Global and regional context of salmonids and urban areas

Abstract

Although many of the world's surface waters lack salmonids, they range extensively across the Northern Hemisphere and have been introduced successfully into cold Southern Hemisphere waters. Likewise urbanization is a global phenomenon, making the patterns and principles discussed in this book relevant elsewhere. Unlike many urbanized regions of Europe, Asia, and the eastern and north-central United States, salmonid populations continue to persist in urban areas of the Pacific Northwest. In addition, some of the most progressive land use regulations and stream rehabilitation efforts occur in that region, particularly in Oregon. Finally, salmon and trout fisheries are major contributors to local economies in the Pacific Northwest and are a major source of food for many families. In this chapter, we document the regional importance of salmonids and the interest in rehabilitating them via case studies from Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.