STEAMBOAT FISHWATCH 2018 UPDATE FOR JULY 08.05.18
Edward Kikumoto
ANECDOTAL & HEARSAY RECOLLECTONS
Poaching and unlawful activity at Big Bend Pool.
None (at least when I was there).
Fish counts.
At the end of June I was estimating about 100 fish. Just after the first heat wave in July I think the count jumped up to 150. In its July mid-month survey of Steamboat Creek and the pool, ODFW (Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife) estimated the number of fish in the pool at 170.
ODFW reports that fish are still moving into Steamboat Creek from the North Umpqua despite the low flows and warm water temperatures so expect the estimates to go up over the next month.
Stream flows.
The stream flows dropped steadily through July. There has been no precipitation whatsoever. On July 1, USGS reported 69 cubic feet per second (cfs). The historical average was 117 cfs for that day. On July 31 the flow was reported at 39.5 cfs, with the historical average at 62 cfs. That’s about 60% of average, which is just about what the North Umpqua in the fly fishing water is also running at.
Water Temperatures.
On July 16 I did a quick temperature scan in the late afternoon of Steamboat Creek and its tributaries to get a general idea of the variations in temperature starting at the confluence of Steamboat Creek with the North Umpqua. It was one of the close to 100º days. Along with spot-checking water temperatures over the month this is what I think… It’s cooler at the bottom of Steamboat Creek than it is above Big Bend Pool and Big Bend Creek – 72º at the confluence, and 75º above Big Bend Creek.
This MAY be because Canton Creek is cooling down Steamboat Creek, which would imply that Steamboat Creek above Canton Creek is also running hotter, and probably in the same range as the temperatures higher up, except where major tributaries (if there are any) put colder water into it. Big Bend Creek is running at 57 to 61º at its confluence with Steamboat Creek, which also means that the fish at the top of the pool are holding in water with temperatures close to that. When Steamboat Creek water (75º) and Big Bend Creek water (57-61º) mix the result is about 66-67º at the bottom of the Big Bend Pool. The cooling affect of Big Bend Creek is still affecting water temperatures down at the Reynolds Creek-Johnson Creek campground, which is a half-mile downstream. The Steamboat Creek water temperature above the two creeks runs about 4-6º warmer than the Big Bend Pool at about 72º. Johnson Creek (negligible flows) and Reynolds Creek are heavily shaded and running at about 66º, which is lowering the Steamboat Creek water temperature by about 2º 2/3
The water temperature fluctuation is a consequence of shade (or lack of it), stream flow and flow velocity. A black substrate will also warm the water. The water temperature runs behind the air temperature by about 3-hours, e.g., if the air temperature is highest at 5PM, then the water temperature will be highest at about 8PM, and pretty much works the same way for the coldest water temperatures in the morning. The fluctuation in water temperature in a 100º heat wave is around 8 to 9 degrees in the North Umpqua/Steamboat Creek watersheds.
Water temperature affects.
In mid July the fish started splitting up into two pods. The “usual” spot at the bottom of the “hole” and at the top of the big outcropping and tight to it, which is the cold water spot as the Big Bend Creek water comes out of the riffle. Initially there were a few fish at the top. As the month progressed more fish moved up until in the evening most of the fish were at the top and a few fish were at the bottom. The bottom fish had sagged even further back to the very edge of the “hole’s” far side. Late in the afternoon as the tree shade at the bottom began to recede and the ridgeline shade began to cover the pool from the top the fish at the bottom would begin a migration to the top and vice versa so there was a constant flow of fish back and forth for about an hour. Eventually as the late afternoon shade turned to dusk the fish would settle, and most of them were at the top. In the morning around 8AM, I find the fish strung out along the whole length of the pool and spread out laterally in the lower half, with clusters at both ends.
ODFW Restrictions. This month ODFW imposed an emergency closure on the main stem Umpqua River from Scottsburg Bridge (Hwy. 38) to River Forks Boat Ramp; in the area around the tributaries flowing into the Umpqua River where it has been observed that fish were congregating for the cooler water. The water temperature at Elkton was measured at 79º, which pretty much creates a thermal barrier to fish migration upstream.
Beginning on August 6, Monday, there will be a prohibition on fishing in the North Umpqua River Fly Fishing Water after 2PM to 1-hour before sunrise the following day due to low river flow, high water temperatures and a expected low fish count. This prohibition will be in affect until September 30.
Despite current conditions it appears that fish are still making the turn out of the North Umpqua, and moving into Steamboat Creek.
Visitors to the Pool. To get a very rough estimate of the number of visitors to the pool in July, which I am assuming is one of the busier months of the year along with August, I think there are 6 to 12 visitors a day during the week, 12 to 24 visitors a day on Saturday and 8 to 16 visitors on Sunday. Half of the visitors seem to be steelheaders, and mostly of the fly fishing disposition. There is the occasional early and late visitor but for the most part folks stop by between 10AM to 5PM. The best time to view the fish is between noon and 3PM.
I have noticed that when folks stand at the edge of the viewing area, and especially when there are more than 2 people, the fish in the lower pool will go a little deeper and move away toward the far bank. In warm water conditions, this could be quite stressful on the fish since the cooler water is on the nearside next to the viewing area.
Observations.
On July 17 a 29″ hen that looked in good condition died in the pool. It didn’t have any obvious physical signs of trauma, and no hook marks in its mouth or body. It did have some discoloration on its abdomen and a long abrasion mark on one side just beneath its dorsal. I reported the incident to ODFW and OSP (Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division). Two days later the carcass was gone from the pool. I subsequently found out from the ODFW diver that he had moved the carcass over to where the otters and beavers nest on the far side of the pool, ostensibly because it would begin to smell, and attract people, who would want to get a closer look and walk down to the gravel bar, which would disturb the fish, and if an otter came upon it, hopefully, it would eat it. Fish dying in the pool does happen but is not a common occurrence.
A female otter and her two kits came through one late afternoon at the end of the month but didn’t stay. Mom scent marked, checked various spots out and took her kits to the shallow water at the bottom of the pool to hunt crawdads (I think), and then moved on. All told they were in the pool for a couple of hours and didn’t move on the fish, and the fish didn’t pay them much mind other than to move out of the way when the otters meandered there way downstream. The pod at the top of the outcropping, which was about half of the fish, is also where the otters nest when they stay in the pool (ditto for the beavers). When the otters went into it to investigate and subsequently moved downstream right over the pod, it didn’t do much other than to just move out of the way. There was much more flashing going on while the otters were in the pool, but not anymore jumping than usual for that time of the day.
A pod of resident cuttthroat (15) dropped back into the pool in late July, with one running to 18″. They are stationed just beneath the riffle, and the big one settles in with the steelhead.
Seeing more birdlife – mergansers, bald eagles, osprey, kingfishers – particularly in the evenings.
And finally… A shout-out to all the FishWatch partners and friends that came by in July and introduced themselves, checked-in or just dropped by. One person can’t do this alone 24/7. It truly takes many people (a village?) to watch over the fish in this pool. I am grateful that you stop by, especially when I am not here. Your presence is a big part of the deterrence factor from poaching and unlawful activity. YOU are FishWatch!
ed.
