Cords that bind

As an intern, one of my responsibilities this summer has been to help monitor water table fluctuations in one specific area of Rush Creek. This involves recording piezometer measurements from established sites located near the confluence of Rush Creek and Channel 10. This information is important to track because as flows either increase or decrease the water table is affected—which in turn affects vegetation growth and other habitat variables. Initially, I was collecting data two times a week which allowed my personal connection with Channel 10 to begin.

As a fly-fisherperson, I was especially interested in the restoration activities related to Rush Creek. Prior to the diversions, Rush had been one of the premier wild trout fisheries in California with brown trout averaging up to two pounds. Incorporated into the 1994 State Water Resource Control Board were the criteria that would be used to determine when the restoration work would be considered "complete." It was decided that the current fishery must be restored back to the pre-1941 condition, which would include trout populations that mimicked pre-diversion populations in both size and numbers. I was thrilled to be able to be involved with such a program!

When I first saw Channel 10, I was amazed by what I saw. If I had not known that Channel 10 was a restored channel, it would not have been apparent to me. Healthy vegetation lined the banks, at times making access difficult. The channel was a combination of pools, riffles, and runs. Submerged logs also contributed to the aquatic habitat complexity, and I knew from experience that if there were trout, that’s where they would be. So, I made a mental note to bring my rod next trip.

When I returned and began fly-fishing (catch and release of course) the area near the logs answered all of my questions. Yes, trout were already starting to inhabit Channel 10. And although their average size was only about eight inches, they were in Channel 10 and they were wild! The process had begun and, amazingly, all of this within four years of "just adding water!"

Of course I have made subsequent trips to Channel 10—both related to work and otherwise. Increasingly, I have found myself connecting to the channel in ways that transcend fly-fishing, and that has begun to teach me much about this fragile ecosystem, and about myself. In fact, most times recently, I don’t even bring my rod but instead just walk the channel observing. It is during these times that I am rewarded: trout, deer, ducks, herons, and of course, the gulls. I have come to realize that while habitat protection may begin with a specific species, we as stewards must remember that the health of the entire ecosystem is one of a delicate balance between all of its inhabitants. Restoration ecology teaches us this lesson, and I feel honored to be a witness to this stream’s restorative rebirth.

— Barry Lopez