Late in January KMUD Community Journalist, Bob Froehlich, obtained permission from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to accompany Fisheries Technician, Ryan Spencer, on a Coho Salmon survey in the lower part of Little Sprowel Creek. Spencer works for Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, an agency established by Congress in 1947 to help resource agencies and the fishing industry sustainably manage Pacific Ocean resources. This agency contracts with DFW to assist with their current South Fork Eel River Coho Population Estimate Project. Little Sprowel Creek is a tributary of Sprowel Creek which itself flows into the South Fork of the Eel River. The mouth of Little Sprowel Creek is located about four miles southwest of Garberville.

An edited version (7 min.) of the field interview was aired on KMUD Local News on February 5, 2013.

Use the player below to hear the extended (25 min.) interview.

Fisheries Technician, Ryan Spencer, along Little Sprowel Creek

Vortex of water flowing under log obstruction (left) and potential likely redd building area in Little Spowel Creek (right)