The 29th Annual Salmonid Restoration Conference took place in San Luis Obispo and was focused on Holding the Line on Species Decline.
Highlights of this conference included the Plenary session featuring Michael Pollock of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center of NOAA Fisheries and Paul Jenkin from Surfrider Foundation and Matilija Coalition, who gave a multi-media presentation highlighting the integrated ecosystem-management approach to restoring the Ventura River. Thomas William from the Southwest Fisheries Science Center presented on Restoration of Habitat Capacity for Salmon Populations and Congresswoman Lois Capps urged participants to track federal legislation that affects watershed restoration and conservation jobs.
The conference also featured workshops on topics including Fish Passage Design & Implementation, Stormwater Pollution Runoff & Water Quality, Invasive Species Management for Salmonids, and Sustainable Water Conservation. Field Tours included tours of the Morro Bay Watershed from Headwaters to Mouth, a San Luis Obispo and Arroyo Grande Creek Tour, a Sustainable Vineyards and Agricultural Tour, an Instream Structures Tour, and a tour focused on controlling road-related erosion and sediment delivery.
Concurrent sessions included: On-the-Ground Salmonid Restoration; Barrier Identification, Design Criteria, Implementation, and Project Monitoring to Recover Steelhead; Coho Salmon Recovery Efforts; Enhancing Instream Flows; Salmonid Strongholds: the Key to our Future; Climate Change and Salmonids; Population Status and Trend Monitoring; The Future for California Chinook Salmon—Fisheries, Restoration, Recovery; and the Role of Lagoons, and Estuaries for Steelhead and Salmon.
