The Clear Lake Hitch Observation Project
CLERC and the Chi Council for the Clear Lake Hitch worked together to coordinate A volunteer fish observation reporting System. This information is used to assess population numbers and spawning patterns, which can later be used to guide Conservation efforts.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
It's easy to participate in the hitch observation program. Between January and June, hitch swim up streams and other tributaries around Clear Lake in order to spawn. During this time, look for schools of fish in creeks around Clear Lake and then report your findings. No hitch is just as important as hitch seen.
About the Clear Lake Hitch
The hitch, an ancient fish species unique to Clear Lake, primarily inhabit deep waters for most of their lives. However, every spring, adult hitch embark on a remarkable journey up the tributary creeks to spawn. Biologist Rick Macedo describes this annual event as a spectacle that once featured thousands of hitch massing together, rivaling the grandeur of salmon runs along the Pacific coast. The hitch's presence is announced by the tumultuous splashing and the arrival of various bird species, including herons, osprey, egrets, and bald eagles.
Unfortunately, in recent years, the hitch population has experienced a sharp decline, and the reasons behind this decline remain poorly understood. Some potential factors contributing to their diminished numbers include stream bed obstructions, predation by introduced fish species, and competition for food resources.
It is crucial to continue researching and monitoring the hitch population to better comprehend the specific causes of their decline and develop conservation strategies to protect this unique and ecologically significant species.
Clear Lake Hitch (photo by: USGS)
On September 25, 2012 the Center for Biological Diversity filed state and federal petitions requesting protection for the Clear Lake hitch under the Endangered Species Act.
On August 6, 2014 the California Fish and Game Commission formally listed the hitch as "threatened." For details, check the article that appeared in the August 11, 2014 Press Democrat, or watch the live video of the August 6, 2014 meeting.
For observations from a creek bank:
Make your observation from the same location each time, as if you were observing from a bridge. Do not wander up and down the creek and total the numbers of fish
Enter the same information as above
The importance of “NO HITCH SEEN”:
Please report each time you look for hitch, even if you don’t see any. A “0 hitch seen” is just as important as “40 hitch seen” because we know for certain that someone checked to see if fish were present. Over time, we can tell if the hitch population is increasing or decreasing with that information.
What to Look For
For observations from a bridge:
Park car off edge of road (be careful for traffic!)
Walk quietly to the center of bridge
Peer into the creek from both sides of the bridge
Estimate the total number of fish seen, if any (note if no fish seen, too)
Record the date, time, creek, bridge location, numbers of fish seen, and any comments such as water clarity or predators such as herons, ducks, ospreys