A Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 2013 Klamath River Coho Enhancement Fund has been released. Funding for this program will be targeted towards projects that will restore, enhance, and improve habitat, flows, and fish passage for Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) Coho salmon in the Klamath River and/or its tributaries downstream of Iron Gate Dam. Full proposals are due on July 31, 2013.

A team of University of California, Davis, scientists is developing a groundwater management tool that could lead to better streamflow conditions for salmon and steelhead in northern California's Scott River Valley, which provides critical fish habitat within the Klamath Basin.

A Request for Proposals (RFP) for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's 2013 Bring Back the Natives/More Fish program has been released. The program incorporates several previously stand-alone grant programs, include Bring Back the Natives, the Jackson Hole One Fly Stream Improvement Program, and the NFHP Coastal and Marine Fish Habitat Protection program. Priorities and funding from those programs have been incorporated into the 2013 Bring Back the Natives/More Fish program. Pre-proposals are due on June 3, 2013 via NFWF's online application system, Easygrants.

The California Fish and Game Commission (FGC) adopted ocean and inland salmon season regulations for 2013 at its meeting on April 17th in Santa Rosa. Forecasts of abundant Sacramento and Klamath River fall Chinook salmon allowed the FGC to adopt long seasons and liberal bag limits.

The California Fish Passage Forum is pleased to announce it will be able to award a total of up to $40,000 in project support for fish passage projects that align with Forum fish passage objectives, and for projects that will be completed by the fall of 2014. The timeline is very short for you to request that your project be considered for funding. Please complete the brief online form found at the link above by close of business on April 10, 2013 to request that your project be considered for funding.

The Eel River Forum, formerly known as the Eel River Task Force, continued its discussion of monitoring salmonid populations and their habitat in the Eel River at their monthly meeting last Wednesday, April 24.

A recent study of fish species and fish populations in Sonoma and Carriger creeks has uncovered a vigorous and diverse population, including a large male steelhead trout and rare California freshwater shrimp, living in the streams near Kenwood and Glen Ellen.

Senior biologist Jonathan Koehler of the Napa County Resource Conservation district reported on the results of 2013 Napa River deployment of their rotary fish counter.

In partnership with State and Tribal agencies, the Obama Administration released the first nationwide strategy to help public and private decision makers address the impacts that climate change is having on natural resources and the people and economies that depend on them.

The Russian River watershed was selected as California’s Habitat Focus Area within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Habitat Blueprint. NOAA’s habitat conservation experts felt that the Russian River offered the greatest opportunities for NOAA-wide collaboration on habitat conservation among the 17 candidate areas identified by the staff this fall.

Near-record numbers of Chinook salmon returned successfully to the Shasta River last fall despite daunting, drought-related environmental conditions and a large number of migrating fish that increased the threat of disease.

The NOAA Restoration Center is currently soliciting applications for restoration projects that use a habitat-based approach to foster species recovery and increase fish production. The funding opportunity will focus on projects that will aid in recovering listed species and rebuilding sustainable fish populations or their prey.

NOAA Fisheries seeks public comments on the plan and will consider all substantive comments received during the review period before submitting the plan for final approval. NOAA Fishereis will also hold public meetings to explain the plan and solicit comments. Comments are due December 18, 2012.

The report "Historic and recent occurrence of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in California streams within the Southern Oregon/Northern California Evolutionarily Significant Unit" has been released. It represents a thorough review of the distribution of coho salmon within the Southern Oregon/Northern California Coastal (SONCC) Evolutionarily Significant Unit and summarizes comprehensive field surveys conducted from 2001-2003.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPS) launched a new app and website to help people find information on the condition of thousands of lakes, rivers and streams across the United States from their smart phone, tablet or desktop computer.

With California's water resources facing ever increasing demands, state and federal agencies are bringing a new level of attention to the West's largest estuary. As part of this effort, EPA has reviewed its water quality programs to gauge their success and identify actions needed to accelerate restoration of water quality.