The Kings River Fisheries Management Program’s 2024 Fish Population Survey was completed last year with the help of Fresno City College biology students who joined as volunteers.
Lori Werner, a resource analyst with the Kings River Conservation District shares insight and information about the program and how they like to get students involved in it.
Werner started off as a winter seasonal at Kings River Conservation District in 2006, and became permanent staff in 2018. She became very involved in the visionary program from its early days, especially since 2020 when they didn’t have an environmental program manager, but she learned as she went along.
The management program started in 1998 as a cooperative partnership between the Kings River Conservation District, the Kings River Water Association, and the California Department of Wildlife.
The primary goal was to manage the river and Pine Flat Reservoir in the Sierra Nevada foothills of eastern Fresno County, California.
There are specific management goals, particularly for the river downstream of Pine Flat Dam. It involves complex water flows and releases to meet irrigation needs and protect aquatic life.
“We manage three main reaches of the river, and we primarily focus on the section from Pine Flat Dam to Fresno,” Werner said. “We also conduct fish stocking, including catchable size trout and stocking fry that come out of our incubator.”
Students from FCC get involved through volunteer fairs or field trips that are arranged by professors. Many students enjoy volunteering and have expressed interest in future opportunities.
“We don’t allow them to operate the electric shockers due to liability, but they help us collect fish using nets, transport them, and count them,” Werner said. “They also help record data. It’s a hand-on experience that offers exposure to wildlife management.”
Students gain exposure to the river and wildlife that they don’t typically encounter.
“For many of them, it’s an eye-opening experience, especially those who have never been to the river before,” Werner said. “They get to learn fish ID, observe species they wouldn’t see on a casual visit and engage with professionals in the field. It helps raise awareness and appreciation for the natural world.”
This program can be served as a model for other educational institutions. Students get valuable exposure to hands-on work in the field and it fosters curiosity about environmental careers.
It even gets students out of their urban environment and gives them a deeper appreciation for the wildlife.
“It can spark an interest that might change their career paths,” Werner said.
She shared that the feedback from FCC staff has been positive. The biology and anatomy professor who led the survey with her students, Liza Gomez-Daglio, expressed interest in bringing her class out again.
“I think students gained a lot from it, and it was something they’d never experienced before. They had a chance to learn more about the river and the species in it, and some even expressed interest in other volunteer opportunities,” Werner said.
Werner mentioned that they are considering habitat improvement projects and looking for grants to fund them.
“We’ve been exploring ideas like gravel augmentation to improve spawning conditions for rainbow trout. Additionally, we’re trying to find ways to improve certain channels in the river, like replacing a headgate structure with a bridge to improve water flow and reduce sediment,” Werner said. “However, funding is a challenge, and more of our current budget is tied up with fish stocking.”
The management program is already seeing changes in the river, with warming water temperatures that are affecting the trout populations.
Climate change and water temperature fluctuations can be more challenging to manage the fishery.
As discussions continue about the challenges facing trout stocking, Werner highlights the broader issue of habitat improvement, noting that while some solutions could help, the changing climate remains a significant concern.
“Habitat improvement might help, but the changing climate is a major concern for the long-term future of the river and fish management,” Werner said.
To address these concerns, community involvement plays a crucial role. Werner stresses the importance of collective efforts in fish stocking, cleanup, and other conservation efforts.
“We always welcome volunteers, and we try to remove trash, plastic, and fishing lines from the waterways, which is a major issue for wildlife,” Werner said. “We always need help with fish stocking, cleanup efforts, and other conservation activities.”
For more information about the program can be found on their website, Kings River Fisheries Management Program. They are always looking for volunteers to help with their trout incubator program and fish releases.
