Cal-Neva’s Return to the North Coast was a success!

The 51^st Annual Cal-Neva AFS meeting was held April 5-7, 2017 in Eureka, CA. The theme for this year’s meeting was “Navigating the Complexity of Fisheries Science: Charting a Course for the Future”.  The hope was
to start a dialogue about lessons learned and how to move
the fisheries profession forward as we face a variety of challenges. This was achieved over the course of 3 days, as there were over 300 students and professionals that attend the meeting. There were 5 plenary speakers, 95 oral presentations, 35 poster presentations, 1 student-led special forum, 3 continuing education courses, and 6 field trips and tours. On behalf of both the planning committee and the executive committee we cannot thank you all enough for attending and participating in another successful meeting.

We’d also like to thank our generous donors for raffle prizes, which raised approximately $2,000 for student and professional travel.  Donors included, Adamsbuilt Fishing, Lx Polarized, Coldcock American Herbal Flavored Whiskey, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Bass Man Dan’s Custom Fishing Rods, Wicked Edge Precision Knife Sharpeners, Buck Knives, Disneyland, Total Wine, Peppermill Casino Reno, SkyZone Sacramento, Sawyer Products, California Fly Fishers Unlimited, Fishing for Gyotaku, Havalon Knives, Eileen Klatt, Mepps, Rio Products, Travz Art, CalTrout, Cabelas, Kecheneny Fish Prints, Tenkara USA, Granite Rocx, Restop, San Diego Fly Fishers and Mountain Khakis.  We also appreciate the support that was provide by the following donors and sponsors: Helix, California Department of Water Resources, East Bay MUD, Little Pond Nature Prints, Lotek Wireless Inc., Oregon RFID, Stillwater Sciences, SCWA, ESA Sierra Nevada Brewery, Mad River Brewery, and Midwest Lake.

Several professionals were recognized for their work in the field.  The following were the CalNeva awards recipients:

• Award of Excellence – Terry D. Roelofs, Ph.D.
• Conservation Achievement – Joan C. Lindberg, Ph.D.
• Conservation Achievement – Darren Mierau
• Scientific Journalism – Steve Schoonover

Lastly, we would like to recognize the efforts of all the students that participated in the meeting.  Especially, those that were involved with the student symposium and the student poster contest.  The student award recipients are listed below.

Student Poster Award winners

1^st: Travis Apgar – UC Santa Cruz

Evolutionary Restoration Potential Evaluated Through the Use of a Trait-Linked Genetic Marker

2^nd: Mason London – Humboldt State University

Comparison of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Assemblages, Perennial and Intermittent Headwater Streams of the Mattole River

3^rd: Jordan Wingenroth – UC Berkeley

Habitat Contraction and Fragmentation in an Intermittent Coast Range Stream in Central California

Katrina Marten Memorial Poster Award winner

• Denise Colombano – UC Davis

Tidal Wetland Nursery Function in a Novel Ecosystem

Student Oral Presentation Award winners

1^st:  Brittany Davis – UC Davis

Assessing Species-specific Vulnerability of Delta Fishes to Multiple Stressors

2^nd: Liam Zarri – UC Santa Cruz

Green Sturgeon Spawning Run Size and Holding Habitat in the Sacramento River

3^rd: Katherine Osborn – Humboldt State University

The MPAs and the Mad: Seasonal Fish Communities in 3 Northern CA Riverine Estuaries

DOWNLOAD the Meeting Program

DOWNLOAD the Symposia Schedule Grid with Time & Place