Mattole Salmon Group, Bear River Band Volunteer Event Creates Floating Shade Structures for Juvenile Salmon June 6-8
This is a press release from the Mattole Salmon Group:
The Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria and the Mattole Salmon Group are hosting a salmon restoration event for fish lovers of all ages – the creation and placing of floating willow structures to provide needed shade and cover for young salmon as grow in the lower Mattole River near the ocean. The young Chinook and steelhead spend their summer in the estuary area waiting for the mouth of the river to open in the fall so they are larger and more able to survive predation in the wide Pacific. This year the event is co-hosted with the Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria.
The Floating Shade Structures are made by lashing 4-8” diameter dry driftwood, available on the gravel bar, into triangles using sisal twine. They are floated next to a bare bank. 6-10’ long willow cuttings from the bountiful native willows in this area are harvested and placed in the floating triangles so that the cut end is under one side of the float and extend down 2-3 feet, while the leafy sections lap over the float and arc over into the water. The stems begin to send out roots and provide underwater structure which juvenile fish use to avoid predation and from which they can dart out to feed. The top leaves remain green, provide shade while dipping into the water creating more structural habitat.
Participants from ages 6 to 80 have come together for this event over the past 35 years. Families are especially invited.
Bring swimsuits (although not everyone has to be in the water), towels, warm layers in case of wind, work gloves, sunscreen. The organizers will provide lunch and snacks, snorkles and masks to see the fish flock to the structures as soon as they are placed, loppers, twine and all materials needed.
The work site is found about 3 miles west on Lighthouse Road, Petrolia. There will be salmon signs to show you were to go. Lighthouse Road leads to the King Range Conservation Area Mattole Campground and is on the southern end of the Mattole Bridge near Petrolia.
June 6, 7 & 8, 10:00am to 3:00pm at
For more information, call 707-629-3506 or 707-629-3343
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