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California Department of Fish and Game Input to the CVPIA (b)(2) Decision Process

A draft report from the California Department of Fish and Game on the restoration of fish populations in the Sacramento River. The report includes data on adult Chinook salmon numbers, dewatered redds, and monitoring methods.

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California Department of Fish and Game Input to the CVPIA (b)(2) Decision Process

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  1. California Department of Fish and Game Input to the CVPIA (b)(2) Decision Process Russell J. Bellmer Fisheries Branch California Department of Fish and Game

  2. DRAFT 4 - 18 - 11 revised 6 - 13 - 11 Goal = 230,000 (Final Restoration Plan) Estimated number of adult fall-run Chinook, Hatchery escapement only, 1952 - 1955 1967-1991 Average = 115,371 1992-2010 Average = 75,506 Figure 6. Estimated yearly natural production and in-river escapement for the entire mainstem Sacramento River adult fall-run Chinook salmon. 1952 - 1966 and 1992 - 2010 numbers are from CDFG Grand Tab (February 2, 2011). Baseline numbers (1967 - 1991) are from Mills and Fisher (CDFG, 1994).

  3. Definitions and Assumptions • 1) Stranding of juvenile salmonids can occur when Keswick releases drop below 5,000 cfs and especially when flows drop below 4,000 cfs. These stranding concerns date back decades and can be seen in almost all fishery restoration documents. • 2) Definition of Dewatering / Dewatered redd: a redd will be considered ―”dewatered” if any portion of the surface layer of gravel is exposed above the water’s surface. In order to document different levels of dewatering, the field staff developed the following ―”dewatered” classes: • Class 1: Top Dewatered • Class 2: Mostly Dewatered • Class 3: Pot Wet—Totally Dewatered • Class 4: Pot Dry—Totally Dewatered • In addition to this dry surface-related definition, a redd is considered ―dewatered‖ if flow velocity drops below the lowest velocity observed for a redd of a given run (0.32 ft/s for fall and late-fall runs, 0.87 ft/s for winter-run). • 3) Definition of Hyporheic zone: A region beneath and lateral to a stream bed, where there is mixing of shallow groundwater and surface water. The flow dynamics and behavior in this zone (termed hyporheic flow) is recognized to be important for surface water/groundwater interactions, as well as fish spawning, among other processes.

  4. Redds Dewatered • In 2000, California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) staff collected data which showed that 18% of the total Fall Chinook salmon redds had been dewatered in December 2000 • This was not a comprehensive study, but it should be considered as a valuable ―”incidental observation”, and it may give a relative value of the amount of redds that were dewatered in one year • This year based on limited survey data it is anticipated that approximately 10 to 20% may have been dewatered

  5. Sacramento River Mainstem Carcass Survey Count for Fall run Chinook

  6. Adult Chinook (all runs), adult steelhead Monitoring • Stream Reach(es): Upper Sacramento River at Red Bluff Diversion Dam • Program Objective(s): Estimate numbers of Chinook salmon and steelhead passing the dam. • Sampling Time: May 15 through September 15 • Methodology(ies): The fish ladder at the Red Bluff Diversion Dam is equipped with video equipment that allows biologists to observe fish real-time or from video tape

  7. Emigrating juvenile Chinook (all runs), juvenile steelhead monitoring • Stream Reach(es): Upper Sacramento River at Red Bluff Diversion Dam • Program Objective(s): Determine juvenile production indices, emigration timing, • Sampling Time: Year round • Methodology(ies): Four eight foot diameter rotary screw traps are employed to monitor juvenile salmonid emigration. Traps remain in the river year round, and are fished 24 hours per day. Captured salmonids are counted, identified, and measured (fork length). When the trap is emptied, water temperature, river depth, the depth of the rotating cone, water velocity, and water turbidity are measured. Accumulated debris type and volume in the live box is also recorded. Trap efficiency is estimated using mark-recapture methods.

  8. Adult Chinook monitoring • Stream Reach(es): Various reaches throughout Cow, Bear, Battle, Antelope, Mill, and Deer Creeks • Program Objective(s): Determine chinook presence and absence • Sampling Time: Year around (Intermittent) • Methodology(ies): Video Survey, weir counts, redds are enumerated, snorkel counts, carcass surveys

  9. Adult Steelhead monitoring • Stream Reach(es): Various reaches throughout Beegum, Thomes, Paynes, Antelope, Mill, and Deer Creeks • Program Objective(s): Determine steelhead presence and absence • Sampling Time: Intermittent and opportunistic • Methodology(ies): Survey reaches are sampled intermittently and opportunistically as funding, personnel, and weather allow. Sampling is conducted from upstream to downstream sites, if fish are seen, the snorkeler notifies his/her partner to verify and determine fish numbers. Redd locations (GPS marked if possible) and sizes are noted. Observations are documented in the field and entered electronically upon return to the office.

  10. DFG aerial flight maps

  11. More Information Russell J. Bellmer, PhD, Fisheries Branch CA Department of Fish and Game 830 S Street Sacramento, CA 95811 916-327-8850 916-327-8854 fax rbellmer@dfg.ca.gov http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fish/ http://www.calfish.org/Programs/CalFishPrograms/tabid/60/Default.aspx http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/documents/Default.aspx

  12. CENTRAL VALLEY CHINOOK SALMON IN-RIVER ESCAPEMENT MONITORING PLAN By Jennifer M. Bergman Fisheries Biologist Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission Ryan M. Nielson Biometrician/Project Manager Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. and Alice Low Staff Environmental Scientist California Department of Fish and Game

  13. DRAFT 4 - 18 - 11 revised 6 - 13 - 11 Goal = 68,000 (Final Restoration Plan) Estimated number of adult late-fall-run Chinook 1967-1991 Average = 33,941 1992-2010 Average = 18,094 Data not available Figure 7. Estimated yearly natural production and in-river adult escapement for above RBDD mainstem Sacramento River late-fall-run Chinook salmon. 1992 -2010 numbers are from CDFG Grand Tab (February 2, 2011). Baseline numbers (1967 – 1991) are from Mills and Fisher (CDFG, 1994).

  14. DRAFT 4 - 18 - 11 revised 6 - 13 - 11 Steelhead. Steelhead estimates are derived from direct counts at fishways and at hatcheries. Some estimates are the result of mark-recapture experiments, and some are a variant calculated by dividing hatchery returns by the estimated harvest rates. Doubling goal = 13,000 (above RBDD only; information from other Sacramento River tributaries and the San Joaquin system was not included in Mills and Fisher (1994) for the baseline period) Estimated natural spawning Sacramento River steelhead above RBDD 1967-1991 Average = 6,574 1992-2008 Average = 1,127 Figure 36. Estimated yearly number of natural spawning of steelhead on the Sacramento River, upstream of the RBDD (Mills and Fisher, 1994). Data for 1992-2008 is from CDFG, Red Bluff. 2008 sampling was curtailed in June due to high water temperatures.

  15. Sacramento River Mainstem Carcass Survey Count for Fall run Chinook

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