Summary
In this video, we look at the geography of wild Chinook Salmon runs on Butte Creek, in the Northern Sacramento Valley region of California. We highlight the resilience of spring-run Chinook in returning year after year to Butte Creek from the Pacific Ocean, despite challenges like dams, levees and wildfires. We explain the migration routes and barriers faced by salmon, including the Sutter Bypass and the impact of recent large fires on the forests of the Northern Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascade mountains. Despite these obstacles, Butte Creek salmon have shown remarkable recovery over the past several decades, though the number of fish surviving to spawn has been low in the past 3 years. This video also touches on the broader issues affecting salmon in California, such as predators in the Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta, and the cumulative effects of wildfires.
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Butte Creek Salmon Overview
- Zeke Lunder introduces the topic of salmon in the interior of California, focusing on Butte Creek due to its healthy wild run.
- He shares a personal anecdote about his first encounter with salmon in Butte Creek in 1996.
- Zeke emphasizes the importance of salmon to the local ecosystem and responds to a comment suggesting forgetting about salmon for California’s development.
- He explains the historical abundance of salmon and steelhead in the Central Valley and the impact of dams on their populations.
Salmon Migration and Barriers
- Zeke discusses the migration routes, rearing areas, and spawning sites for salmon in the Sacramento River watershed.
- He highlights the role of dams in blocking fish passage, mentioning major dams like Orville Lake and Shasta Dam.
- The conversation shifts to the specific migration route of Butte Creek salmon, including their journey through the Delta and the Sacramento River.
- Zeke explains the Sutter Bypass and its impact on Butte Creek salmon, detailing the flood control system and its effects on fish migration.
Butte Creek Salmon Journey
- Zeke describes the Butte Creek salmon’s journey from the ocean to their spawning grounds, including the challenges they face.
- He explains the historical context of Butte Creek’s connection to the Sacramento River and the changes due to the Sutter Bypass.
- The conversation covers the Butte slough outfall gates and the reasons for Butte Creek’s spring run salmon.
- Zeke discusses the Butte sink and its development for duck hunting, and the impact of rice fields on Butte Creek’s water flow.
Impact of Dams and Levees
- Zeke talks about the historical lack of screens on dams and the efforts to install them to protect salmon.
- He explains how levees have changed the character of streams and the challenges faced by salmon in their journey up Butte Creek.
- The conversation covers the impact of dams on salmon populations and the efforts to mitigate these impacts.
- Zeke describes the current path of Butte Creek through levees and its crossing of Highway 99 in Chico.
Wildfire and Salmon Resilience
- Zeke discusses the impact of the 2018 Campfire on Butte Creek and the concerns about toxins from burned homes affecting fish.
- He highlights the resilience of salmon and the unexpected strong run of fish three years after the fire.
- The conversation shifts to the broader impact of wildfire on salmon populations and the uncertainty about the long-term effects.
- Zeke provides a visual overview of the impact of recent fires on the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains and the potential future impact on salmon runs.
Mill Creek and Deer Creek Salmon Runs
- Zeke discusses the impact of the Park Fire on Mill Creek and Deer Creek salmon runs, including the release of sediment into the watershed.
- He explains the challenges faced by salmon in areas with high sediment loads and the potential long-term impact on their populations.
- The conversation covers the historical context of high-severity fires in the region and their impact on salmon habitats.
- Zeke emphasizes the resilience of salmon and their ability to survive significant environmental changes.
Predators and Challenges for Salmon
- Zeke discusses the predators that salmon face, including striped bass and large mouth bass planted in the Delta.
- He explains the challenges salmon face in their journey from the ocean to their spawning grounds and the impact of predators at each stage.
- The conversation covers the efforts to protect salmon populations and the ongoing work to mitigate the impact of predators.
- Zeke highlights the importance of understanding the challenges faced by salmon and the need for continued efforts to protect their populations.
Art and Resilience Project
- Zeke introduces a project to create a pair of salmon sculptures using metal from a covered bridge that burned in the Camp Fire.
- He explains the theme of resilience and the importance of art in teaching about environmental challenges.
- The conversation covers the historical context of gold mining in Butte Creek and its impact on the ecosystem.
- Zeke discusses the balance between work on fires and creative projects, emphasizing the importance of art in raising awareness and education.