From declining native fish populations to competing claims for water, understanding fish and aquatic ecology

is increasingly critical for effective resource management. Stillwater Sciences specializes in issues related to river, estuary, and watershed ecology. Most of our projects have the overall objective of restoring and maintaining healthy, sustainable native fish populations and aquatic ecosystems. In addition to our comprehensive understanding of fish ecology, we focus on how aquatic organisms interact with their physical environment by examining the linkages between habitat structure, the physical processes shaping this habitat, and population responses to habitat availability. Our emphasis on proven as well as innovative quantitative sampling and analysis techniques provides a solid foundation for assessing impacts to aquatic species and ecosystems. Our approach allows us to provide sound solutions to complicated aquatic management problems, and to develop effective management strategies at scales ranging from small urban streams to large valley watersheds and deltas.

Fish and Aquatic Ecology

Fish distribution, abundance, and survival analysis

> direct observation, seine, electrofish, PIT tag, radio and acoustic tracking, video monitoring, trawl, mark-recapture models

Production estimates> emergence trap, artificial redds,

rotary screw trap, fyke net

Limiting Factors Analyses> quantattive modeling of habitat

carrying capacity and density independent mortality on life-stage-specific populations

Modeling>Multi-stage stock-production models>Habitat/life-stage based population

models

Instream flow/habitat assessment> IFIM, PHABSIM> Habitat Criteria Mapping> low elevation aerial photography> fish stranding, entrainment, water

temperature, fine sediment, habitat quality

>Acoustic Doppler Current Profiles

Aquatic food web> gut content analysis, growth

analysis, stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis

Habitat restoration> channel reconfiguration, levee

setbacks, spawning habitat enhancements, large woody debris design, stranding reduction measures, fish passage

Rapid bioassessment protocols>EPA-EMAP, SWAMP, CSBP

For more information, please contact A.J. Keith (aj@stillwatersci.com) or Ethan Bell (ethan@stillwatersci.com), or visit www.stillwatersci.com.

Copper River Watershed Salmon Monitoring Plan, Copper River, AK Analysis of suitable spawning and rearing habitat using GIS-based habitat modeling coupled with targeted field studies

New Don Pedro Project FERC Settlement, Tuolumne River, CAFall-run Chinook salmon monitoring, spawning habitat surveys, predator surveys and exclusion, stranding surveys, population modeling, and prey availability assessment

Carmen-Smith Hydroelectric Project, McKenzie River, ORReservoir and stream fish habitat surveys, including innovative PIT tagging antenna systems for passive sampling, and development of measures for habitat and population enhancement

Limiting Factors Analysis, Lagunitas Creek, CAAssessment of factors limiting populations of coho salmon and steelhead

Fisheries Monitoring Program, Napa River, CAMonitor native fish use of restored floodplain rearing habitat

Selected Projects in

Stillwater Sciences is passionate about watershed science. We approach watershed analysis and restoration with rigorous science, innovation, and a collaborative decision-making process. We strive for simple, integrated solutions to complex and unwieldy environmental problems. Sound interesting? Learn more at www.stillwatersci.com.

Fish and Aquatic Ecology