Fish and Amphibian Use of Seasonal Aquatic Habitats in Grass Seed Producing Fields of the Willamette Basin

COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION CASE STUDY

Location: Far West

Project Summary: This is a study of fish and amphibian use of habitats in intermittent streams that drain agricultural lands in western Oregon.

Resource Challenge

Over 480,000 acres in the Willamette Valley are dedicated to grass seed production. This study on fish and amphibian communities in the seasonal streams of grass seed fields is part of a broader multidisciplinary effort on conserving winter habitat for aquatic vertebrates by implementing effective conservation practices, while maintaining the profitability of grass seed production. This aspect of the larger study explores the effects of grass seed farm practices on aquatic habitat by evaluating the degree to which fish and amphibians use small creeks and agricultural drainage ditches that flow only during the rainy season, usually between November and May. The main objectives are (1) to examine the seasonal movement, the growth, and survival of aquatic vertebrates from a selected subset of species and (2) to identify those habitat parameters that are correlated to high abundance of fish and high diversity of native species. Because many of the aquatic habitat features that benefit these organisms are largely dependent on land management practices used in the adjacent grass seed producing fields, a series of riparian management and infield conservation practices will be evaluated.
The purpose of the study is to improve water quality and aquatic habitat in watersheds dominated by grass seed production fields. The objective is to increase the availability of suitable winter habitat for up to ten native species of fish, three native species of amphibians, and one native species of turtle. The hope is that this program will increase the participation of grass seed farmers in USDA conservation buffer strip practices along riparian zones. This, combined with other practices being evaluated such as no-tillage establishment methods, has potential to reduce soil erosion and improve water quality, thus enhancing habitat for these species.

Examples of Key Partners

Judith Li; Guillermo Giannico; Randall Colvin, and William Gerth, Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University
Kathryn Boyer, USDA-NRCS

Mark Mellbye, Crop & Soil Science, Oregon State University, Extension Linn County
Jeffrey Steiner, and Steven Griffith, USDA-ARS, Corvallis

Results and Accomplishments

The presence of 10 native species of fish and 3 native species of amphibians in intermittent agricultural streams and ditches has been documented during this project. Important habitat variables (such as vegetation cover, flow, channel gradient) were identified as important to fish community composition and fish abundance.

This project provides needed information to Oregon grass seed farmers that serves to increase their participation in USDA's farm conservation programs. The research shows them which conservation practices maintain or enhance aquatic habitats; thus, it serves as the basis for farmers to qualify for program participation. Although adapting some conservation practices tends to cost farmers more, there are also economic benefits from other practices resulting in savings in production costs. Participating farmers, of course, would also benefit from receiving conservation payments.

Innovation/Highlight

The discovery that intermittent streams and ditches that run through agricultural fields provide key winter habitat to at least 10 native species of fish and 3 species of amphibians

Project Contact

Guillermo Giannico
Assistant Professor
Oregon State University
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Oregon State University 104 Nash Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331
541-737-2479
giannico@oregonstate.edu

Jeffrey Steiner
Research Agronomist
National Forage Seed Production Research Center
USDA Agricultural Research Service, 3450 SW Campus Way
CorvallisOR 97331
(541) 738-4153
steinerj@onid.orst.edu

Website: http://oregoninvests.css.orst.edu/FMPro

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Current Conservation Programs