Our Council has completed an eDNA (or environmental DNA) research project as a part of the Kellogg Creek Restoration & Community Enhancement Project. This research allowed us to extract DNA from water samples to detect the presence of a species. Genetic assays were run for Coho, Chinook, steelhead/rainbow trout, and Pacific lamprey to determine whether these species were able to get over Kellogg Dam. Cutthroat trout was added to the study in the second year. We are also conducted assays for western pond turtles and western painted turtles to determine if they were present in the impoundment behind Kellogg Dam. And finally, we looked for the presence of freshwater mussels throughout the watershed.
eDNA sampling occurred every three months over a one year period to capture seasonal variability, and sample sites were evenly distributed throughout the watershed (as seen in the map below) to gather information about distribution of these species in the watershed.
The summary of findings of the two-years of data collection have been summarized by Cramer Fish Sciences and can be seen below.
ncwatersheds.org 