I have always been fascinated by rivers. The algae, invertebrates, rocks, fish and shear power of water has always been of great interest to me. I feel very fortunate to be able to both work and play in and around the rivers of the North Coast. My thesis entitled A permeability study on salmonid spawning riffles in the Little River Drainage and Ca¤on Creek in northern Humboldt County, California was an opportunity for me to study the unseen portion of the streambed, the hyporheic zone. My research was conducted to determine if local salmonid redd location is dependent upon the permeability of the streambed. Permeability measurements were taken using a battery operated pump to draw water through a perforated standpipe driven into the streambed. Study results showed that permeability was not significant in predicting redd location. In addition, results showed that permeability measurements varied in orders of magnitude within as little as 30 cm. The results of this study support the need for further investigation of spawning gravel assessment methods which can account for extreme spatial variation while minimizing disturbance to the streambed. My major advisor was Dr. Ken Fulgham