Juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) production (tissue elaboration) was monitored in 12 laboratory streams under six replicate treatment levels of fine sedimentation. Increasing sedimentation suppressed fish production. Our data confirm that habitats of salmonid juveniles, as well as spawning areas, should be protected against fine sediments. Substrate Score, a visual technique for evaluating stream substrate quality, correlated closely with both the geometric mean particle size of the substrate and fish production, and can be easily applied in the field.
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