Off-Channel Ponds

Off-channel ponds are crucial rearing habitat for the threatened coho salmon. Coho prefer slow, low-gradient streams and pools. Extensive flood control berms along lower Seiad Creek have disconnected this prime floodplain habitat. These ponds have one connection to the creek and act as a spring fed back eddy. These ponds do not divert any water from the creek, but use creek level groundwater flow to fill. Studies show that ponds may even increase the water table as winter flows get held in the ponds instead of swiftly flowing downstream. The ponds have been dug and the surrounding area has been seeded with grasses, and willows have been planted. We are seeing high numbers of juvenile coho in the off-channel ponds.

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Fisheries Gallery
Off-Channel Pond, Horse Creek
Off-Channel Pond, Horse Creek

US Fish and Wildlife Service, landowner, and MKWC Fisheries personnel doing fence maintenance around an off-channel pond on April 3, 2019.

Lawrence Pond, Horse Creek
Lawrence Pond, Horse Creek

An off-channel pond being constructed on October 4, 2017. This ≈ 7,500 square feet pond was connected to Horse Creek in the fall of 2017. It provides low velocity winter rearing habitat for salmonids.

Alexander Pond, Seiad Creek
Alexander Pond, Seiad Creek

The gold standard for all of MKWC's off-channel ponds. The "Alexander Pond" was the result of MKWC's Fisheries Co-Directors Charles Wickman and Will Harling's hard work and vision, and was excavated in the fall of 2010. The MKWC used the Karuk Tribe's fisheries studies that showed the importance of off-channel habitat for Coho Salmon, to build a program that created these much needed rearing sites. Photo taken on April 29, 2011.

Off-Channel Pond, China Creek
Off-Channel Pond, China Creek

An off-channel alcove with contractor crew on September 26, 2019. This off-channel alcove is connected to China Creek.

Off-Channel Pond, China Creek
Off-Channel Pond, China Creek

MKWC technicians at China Creek Pond in Spring of 2020 conducting water quality monitoring.

Off-Channel Pond, Horse Creek
Off-Channel Pond, Horse Creek

MKWC's Fisheries and Plants personnel happy to have completed mulching the banks of the newly excavated pond connected to Horse Creek. This pond has been utilized every winter since it was created by at least 500 salmonids. The salmon are seeking refuge from the adjacent creek, which has high velocities during winter and spring.

Off-Channel Pond Construction
Off-Channel Pond Construction

An off-channel pond being constructed on October 10, 2017.

Off-Channel Pond Newly Excavated
Off-Channel Pond Newly Excavated

An off-channel pond recently excavated on October 31, 2018.