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 Vol. 2, Issue 10: Mar 13, 2008 |
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Key Highlights 2007/08 Juvenile Migration Monitoring San Joaquin River Conditions Delta Exports Interesting News |
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Key Highlights:2007/08 Juvenile Migration Monitoring. Juvenile migration monitoring continues on the San Joaquin tributaries however daily catches remain relatively low. San Joaquin River Conditions. San Joaquin Basin water temperatures were slightly warmer and dissolved oxygen was similar to the previous reporting period. Delta Exports. Combined exports decreased during this reporting period as compared to the previous reporting period. Interesting News. "Unfavorable Ocean Conditions Likely Cause of Low 2007 Salmon Returns Along West Coast." We encourage subscribers to contribute any relevant information for future issues of the newsletter (e.g., additional monitoring studies, announcements of upcoming meetings and events, etc). If you would like to contribute, please contact Chrissy Sonke. If you have any questions please contact Doug Demko at 530-342-9262 or by e-mail at dougdemko@fishbio.com. To view a print version of this newsletter, click here. |
February 18 - March 2, 2008 |
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Upcoming Events
Mar. 13: TRTAC Meeting
Featured Link(s)
Related LinksTuolumne River Technical Advisory Committee |
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2007/08 Juvenile Migration MonitoringThe Calaveras River rotary screw trap at Shelton Road (RM 29) sampled nine out of 14 days between February 18 and March 2. 
A total of 213 O. mykiss (Table 1) were captured during the reporting period increasing the season total to 473. Daily catch ranged between zero and 89 O. mykiss. A total of 205 young-of-year (YOY; less than or equal to 100 mm; pictured at left) and eight Age 1+ (101-299 mm) O. mykiss were captured. Daily average forklengths and weights of O. mykiss are provided in Table 1. Most of the O. mykiss captured were rated as a fry (n=201; pictured at left). There were also a few sac-fry (n=3), parr (n=1), silvery parr (n=7), and smolts (n=1). Table 1. Biosampling data for O. mykiss and Chinook salmon captured at Shelton Rd. between February 18 and March 2, 2008. Parentheses indicate range.
  Instantaneous temperatures taken at the trap ranged from 44ºF to 45ºF, and turbidity ranged from 0.2 NTU to 1.9 NTU. Daily average flow at New Hogan Dam (NHG) fluctuated throughout the reporting period between 24 cfs and 70 cfs, flows at Cosgrove (COS) fluctuated between 2 cfs and 31 cfs, and flows at Bellota (MRS) fluctuated between 26 cfs and 90 cfs.
The Stanislaus River rotary screw trap at Oakdale (RM 40) sampled continuously between February 18 and March 2 (pictured below). 
A total of 3,970 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period increasing the season total to 17,017. Daily catch ranged between 9 and 1,760 Chinook. Daily average forklengths and weights of Chinook salmon are provided in Table 2. The fry lifestage dominated the catch with parr and smolts present as well. A total of three Age 1+ (101-299 mm) and one adult (≥300 mm) O. mykiss were captured during this reporting period. The adult O. mykiss appeared to be in spaning condition and was released alive downstream of the trap. Daily average forklengths and weights of O. mykiss are provided in Table 2. Juvenile O. mykiss were rated as silvery parr (n=1) and smolts (n=2). Table 2. Biosampling data for Chinook salmon and O. mykiss captured at Oakdale between February 18 and March 2, 2008. Parentheses indicate range. Asterisk indicates five fish excluded from averages.
  
Instantaneous temperature taken at the trap ranged from 48ºF to 53ºF, and turbidity ranged from 0.4 NTU to 19.8 NTU. Daily average flow at Goodwin Dam (GDW) ranged from 224 cfs to 382 cfs and flows at Orange Blossom Bridge (OBB) decreased from 197 cfs to 446 cfs. Two trap efficiency tests were conducted at Oakdale on February 22 and February 27 using natural juvenile Chinook salmon with resulting efficiencies of 29% and 41%, respectively (Table 3; preliminary result). Table 3. Trap efficiency tests conducted at Oakdale between February 18 and March 2, 2008.
The Stanislaus River rotary screw trap at Caswell (RM 8) continued to sample intermittently during this reporting period. A total of three juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period increasing the season total to 29. Daily catch ranged between zero and one Chinook. Individual lengths of juvenile Chinook ranged from 40 mm to 56 mm (avg: 45 mm). Captured juvenile Chinook were rated as fry (n=2) and parr (n=1). No O. mykiss were captured during this reporting period. Daily catch is insufficient to warrant a trap efficiency test. Instantaneous temperature taken at the trap ranged from 50ºF to 55ºF, and turbidity ranged from 0.6 NTU to 11.7 NTU. Daily average flow at Ripon (RIP) ranged from 245 cfs to 429 cfs.
The Tuolumne River rotary screw trap at Waterford (RM 30) sampled continuously between February 18 and March 2. A total of 510 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period increasing the season total to 2,056 (technicians measuring chinook are pictured at right). Daily catch ranged between zero and 151 Chinook. Daily average forklengths and weights og Chinook salmon are provided in Table 4. The fry lifestage dominated the catch with parr and smolts present as well. One YOY (less than or equal to 100 mm) and one Age 1+ (101-299 mm) O. mykiss were captured during this reporting period. Daily average forklengths and weights are provided in Table 4. Juvenile O. mykiss were rated as parr (n=1) and smolts (n=1). Instantaneous temperature taken at the trap ranged from 51ºF to 59ºF, and turbidity ranged from 1.4 NTU to 93.8 NTU. Daily average flow at La Grange (LGN) ranged between 162 cfs and 179 cfs. Table 4. Biosampling data for Chinook salmon and O. mykiss captured at Waterford between February 18 and March 2, 2008. Parentheses indicate range. Asterisk indicates five fish excluded from averages.
One trap efficiency test was conducted at Waterford on February 28 using natural juvenile Chinook salmon with a resulting efficiency of 14% (Table 5; preliminary result). Table 5. Trap efficiency test conducted at Waterford between February 18 and March 2, 2008.
The Tuolumne River rotary screw traps at Grayson (RM 5) sampled continuously between February 18 and March 2. A total of 105 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period increasing the season total to 130. Daily catch ranged between zero and 74 Chinook. Daily average forklengths and weights of Chinook salmon are provided in Table 6. The fry lifestage dominated the catch with parr and smolts present as well. One O. mykiss smolt (200 mm FL; 78.3 g) was captured on February 28. This is the first O. mykiss captured at Grayson since 2005. Instantaneous temperature taken at the trap ranged from 52ºF to 57ºF, and turbidity ranged from 1.7 NTU to 67.0 NTU. Daily average flow at Modesto (MOD) decreased during this reporting period from 278 cfs to 1,009 cfs. Table 6. Biosampling data for Chinook salmon and O. mykiss captured at Grayson between February 18 and March 2, 2008. Parentheses indicate range. Asterisk indicates four fish excluded from averages.
One trap efficiency experiment was conducted on March 1 using natural juvenile Chinook salmon with a resulting efficiency of 7% (Table 7; preliminary result). Table 7. Trap efficiency test conducted at Grayson between February 18 and March 2, 2008.
The 2008 TID seining study survey number four was conducted on March 4 at various locations on the Tuolumne and San Joaquin Rivers. This is the fourth seining survey conducted this season and the number of Chinook salmon captured in the Tuolumne River was similar to the previous survey on February 19; sizes of Chinook continues to increase. A total of 41 Chinook salmon were captured in the Tuolumne River at various locations at or upstream of Legion Park(RM 17.2) and none were captured at the San Joaquin seine sites. Forklengths ranged between 35 and 65 mm (avg: 46.6 mm). No O. mykiss were caught in either river. Flow releases at La Grange (LGN) were about 170 cfs in the Tuolumne River and flows at Vernalis (VNS) in the San Joaquin River were about 2,100 cfs.
San Joaquin River Conditions
During the reporting period, flow in the San Joaquin River at Vernalis fluctuated between 844 cfs to 3,113 cfs (avg: 2,050 cfs). Overall, San Joaquin Basin water temperatures continued to increase during this reporting period however dissolved oxygen was similar to the previous reporting period. Water temperature in the San Joaquin fluctuated from 52.3°F to 58.4 °F (avg: 55.4 °F) at Vernalis; from 52.6 °F to 58.6 °F (avg: 56.0°F) at Mossdale; and from 52.0 °F to 56.5 °F (avg: 54.0 °F) at Rough 'n Ready Island. Dissolved oxygen (DO) in the San Joaquin River at Mossdale fluctuated between 8.3 mg/L and 9.9 mg/L (avg: 9.3 mg/L) and between 7.2 mg/L and 8.3 mg/L (avg: 7.8 mg/L) in the deep water ship channel (measured at Rough 'n Ready Island).  
Delta Exports
Mean daily pumping at the C.W. Jones Pumping Plant (federal pumps previously known as Tracy Pumping Plant) fluctuated throughout the reporting period and ranged from 1,308 cfs to 3,588 cfs. Mean daily pumping at the Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant (state pumps) fluctuated throughout the reporting period and ranged from 1,049 cfs to 3,760 cfs. In comparison to the previous reporting period, combined exports appear to have decreased.
Interesting News"Unfavorable Ocean Conditions Likely Cause of Low 2007 Salmon Returns Along West Coast. NOAA scientists are reviewing unusual environmental conditions in the Pacific Ocean as the likely culprit for the dramatically low returns of Chinook and coho salmon to rivers and streams along the West Coast of the United States in 2007." Full story at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080303145253.htm To view newsletter archives, click here. |
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© 2007 FISHBIO Environmental, LLC • 3188 Wood Creek Drive, Chico, CA 94928 Data Disclaimer: The data displayed on the sanjoaquinbasin.com website are courtesy of California Department of Fish & Game (CDFG), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), Tri-dam, Turlock Irrigation District (TID), Modesto Irrigation District (MID), Stockton East Water District (SEWD) and FISHBIO. Data are intended to be current, but are preliminary and are not guaranteed to be accurate. Source data compiled and provided by FISHBIO, from whom further information can be obtained. Use or reproduction of this data is prohibited without prior permission of CDFG, USFWS, Tri-dam, TID, MID, SEWD and/or FISHBIO. |