Bibliography Background About KRIS
Information from the files of the California Department of Fish and Game, Eureka office about the Mattole River
Compiled by Susie VanKirk, 1998
Stocking Records
Young, Douglas A. May 1987
Busby, Morgan S., Roger A. Barnhart, and Paul P. Petros. March 1988
Letter from Larry , Sept. 1997
Memo to file from Larry Preston, 23 Sept. 1997
1) Stocking Records 22 Aug. 1938: 1,000 silvers; 450 kings; 450 SH
23 Aug. 1938: 4,000 kings; 1,750 SH
24 Aug. 1938: 490 kings and 490 SH, Upper Mattole
20 June 1961: 59,040 SH, Ettersbrug, Cedar Creek hatchery
21 June 1961: 42,480 SH, Ettersburg, Cedar Creek hatchery
23 June 1961: 87,040 SH, Honeydew Bridge, Cedar Ck hatchery
9 May 1972: 10,220 SH, Bear Creek, Mad River hatchery
10 May 1972: 9,520 SH, 2 mi N Whitethorn, Mad River hatchery
12 May 1972: 10,325 SH, 2 mi above Shelter Cove, Mad River
25 April 1973: 19,067 SH, 2 mi N Whitethorn, Mad River
19 May 1975: 30,012 SH, W Simpson bridge, Mad River
5 March 1981: 22,260 SH, Mad River hatchery, 1980 year.
2) Young, Douglas A. May 1987. Juvenile Chinook Salmon Abundance, Growth, Production and Food Habits in the Mattole River Lagoon, California. MS Thesis, Humboldt State University, Arcata.
3) Busby, Morgan S., Roger A. Barnhart, and Paul P. Petros. March 1988. Natural Resources of the Mattole River Estuary, California. BLM Agreement # CA-950-CA6-018. Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, Humboldt State University, Arcata.
4) Letter from Larry Eng, Assistant Chief, Environmental Services Division, Department of Fish and Game to Dean Cromwell, Executive Officer, Board of Forestry, 11 Sept. 1997.
"DFG has, over the past several years, identified significant problems for fish and wildlife in the Mattole watershed. In 1990, Associate Fisheries Biologist Larry Preston of the DFG, prepared a review entitled, A Cursory Evaluation of Salmonid Spawning and Rearing Conditions on Mattole River, Humboldt County. The report concludes that chinook and coho salmon populations in the Mattole watershed have declined significantly. "Aggradation with fine sediments, insufficient shade canopy along streams, inadequate in-stream large woody debris and high temperatures in the lower river are significant problems which have contributed to population declines and inhibit recovery..."
5) Memo to file from Larry Preston, 23 Sept. 1997:
Maureen Rouche reported on 9 Sept. 1997 of counting 4900 chinook juveniles in Mattole estuary. "This is the first sighting of chinook post smolts in the Mattole River in many years." North Fork 1) Stream Survey, East Branch North Fork, 22 June 1966, from mouth upstream 6 miles. "Approximately 500 fish per 100 feet of stream were observed, most of these being steelhead fingerlings between 3/4 and 2 inches long. Approximately 5% of these were yearling steelhead from 4 to 6 inches long. Approximately 20 resident trout about one foot long were observed, and a few of the fingerlings seined were determined to be resident rainbow trout. Footprints along the bank gave evidence of light fishing pressure." 2) Stream Survey, unnamed trib to EBNF, 22 June 1966, from mouth upstream 270 yards. "Steelhead fingerlings were observed below the first barrier. There were about 100 per 100 feet of stream. Above the barrier only a few salmonid fingerlings were seen and are thought to have been resident trout." 3) Stream Survey, 4 Aug. 1966, North Fork from mouth upstream 10 miles. Seven log jams noted. "Below the barrier approximately 25 steelhead, ranging from 1.5 to 4 inches in length, per 100 feet of stream were observed. Above the barrier, a few resident trout, ranging from 1.5 to 2 inches were found." 4) Survey of BLM land in section 8, 1S1W, by M. Henry, 4 Sept. 1977. "Mr. Brashear of the Fruit Ranch informed me of steelhead migrations up to the log jam in the BLM section. He has sighted many large SH in this section during spawning seasons. Many juvnile SH were observed and a few RBT/SH to 5" in length were sampled. No other fish species were observed." 5) Stream Survey, unnamed trib to EBNF, 1 July 1982. "The fish sighted in this stream were believed to be resident trout..." Colored photos of stream.
6) Stream Survey, EBNF, 30 June-2 July 1982, from mouth upstream 3 miles. "Two salmonid fingerlings approximately 2" in length were seen in pool in lower section of the boulder roughs near Edmonston's gate. Numerous salmonids seen 1.5 miles above the mouth. Estimated population 100 salmonids/100 feet. The salmonids averaged approximately 1" long. An 8" trout was observed above Obstruction #3. A 6" trout, assumed to be resident, was observed above Obstruction #4. Success appears to be good for both the anadromous fishes and the resident trout. A section of a fish skeleton was found, assumed to be that of an approximately 18-25" anadromous fish, 400 feet above the mouth of the East Branch." Colored photos of stream.
7) Stream Survey, EBNF, 30 June-2 July 1982, from trib. F upstream 3.5 miles. "Only resident trout were seen or caught, and due to barriers below the section surveyed, it was assumed no anadromous fish make it this far upstream. Approximately 25 fish were caught and released by using lures and flies. The RT ranged in size from 3" to 11". The entire area surveyed seemed close to maximum carrying capacity for RT, in relation to available habitat." Colored photos of stream.
8) From Coastal Headwaters Association Survey, 31 Aug. 1982. "North Fork of the Mattole River: This is the largest tributary of the Mattole River in terms of area, draining about 39 square miles. Historically, the North Fork was a good producer of steelhead, but, strangely enough, salmon were not known to utilize this drainage heavily...Today moderate numbers of steelhead and possibly a few salmon are reported to use the North Fork for spawning, but these claims need verification. Information obtained from several local residents indicates the possibility of a small population of summer steelhead occurring in the North Fork."
9) Stream Survey, 1-2 Sept. 1988, Sulphur Creek from mouth to 1.6 miles. "Sulphur Creek contains rainbow trout, probably resident because of barriers identified downstream in the East Branch of the North Fork." 10) Field Note, 2 Sept. 1993, by Larry Preston, Dave McLeod and Maureen Roche. Sampled 400-foot reach in section 7, 1S1W. Collected 33 rainbow trout (76-100 mm. and 126-174 mm.) which Larry determined were resident fish. Conklin Creek 1) Stream Survey, 2 Aug. 1966, from mouth upstream 2.6 miles. "Large numbers of steelhead fry were observed in the first 2 miles. There are also some yearling steelhead, 5-6", in this section. No evidence of fishing along Conklin Creek."
Mill Creek
1) Stream Survey, 23 June 1966, from mouth upstream 2 miles, section 10, 2S2W, near Petrolia. "The creek contained about 300 steelhead for each l00 feet of stream bed, 1-2 inches in length with a few up to 6 inches. A few small silver salmon were also observed." Oil Creek 1) Stream Survey, 16 Aug. 1966, trib. to Upper North Fork, from confluence of Rattlesnake creek upstream 4 miles. "Steelhead from 2" to 8" were observed at about 50 fish per hundred feet of stream."
2) Stream Inventory Report, electrofishing, 27 Aug. 1991, 5,110 feet from confluence with Upper North Fork, 217 SH (37-169 mm. fork length) and 4 Pacific lamprey ammocetes.
Rattlesnake Creek
1) Stream Survey, 16 Aug. 1966, trib. to Upper North Fork, from mouth upstream 3 1/2 miles. "Steelhead fingerlings (2") and yearling (4"-5") observed throughout the stream. A few 6"-9" fish (steelhead) were also observed. No evidence of fishing along the creek."
2) Stream Inventory Report. One electrofishing site was sampled on Rattlesnake Creek, Sept. 5, 1991, 272 steelhead, ranging from 40 to 175 mm. fork length. Squaw Creek 1) Stream Survey (probably 1934), steelhead and salmon present, extent of natural propagation "probably very extensive...Natural reproduction should keep stream stocked under present conditions. All fish caught are mature fish in stream to spwan or 1st year offspring of these adults." 2) Memo, 20 June 1957, investigation by Ralph McCormick and Jack Andrews of CFG and George Black and Jim Heckman of USF&WS.
"Travelled up creek by jeep to inspect cause of heavy siltation, 3.8 miles up log road is small trib. that contributes all mud. Up the trib. is loading area--skid logs down gully in mud and water and into gully from sides--this is cause of all mud from here down, above this trib. water in Squaw Creek is clear. From this trib. down the log trucks go down the creek, make 26 crossings in 2.2 miles. Above the muddy trib. noted abundant small steelhead, some recently hatched. In this area are abundant mayfly larvae, some caddis and midge...Mr. Bob Glassolm of Mattole River Lodge reports two other larger operations further up the creek by Lawrence or Samuels. The truck drivers at the operation checked said that Lawrence was doing the logging...Surely this misuse of a stream can be cited as a violation of 481 or 482.5..."
3) Field Note, 21 March 1963, 1 1/2 mile from mouth, 10 live SH and 2 dead, SH spawning.
4) Stream Survey, 10 Aug. 1966, from mouth upstream 10 miles. "Steelhead fingerlings and yearlings were observed throughout this creek. Approximately 50% of the fish observed were 4" or larger. 6"-7" fish were common. Approximately 150 fish per 100 feet of creek were observed."
5) Field Note. 22 Nov. 1966, 3 males, 3 females and 10 juvenile SS; 11 Dec. 1966, 3 males, 1 female and 1 juvenile SS.
6) Stream Inventory Report, electrofishing 29 Sept. 1992. Site #1, 966 ft. from confluence with Mattole, 11 SH (70-164 mm), sculpin and stickleback; Site #2, 9,192 feet from confluence, 36 SH (63-155 mm), stickleback, 1 roach; Site #3, 14,041 feet from confluence, 37 SH (57-149 mm), sculpin, stickleback and lamprey.
Honeydew Creek
1) Stocking Records Steelhead 1930: 25,000 1932: 35,000 1933: 30,000 1934: 20,000 1935: 15,000 1936: 10,000 1938: 30,000 from Ft. Seward Hatchery 1939: 15,000
2) Stream Survey, no date but probably 1930s by Scott Feeland "This stream has received heavy annual planting; it is a good nursery stream. The water never warms up and stream carries a good flow all season. Is subject to heavy freshets in winter. Natural reproduction plays big part in keeping stream stocked."
3) Stream Survey, 23 and 24 June 1964, from mouth upstream 3 miles to forks; 1 1/2 miles up West Fork; 1 1/2 miles up Upper East Fork; 4 1/2 miles up East Fork. "Salmonids were present throughout the entire drainage. The size was from fingerlings to 12 inches."
4) Stream Survey, 24 June 1964, West Fork from mouth upstream 1 1/2 miles. "Salmonids were seined and caught which ranged from 2 inches to 12 inches in length. They were identified as Rainbow Trout. Salmonids were observed above log jam #1, but in reduced numbers."
5) Letter from John Day Fishery Biologist for Dept. of Fish and Game to BLM office in Ukiah, 7 Jan. 1966: "Warden Lyle Null reported that road culvert installations on BLM land were causing turbid water conditions to exist in the Mattole River. The turbid waters were originating in the Honeydew Creek drainage during December 1965. Warden Null stated that the turbid waters were interfering with steelhead fishing. Many complaints were voiced to him by fishermen."
6) Stream Survey, Upper East Fork, 29 Aug. 1972. From mouth to forks, salmonids to 7 inches at rate of 6-50/100 ft. of stream. From forks to forks, salmonids to 6 inches at rate of 6-50/100 ft. of stream.
7) Stream Survey, East Branch Upper East Fork, 30 aug. 1972. From forks to forks, salmonids to 8 inches at rate of 6-50/100 ft. of stream.
