Sorting also provides gravel beds that are free of sediment, which is important to gravel spawning species like trout. Trout lay their eggs in clean gravel during the late fall and early winter. The large eggs mature in the gravel for 2 to 3 months and, even after hatching, the fry remain in the gravel until the yolk sac is absorbed. If a heavy sediment load covers the gravel during this time the young trout will suffocate. Restoring a stable channel morphology that creates and maintains quality spawning habitat.

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Habitat Conservation Program