These processes completely altered the creek's alignment, flow, and connection to the floodplain — and affected its ability to support the southernmost continually - returning natural population of the endangered coho salmon in western United States. (parksconservancy.org)
«Urban stormwater runoff carries a complex mixture of chemicals into fish habitats,» said McIntyre, who is based at the WSU Research and Extension Center in Puyallup, Wash. «We have seen that stormwater runoff can kill adult coho salmon in urban creeks, and we know that it can cause defects in the hearts of developing fish.» (news.wsu.edu)
In a move that is certain to provoke a bitter battle in Congress, the US National Marine Fisheries Service has proposed listing three west coast populations of coho salmon as threatened. (newscientist.com)