Volume 2008/09, Issue 9
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March 23, 2009 | |
March 30: SWRCB Bay-Delta Plan Scoping Meeting - Focused on Delta Salinity and San Joaquin River Flows
April 9: SJRRP Fishery Management Group Meeting
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Key Highlights
2008/09 Calaveras River Juvenile Migration Monitoring. Calaveras River Juvenile Migration Monitoring. A total of 129 O. mykiss were captured during the reporting period, increasing the season total to 341.
2009 Stanislaus River Juvenile Migration Monitoring. Stanislaus River seining surveys were conducted on March 3 at various locations between Oakdale (RM 40) and the confluence with the San Joaquin River. A total of 50 juvenile Chinook were captured at Riverbank (RM 33).
The Stanislaus River rotary screw trap at Oakdale sampled continuously between February 23 and March 15. A total of 15,627 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period increasing the season total to 56,996. A total of 15 O. mykiss were captured increasing the season total to 33.
The rotary screw trap at Caswell State Park (RM 8) sampled continuously between February 16 and March 15. A total of 342 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured, increasing the season total to 358. Three O. mykiss smolts were also captured.
2009 Tuolumne River Juvenile Migration Monitoring. The fourth and fifth TID seining surveys were conducted February 24 and March 10, respectively, on the Tuolumne and San Joaquin rivers. Between the two surveys, a total of 189 Chinook were captured in the Tuolumne River and none in the San Joaquin.
The rotary screw traps at Waterford (RM 30) and Grayson (RM 5) sampled continuously between February 23 and March 15. A total of 1,690 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured at Waterford during the reporting period, increasing the season total to 2,346. A total of seven Chinook salmon were captured at Grayson which is the season total thus far. No O. mykiss were captured at either trapping location.
2009 Merced River Juvenile Migration Monitoring. The side-by-side rotary screw trap configuration at Hatfield State Park (RM 2) will be installed this week and sampling is scheduled to begin on March 30.
San Joaquin River Conditions. During the reporting period, flows in the San Joaquin River at Vernalis fluctuated between 1,455 cfs and 2,478 cfs.
Delta Exports. Combined total exports (state and federal pumps) ranged between 4,107 cfs and 7,668 cfs.
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. | |
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2008/09 Calaveras River Juvenile Migration Monitoring
The Calaveras River rotary screw trap at Shelton Road (RM 28) sampled 10 days between February 23 and March 15. A total of 129 O. mykiss were captured during the reporting period, increasing the season total to 341. Daily catch ranged between two and 28 O. mykiss (Figure 1). Average forklengths and weights of O. mykiss are provided in Table 1. Measured O. mykiss (Figure 2) were rated as fry (n=3), parr (n=15), silvery parr (n=84), and smolts (n=23). No Chinook were captured during this reporting period. Instantaneous temperatures recorded at the trap ranged from 43ºF to 52ºF, and turbidity ranged from 0.6 NTU to 8.7 NTU. Daily average flow fluctuated between 16 cfs and 48 cfs at New Hogan Dam (NHG), two cfs to 190 cfs at Cosgrove Creek (COS), and zero cfs to 692 cfs at Bellota (MRS). Table 1. Biosampling data for O. mykiss captured at Shelton Road between February 23 and March 5, 2009. Parentheses indicate range.
Figure 1. Daily O. mykiss catch at Shelton Road and Calaveras River flow recorded by combined New Hogan Dam and Cosgrove Creek (NHG + COS), 2008/09.
Figure 2. Individual O. mykiss forklengths at Shelton Road, 2008/09.
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2009 Stanislaus River Juvenile Migration Monitoring
Stanislaus River seining surveys were conducted on March 3 at various locations between Oakdale (RM 40) and the confluence with the San Joaquin River.
A total of 50 Chinook salmon were captured at Riverbank (RM 33). Forklengths ranged from 36 to 68 mm (avg: 49.6 mm). No salmon were captured downstream of Riverbank. Average daily flow at Ripon was 256 cfs.
The rotary screw trap at Oakdale (RM 40) sampled continuously between February 23 and March 15. A total of 15,627 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period, increasing the season total to 56,996. Daily catch ranged between 16 and 4,923 Chinook (Figure 3). Average forklengths and weights of Chinook salmon are provided in Table 2 for 1,144 fish that were measured. Most measured Chinook were fry (n=502) and parr (n=546), but some smolts (n=96) were also observed.  A total of 15 O. mykiss were captured increasing the season total to 33. Average forklengths and weights of O. mykiss are provided in Table 2 for 13 fish that were measured. All Age 1+ fish were smolts. Age 1+ O.mykiss in viewing box.Instantaneous temperature recorded at the trap ranged from 50ºF to 54ºF, and turbidity ranged from 0.1 NTU to 23.2 NTU. Daily average flow at Goodwin Dam (GDW) fluctuated between 201 cfs and 274 cfs, and flows at Ripon (RIP) fluctuated between 221 cfs and 420 cfs. Two trap efficiency experiments were conducted with releases of 184 and 346 naturally spawned juvenile Chinook salmon marked caudal fin green (CFG). Subsequently after release, 53 and 136 marked Chinook were recaptured; yielding preliminary capture efficiency estimates between 28.8% and 39.3% at flows ranging between 227 cfs and 351 cfs (Table 3).
Table 2. Biosampling data for Chinook salmon and O. mykiss captured and measured at Oakdale between February 23 and March 15, 2009. Parentheses indicate range.
Table 3. Trap efficiency tests conducted at Oakdale between February 23 and March 15, 2009.
Figure 3. Daily Chinook salmon catch at Oakdale and Stanislaus River flow recorded by Goodwin Dam (GDW) and Ripon (RIP), 2009.
The rotary screw trap at Caswell State Park (RM 8) sampled continuously between February 16 and March 15. A total of 342 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period, increasing the season total to 358. Average forklength was 39 mm for fry, 67 mm for parr, 81 mm for sub-yearling smolts, and 119 mm for yearling smolts.
Three O. mykiss smolts were captured during the reporting period (255 mm and 270 mm on March 7, and 240 mm on March 9).
Four trap efficiency experiments were conducted with releases of between 17 and 55 naturally spawned juvenile Chinook salmon. Preliminary capture efficiency estimates ranged between 7.3% and 17.7%.
Instantaneous temperature recorded at the trap ranged from 49.1ºF to 55.4ºF, and turbidity ranged from 1.3 NTU to 11.0 NTU. Daily average flow at Goodwin Dam (GDW) fluctuated between 165 cfs and 357 cfs, and flows at Ripon (RIP) fluctuated between 206 cfs and 361 cfs.
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2009 Tuolumne River Juvenile Migration Monitoring
The fourth TID seining survey was conducted February 24 on the Tuolumne and San Joaquin rivers. A total of 86 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured in the Tuolumne River between Old La Grange Bridge (RM 50.5) and Hickman Bridge (RM 31.6) and none were captured in the San Joaquin River. The fifth TID seining survey was conducted March 10 on the Tuolumne and San Joaquin rivers. A total of 103 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured in the Tuolumne River between Riffle 5 (RM 48.0) and Charles Rd. (RM 24.9) and none were captured in the San Joaquin River. More detailed survey results are available at www.tuolumnerivertac.com/data.htm. The rotary screw trap at Waterford (RM 30) operated continuously between February 23 and March 15. A total of 1,690 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period, increasing the season total to 2,346. Daily catch ranged between zero and 366 Chinook (Figure 4). Average forklengths and weights of Chinook salmon are provided in Table 4. Most of the measured Chinook were fry (n=397), but there were also parr (n=189) and smolts (n=31). No O. mykiss were captured during the sampling period. Instantaneous temperature recorded at the trap ranged from 53.4ºF to 58.4ºF, and turbidity ranged from 0.6 NTU to 111.0 NTU. Daily average flow at La Grange (LGN) was relatively stable ranging between 166 cfs and 170 cfs. Three trap efficiency experiments were conducted with releases ranging between 51 and 263 naturally spawned juvenile Chinook salmon marked caudal fin orange (CFO). The number of marked Chinook that were recaptured varied from four to 53; yielding preliminary capture efficiency estimates between 7.8% and 27.0% at flows ranging between 167 cfs and 168 cfs (Table 5).
Table 4. Biosampling data for Chinook salmon captured and measured at Waterford between February 23 and March 15, 2009. Parentheses indicate range.
Table 5. Trap efficiency tests conducted at Waterford between February 23 and March 15, 2009.
Figure 4. Daily Chinook salmon catch at Waterford and Tuolumne River flow recorded by La Grange (LGN) and Modesto (MOD), 2009.
The rotary screw traps at Grayson (RM 5) operated continuously between February 23 and March 15. A total of seven juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period which is the season total thus far. Daily catch ranged between zero and four Chinook (Figure 5). Average forklengths and weights of Chinook salmon are provided in Table 6. Measured Chinook included fry (n=5) and smolts (n=2). No O. mykiss were captured during the sampling period. Instantaneous temperature recorded at the trap ranged from 52.0ºF to 60.8ºF, and turbidity ranged from 1.9 NTU to 256 NTU. Daily average flow at Modesto (MOD) fluctuated during this reporting period ranging between 226 cfs and 1,303 cfs. No trap efficiency experiments were conducted due to insufficient daily catch. Table 6. Biosampling data for Chinook salmon captured and measured at Grayson between February 23 and March 15, 2009. Parentheses indicate range.
Figure 5. Daily Chinook salmon catch at Grayson and Tuolumne River flow recorded by La Grange (LGN) and Modesto (MOD), 2009. |
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2009 Merced River Juvenile Migration Monitoring
The side by side rotary screw trap configuration at Hatfield State Park (RM 2) will be installed this week and sampling is scheduled to begin on March 30.
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San Joaquin Conditions
During the reporting period, flows in the San Joaquin River at Vernalis ranged between 1,455 cfs and 2,478 cfs (Figure 6). Average daily water temperatures in the San Joaquin River ranged between 54.9°F and 59.3°F at Vernalis, between 54.6°F and 59.5°F at Mossdale; and between 53.2°F and 57.3°F at Rough 'n Ready Island (Figure 7). Average daily dissolved oxygen (DO) in the San Joaquin River ranged between 8.0 mg/L and 9.1 mg/L in the deep water ship channel (measured at Rough 'n Ready Island) and between 8.8 mg/L and 11.8 mg/L at Mossdale (Figure 8).
Figure 6. San Joaquin River flow at Vernalis, 2008/09.
Figure 7. San Joaquin River daily average water temperature at Vernalis, Mossdale, and Rough 'n Ready, 2008/09.
Figure 8. San Joaquin daily average dissolved oxygen at Mossdale and Rough 'n Ready, 2008/09.
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Delta Exports
Mean daily pumping at the C.W. Jones Pumping Plant (federal pumps previously known as Tracy Pumping Plant) ranged between 1,825 cfs and 4,197 cfs (Figure 9). Mean daily pumping at the Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant (state pumps) ranged between 2,202 cfs and 3,486 cfs. Combined total exports (state and federal pumps) ranged between 4,107cfs and 7,668 cfs.
Figure 9. Daily exports at the C.W. Jones Pumping Plant (federal) and Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant (state), 2008/09.
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