Some research questions on recovery of steelhead on the south-central and southern California coast Recovery of steelhead on the south-central and southern California coast

"The focus here is on research questions that address the second aspect of recovery: the way in which the species uses its habitats, such that it achieves long-term viability. Many of these questions can probably be addressed in a traditional scientific manner, less tied to a social process involving stakeholders. Rebuilding a steelhead population involves three parallel tracks: 1) taking steps to improve VSP parameters (abundance, productivity, life-history diversity, and spatial structure of populations); 2) taking steps to learn the level of improvement necessary to achieve low risk ("viability criteria"), and 3) monitoring the progress of steelhead populations toward meeting those criteria. The efforts involved in these three parallel tracks often overlap and reinforce each other. Two previous reports by the Technical Recovery Team for south-central/southern California coast (Boughton et al. 2006, 2007) identified a variety of research topics that fall along these three parallel tracks. Here I have gathered this information into one report, expanded on some of the topics, and organized them under headings reflecting the three parallel tracks: 1. Identify ecological factors that promote anadromy 2. Clarify population structure (and refine viability criteria accordingly) 3. Monitor progress toward recovery"--P. [1]. David A. Boughton. "October 2010." Also available online in PDF. Includes bibliographical references (p. 12-14).