Biological Monitoring: The Fish

Biological monitoring means tracking how live animals—fish and macroinvertebrates (stream insects), among others— respond to river restoration.

Fish monitoring is conducted by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and includes monitoring of both adult and juvenile spring Chinook salmon and summer steelhead. By tracking how many fish there are, how fast they grow, and where they are, we are trying to answer the question: Is restoration increasing the chances that juvenile fish will survive?

The North Fork John Day Watershed Council has been conducting macroinvertebrate monitoring for the IMW since 2009.  By tracking the kinds of stream insects, where they are, and how many there are, we hope to answer: Is restoration creating habitat where juvenile fish food—macroinvertebrates—is thriving and plentiful?

Watch the video below to see an example of how scientists work to answer these questions: