pacific Northwest, the authors address this question. Small cool patches may disappear, creating one long warm patch, which could be a barrier to migration. Large cool patches could be broken into smaller patches. In the case of the Siletz River, cool patches tended to move further upstream. “Our model predicted little change in future thermal heterogeneity among rivers, but within-river patterns sometimes changed markedly compared to contemporary patterns” (from the Abstract).
Keywords: Nehalem River, Siletz River, Siuslaw River, Umpqua River, climate, Pacific salmonids = Oncorhynchus spp., climate, geographical distribution, mathematical modeling, water temperature

A multicatchment analysis of headwater and downstream temperature effects from contemporary forest harvesting - Bladon, Kevin D.; Segura, Catalina; Cook, Nicholas A.; Bywater-Reyes, Sharon; Reiter, Maryanne (Hydrological Processes, 2018)
In this study, summer stream temperatures were measured before and after logging in 29 sites in 3 different paired watershed study areas in Western Oregon. The Alsea River Basin, Hinkle Creek Basin (Umpqua) and Trask River Basin all have paired catchment areas in which part of the watershed is logged and part is left in an unlogged reference state. Researchers observed increased water temperatures after logging in small headwater streams, but temperatures rapidly decreased after the streams flowed into unlogged shady areas. One interesting aspect of this study was the effect of the permeability of underlying geological formations. Less permeable formations experienced the greatest rise in stream temperatures, and the authors note that this phenomenon should be researched further.
Keywords: Alsea River Basin, Alsea Watershed Study, Deer Creek, Flynn Creek, geology, Hinkle Creek Study, human impacts, logging, Needle Branch, North Fork Hinkle Creek, South Fork Hinkle Creek, Trask River, Umpqua River Basin, water temperature

Oregon Coast Coho Conservation Plan Annual Report - Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, ([Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife], 2018)
“In 2018, OC Coho abundance was still recovering from poor ocean conditions brought on by the marine heatwave termed “the blob” that created adverse effects on OC Coho Salmon prey sources, survival, and fisheries. With a slight increase from 2017 estimates, OC Coho wild spawner abundance for the ESU was 58% of the previous 28-year average” (p.1).
Keywords: Alsea River; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; conservation plan; Coos Bay; Coquille River; depleted populations; Floras Creek; habitat restoration; large woody debris; Mill Creek (Siletz); natural resource management; Nehalem River; Nestucca River; restoration ecology; Salmon River; Siletz River; Siltcoos Lake; Siuslaw River; Sixes River; South Umpqua River; Tahkenitch Lake; Tillamook River; Umpqua River; Yaquina River

Protecting Oregon’s estuaries - Sullivan, Edward J. (Ocean and Coastal Law Journal, 2018)
This paper reviews the history of the development and implementation of the statewide land use planning Goal 16: Estuarine Resources. Although the plan did not live up to all of the hopes for it, the author points out that, “Not only does it staunch the loss of productive habitat, act as natural filtration of sediment and pollutants, and provide for storage of floodwaters, but estuaries are an indicator of our commitment to the planet. Moreover, the Oregon Estuary program provides for land use benefits to estuary users” (p.428).
Keywords: Alsea Bay, Chetco River, Coos Bay, Coquille River, Depoe Bay, Nehalem Bay, Nestucca River, Netarts Bay, Salmon River, Sand Lake, Siletz Bay, Siuslaw River, Sixes River, Tillamook Bay, Umpqua River, Yaquina Bay, land use, environmental law and policy,

Recovery Plan for the Southern Distinct Population Segment of North American Green Sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) - U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service. (National Marine Fisheries Service, 2018)
The Umpqua and Yaquina River estuaries are among those coastal bays and estuaries that host seasonal populations of green sturgeon, with the population peaking in summer and autumn. While the Umpqua and Yaquina River sturgeon are not the main focus of this publication, this document does make a number of points about problems these populations face, and the need for more information. Issues include: competition from invasive species such as smallmouth bass, climate change, ocean acidification, increased stream temperatures, dredging and sedimentation.
Keywords: climate; Columbia River; Coos Bay; dredging; environmental law and policy; Green sturgeon = Acipenser medirostris; habitats; introduced species; Nehalem Bay; reproductive behavior; sediments; Umpqua River estuary; water quality; water temperature; Winchester Bay; Yaquina Bay

The Relationship between Hydroregime and Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Spawning in Three Streams of the Smith River Watershed, Oregon - Baxter, Mackenzie R. (Oregon State University, 2018)
This Master’s thesis examines coho salmon spawning timing. “This study evaluated the spatial and interannual variability in the relationships among streamflow, water temperature, and the spawning timing of coastal Coho Salmon returning to three tributaries of the Smith River.” (from the Abstract) The author found that different variables were most important in the three basins. Coho salmon spawning in North Sister Creek were most sensitive to water temperature, while streamflow (discharge levels) were more important in Beaver Creek and Panther Creek. Low water levels delayed spawning in all three streams in 2013. This thesis provides an interesting look at coho behavior.
Keywords: Beaver Creek; climate; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; depleted populations; hydrology; North Sister Creek; Panther Creek; reproductive behavior; Smith River; streamflow; theses; water temperature

Reproducing the River: Historic Context and Resource Survey of Oregon's State Fish Hatchery System - Bohner, Rodney Thomas (University of Oregon, 2018)
This Master’s thesis examines Oregon’s surviving fish hatcheries in the context of historic preservation. “In addition to surveying and inventorying fish hatchery resources, this study will analyze the social, economic, cultural, and environmental conditions under which these fish hatcheries were organized and commissioned. Ultimately, this survey will not only serve as a baseline for future, more intensive-level surveys, but will also provide a foundation for a National Register Multiple Property Submission. The use of hatcheries to sustain native Oregon fish species constitutes a major aspect of Oregon’s fishing and environmental conservation efforts.” The author gives a good summary of the relationship of hatcheries to the fishing industry and to government initiatives to promote and sustain salmon fisheries.
Keywords: Alsea River; Alsea River Fish Hatchery; Bandon Fish Hatchery; Chinook salmon = Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; Coquille River; Ferry Creek (Coquille); Geiger Creek (Coquille); hatcheries; hatchery salmonids; historical; North Umpqua River; Rock Creek (Umpqua); Rock Creek Hatchery; steelhead trout = Oncorhynchus mykiss; theses

Structural controls on paleodrainage during the last glacial maximum on the Oregon continental shelf [abstract] - Klotsko, S.; Maloney, J. M.; Watkins, K.; Gusick, A. E.; Davis, L. G.; Nyers, A.; Braje, T.; Ball, D. (American Geophysical Society. Meeting. Fall Meeting., 2018)
This abstract describes a sonar imaging project studying the Siuslaw and Umpqua paleo-rivers at the peak of the last Ice Age, when the sea level was about 120 meters below the present level. At that time, rivers flowed along what is now the continental shelf. “The mapped paleochannels are good indicators of potential archaeological sites, as many sites have been documented along the Umpqua and Siuslaw Rivers onshore. . . Detailed mapping of these structures could aid future archaeological investigations and paleochannel modeling in the region.”
Keywords: archeology; bathymetry; geology; paleosciences; Siuslaw River; sonar; Umpqua River

A Tale of Two Tunicates: Didemnum vexillum and Botrylloides violaceus as Biofouling Agents in Aquaculture - Knorek, Zofia R. (University of Oregon, 2018)
In aquatic environments, invasive colonial tunicates do particular damage, fouling and even smothering sedentary animals, competing with native animals for resources, and reducing biodiversity. In this Master’s thesis, the author examines two invasive tunicate species in Oregon and their effects on aquaculture, first at Winchester Bay from 2011 to 2016, and then in simulation. She points out that “ecological impacts are highly variable and region-specific,” and did not find excessive growth, and thus, no extensive damage done to aquaculture in this situation.
Keywords: aquaculture; aquatic invertebrates; Bay mussel = Mytilus trossulus; bivalves; Chain tunicate = Botrylloides violaceus; Charleston (OR.); Coos Bay; Fouling; introduced species; mollusks; oysters; Pacific oyster = Crassostrea gigas; sea vomit = Didemnum vexillum; tunicates; Umpqua Aquaculture; Umpqua River estuary; Winchester Bay

Tsunami-resilient building design considerations for coastal communities of Washington, Oregon, and California - Chock, Gary Y. K.; Carden, Lyle; Robertson, Ian; Wei, Yong; Wilson, Rick; Hooper, John (Journal of Structural Engineering, 2018)
The American Society for Civil Engineering has issued a new standard on "Tsunami Loads and Effects" as part of the 2016 edition of the ASCE Standard, Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures. This is a technical article examining the pressures and hydrodynamic lateral forces of tsunami and discusses options for planners such as strengthening buldings or changing zoning. "It is important that communities in tsunami hazard areas evaluate their risk associated with existing development and start to consider disaster resilience in community planning of future development" (p.04018116-11).
Keywords: coastal hazards, earthquakes, tsunamis, engineering, environmental law and policy, Bay City (Or.), Newport (Or.), Waldport (Or.), Yachats (Or.), North Bend (Or.)

Two additional western United States freshwater snails named for Terrence Frest - Johannes, Edward J. (The Dredgings, 2018)
This article describes several molluscan species including some named after Terrence Frest. Among the snails described are two species of pebblesnails found in the Umpqua River drainage. Color photographs.
Keywords: aquatic invertebrates; Fluminicola umpquaensis = Jade pebblesnail; Fluminicola fresti = Frest’s pebblesnail; gastropods; genetics; molluscs; new species description; North Umpqua River; South Umpqua River; taxonomy

Wilderness, luck & love: a memoir and a tribute - Kagan, Neil (Michigan Journal of Environmental & Administrative Law, 2018)
This entertaining memoir is concerned with two lawsuits that helped lead to the enactment of the Oregon Wilderness Act of 1984. Among the dramatis personae are Judge James Redden, environmental activist Andy Kerr and Senator Mark O. Hatfield. This is a look at environmental law from the perspective of a litigator.
Keywords: Bald Mountain; Boulder Creek; environmental policy and law; logging; Umpqua National Forest; wilderness

Winter habitat condition of Oregon coast coho salmon populations, 2007-2014 - Strickland, Matt J.; Anlauf-Dunn, Kara; Jones, Kim; Stein, Charles (Information Reports (Oregon. Fish Division.), 2018)
Winter habitat turns out to be an important, indeed, a limiting factor in coho salmon survival. Nicely complex habitat offers refuges that enable juvenile coho to survive winter freshets as well as providing “a large freshwater survival buffer that may help coho persist though extended periods of poor ocean survival” (p.2). It is troubling to note that agricultural land, private forest land and urban lands had the greatest lack of complexity, highlighting the need for more education and other efforts in these areas.
Keywords: Alsea River; American beaver = Castor canadensis; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; Coos Bay; Coquille River; geography; geology; habitats; hydrology; land use; Nehalem River; Nestucca River; population count; Salmon River; sediments; Siletz River; Siuslaw River; Tillamook Bay; Umpqua River; Yaquina River

Benthic Marine Algae on Japanese Tsunami Marine Debris – a Morphological Documentation of the Species. Part 2 – The Brown Algae - Hansen, Gayle I.; Hanyuda, Takeaki; Kawai, Hiroshi (ORESU-H, 2017)
On March 11, 2011, the great Tōhoku earthquake shook Japan. The subsequent tsunami swept approximately 5 million tons of debris into the Pacific Ocean, some of which made its way across the Pacific and washed up on the North American West Coast. The debris carried hundreds of species, a surprising number of which survived the trip. In order to understand the potential for biological invasions, it was necessary to document these species. This report describes sampling and genetic sequencing of marine algae found on 42 items that washed up between June, 2012 and July, 2016. It is in three parts. Part 1 gives an overview of the project and describes the red algae, Part 2 covers the brown algae and Part 3 gives the green algae and cyanobacteria. Beautifully illustrated with photographs, microphotographs and drawings.
Keywords: Tillamook Spit, Agate Beach, Nye Beach, Seal Rock, Waldport (Or.), Yachats (Or.), Umpqua River Estuary, Coos Bay, Sixes River Estuary, coastal hazards, earthquakes, tsunamis, introduced species, algae, taxonomy, morphology, genetics, species list

Benthic Marine Algae on Japanese Tsunami Marine Debris – a Morphological Documentation of the Species. Part 3. The Green Algae and Cyanobacteria. - Hansen, Gayle I.; Hanyuda, Takeaki; Kawai, Hiroshi (ORESU-H, 2017)
On March 11, 2011, the great Tōhoku earthquake shook Japan. The subsequent tsunami swept approximately 5 million tons of debris into the Pacific Ocean, some of which made its way across the Pacific and washed up on the North American West Coast. The debris carried hundreds of species, a surprising number of which survived the trip. In order to understand the potential for biological invasions, it was necessary to document these species. This report describes sampling and genetic sequencing of marine algae found on 42 items that washed up between June, 2012 and July, 2016. It is in three parts. Part 1 gives an overview of the project and describes the red algae, Part 2 covers the brown algae and Part 3 gives the green algae and cyanobacteria. Beautifully illustrated with photographs, microphotographs and drawings.
Keywords: Tillamook Spit, Agate Beach, Nye Beach, Seal Rock, Waldport (Or.), Yachats (Or.), Umpqua River Estuary, Coos Bay, Sixes River Estuary, coastal hazards, earthquakes, tsunamis, introduced species, algae, taxonomy, morphology, genetics, species list

Benthic Marine Algae on Japanese Tsunami Marine Debris – a Morphological Documentation of the Species. Part 1 – The Tsunami Event, the Project Overview, and the Red Algae - Hansen, Gayle I.; Hanyuda, Takeaki; Kawai, Hiroshi (ORESU-H, 2017)
On March 11, 2011, the great Tōhoku earthquake shook Japan. The subsequent tsunami swept approximately 5 million tons of debris into the Pacific Ocean, some of which made its way across the Pacific and washed up on the North American West Coast. The debris carried hundreds of species, a surprising number of which survived the trip. In order to understand the potential for biological invasions, it was necessary to document these species. This report describes sampling and genetic sequencing of marine algae found on 42 items that washed up between June, 2012 and July, 2016. It is in three parts. Part 1 gives an overview of the project and describes the red algae, Part 2 covers the brown algae and Part 3 gives the green algae and cyanobacteria. Beautifully illustrated with photographs, microphotographs and drawings.
Keywords: Tillamook Spit, Agate Beach, Nye Beach, Seal Rock, Waldport (Or.), Yachats (Or.), Umpqua River Estuary, Coos Bay, Sixes River Estuary, coastal hazards, earthquakes, tsunamis, introduced species, algae, taxonomy, morphology, genetics, species list

Characterizing fisheries connectivity in marine social-ecological systems - Fuller, Emma C.; Sambouri, Jameal F.; Stoll, Joshua S.; Levin, Simon A.; Watson, James R. (ICES Journal of Marine Science, 2017)
How do fishers adapt to changes in ecosystems and/or fisheries management? They can change the area where they fish. They can find other income sources or leave fishing. Or they can change the areas into which they put their energy by diversifying and working multiple fisheries. West Coast fishers tend to be resilient generalists, able to switch from one fishery to another as the need arises, and cope with different management regimes. Interlinked networks of potential fisheries constitute “fisheries connectivity,” and are the subject of this article. The authors analyze networks of multiple fisheries in the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem in 2009-2010. They calculate the relative importance of particular fisheries, and model fisheries networks and vulnerability to change in different communities. On the West Coast, either the Dungeness crab or the spiny lobster fisheries were the most important. The authors point out that species unconnected by food webs may be linked due to fisheries connectivity, and that understanding these relationships will be an important part of future resource management.
Keywords: Astoria (Or.), Garibaldi (Or.), Netarts Bay, Nehalem Bay, Siletz Bay, Newport (Or.), Depoe Bay, Alsea Bay, Florence (Or.), Winchester Bay, Charleston (Or.), Bandon, (Or.), economics, natural resource management, mathematical modeling, commercial fisheri

Dietary composition of four stocks of Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardii) in the northern California Current Large Marine Ecosystem from historical data, 1931-2013 - Steingass, Sheanna (Northwestern Naturalist, 2017)
Understanding the diets of different species is essential for wildlife managers. Managers need to know what is eaten and when and where it is consumed. This paper contributes to our understanding of the diet of harbor seals by reviewing over eighty years of scientific literature on this topic. Seasonal and spatial variations in diet are noted, and the issue of harbor seal predation on salmonids is explored. The article is available by contacting the authors through ResearchGate.
Keywords: Columbia River, Tillamook Bay, Netarts Bay, Alsea River, Umpqua River, Coos Bay, Rogue River, Salish Sea, Puget Sound, Oregon coast, Washington coast, Harbor seal = Phoca vitulina, Pacific herring = Clupea pallasii, Pacific hake (whiting) = Merluccius

Douglas County: Community Wildfire Protection Plans - Douglas County (Or.),; Douglas County (Or.). Planning Dept., (2017)
For each of the thirty high-risk areas listed, the report gives a community profile, fire risk history, lists emergency personnel available, gives evacuation routes, and specifies areas of priority fuel reduction. /Revised 2017.
Keywords: Boulder Creek; Calapooya; Camas Valley/Tenmile; Canyonville South Umpqua; Cavitt Creek; Central County East; Central County West; coastal hazards; Cow Creek; Days Creek; Diamond Lake; Douglas County; Dry Creek; Elkton/Scottsburg/Kellogg; environmental law and policy; forest fires; Fortune Branch; Jackson Creek; Lemolo Lake; Lookingglass/Winston/Dillard; Loon Lake; Milo; Myrtle Creek/Tri City; Nonpareil; North Douglas; North Fork; North Umpqua Village; Riddle; Steamboat; Susan Creek; Tiller; Toketee; Upper Olalla; Willis

Evaluating stream restoration projects: what do we learn from monitoring? - Rubin, Zan; Kondolf, G. Mathias; Rios-Touma, Blanca (Water, 2017)
How do we know stream restoration projects are successful? This valuable review addresses this question. Twenty-six studies, including one on the Umpqua and Coquille basins, are reviewed. The authors point out the limitations of assessment approaches. Problems with paired-catchment studies, such as the Hinkle Creek study, are noted. Counts of aquatic invertebrates are inadequate, since some invertebrates are not consumed by fish. The authors observe that studying food webs may be more important than diversity or abundance counts. “Prior to restoration, project designers and evaluators should develop conceptual models (which increasingly should include analytical reference states) of their ecosystems and consider success criteria carefully in light of predictions generated from these methods. Such an approach will add to the time and effort required for evaluation but it is probably wiser to do a good job evaluating fewer projects than a poor job attempting many superficial evaluations” (p.184).
Keywords: Umpqua River Basin, Coquille River Basin, aquatic invertebrates, restoration ecology, natural resource management, metrics, ecosystem modeling

Human Dimensions of Climate Change in Coastal Oregon - Hoelting, Kristin; Burkardt, Nina (OCS Study BOEM, 2017)
An attractive climate relative to the rest of the state and nation draws more people to the Oregon Coast. Longer, drier summers bring more tourists, more forest fires and less available freshwater. Heavier winter rains bring more flooding and erosion events. Higher water temperatures cause the ranges of animals (terrestrial and aquatic) to change, increase toxic algae blooms, kill salmon and stress Dungeness crabs. Increasing ocean acidity stresses shellfish. More intense winter storms and higher sea levels threaten infrastructure. These are some of the consequences of climate change outlined in this excellent report. One of the more valuable aspects of this comprehensive look at climate change in our area is extensive quotations from local residents. Good information on the Coos Bay and Newport areas. This report is highly recommended.
Keywords: climate; coastal hazards; commercial fisheries; Coos Bay; demographics; ecosystem modeling; general; general ecosystem health; human impacts; ocean acidification; precipitation; sea levels; water temperature; Yaquina Bay

Hydrological modelling using proxies for gauged precipitation and temperature - Chen, Jie; Brissette, François P. (Hydrological Processes, 2017)
Hydrological modeling is plagued by incomplete datasets due to “short time, inadequate spatial coverage, missing data and biases from various causes . . . The development of alternative datasets for using as proxies for inadequate/missing weather data represents a key research area” (from the Abstract). In this paper, 6 alternative datasets are evaluated for 12 watersheds in Canada and the United States. The authors find that the North American Regional Reanalysis was the alternative dataset with the best performance. Specific and standard calibration techniques are discussed.
Keywords: Umpqua River Basin, hydrology, climate, precipitation, temperature, mathematical modeling

Learning from Oregon’s 2015 Drought: A Review of Documented Conditions, Impacts, and Response Strategies - BeCraft, Rianne (Oregon State University. Water Resources Policy & Management Program,, 2017)
Climate change brings rising sea levels, increased erosion, stronger storms and ocean acidification. It also brings stronger and longer-lasting droughts. This report reviews the record-setting 2015 drought in Oregon. Subjects covered include a review of literature on drought monitoring and reporting, a description of the 2015 drought, a summary of the drought’s effects, and conclusions and recommendations. “Coastal hatcheries were predominantly impacted, with Rock Creek Hatchery being the most severely affected. . . Shallow and warm waters from the North Umpqua River fed Rock Creek, which led to disease and the loss of nearly all of the hatchery’s summer steelhead” (p.36).
Keywords: General, agriculture, climate, environmental monitoring, hatcheries, industrial development, meteorology, Native Americans, precipitation, recreation, water quality, water temperature,

Legal ecotones: A comparative analysis of riparian policy protection in the Oregon Coast Range, USA - Boisjolie, Brett A.; Santelmann, Mary V.; Flitcroft, Rebecca L.; Duncan, Sally L. (Journal of Environmental Management, 2017)
This article examines the complex legal landscape around protection of riparian areas in the Oregon Coast Range. The authors compare four policies: the Northwest Forest Plan, the State Forest Management Plans, Forest Practices Administrative Rules, and the Agricultural Water Quality Management Plans. The difference between plans is vast. One issue, wooded buffer zones around streams, shows a range from 0 (agricultural land) to ~152 meters (fish-bearing streams managed under the Northwest Forest Plan). The authors note that prescriptive standards seem to manage better than outcome-based standards, and suggest that expanding the public trust doctrine might help in developing responsible and reasonable standards.
Keywords: Oregon Coast Range, environmental law and policy, logging, agriculture, riparian areas, terrestrial vegetation

Lower Umpqua River Basin fall Chinook program - August 30, 2017 - Oregon. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, (Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan, 2017)
Subtitled: Fall Chinook Stock 151. Part one of two. The second part is accessible from the same website as the first. The original (2006) version of this report is available at: https://digital.osl.state.or.us/islandora/object/osl%3A951426
Keywords: Chinook salmon = Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; Gardiner Creek; Gardiner Reservoir; genetics.; hatcheries; hatchery salmonids; Lower Umpqua River; wild salmonids

Modeling Sea Level Rise Impacts to Oregon’s Tidal Wetlands: Umpqua River Estuary [cartographic material] - Brophy, Laura S.; Ewald, Michael J. (Institute for Applied Ecology, 2017)
This map is associated with the report, “Modeling Sea Level Rise Impacts to Oregon's Tidal Wetlands: Maps and Prioritization Tools to Help Plan for Habitat Conservation into the Future.” It depicts a possible sea-level rise scenario based on the West Coast Sea Level Rise Study (National Research Council, 2012). This map shows a possible rise in sea level of 4.7 feet by the year 2100. It shows what could happen to tidal wetlands: where they could expand, where they could be inundated. “Prepared for: MidCoast Watersheds Council, Newport, Oregon.” “With assistance from: Fran Recht, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission.”
Keywords: Umpqua River estuary, human impacts, climate, habitats, land use, salinity, sea level, wetlands, wetland vegetation, zonal distribution

Modeling Sea Level Rise Impacts to Oregon's Tidal Wetlands: Maps and Prioritization Tools to Help Plan for Habitat Conservation into the Future - Brophy, Laura S.; Ewald, Michael J. (Institute for Applied Ecology. Estuary Technical Group, 2017)
This study tracks possible conditions for Oregon coastal wetlands under six possible sea level rise scenarios between 2017 and 2160. “If tidal wetland plant communities are unable to survive the increased inundation associated with sea level rise, they will have to move to higher ground through dispersal of seeds, roots, or rhizomes. This process is called "landward migration," and the areas that could become future tidal wetlands are called “landward migration zones” (LMZs) in this study.” (p.5) Potential landward migration zones are mapped. Maps, charts, color photographs. This document is accompanied by maps, a PowerPoint presentation, a file of geospatial data, and a poster. “Prepared for: MidCoast Watersheds Council, Newport, Oregon.” “With assistance from: Fran Recht, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission.”
Keywords: Alsea Bay; Beaver Creek; climate; habitats; human impacts; Netarts Bay; salinity; Salmon River Estuary; sea level; Siletz Bay; Siuslaw River estuary; Umpqua River estuary; wetland vegetation; wetlands; Yachats River estuary; Yaquina Bay

Oregon Climate Assessment Report – 2017 - Dalton, Meghan M.; Dello, Kathie D.; Hawkins, Linnia; Mote, Philip W.; Rupp, David E.; Oregon State University. College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences. Oregon Climate Change Research Institute, (The Third Oregon Climate Assessment Report, 2017)
An eye-opening look at what’s ahead.
Keywords: agriculture, climate, climate change, coastal hazards, demographics, depleted populations, economics, fish, human impact, invasive species, phenology, precipitation, temperature, terrestrial vegetation, water temperature, wildlife

Oregon Coast Coho Conservation Plan Annual Report - Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, ([Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife], 2017)
“Still recovering from poor ocean conditions that created adverse effects on the OC Coho Salmon prey sources, survival, and fisheries, OC Coho spawner abundance estimates for the ESU decreased from 2016 estimates, resulting in the second lowest wild OC Coho Salmon spawner abundance estimate recorded since 1999” (p.1)
Keywords: Alsea River; Beaver Creek (Lincoln); Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; conservation plan; Coos Bay; Coquille River; depleted populations; Floras Creek; habitat restoration; large woody debris; Mill Creek (Siletz); natural resource management; Necanicum River; Nehalem River; Nestucca River; North Umpqua River; restoration ecology; Salmon River; Siletz River; Siuslaw River; South Umpqua River; Tenmile Lake; Tillamook River; Umpqua River; Yaquina River

Oregon Estuarine Invertebrates: Rudy's Illustrated Guide to Common Species - Hiebert, Terra C.; Butler, Barbara; Shanks, Alan L.; Rudy, Paul (University of Oregon Libraries, Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, 2017)
"Original edition by Paul and Lynn Rudy." Volume 1. Cnidaria, Nemertea, Annelida, Sipuncula -- , Volume 2. Arthropoda -- , Volume 3. Mollusca, Phoronida, Echinodermata, Chordata, appendices. Advances in genetics have revolutionized the classification of aquatic invertebrates. Many animals have been given new names that more accurately reflect their relationships with other species. For this reason, it was necessary to create a new edition of Paul and Lynn Rudy’s classic “Oregon Estuarine Invertebrates.” This third edition is a vast, although not quite complete, three-volume expansion of the original work. Rudy’s original line drawings have been retained. There is a new section on taxonomy, and most descriptive sections have been expanded. The bibliography section has been brought up-to-date with contemporary references. The invaluable “Possible Misidentifications” section has been expanded. A few species not yet updated will follow. This magnum opus is available on the internet and should be referenced by anyone wanting to identify and learn more about these familiar, fascinating animals.
Keywords: annelids; aquatic invertebrates; aquatic worms; arthropods; bibliography; brachiopods; cnidarians; echinoderms; general; identification; molluscs; segmented worms; taxonomy; tunicates

Phylogenetic analysis of the Lancinae (Gastropoda, Lymnaeidae) with a description of the U.S. federally endangered Banbury Springs lanx - Campbell, David C.; Clark, Stephanie A.; Lydeard, Charles (ZooKeys, 2017)
The subfamily Lancinae is made up of relatively large freshwater limpets. In 1988, a new species of Lanx was discovered at Banbury Springs, Idaho. This species has also been found in neighboring springs in the Snake River system. This paper describes the new Lanx as a new genus and species and examines genetic relationships among all these freshwater limpet species in the western United States. The study shows relatively high genetic differences between Lanx species, and notes that “only one lancine species is present in each river system” with a few exceptions (p.120). The species present in the Umpqua River is Lanx alta, the highcap lanx.
Keywords: Umpqua River, Highcap lanx = Lanx alta, aquatic invertebrates, molluscs, limpets, taxonomy, morphology, genetics, anatomy, molecular biology, geographic distribution

Role of Extreme Events on Sedimentation in Loon Lake, Oregon Coast Range, USA - Richardson, Kristin Noel Duckworth (Oregon State University, 2017)
Lakes are natural sinks for sediments. Sediment cores from lakes can provide much information about their surrounding areas. Loon Lake is a landslide-formed lake dating from the sixth century C.E. In this Master’s thesis, the author reports on about 1500 years of information about the environment around Loon Lake derived from sediment cores. The sedimentary record shows several major earthquakes, including the 1700 event, as well as the influence of heavy logging in the period from 1939 to 1978. “The high mass accumulation rate and high concentration of thick event beds and layers during the early contemporary period point to the extraordinary role of timber harvesting in priming the landscape for subsequent sedimentary delivery during floods.” (from the Abstract) The major professors were Jeffery A. Hatten and Robert A. Wheatcroft.
Keywords: Loon Lake, Lake Creek, Mill Creek, Umpqua River, human impacts, sediments, geology, paleontology, paleosciences, coastal hazards, earthquakes, floods, landslides, terrestrial vegetation, logging

Tidal Wetland Landward Migration Zones (LMZs) for 4.7 Ft Sea Level Rise for the Umpqua River Estuary [cartographic material] - Brophy, Laura S.; Ewald, Michael J. (Institute for Applied Ecology,, 2017)
This map is associated with the report, “Modeling Sea Level Rise Impacts to Oregon's Tidal Wetlands: Maps and Prioritization Tools to Help Plan for Habitat Conservation into the Future.” It depicts the upper end of a possible sea-level rise scenario based on the West Coast Sea Level Rise Study (National Research Council, 2012). This map shows a possible rise in sea level of 4.7 feet by the year 2100. It depicts possible migrations of wetland plants from inundated areas to new wetlands based on factors such as land use, zoning and built structures. “Prepared for: MidCoast Watersheds Council, Newport, Oregon.” “With assistance from: Fran Recht, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission.”
Keywords: Umpqua River estuary, human impacts, climate, habitats, land use, salinity, sea level, wetlands, wetland vegetation, zonal distribution

Two new species of Fluminicola (Caenogastropoda, Lithoglyphidae) from southwest Oregon, USA, and a range extension for F. multifarius - Hershler, Robert; Liu, Hsiu-Ping; Hubbart, Niko (ZooKeys, 2017)
Fluminicola, commonly known as pebblesnails, are very small freshwater snails. Advances in genetics and molecular biology have made it possible to refine this genus. This article describes two new species of Fluminicola. Fluminicola umpquaensis lives in rapidly moving water in the Umpqua River Basin. Fluminicola fresti lives in rapidly moving water in the North Umpqua River basin, and in the upper Rogue River drainage north of Little Butte Creek. This article includes a map and photographs.
Keywords: Umpqua River Basin, North Umpqua River, Rogue River, South Umpqua River, molluscs, gastropods, anatomy, genetics, taxonomy, new species description

Umpqua River Estuary Current vs. 4.7ft SLR Map [cartographic material] - Brophy, Laura S.; Ewald, Michael J. (Institute for Applied Ecology,, 2017)
This map is associated with the report, “Modeling Sea Level Rise Impacts to Oregon's Tidal Wetlands: Maps and Prioritization Tools to Help Plan for Habitat Conservation into the Future.” It depicts the upper end of a possible sea-level rise scenario based on the West Coast Sea Level Rise Study (National Research Council, 2012) contrasted with the current extent of tidal wetlands in the Umpqua River estuary. Areas projected to become open water or tidal mudflat are shown, as well as areas projected to become new tidal wetlands. “With assistance from: Fran Recht, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission.” “Prepared for: MidCoast Watersheds Council, Newport, Oregon.”
Keywords: Umpqua River estuary, human impacts, climate, habitats, land use, salinity, sea level, wetlands, wetland vegetation

Using high-resolution short-term location data to describe territoriality in Pacific martens - Moriarty, Katie M.; Linnell, Mark A.; Chasco, Brandon E.; Epps, Clinton W.; Zielinski, William J. (Journal of Mammalogy, 2017)
This paper describes space usage in Pacific martens in the Mount Lassen National Forest and in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Martens were captured and collared with both VHF and GPS collars. Martens in California had larger territories than those on the Oregon Coast. Males had larger territories than females. While same-sex individuals never shared territories, some overlap between males and females was observed. The martens made the rounds of their territories between 2-14 days, scent-marking their boundaries. Territorial boundaries did not change with the seasons. The authors note that “such high-resolution data offers new opportunities to understand the social-spatial organization of these populations” (p.686).
Keywords: Siuslaw River Estuary, Umpqua River Estuary, Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Pacific marten = Martes caurina, territoriality, geographical distribution

Using raw regional climate model outputs for quantifying climate change impacts on hydrology - Chen, Jie; Brissette, François P.; Liu, Pan; Xia, Jun (Hydrological Processes, 2017)
This is a look at regional climate models (RCMs) and their use in predicting the responses of watersheds to climate change. In this paper, three “RCMs driven by three different general circulation models are used to investigate the uncertainty of hydrological simulations associated with the choice of a bias-corrected or nonbias-corrected RCM simulation. The results indicate that the uncertainty envelope is generally watershed and indicator dependent.” In order to allow users to make the most informed decisions, the authors recommend giving both the bias-corrected and nonbias-corrected data.
Keywords: Umpqua River Basin, Yellowstone River Basin, Yampa River Basin, Manic 5 River Basin, hydrology, climate, precipitation, temperature, mathematical modeling

Western Oregon adult coho salmon, 2017 spawning survey data report - Sounhein, Briana; Brown, Eric; Lewis, Mark; Weeber, Matt (Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds Monitoring Report, 2017)
Good statistics on salmon runs. Before 2017, this publication was called, Status of Oregon stocks of coho salmon.
Keywords: abundance; Alsea River; Beaver Creek (Lincoln); Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; Coos Bay; Coquille River; fecundity; Floras Creek; geographic distribution; hatchery salmonids; Necanicum River; Nehalem River; Nestucca River; North Umpqua River; Salmon River; Siletz River; Siuslaw River; Sixes River; South Umpqua River; temporal distribution; Tillamook Bay; Umpqua River; wild salmonids; Yaquina River

Comments on the Oregon Coast Hatchery DEIS (Native Fish Society, 2016)
This document should be read with reference to the original Draft Environmental Impact Statement by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on Oregon coastal hatcheries run by the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) (https://archive.fisheries.noaa.gov/wcr/publications/nepa/hatchery/orcoast_hatcheries_deis_public-review.pdf ) . The average reader, for example, will need to refer to the page of acronyms and abbreviations on page xi of the main document to learn that pHOS stands for Proportion of hatchery-origin spawners. This paper is highly critical of the alternatives presented by NMFS and points out that both ODFW and NMFS are invested in supporting the status quo. “The HGMPs [Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans] are not being operated or proposed to be operated consistent with the best available science regarding genetic and ecological impacts on wild salmonids. We have evaluated the alternatives provided in the DEIS and show that they are not adequate to protect threatened coho and other species.” (from the summary)
Keywords: Pacific salmonids = Oncorhynchus spp., Salmon River Hatchery, Alsea River Hatchery, North Fork Alsea River, Fall Creek, Oregon Hatchery Research Center, North Fork Umpqua River, Rock Creek Hatchery, hatcheries, genetics, environmental impact statement

Conservation of Freshwater Thermal Habitats for Pacific Salmon in a Changing Climate - Fullerton, Aimee Heather (University of Washington, 2016)
Pacific salmonids spend parts of their life cycles in freshwater streams. They have evolved to need cool water in order to grow and survive. In this doctoral dissertation, the author uses remote sensing of water temperatures in dozens of streams in the Pacific Northwest to characterize the thermal profiles of the streams. Cool-water patches are noted as essential refugia for salmonids. “My research focused on filling key gaps in our understanding about spatial patterns in water temperature and potential fish response to altered thermal regimes associated with climate change. “
Keywords: Nehalem River, Siletz River, Umpqua River, North Umpqua River, Cow Creek, Pacific salmonids = Oncorhynchus spp., Chinook salmon = Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, climate, water temperature, mathematical modeling, remote sensing, theses

Diamond Lake: a new approach to restoration - Carroll, Trish; Miller, Rich (Lake Wise: Newsletter from Oregon Lakes Association, 2016)
The introduced tui chub has been plaguing Diamond Lake since the 1940s. The chub destroyed a valuable trout fishery, caused increased algae growth, and damaged the lake’s water quality. Rotenone was applied to kill all fish in the lake in 1994 and 2006. But the tui chub persisted. To add to the lake’s troubles, another non-native fish, the golden shiner, has been illegally introduced. Now, the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife is trying a new approach, introducing tiger trout to prey on the invaders. Tiger trout are sterile hybrids created by crossing female brown trout (Salmo trutta) and male brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). The hope is that the tiger trout will prey on and hold down the populations of the unwanted invaders.
Keywords: Diamond Lake, North Umpqua River, Umpqua River Basin, introduced species, Tui chub = Gila bicolor, golden shiner = Notemigonus crysoleucas, tiger trout, predation, population biology

Distribution of Pacific marten in coastal Oregon - Moriarty, Katie M.; Bailey, John D.; Smythe, Sharon E.; Verschuyl, Jake (Northwestern Naturalist, 2016)
Pacific marten are native to northern California and coastal Oregon. They were thought to be extinct until a population in northern California was discovered in 1996. This paper describes a major effort to learn more about this rare and little understood species, resulting in the largest survey of carnivores ever conducted in Oregon. Roadkill, track plates and remote cameras were used. Among their discoveries, the authors “did learn a unique population exists in the coastal dunes of Central Oregon” (from the Abstract). This population was documented from Newport south to Coos Bay, mostly west of Highway 101. Recommendations for protecting Pacific martens are thoughtful and nuanced.
Keywords: Pacific marten = Martes caurina (Martes americana), depleted populations, geographical distribution, population count, species list, habitats, human impacts, Oregon Coast, Alsea River Basin, Umpqua River Basin

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to Analyze Impacts of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service Proposed Approval of the Continued Operation of 10 Hatchery Facilities for Trout, Salmon, and Steelhead Along the Oregon Coast, as Described in Or (National Marine Fisheries Service. West Coast Division, 2016)
This is a draft review made by the National Marine Fisheries Service of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans (HGMPs) for Oregon fish hatcheries. Ten ODFW hatcheries are considered. The document gives four main alternatives for the future of the hatcheries: 1) Do not approve ODFW’s HGMPs, in which case ODFW might operate the hatcheries without Endangered Species Act authorization and be liable for Federal penalties; 2) approve the HGMPs; 3) terminate Oregon coast hatcheries; 4) reduce hatchery production on the Oregon coast. Approval of the HGMPs is the preferred action.
Keywords: Pacific salmonids = Oncorhynchus spp., Salmon River Hatchery, Alsea River Hatchery, North Fork Alsea River, Fall Creek, Oregon Hatchery Research Center, North Fork Umpqua River, Rock Creek Hatchery, hatcheries, genetics, environmental impact statement

Effects of stream-adjacent logging in fishless headwaters on downstream coastal cutthroat trout - Bateman, Douglas S.; Sloat, Matthew R.; Gresswell, Robert E.; Berger, Aaron M.; Hockman-Wert, David P.; Lee, David W.; Skaugset, Arne E. (Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 2016)
This article examines logging next to headwater streams that do not have resident fish populations to see if current forest management practices provide adequate protection for downstream fishes. The Hinkle Creek Study takes place on a commercial forest in which Douglas fir plantations are logged about 55-60 years. A logged catchment is paired with an unlogged catchment to better see the effects of logging. Oregon’s forest regulations do not require riparian borders for headwater streams without resident fishes. These areas are typically clear-cut up to the streambanks. Does logging in these areas adversely affect downstream fishes? “Overall, very few changes in habitat or biological parameters were detected in conjunction with stream-adjacent logging in the headwaters of Hinkle Creek. Apparently, contemporary forest practices rules provided adequate short-term protection from acute negative effects to the downstream fish community in this experimental setting.” (p.1911)
Keywords: cutthroat trout = Oncorhynchus clarki, diet, fishes, geographic distribution, growth, habitats, Hinkle Creek, logging, North Fork Hinkle Creek, sediments, South Fork Hinkle Creek, Umpqua River,

Effects of Wildfire on Soil Hydraulic Properties on Hillslopes in Southwestern Oregon - Cole, Ryan (Oregon State University, 2016)
How do wildfires affect forest soils? In this interesting baccalaureate honors thesis, the author compares similar burned and unburned slopes and uses techniques such as dye-tracing to discover differences in the way the slopes respond to rainfall. “This study has found evidence of changes in soil properties at the soil surface, including soil moisture, unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, and sorptivity, immediately after the first wet season following a moderate to high severity wildfire” (p.25). Kevin D. Bladon was the advisor.
Keywords: Umpqua River Basin, South Umpqua River, Stouts Creek, Callahan Creek, hydrology, soils, forest fires, erosion, theses

Field and Laboratory Investigations of Variably Saturated, Potential Landslides - Morse, Michael S. (Colorado School of Mines, 2016)
This doctoral dissertation involves a study of a steep basin in the Umpqua River watershed. “Presented here are newly applied remote sensing techniques intended to improve slope stability characterization methods at a variety of scales. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) was used to quickly estimate soil thickness over a steep (33–40°) zero-order basin in the Oregon Coast Range” (from the Abstract) In addition to fieldwork, laboratory studies were conducted in which “a particle image velocimetry (PIV) tool was used to observe shear plane development and strain localization in a tabletop vertical cut slope simulator prior to slope failure” (from the Abstract). The author also revised Culmann’s Method, a critical height analytical formula and extended it to work in three dimensions and in unsaturated soils.
Keywords: Umpqua River Basin, Elliott State Forest, coastal hazards, landslides, sediments, geology, paleosciences, erosion, precipitation, climate, mathematical modeling, theses

Final ESA Recovery Plan for Oregon Coast Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) - U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, (National Marine Fisheries Service. West Coast Region, 2016)
This document is NOAA’s plan for threatened coho salmon on the Oregon coast. The goal is clear. “NMFS estimates that if the strategies and actions identified in this Plan are implemented in a timely manner, and marine survival is not too low, we will be able to delist Oregon Coast coho salmon within the next 10 years.” (p.S-10) Current limiting factors include poor water quality in streams and estuaries, lack of stream complexity (loss of wetlands, side channels and floodplains), loss of vegetation, and invasive species. The plan involves continuing work on habitat improvement, monitoring, and a new policy encouraging public-private partnerships in individual watersheds (Chapter 8).
Keywords: Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch, Nehalem River, Nestucca River, Tillamook Bay, Nestucca River, Salmon River, Siletz River, Yaquina River, Beaver Creek, Alsea River, Siuslaw River, Coos River, Coquille River, Umpqua River, environmental law and policy

Forecasting inundation from debris flows that grow volumetrically during travel, with application to the Oregon Coast Range, USA - Reid, Mark E.; Coe, Jeffrey A.; Brien, Dianne L. (Geomorphology, 2016)
Landslides and debris flows are important hazards in the Oregon Coast Range. In November, 1996, a major storm caused two debris flows along the Umpqua River that killed five people. In this paper, the authors studied four basins that were steep, clearcut and affected by the 1996 debris flow. The authors employed an “easy-to-use empirical/statistical approach to forecast inundation from debris flows” (p.397) They make the important claim that, “Our method reproduced the observed inundation patterns produced by individual debris flows; it also generated reproducible, objective potential inundation maps for entire drainage networks” (from the Abstract). Full-text is available through ResearchGate.
Keywords: coastal hazards, precipitation, erosion, geology, landslides, paleosciences, sediments, Umpqua River, Charlotte Creek, Mill Creek

Hydrological effects of forest management - Stednick, J.D.; Troendle, C.A. (Forest Hydrology: Processes, Management and Assessment, 2016)
This book chapter reviews paired catchment studies, “the most common approach used to assess the effects of forest management activities on streamflow” (p.192). Oregon has two major paired catchment studies, the Alsea Watershed Study and the Hinkle Creek Study, located in the Alsea and Umpqua Basins. This book chapter reviews studies in the United States and around the world and clearly explains the information gathered and associated issues. The authors indicate that future directions for studies will include more sophisticated statistical methods and numerical modeling.
Keywords: Alsea River Basin, Alsea Watershed Study, Deer Creek, Drift Creek, Flynn Creek, Calapooya Creek, Hinkle Creek, Hinkle Creek Study, human impacts, hydrology, logging, Needle Branch, sediment data, terrestrial vegetation, Umpqua River Basin, water quality

An initial evaluation of potential options for managing riparian reserves of the Aquatic Conservation Strategy of the Northwest Forest Plan - Reeves, Gordon H.; Pickard, Brian R.; Johnson, K. Norman; U. S. Department of Agriculture. Forest Service. Pacific Northwest Research Station,, (General Technical Report PNW, 2016)
The Northwest Forest Plan was adopted in 1994. Part of the Plan involved developing an Aquatic Conservation Strategy “to maintain and improve the ecological processes in aquatic ecosystems for Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.), other native fish, aquatic and riparian-dependent organisms, and water quality” (from the Executive Summary).The Plan met this goal by using riparian reserves, areas near streams in which logging was banned to the distance of two tree-heights (220 feet) on fish-bearing streams, and one tree-height on streams without fishes. The width of the reserves was considered to be an interim measure, but the issue has not been subsequently revisited. This report is an attempt to re-assess the minimum widths of riparian reserves. The authors offer an option that uses new techniques such as tree-tipping, which would enable forest managers to reduce the width of riparian boundaries and permit logging closer to streams without reducing water quality.
Keywords: Siuslaw River, Smith River, North Umpqua River, Myrtle Creek, Coquille River, McKenzie River, Applegate River, terrestrial vegetation, riparian areas, habitats, water quality, water temperature, fishes, ecosystem health, environmental law and policy,

Molecular phylogenetics of the freshwater gastropod genus Juga (Cerithioidea: Semisulcospiridae) - Campbell, David C.; Clark, Stephanie A.; Johannes, Edward J.; Lydeard, Charles; Frest, Terrence J. (Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 2016)
New techniques in molecular biology have revolutionized invertebrate taxonomy. Many families and genera have been reorganized. This article represents a beginning examination of the freshwater snails in the genus Juga. Emphasis is on the Sacramento River, but a genetic analysis was done on 103 specimens, including some from Oregon. The authors find that much of the classification of Juga is questionable, and that the clades identified “correspond closely to geography. Some geographically and genetically distinctive populations do not fit in any named species.” (from the Abstract)
Keywords: Umpqua River Basin, Brown Juga = Juga spp.. aquatic invertebrates, molluscs, gastropods, taxonomy, genetics, molecular biology

Multi-locus fossil-calibrated phylogeny, biogeography and a subgeneric revision of the Margaritiferidae (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionoida) - Bolotov, Ivan N.; Vikhrev, Ilya V.; Bespalaya, Yulia A.; Gofarov, Mikhail Y.; Kondakov, Alexander V.; Konopleva, Ekaterina S.; Bolotov, Nikita N.; Lyubas, Artyom A. (Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2016)
Freshwater pearl mussels play important roles in their ecosystems. At one stage of their development, they are parasites of salmon and trout. This paper presents a tentative proposed classification of the freshwater pearl mussels. A specimen from the North Umpqua River was included in this study. Interestingly, this family seems to evolve more slowly than other bivalves.
Keywords: North Umpqua River, Western pearl mussel = Margaritifera falcata, taxonomy, genetics, aquatic invertebrates, molluscs, bivalves

The Northwest Coastal Explorer: Your Guide to the Places, Plants, and Animals of the Pacific Coast - Steelquist, Robert (Timber Pr, 2016)
Here’s a guidebook with a difference. Although suggested Pacific Northwest trips are included, this book is less about destinations and much more about the journey and what will be found along the way. Packed with beautiful photographs and page-long descriptions of the plants and animals of the Northwest Coast, this book will inform and delight. For succinct descriptions of the life of the region, from the sea palm to the brown pelican, from the mole crab to the Roosevelt elk, this is the place to go for succinct species descriptions at a popular level.
Keywords: amphibians; aquatic invertebrates; aquatic plants; biology; birds; general; general ecosystem description; geology; mammals; oceanography; terrestrial plants; tourism

Oregon Coast Coho Conservation Plan Annual Report - Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, ([Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife], 2016)
“Following abnormally warm ocean temperatures that started in 2014 and encompassed a large portion of the Pacific West Coast, referred to as ‘the Blob”, and a strong El Niño pattern in 2015, poor marine survival for OC Coho Salmon resulted in 2016 having the third lowest wild spawner abundance estimate recorded for OC Coho Salmon since the peak in 2002” (p.1).
Keywords: Alsea River; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; conservation plan; Coos Bay; Coquille River; depleted populations; Floras Creek; habitat restoration; large woody debris; Mill Creek (Siletz); natural resource management; Nestucca River; North Umpqua River; restoration ecology; Siletz River; Siuslaw River; South Umpqua River; Tahkenitch Lake; Tillamook River; Umpqua River

Policy Patterns across Riverscapes: Riparian Land Standards in the Oregon Coast Range - Boisjolie, Brett A. (Oregon State University, 2016)
This Master’s thesis gives an in-depth look at the policies governing riparian areas in the Oregon Coast Range. The author finds a fragmented “policy landscape” that complicates natural resource management. This fragmentation makes more difficult initiatives such as Coho salmon recovery efforts. GIS was used to map differing riparian management policies in the Coast Range. The author developed a model to show intrinsic salmon rearing potential in streams. A stream network model was also developed. Standards vary widely and the “choice of hydrographic data was also found to influence the proportional extent of policies within riverscapes” (from the Abstract). The study points to a need for more data and suggests ways to overcome policy fragmentation. Co-major professors were Mary V. Santelmann, and Rebecca L. Flitcroft.
Keywords: Oregon Coast Range, Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch, Coos Bay Watershed, Coquille River Basin, Nestucca River Basin, agriculture, environmental law and policy, hydrography, logging, natural resource management, riparian areas, terrestrial vegetation

Recovery Plan for Oregon Coast Coho Salmon Evolutionarily Significant Unit. National Marine Fisheries Service, West Coast Region, Portland, Oregon - U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, (2016)
This document is NOAA’s plan for threatened coho salmon on the Oregon coast. The goal is clear. “NMFS estimates that if the strategies and actions identified in this Plan are implemented in a timely manner, and marine survival is not too low, we will be able to delist Oregon Coast coho salmon within the next 10 years.” (p.S-10) Current limiting factors include poor water quality in streams and estuaries, lack of stream complexity (loss of wetlands, side channels and floodplains), loss of vegetation, and invasive species. The plan involves continuing work on habitat improvement, monitoring, and a new policy encouraging public-private partnerships in individual watersheds (Chapter 8).
Keywords: Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch, Nehalem River, Nestucca River, Tillamook Bay, Nestucca River, Salmon River, Siletz River, Yaquina River, Beaver Creek, Alsea River, Siuslaw River, Coos River, Coquille River, Umpqua River, environmental law and policy

Seasonal and spatial fluctuations in Oncorhynchus trout diet in a temperate mixed-forest watershed - Li, J. L.; Gerth, W. J.; Van Driesche, R. P.; Bateman, D. S.; Herlihy, A. T. (Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 2016)
In this paper, the authors report on prey consumption and growth in trout from 2003-2005 in the mainstem and tributaries of the Hinkle Creek watershed. Trout are adventitious feeders, and their prey changes with the seasons. While they tend to consume aquatic invertebrates in the spring, summer brings terrestrial insects. There were differences in size between fish residing in the mainstem, and fish residing in upper tributaries. The authors discuss possible causes of this difference.
Keywords: aquatic invertebrates; cutthroat trout = Oncorhynchus clarki; diet; feeding behavior; fishes; geographic distribution; habitats; Hinkle Creek; insects; North Fork Hinkle Creek; Pacific salmonids = Oncorhynchus spp.; South Fork Hinkle Creek; steelhead trout = Oncorhynchus mykiss; terrestrial invertebrates; Umpqua River; water temperature

Self-organization of river channels as a critical filter on climate signals - Phillips, Colin B.; Jerolmack, Douglas J. (Science, 2016)
“Spatial and temporal variation in rainfall are hypothesized to influence landscape evolution through erosion and sediment transport by rivers. However, determining the relation between rainfall and river dynamics requires a greater understanding of the feedbacks between flooding and a river’s capacity to transport sediment” (from the Abstract). Do bigger floods mean more erosion? Not necessarily, say the authors, who find more river channel change in moderate inundations than in large floods.
Keywords: Umpqua River, hydrology, climate, precipitation, coastal hazards, flooding, geology, sediments,

A spatially explicit suspended-sediment load model for western Oregon - Wise, Daniel R.; O'Connor, Jim; U.S. Geological Survey, (U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report, 2016)
In this report, a mathematical model is used to estimate suspended sediment loads for watersheds in western Oregon and northern California. Contemporary data is contrasted with historical data. There is good coverage of historical sediment data. Interestingly, the model shows less erosion today than in the recent past. Possible biases in the model as well as changes in forest management practices may explain this and are discussed. The authors recommend “intensive local analyses” in watersheds to overcome limitations of this study. A companion Excel file gives calibrated sediment data for Federal, California and Oregon stations. Interesting maps.
Keywords: Alsea River; Calapooya Creek; Coquille River; Cow Creek; Elk Creek (Umpqua); Klamath River; Mackenzie River; Nehalem River; North Umpqua River; Oregon Coast Range; precipitation; sediments; South Umpqua River; Trask River; Umpqua River Basin; Willamette Valley; Wilson River

Status of Oregon stocks of coho salmon - Sounhein, Briana; Brown, Eric; Lewis, Mark; Weeber, Matt (Monitoring Program Report (Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds), 2016)
Good statistics on coho runs. After 2016, this report’s title changes to “Western Oregon Adult Coho Salmon Spawning Survey Data Report.”
Keywords: abundance; Alsea River; Beaver Creek (Lincoln); Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; Coos Bay; Coquille River; fecundity; Floras Lake; geographic distribution; hatchery salmonids; Necanicum River; Nehalem River; Nestucca River; North Umpqua River; Salmon River; Siletz River; Siltcoos Creek; Siuslaw River; Sixes River; South Umpqua River; Tahkenitch Creek; temporal distribution; Tenmile Creek; Tillamook Bay; Umpqua River; wild salmonids; Yaquina River

Umpqua River Basin summer steelhead program - Oregon. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, (Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan, 2016)
In two parts. Part 2 may be obtained from the State Library website. Subtitled, ": Summer Steelhead, Stock 55." The original plan (2006) is also online at https://digital.osl.state.or.us/islandora/object/osl%3A951421
Keywords: genetics.; hatcheries; hatchery salmonids; steelhead trout = Oncorhynchus mykiss; Umpqua River; wild salmonids

Umpqua River spring Chinook - Oregon. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, (Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan, 2016)
In two parts. Part 2 may be obtained from the State Library website. Subtitled: Stock 55. The original (2006) version of this report is available at: https://digital.osl.state.or.us/islandora/object/osl%3A951412
Keywords: Chinook salmon = Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; genetics; hatcheries; hatchery salmonids; North Umpqua River; Rock Creek; wild salmonids

Umpqua River winter steelhead - Oregon. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, (Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan, 2016)
In two parts. Part 2 may be obtained from the State Library website URL. Subtitled, ": Winter Steelhead Stock 18." The original plan (2006) is also online at https://digital.osl.state.or.us/islandora/object/osl%3A951415
Keywords: genetics.; hatcheries; hatchery salmonids; steelhead trout = Oncorhynchus mykiss; Umpqua River; wild salmonids

Community clusters of tsunami vulnerability in the US Pacific Northwest - Wood, Nathan J.; Jones, Jeanne; Spielman, Seth; Schmidtlein, Matthew C. (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2015)
“We present an analytical framework for understanding community-level vulnerability to tsunamis that integrates population exposure, demographic sensitivity, and evacuation potential. We identify three types of communities along the US Pacific Northwest coast that are directly threatened by tsunamis associated with a Cascadia subduction zone earthquake: (i) demographically diverse with low numbers of exposed people, (ii) high numbers of exposed populations but sufficient time to evacuate, and (iii) moderate numbers of exposed populations but insufficient time to evacuate.“ (p.5354) The authors identified Seaside as the most vulnerable community on the Oregon Coast. This is an open-access article.
Keywords: Bay City (Or.); coastal hazards; Coos Bay (Or.); Depoe Bay (Or.); Dunes City (Or.); earthquakes; environmental policy and law; Florence (Or.); Gold Beach (Or.); Lincoln City (Or.); Lincoln County (Or.); Newport (Or.); North Bend (Or.); Port Orford (Or.); Reedsport (Or.); Seaside (Or.); Tillamook (Or.); Toledo (Or.); tsunamis; Waldport (Or.); Yachats (Or.)

Connectivity and conditional models of access and abundance of species in stream networks - Chelgren, Nathan D.; Dunham, Jason B. (Ecological Applications, 2015)
In major attempts to ease habitat fragmentation, much money has been spent repairing culverts where roads cross streams. The authors of this study used fieldwork and modeling to assess the successes and failures of these efforts in small streams in the Oregon Coast Range.
Keywords: Chinook salmon = Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; culverts; cutthroat trout = Oncorhynchus clarki; geographical distribution; habitat restoration; habitats; logging; Longnose dace = Rhinichthys cataractae; Nestucca River; Pacific lamprey = Entosphenus tridentatus (Lampetra tridentata) Western brook lamprey = Lampetra richardsoni; Prickly sculpin = Cottus asper; Reticulate sculpin = Cottus perplexus; roads; steelhead trout = Oncorhynchus mykiss; Umpqua River Basin

Evaluation of non-traditional modelling techniques for forecasting salmon returns - McCormick, J. L.; Falcy, M. R. (Fisheries Management and Ecology, 2015)
Natural resource managers need to be able to forecast salmon runs, but this can be difficult without enough data to compensate for “potential explanatory variables.” This paper compares three traditional modeling techniques with five non-traditional methods. The authors used data from 1997 to 2012 for 18 coho salmon and seven fall-run Chinook salmon populations to predict run sizes. Positive aspects and potential dangers of non-traditional modeling techniques are discussed.
Keywords: Alsea River; Beaver Creek; Chinook salmon = Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; Coos River; Coquille River; fecundity; Lower Umpqua River; Middle Umpqua River; natural resource management; Necanicum River; Nehalem River; Nestucca River; North Umpqua River; Salmon River; Siletz River; Siuslaw River; Sixes River; South Umpqua River; statistical analysis; Tillamook River; Yaquina River

Evaluation of probabilistic sampling designs for estimating abundance of multiple species of migratory fish using video recordings at fishways - McCormick, Joshua L.; Jackson, Laura S.; Carr, Fabian M.; Meyer III, Daniel H. (North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 2015)
“Fifteen years of video census data from a fishway at Winchester Dam on the North Umpqua River, Oregon, were used to evaluate sampling designs to estimate abundance of spring- and fall-run Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, summer- and winter-run steelhead O. mykiss , Coho Salmon O. kisutch, and Pacific Lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus.” (from the Abstract)
Keywords: abundance; Chinook salmon = Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; mathematical modeling; North Umpqua River; Pacific lamprey = Entosphenus tridentatus; population count; statistics; steelhead trout = Oncorhynchus mykiss; Umpqua River; Winchester Dam

Feasibility Assessment for the Reintroduction of Fishers in Western Oregon, USA - Hiller, Tim L. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2015)
This report examines the history of native fisher populations in Oregon and conditions necessary to reintroduce them to western Oregon. Currently, there are two resident populations, one in the Kalmiopsis, and another reintroduced population in the southern Oregon Cascades. This report indicates that there is habitat in the northern Coast Range and in the northern Cascades that could provide good sites for reintroduction.
Keywords: Alsea River Basin; depleted populations; ecosystem health; endangered species; life history information; Pacific fisher = Martes pennant pacifica; Siletz River Basin; Siuslaw National Forest; Umpqua National Forest; Umpqua River Basin; Yaquina River Basin

Health-based cyanotoxin guideline values allow for cyanotoxin-based monitoring and efficient public health response to cyanobacterial blooms - Counter, Marina; Hillwig, Rebecca; Cude, Curtis (Toxins, 2015)
This article begins with descriptions of dog mortalities in August, 2009, when part of the South Umpqua River experienced toxic cyanobacteria blooms. It goes on to describe a successful monitoring program for toxic algae developed by the Oregon Health Authority. Note: this is an "Open Access" article.
Keywords: algae; bacteria; environmental monitoring; eutrophication; harmful algal blooms; South Umpqua River; toxicity

Historical biogeography of Pacifastacus crayfishes and their branchiobdellidan and entocytherid ectosymbionts in western North America - Larson, Eric R.; Williams, B.W. (Freshwater Crayfish: A Global Overview, 2015)
This book chapter discusses some freshwater crayfish that are common in coastal streams. It goes extensively into the biogeography of signal crayfish and events that influenced their distribution, including volcanism, glaciation, glacial-era floods, and stream captures. The fossil record is considered. The Columbia River signal crayfish (P leniusculus trowbridgii) is the subspecies found in most Oregon coastal streams.
Keywords: aquatic invertebrates; Columbia River signal crayfish = Pacifastacus leniusculus trowbridgii; crawdads; crustaceans; genetics; geographical distribution; morphology; Signal crayfish = Pacifastacus leniusculus leniusculus; Siuslaw River; taxonomy; Umpqua River

Impacts of Climate Change on Salmon of the Pacific Northwest: A Review of the Scientific Literature Published in 2014 - Crozier, Lisa (U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service. Northwest Fisheries Science Center. Fish Ecology Division,, 2015)
This is a review on impacts of climate change on Pacific Northwest salmonids. 2014 was the warmest year on record, both on land and in the ocean . This paper is an excellent summary of the literature, the issues and educated projections of a warmer future.
Keywords: climate; depleted populations; El Nino; human impacts; hydrology; Pacific salmonids = Oncorhynchus spp.; reproductive behavior; Salmon River; Siletz River; straying; toxicity; water temperature

Influence of immune-relevant genotype on the reproductive success of a salmonid alternative mating strategy - O’Malley, Kathleen G.; Perales, B.; Whitcomb, A. C. (Journal of Fish Biology, 2015)
Jack coho salmon mature a year early and are smaller than normally mature spawning male salmon. They tend to use a “sneaker” mating strategy, rather than fighting for the attentions of females. Olfactory cues enable salmon to identify other salmon with compatible immune defenses. This study looks at “the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), the central component of the vertebrate immune system,” to see if compatibility with this system influences mate choices and reproductive success. (p.872), and if there were differences in these reproductive strategies between wild and hatchery salmon.
Keywords: Calapooya Creek; Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch; genetics; Nonpareil Dam; reproductive behavior; Umpqua River

Lithologic, Climatic, and Biotic Vs. Abiotic Controls on Erosion and Landscape Evolution - Marshall, Jill Ann (University of Oregon, 2015)
“The triumvirate of tectonics, lithology, and climate control landscape evolution. This study quantifies how lithologic variation and climate-mediated changes in ecosystems perturb steady state processes in the unglaciated, soil-mantled Oregon Coast Range. . .” (from the Abstract) The several chapters of this Ph. D. dissertation offer fascinating looks at several catchments in the Umpqua River Basin, including a reconstruction of paleoclimate over 50,000 years in the Little Lake watershed.
Keywords: climate data; erosion; Franklin Creek; geochemistry; geology; Harvey Creek; Little Lake; Lower Umpqua River; paleosciences; sediment data; South Umpqua River; terrestrial vegetation; topography; Triangle Lake