| Ecological restoration and species recovery programs are complex undertakings often involving multiple government agencies, non-government organizations, and academic groups working towards a common goal. An example of this is the San Joaquin River Restoration Project (SJRRP), which was created to restore flows to the river from Friant Dam to the confluence of the Merced River and reestablish a self-sustaining population of salmon. A crucial part of this project is the assurance that there is adequate macroinvertebrate prey available for the juvenile Chinook salmon during their freshwater growth stage. In order to meet the program's salmon population goals, a multi-year study is underway to characterize the macroinvertebrate assemblage and food web in the rearing habitat of the San Joaquin River in California's Central Valley. Results show a significant difference in macroinvertebrate abundance between study locations signaling a difference in habitat quality for juvenile Chinook salmon with possible sub-optimal conditions for growth. This study is part of a larger effort to characterize the spatial and temporal variation in these properties and guidance for revision of restoration goals. |