Background
Starting in 2002, the Department of Fish and Game's Northern California North Coast Region’s Information Services Branch (ISB) in conjunction with the Native Anadromous Fish and Watershed Branch has been developing an observation-based distribution model for coho salmon in California. This model consists of a series of interrelated datasets that depict the known distribution and range of coho salmon in California based on recorded observations (e.g., field reports, incidental observations, surveys, etc.).
For this effort, no new field data were collected. Rather, existing observation data were collected from a variety of agencies and organizations (e.g., USFS, CDFG, StreamNet, etc.). The observation and distribution data were compiled and evaluated, and then a series of standard techniques were utilized to develop coho range and distribution GIS layers that are based on the observation data.
Utilizing the methodology described on the Anadromous Distribution page, we were able to fairly rapidly put together a baseline, stream-level distribution dataset for the species (Figure 1). Given the current sensitivity of issues surrounding this species, we also spent a fair amount of time working with CDFG Fisheries Biologists to verify each record in the database. This verification process is critical to ensuring the validity of the dataset.
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Figure 1. Coho Distribution 7/10/2007
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Project Status
The first publically available version of the coho distribution has now been published on CalFish as of July 10, 2007. You can access the data via the CalFish Map Viewer and you can download the data from the CalFish Data Downloads page.
We intend for this to be an ongoing and ever-improving dataset. We anticipate continuing to collect observation-based datasets and further refinement of the distribution layer. If you have observation data for coho and would like to include it in the statewide coho distribution dataset, please contact:
Eric Haney - Information Services Branch Manager
California Dept. of Fish and Game
2440 Athens Ave
Redding, CA 96001
(530)-225-2052
ehaney@dfg.ca.gov