Check an accessible Middle Fork Eel River bank reach for salmon spawning activity, reach 2 -- the Middle Fork Eel River corridor near its confluence with the Black Butte River, east of Covelo in Round Valley, Mendocino County, CA (2026-07-24)

The Eel River watershed is a priority California coho and steelhead recovery watershed, and no volunteer-level spawning-activity record exists for this accessible bank reach of the Middle Fork near Round Valley to feed the recovery program's monitoring picture. Standard: US EPA Rapid Bioassessment Protocol + NOAA/CDFW coho and steelhead recovery-plan spawning-monitoring practice on the Eel River, a priority California salmonid-recovery watershed; SDG 6.6/15.1. Proof: document-only stand-off observation from the accessible bank + GPS + photo log + ranked follow-on note Method (EPA Rapid Bioassessment Protocol (family-level macroinvertebrate index), ~60-120 min): 1. Navigate to a riffle habitat; record GPS; photograph the reach. 2. Disturb the substrate upstream of the net for a fixed time/area (kick sample) per RBP. 3. Transfer the catch to the sorting tray; pick and sort organisms. 4. Identify to family; tally counts; record EPT (Ephemeroptera/Plecoptera/Trichoptera) taxa. 5. Compute the biotic index score from the tally. 6. Note substrate and habitat condition. 7. Enter tally, EPT count, index score, GPS, photos into the proof record; sign. Equipment: kick net or D-frame net, white sorting tray, forceps, sample jars + ethanol, family-level ID key, GPS phone, waders/boots, camera Done when: Family-level taxa tally recorded; EPT taxa count recorded; Biotic index score computed; GPS waypoint + riffle habitat photo

Where

the Middle Fork Eel River corridor near its confluence with the Black Butte River, east of Covelo in Round Valley, Mendocino County, CA

Pay

$85 proposed

This packet is not funded yet, so this figure is a proposed price and not money waiting in escrow. If a buyer funds it, approved proof settles that price onchain. If nobody funds it, approved proof earns provable credit toward the work instead of cash. You see which before you claim, never after.

Proof

document-only stand-off observation from the accessible bank + GPS + photo log + ranked follow-on note

This is exactly what gets it approved. Nothing settles without it.

Level

entry

Open until

2026-10-23

How this work is done

A documented method, so this packet comes out the same whoever does it. Typically 60–120 minutes. Method of record: EPA Rapid Bioassessment Protocol (family-level macroinvertebrate index)

Bring

• kick net or D-frame net
• white sorting tray
• forceps
• sample jars + ethanol
• family-level ID key
• GPS phone
• waders/boots
• camera

Steps

1. 1. Navigate to a riffle habitat; record GPS; photograph the reach.
2. 2. Disturb the substrate upstream of the net for a fixed time/area (kick sample) per RBP.
3. 3. Transfer the catch to the sorting tray; pick and sort organisms.
4. 4. Identify to family; tally counts; record EPT (Ephemeroptera/Plecoptera/Trichoptera) taxa.
5. 5. Compute the biotic index score from the tally.
6. 6. Note substrate and habitat condition.
7. 7. Enter tally, EPT count, index score, GPS, photos into the proof record; sign.

If it does not match the plan

• Low EPT count / low biotic index -> tag impaired; recommend a follow-up water-chemistry screen.
• No sensitive taxa present -> flag for stressor identification.

What counts as done

• Family-level taxa tally recorded
• EPT taxa count recorded
• Biotic index score computed
• GPS waypoint + riffle habitat photo

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.