Monterey Bay Salmon & Trout Project (MBSTP)

Engaged in spawning adult Coho salmon broodstock to provide over 100,000 fertilized eggs to support regional recovery efforts for the species. Released over 100 adult Coho salmon to coastal watersheds of Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties to engage in natural spawning in conjunction with in-stream habitat restoration projects. Released over 18,000 juvenile Coho salmon to the Scott Creek watershed as a component of the Southern Coho Salmon Captive Broodstock Program. Objective: to prevent the extinction of Central Coast Coho salmon south of San Francisco Bay, and to promote and enhance regional efforts to recover the species.

Helped release over 320,000 juvenile Chinook salmon directly to the waters of Monterey Bay in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties in support of local sport and commercial fisheries. Objective: to increase community engagement and advocacy for salmon by enhancing local sport and commercial ocean salmon fisheries through coastal releases of hatchery-reared Chinook salmon.

Continued provision of virtual field trips and additional digital curriculum content for local K-12 classrooms to continue watershed sciences programs in a virtual format. Worked with area nonprofits to re-engage in-person field activities for local students. Objective: to provide compelling and immersive hands-on curricula and field trips focused on watershed conservation and the lifecycle of salmon and steelhead.

Engaged in steelhead sampling/monitoring at the City of Santa Cruzs Felton Diversion facility to monitor population trends and adult return numbers for the San Lorenzo River. Supported regional recovery goals by collecting and sharing biological data with agency partners and other nonprofits/municipal entities. Engaged over 50 volunteers in citizen science/advocacy to support the conservation of locally-threatened populations of steelhead.