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How healthy are Mt. Tam's natural resources?

 

Fish

Fish

Coho Salmon in Redwood Creek Coho Salmon in Redwood Creek | Photo by Jessica Weinberg

Coho Salmon in Redwood Creek

The overall condition of Redwood Creek’s coho salmon is Poor.

Coho Salmon in Lagunitas Creek Coho Salmon in Lagunitas Creek | Photo by Casey del Real/NPS

Coho Salmon in Lagunitas Creek

The overall condition of Lagunitas Creek’s coho salmon is Poor.

Steelhead Trout Steelhead Trout | NPS Photo

Steelhead Trout

Steelhead trout are in Poor condition.

Threespine Stickleback Threespine Stickleback | Photo by Jessica Weinberg

Threespine Stickleback

The current condition is Good.

Anadromous Fish

Spending part of their lives in freshwater streams and part in the ocean, anadromous fish like coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), steelhead trout (O. mykiss), and threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) are good indicators of riparian habitat quality, hydrological conditions, and ocean health. Anadromous fish are also an important food source for many species, as well as a source of marine-derived nutrients for riparian communities.

Learn more about the condition and trend of these important aquatic residents of Mt. Tam through the links and photos above.

The Overall Health of Mt. Tam's Fish

Endangered populations of coho salmon and threatened steelhead trout live in Redwood and Lagunitas creeks in the One Tam area of focus. The land management agencies on Mt. Tam and their partners have been monitoring these species for decades, counting adult spawners, estimating the number of juveniles, and (since 2006) monitoring smolts heading to the ocean. These long-term data sets provide ample information to make an assessment of the condition and trends of these species.

Less is known about the tiny threespine stickleback, which is caught incidentally during salmonid surveys and has not been the subject of targeted monitoring efforts. A lack of threespine stickleback in suitable, accessible habitats could be evidence of poor water quality or other problems with stream habitat conditions. However, based on limited data this species appears to be abundant and widespread in the One Tam area of focus. 

Learn more about the condition and trend of these important aquatic residents of Mt. Tam through the links and photos above

Peak Health Indicator Chart

Wildlife   Condition & Trend Confidence

Coho Salmon in Lagunitas Creek

Moderate

Coho Salmon in Redwood Creek

Moderate

Steelhead Trout

Moderate

Threespine Stickleback

Low