Introduction to temperate floodplains -- Hydrology -- Floodplain and geomorphology -- Biogeochemistry -- Ecology: introduction -- Floodplain forests -- Primary and secondary production -- Fish and other vertebrates -- Ecosystem services and floodplain reconciliation -- Floodplains as green infrastructure -- Case studies of floodplain management and reconciliation -- Central Valley floodplains: introduction and history -- Central Valley floodplains today -- Reconciling Central Valley floodplains -- Conclusions: managing temperate floodplains for multiple benefits

Table of contents

Today, fisheries biologists fear coho salmon face extinction along the Central Coast of California. Is extinction inevitable or can we recover their populations in time? By their nature, coho are reclusive. They enter their streams to spawn when the flows run high and off-color. They prefer the cover of darkness to move upstream and typically build their redds in the most remote stretch of a coastal stream. They spook easy and rarely are seem in their element. Avoiding public awareness seems to be by choice, but their long term survival looks dire without greater awareness on our part.

This 592-page spiral-bound reference provides a baseline of information for all those involved with managing living marine resources in California and chronicles changes that have occurred in many of the state’s fisheries. Organized by marine ecosystems: bays and estuaries, nearshore and offshore. Includes illustrated species descriptions with details of biological knowledge, fishery history, landings data, population status and references. Also includes sections on marine birds and mammals and appendices containing management considerations (by species), a glossary of technical terms and acronyms and fishing gear illustrations. Jointly produced by the California Sea Grant Extension Program and the California Department of Fish and Game following the passage of the Marine Life Protection Act in January 1999.