Freshwater Shrimp

This adult female freshwater shrimp carrying eggs was captured, identified, measured, and released back into Olema Creek during shrimp surveys in the summer of 2018. The adult females generally measured around 42-49mm long.

NPS / Alex Iwaki

The California freshwater shrimp (Syncaris pacifica) is a small,10-legged crustacean that inhabits perennially flowing streams with slow moving water and flat gradients. Listed as federally endangered since 1988, the species is endemic to Marin, Sonoma and Napa Counties. It is only found in portions of 16 coastal streams within this range, including Lagunitas Creek in Marin County, which is home to the most viable population of the shrimp and is the only site on protected lands. Existing populations of the species are threatened by introduced fish, and deterioration or loss of habitat from water diversion, impoundments, livestock and dairy activities, agricultural activities and developments, flood control activities, gravel mining, timber harvesting, migration barriers and water pollution.

References and Links

Explore more research, reports, and resources on freshwater shrimp in San Francisco Bay Area parks.

Resource Briefs

Source: Data Store Saved Search 3566. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.

Reports and Journal Articles

Source: Data Store Saved Search 3563. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.

Blog

See below for the latest on California freshwater shrimp from the Bay Area Nature & Science Blog.