We are excited about a recent study co-authored by RiverLab masters student Tyler Nodine, which was recently published by the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences!

Using a combination of remote sensing and machine learning algorithms, the study estimates the potential benefit of floodplain reconnection throughout the Columbia River Basin (CBR) to Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) parr. The study found that connected floodplain width was the most important factor for determining side channel presence, and estimated a 26% decrease in side channel habitat area from historical conditions. Reconnection of historical floodplains currently used for agriculture could increase side channel habitat by 25% and spring Chinook salmon parr total rearing capacity by 9% over current estimates.

This publication came out of the Tyler’s work at NOAA at the Northwest Science Center. The paper is  can be downloaded directly here.