11th Annual Coho Confab on the Smith River

11th Annual Coho Confab
September 26-28, 2008 on the Smith River

The 11th Annual Coho Confab will be held on the South Fork of the Smith River in the far northwestern corner of California. This dynamic event is sponsored by Salmonid Restoration Federation, Trees Foundation, Smith River Alliance, Smith River Advisory Council, and Cal Trout. Orientation presentations will focus on fire ecology and fisheries, coho salmon recovery, and the significance of the Mill Creek watershed acquisition in protecting and restoring a salmon stronghold. This year’s Confab will feature restoration tours in the Mill Creek watershed, tributaries of the South Fork, Yontucket Slough and the Smith River estuary. Randy Lew of Pacific Watershed Associates will lead a tour of road decommissioning and erosion control projects in Dominie and Rowdy Creeks. State Park geologist Rocco Fiori will discuss experimental wood loading designs to enhance stream function and salmonid habitats. A full-day tour of Mill Creek restoration projects will include presentations by Dan Burgess of Rural Human Services who will lead a tour of the native plant nursery for Mill Creek restoration, Lathrope Leonard of Redwood National and State Parks will lead a forestry tour focused on restoring late seral forests and Brian Merrill of California State Parks will discuss backcountry road management in North Coast Redwoods State Parks and rehabilitating watershed function.
Rod McLeod of the Mill Creek Monitoring Program will lead a hands-on workshop assessing juvenile coho summer abundance estimation in Mill Creek. Zack Larson, watershed coordinator of the Smith River Advisory Council, will facilitate a Smith River fish identification workshop.
Antonio Llanos of Mike Love and Associates will lead a tour of fish passage projects and will co-lead a tour of Yontocket Slough and the Smith River estuary with Zack Larson, Watershed Coordinator for the Smith River Advisory Council. Other workshops include instream fish identification, and macro-invertebrate sampling and stream health assessment. There will be an open forum entitled “Stories and Songs of Salmon” with native stories from Frank Lake and river troubadour Alice di Micele. and there will be an open forum and resource workshops. Saturday night will culminate with a wild salmon feast, and a cabaret.

Advanced registration fees are $100 that includes all camping, food and lodging. After September 5, registration is $125. For more information about the Confab, please visit www.calsalmon.org or www.treesfoundation.org . To register online and obtain logistical info please go to http://treesfoundation.org/cgi-priv/Conference.pl . To see the agenda or download a registration form to fax or mail, go to http://www.treesfoundation.org/cohoconfab/ConfabReg2008.pdf

SRF Central Coast Bioengineering Field School October 20-23, 2008 in the Santa Ynez Valley

SRF, with the support of the Department of Fish and Game, will sponsor a Bioengineering Field School on the Central Coast. Instructor Evan Engber, of Bioengineering Associates, will teach techniques to restore riparian habitat, control erosion and stabilize banks. Participants will tour projects in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties and learn how to build willow matresses and live siltation baffles. Due to state budget freezes for agency travel, SRF has selected a more affordable location to host the field school. The dates are now October 20-23 at Camp Whittier . These are lodge accommodations with four to a room. The fees for the course are $300 which includes all instruction, materials, food and lodging. For more information, please see the registration form at www.calsalmon.org . Additional lodging can be found in the closest town of Solvang. The Solvang Gardens boutique hotel will honor the government rate for participants. Please see their web site: www.solvanggardens.com/reservations.html

Francine Allen
Project Coordinator
Salmonid Restoration Federation
PO Box 784
Redway, California 95560
(707) 923-7501
francine@calsalmon.org