Boise Creek
Encyclopedia
Boise Creek is a stream
in Humboldt County, California
, United States
. From its origin on Orleans Mountain it flows 8.5 miles to join the Klamath River
about 2.25 miles southeast of Orleans, California
. The creek lies within the Six Rivers National Forest
and is part of the Lower Klamath River Watershed.
Coho salmon
(Oncorhynchus kisutch) populations have declined dramatically in the Klamath River watershed due to eutrophication
, raised water temperatures and decreased stream flows induced by the construction of dams, especially in years of drought. In addition, the dams have blocked access for salmon spawning grounds on over 300 miles of Klamath River watershed. The Coho salmon in the Southern Oregon - Northern California Coast (SONCC) Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU) are federally listed as threatened and are also listed as threatened by the California Department of Fish and Game
since 2002.
Access to Boise Creek for salmon has been blocked by a bedrock falls 13.5 feet high near the creekmouth (see figure) so the Mid Klamath Watershed Council proposed, in February 2010, creation of an engineered logjam to divert flows into historic side channels which would re-connect the creek to the Klamath River mainstem and bypass the falls. Before the logjam could be constructed, beaver coincidentally constructed a dam
across Boise Creek at the proposed site, and numerous Coho salmon, Chinook salmon
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and Steelhead trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss) are now accessing the stream from the Klamath, opening several new miles of historic spawning habitat to the fish.
The beaver dam has also created off-channel ponds which have been shown to benefit coho by providing refuge from high flow conditions in the main river and a productive summer rearing habitat, leading to as much as a five-fold increase in coho abundance as well as increased size. It has also been shown that off-channel wetlands enhance chinook salmon growth and survival.
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
in Humboldt County, California
Humboldt County, California
Humboldt County is a county in the U.S. state of California, located on the far North Coast 200 miles north of San Francisco. According to 2010 Census Data, the county’s population was 134,623...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. From its origin on Orleans Mountain it flows 8.5 miles to join the Klamath River
Klamath River
The Klamath River is an American river that flows southwest through Oregon and northern California, cutting through the Cascade Range to empty into the Pacific Ocean. The river drains an extensive watershed of almost that stretches from the high desert country of the Great Basin to the temperate...
about 2.25 miles southeast of Orleans, California
Orleans, California
Orleans , Karuk name Panamnik, is an unincorporated community in Humboldt County, California. It is located northeast of Weitchpec, at an elevation of 404 feet...
. The creek lies within the Six Rivers National Forest
Six Rivers National Forest
Six Rivers National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in the northwestern corner of California. It was established on July 1, 1947 by U.S. President Harry S. Truman from portions of Klamath, Siskiyou and Trinity National Forests. Its over one million acres of land contain a variety of...
and is part of the Lower Klamath River Watershed.
Coho salmon
Coho salmon
The Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". It is the state animal of Chiba, Japan.-Description:...
(Oncorhynchus kisutch) populations have declined dramatically in the Klamath River watershed due to eutrophication
Eutrophication
Eutrophication or more precisely hypertrophication, is the movement of a body of water′s trophic status in the direction of increasing plant biomass, by the addition of artificial or natural substances, such as nitrates and phosphates, through fertilizers or sewage, to an aquatic system...
, raised water temperatures and decreased stream flows induced by the construction of dams, especially in years of drought. In addition, the dams have blocked access for salmon spawning grounds on over 300 miles of Klamath River watershed. The Coho salmon in the Southern Oregon - Northern California Coast (SONCC) Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU) are federally listed as threatened and are also listed as threatened by the California Department of Fish and Game
California Department of Fish and Game
The California Department of Fish and Game is a department within the government of California, falling under its parent California Natural Resources Agency. The Department of Fish and Game manages and protects the state's diverse fish, wildlife, plant resources, and native habitats...
since 2002.
Access to Boise Creek for salmon has been blocked by a bedrock falls 13.5 feet high near the creekmouth (see figure) so the Mid Klamath Watershed Council proposed, in February 2010, creation of an engineered logjam to divert flows into historic side channels which would re-connect the creek to the Klamath River mainstem and bypass the falls. Before the logjam could be constructed, beaver coincidentally constructed a dam
Beaver dam
Beaver dams are dams built by beavers as protection against predators such as coyotes, wolves, and bears, and to provide easy access to food during winter. Beavers work at night and are prolific builders, carrying mud and stones with their fore-paws and timber between their teeth...
across Boise Creek at the proposed site, and numerous Coho salmon, Chinook salmon
Chinook salmon
The Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, is the largest species in the pacific salmon family. Other commonly used names for the species include King salmon, Quinnat salmon, Spring salmon and Tyee salmon...
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and Steelhead trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss) are now accessing the stream from the Klamath, opening several new miles of historic spawning habitat to the fish.
The beaver dam has also created off-channel ponds which have been shown to benefit coho by providing refuge from high flow conditions in the main river and a productive summer rearing habitat, leading to as much as a five-fold increase in coho abundance as well as increased size. It has also been shown that off-channel wetlands enhance chinook salmon growth and survival.