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 Vol. 2, Issue 11: Mar 26, 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. Rotary screw trapping on the Merced River at Hatfield (RM 2) was initiated. 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. After an initial increase, combined exports decreased to 1,836 cfs by the end of the reporting period. Interesting News. "Broad Coalition Proposes Solutions to the California Salmon Crisis." 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. |
March 3 - March 16, 2008 |
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Upcoming Events
Apr. 1: Invasive Species Management Symposium
Featured Link(s)San Joaquin Basin Water Quality Monitoring
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 eight out of 14 days between March 3 and March 16. 
A total of 37 O. mykiss (Table 1) were captured during the reporting period increasing the season total to 510. Daily catch ranged between zero and 15 O. mykiss. A total of 29 young-of-year (YOY; ≤100 mm) and eight Age 1+ (101-299 mm) O. mykiss were captured. Average forklengths and weights of O. mykiss are provided in Table 1. Most of the O. mykiss captured were rated as a fry (n=29). There were also a few parr (n=3) and silvery parr (n=5). Instantaneous temperatures taken at the trap ranged from 48ºF to 56ºF, and turbidity ranged from 0.1 NTU to 1.9 NTU. Daily average flow at New Hogan Dam (NHG) fluctuated throughout the reporting period between 26 cfs and 69 cfs, flows at Cosgrove (COS) decreased from 4 cfs to 1 cfs, and flows at Bellota (MRS) fluctuated between 1 cfs and 11 cfs. Table 1. Biosampling data for O. mykiss and Chinook salmon captured at Shelton Rd. between March 3 and March 16, 2008. Parentheses indicate range.
 
The Stanislaus River rotary screw trap at Oakdale (RM 40) sampled continuously between March 3 and March 16. 
A total of 1,584 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period increasing the season total to 18,601. Daily catch ranged between 19 and 214 Chinook. Average forklengths and weights of Chinook salmon are provided in Table 2. The fry lifestage dominated the catch with parr (n=184) and smolts (n=17; pictured at left) present as well. One YOY (≤100 mm) and one Age 1+ (101-299 mm) O. mykiss were captured during this reporting period. Daily average forklengths and weights of O. mykiss are provided in Table 2. Juvenile O. mykiss were rated as fry (n=1) and silvery parr (n=1). Table 2. Biosampling data for Chinook salmon and O. mykiss captured at Oakdale between March 3 and March 16, 2008. Parentheses indicate range. Asterisk indicates three fish excluded from averages.
  
Instantaneous temperature taken at the trap ranged from 46ºF to 52ºF, and turbidity ranged from 0.4 NTU to 4.9 NTU. Daily average flow at Goodwin Dam (GDW) increased from 225 cfs to 806 cfs and flows at Orange Blossom Bridge (OBB) increased from 247 cfs to 585 cfs. Two trap efficiency tests were conducted at Oakdale on March 9 and March 13 using natural juvenile Chinook salmon with resulting efficiencies of 24% and 18%, respectively (Table 3; preliminary result). Table 3. Trap efficiency tests conducted at Oakdale between March 3 and March 16, 2008.
The Stanislaus River rotary screw traps at Caswell (RM 8) sampled continuously between March 3 and March 16. No juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period. Total catch to date (through March 16) remains at 29 Chinook. No O. mykiss were captured during this reporting period. Instantaneous temperature taken at the trap ranged from 52ºF to 58ºF, and turbidity ranged from 1.9 NTU to 4.7 NTU. Daily average flow at Ripon (RIP) ranged from 252 cfs to 605 cfs. Daily catch is insufficient to warrant a trap efficiency test.
The Tuolumne River rotary screw trap at Waterford (RM 30) sampled continuously between March 3 and March 16 (pictured at right). 
A total of 185 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period increasing the season total to 2,241. Daily catch ranged between three and 24 Chinook. Average forklengths and weights of Chinook salmon are provided in Table 4. The fry lifestage dominated the catch with parr (n=33) and smolts (n=4) present as well. No O. mykiss were captured during the reporting period. Instantaneous temperature taken at the trap ranged from 52ºF to 59ºF, and turbidity ranged from 1.9 NTU to 5.1 NTU. Daily average flow at La Grange (LGN) ranged between 162 cfs and 179 cfs. Daily catch numbers were not sufficiant enough to conduct trap efficiency tests during this reporting period. Table 4. Biosampling data for Chinook salmon and O. mykiss captured at Waterford between March 3 and March 16, 2008. Parentheses indicate range. Asterisk indicates one fish excluded from averages.
 
The Tuolumne River rotary screw traps at Grayson (RM 5) sampled continuously between March 3 and March 16. Only one Chinook salmon fry was captured during the reporting period (40 mm; 0.6 g). Zero O. mykiss were captured during the reporting period. Instantaneous temperature taken at the trap ranged from 51ºF to 60ºF, and turbidity ranged from 1.8 NTU to 11.9 NTU. Daily average flow at Modesto (MOD) decreased during this reporting period from 312 cfs to 255 cfs. Daily catch numbers were not sufficiant enough to conduct trap efficiency tests during this reporting period.  
The 2008 TID seining study survey number five was conducted on March 18 at various locations on the Tuolumne and San Joaquin Rivers. This is the fifth seining survey conducted this season and the number of Chinook salmon captured in the Tuolumne River was similar to the previous surveys; sizes of Chinook continue to increase. A total of 41 Chinook salmon were captured in the Tuolumne River at various locations at or upstream of, Shiloh Rd. (RM 3.4), and none were captured at the San Joaquin seine sites. Forklengths ranged between 39 and 80 mm (avg: 53.0 mm). Parr (>50 mm FL) were most abundant (n=25) followed by fry (≤50 mm FL; n=16) and zero smolts. Salmon densities have remained relatively constant over the last 3 surveys and are most similar to 2007. 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 1,900 cfs.
The Merced River rotary screw traps at Hatfield (RM 2) were installed on March 3 and sampled intermittently throughout the reporting period. The Hatfield traps were installed in a new location that is approximately 65 m upstream of the 2007 location and has higher velocities which have improved the overall trap function. No juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period. No O. mykiss were captured during this reporting period. Instantaneous temperature taken at the trap ranged from 55ºF to 62ºF, and turbidity ranged from 5.5 NTU to 22.4 NTU. Daily average flow at La Grange (LGN) ranged between 265 cfs and 369 cfs. Daily catch numbers were not sufficiant enough to conduct trap efficiency tests during this reporting period.
San Joaquin River Conditions
During the reporting period, flow in the San Joaquin River at Vernalis fluctuated between 1,848 cfs to 2,199 cfs (avg: 1,981 cfs). Overall, San Joaquin Basin water temperatures continued to increase during this reporting period. While, dissolved oxygen was similar to the previous reporting period. Water temperature in the San Joaquin fluctuated from 56.5 °F to 62.2 °F (avg: 59.0 °F) at Vernalis; from 57.2 °F to 62.7 °F (avg: 59.8 °F) at Mossdale; and from 55.6 °F to 59.4 °F (avg: 57.6 °F) at Rough 'n Ready Island. Dissolved oxygen (DO) in the San Joaquin River at Mossdale fluctuated between 9.0 mg/L and 10.3 mg/L (avg: 9.9 mg/L) and between 7.2 mg/L and 8.4 mg/L (avg: 7.6 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 775 cfs to 3,550 cfs. Mean daily pumping at the Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant (state pumps) fluctuated throughout the reporting period and ranged between 970 cfs and 2,646 cfs. Combined total exports initially increased to a high of 6,043 cfs, but then decreased to 1,836 cfs by the end of the reporting period.
Interesting News"Broad Coalition Proposes Solutions to the California Salmon Crisis. A panel of representatives from fishing, tribal, and environmental groups held a historic news conference in Sacramento on Friday, March 14, to discuss proposed solutions to the huge crisis in California Delta fisheries and the unprecedented collapse of the Central Valley Chinook runs. " Full story at: http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2008/03/broad_coalition.html 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. |