Evan Leonetti, STEP Biologist for the Douglas District, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), gave my Field Methods class and I some great training on electrofishing for fish and other aquatic vertebrates. Evan said the stream we visited has been called Woodcock Creek by some agency folks, so perhaps that will become its name. We parked near the junction of BLM Roads 25-2-15.0 and 25-2-16.0, and worked our way slowly upstream. The stream apparently has spawning Steelhead and Coho Salmon in season, as we found smolts of both in our efforts. We also shocked and netted a large neotenic Coastal Giant Salamander! I photographed most of the aquatic vertebrates, which also included a few sculpin (Cottus sp.). One tiny Dunn's Salamander was uncovered at the stream edge. I didn't have time to pay attention to the wildflowers, but did photograph one that I had been wondering if I might see some time.

Posted on May 7, 2017 10:46 PM by umpquamatt