Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Washington
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is conducting a project in the Chehalis River of southwest Washington to determine the effects of salmon- and steelhead- focused restoration efforts on other native freshwater fish. The goals of this study are to, 1) define a baseline from which WDFW can monitor changes in native fish occupancy following restoration actions, and 2) describe the relationship between native freshwater fish occupancy and habitat and landscape metrics. WDFW aims to develop a multi-site occupancy model to describe how the fish community is influenced by habitat or landscape metrics. This information will inform the design and location of future restoration projects.