Senior Project Advisor
Bodensteiner, Leo R., 1957-
Document Type
Project
Publication Date
Spring 2016
Keywords
Lake Whatcom, Tributaries, Cutthroat trout, Stream habitat, Austin Creek, Anderson Creek, Smith Creek, Olsen Creek, Beaver Creek, Riparian zone
Abstract
The tributaries of Lake Whatcom, Austin/Beaver, Anderson, Olsen, and Smith Creeks, provide essential habitat for many fish species native to the Pacific Northwest. However, development in the watershed has contributed to habitat alterations and even degradation of habitat quality. In this report, fish abundance and diversity, and habitat quality is compared both temporally, and among different streams. Anderson Creek was found to have the greatest species diversity. Cutthroat trout was the most abundant fish at each stream throughout the study period and was observed at every study site. Restoration recommendations for each stream were aimed at supporting existing native fish populations primarily by improving bank stability and restoring riparian zones. Future management plans should take into account the current and historical fish populations in the watershed and consider the recommendations identified within this report.
Department
Environmental Sciences
Recommended Citation
Edwards, Ariel, "Fish Abundance and Habitat Recommendations of the Lake Whatcom Tributaries" (2016). WWU Honors College Senior Projects. 1.
https://cedar.wwu.edu/wwu_honors/1
Subjects - Topical (LCSH)
Fish populations--Washington (State)--Whatcom, Lake, Watershed; Fish habitat improvement--Washington (State)--Whatcom, Lake, Watershed; Stream health--Washington (State)--Whatcom, Lake, Watershed
Geographic Coverage
Whatcom, Lake, Watershed (Wash.)
Genre/Form
student projects; term papers
Type
Text
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Rights Statement
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Language
English
Format
application/pdf