We recognize that traditional management practices have probably reduced the productivity of salmon populations by altering genetic structures of populations, reducing numbers of fish spawning naturally, and changing freshwater habitat to conditions adverse to fish. The current condition of streams and riparian areas on non-federal lands can be generally described based on stream survey data collected from over 2,300 miles of streams in coastal basins since 1990. Few large conifers exist in streamside areas. Riparian forests are dominated by younger trees, often alder.
Stream channels lack desirable levels of structural and habitat complexity.
The availability of spawning gravel does not currently appear to be limiting coastal salmon populations. Fine sediments in riffles occur at levels thought to be potentially harmful to spawning salmon on many streams in both agricultural and forested lands. Similarly, the amount and quality of wetland and estuarine habitat has been reduced from pre-development levels.