Volume 2008/09, Issue 13
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June 11, 2009 | |
June 11: Tuolumne River Technical Advisory Committee
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Key Highlights
2009 VAMP Update. The Vernalis Adaptive Management Plan (VAMP) period began on April 19 and ended on May 19, with a target flow of 2,200 cfs at Vernalis (VNS) and combined exports of 1,500 cfs. A behavioral barrier that uses underwater lights, sound, and bubbles was installed and tested in place of the traditional physical barrier (rock weir) that has been used in past years. The San Joaquin River Group (SJRG) initiated the Acoustic-Tagged Smolt distribution study in conjunction with the VAMP study for the third consecutive year.
2008/09 Calaveras River Juvenile Migration Monitoring. The Calaveras River rotary screw trap at Shelton Road (RM 28) sampled 20 days between April 27 and May 31. A total of 435 O. mykiss were captured during the reporting period, increasing the season total to 1,200.
2009 San Joaquin River Juvenile Migration Monitoring. A total of 390 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured at Mossdale during the reporting period, increasing the season total to 635.
2009 Stanislaus River Juvenile Migration Monitoring. Stanislaus River seining surveys were conducted during the reporting period. Four sites were sampled including Riverbank (RM 33), McHenry Recreation Area (RM 28), Caswell (RM 9) and Two Rivers (RM 0). No Chinook were captured at any of the locations on April 27, and one Chinook was captured at Caswell on May 12.
The Stanislaus River rotary screw trap at Oakdale (RM 40) sampled 30 days between April 27 and May 31. A total of 257 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period, increasing the season total to 59,612.
The rotary screw trap at Caswell State Park (RM 8) sampled continuously between April 27 and May 31. A total of 159 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period, increasing the season total to 762.
2009 Tuolumne River Juvenile Migration Monitoring. TID seine surveys were conducted during the reporting period. A total of 16 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured in the Tuolumne River between Old La Grange Bridge (RM 50.5) and Hickman Bridge (RM 31.6) on May 5 and 54 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured on May 19. No juvenile Chinook salmon were captured in the San Joaquin River during either survey.
The rotary screw traps at Waterford (RM 30) and Grayson (RM 5) sampled continuously between April 27 and May 31. A total of 879 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured at Waterford during the reporting period, increasing the season total to 3,674. A total of 126 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured at Grayson during the reporting period, increasing the season total to 140.
2009 Merced River Juvenile Migration Monitoring. The rotary screw trap at Hatfield State Park (RM 2) sampled 33 days between April 27 and May 29. Trap operations were discontinued on May 29 and the trap was subsequently removed. A total of 10 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period with the last one caught on May 11, increasing the season total to 11.
San Joaquin River Conditions. Flow in the San Joaquin River at Vernalis exhibited an overall decreasing trend ranging between 1,558 cfs and 2,555 cfs. Average daily water temperature in the San Joaquin River recorded at Vernalis, Mossdale, and Rough n' Ready Island ranged between 59.6�F and 75.2�F. Average daily dissolved oxygen in the San Joaquin River recorded at Mossdale and Rough n' Ready Island ranged between 5.2 mg/L and 11.2 mg/L.
Delta Exports. Combined (state and federal pumps) total exports fluctuated during the reporting period ranging between zero cfs and 3,553 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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The Vernalis Adaptive Management Plan (VAMP) period began on April 19 and ended on May 19, with a target flow of 2,200 cfs at Vernalis (VNS) and combined exports of 1,500 cfs. The Head of Old River Barrier (HORB), the only measure clearly demonstrated to improve the survival of San Joaquin fall-run Chinook salmon smolts, was not installed for the second consecutive year due to concerns of potential impacts to Delta smelt. However a fish guidance system that uses underwater lights, sound, and bubbles will be installed and tested. The lights, sounds, and bubbles are expected to deter juvenile Chinook salmon from migrating down the Old River, and preliminary results of the barrier performance evaluation are promising.
 The San Joaquin River Group (SJRG) conducted a smolt survival study using acoustic-tagged salmon for the third consecutive year. Stationary receivers were deployed at several locations in the San Joaquin River and Delta between Durham Ferry and Mallard Island, including the Head of Old River split to track the migration route selection and survival of tagged smolts (Figure 1). In addition to stationary receiver stations mobile tracking was also used to locate tagged salmon between the fixed stations.
Juvenile salmon were implanted with acoustic transmitters at the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Tracy Fish Facility and were then transported to Durham Ferry and held in the San Joaquin River for 24 hours before release. Seven releases were made between April 22 and May 13, with a total of 938 tagged salmon released. Release times were either day (1700 hours) or night (2100 hours). Five tagged Chinook were sacrificed prior to being released to estimate the distance downstream that a smolt carcass may travel after mortality. See Table 1 for more information about release dates and number of tagged Chinook released.
A tag life study is currently being conducted to determine how long the acoustic tags function after they are turned on. . Fifty of the 1,000 tags purchased for this study were programmed on May 13 and then placed in a tank equipped with hydrophones to listen to the tags. Tags are continuously monitored in a closed system under simulated ambient San Joaquin River water conditions (e.g., similar water temperatures to those at Rough and Ready Island)
Table 1. Acoustic-Tagged juvenile Chinook salmon number of live fish with Tags, number of dead fish with tags, total number released, time of release, and date of release.
Figure 1. Map of acoustic monitoring sites and release locations.
To view the 2008 VAMP technical report, click here.
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2008/09 Calaveras River Juvenile Migration Monitoring
The Calaveras River rotary screw trap at Shelton Road (RM 28) sampled 20 days between April 27 and May 31. A total of 435 O. mykiss were captured during the reporting period, increasing the season total to 1,200. Daily catch ranged between five and 43 O. mykiss (Figure 2). Average forklengths and weights of O. mykiss are provided in Table 2. Measured O. mykiss (Figure 2) were rated as fry (n=29), parr (n=380), silvery parr (n=11), and smolts (n=11).
Chinook salmon have not been captured this season.
Instantaneous temperatures recorded at the trap ranged from 52�F to 59�F, and turbidity ranged from 0.2 NTU to 2.2 NTU. Daily average flow fluctuated during the reporting period ranging between 52 cfs and 238 cfs at New Hogan Dam (NHG), between zero cfs and nine cfs Cosgrove Creek (COS), and between 19 cfs and 53 cfs at Bellota (MRS).
Table 1. Biosampling data for O. mykiss captured at Shelton Road between April 27 and May 31, 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 San Joaquin River Juvenile Migration Monitoring
California Department of Fish and Game conducted 24 days (ten tows per day) of Kodiak Trawling (Mossdale Trawl) on the San Joaquin River near Mossdale between April 27 and May 31. A total of 390 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period, increasing the season total to 635. Catch ranged between zero and 74 Chinook per ten tows (Figure 4). Ten acoustic tagged (VAMP study) Chinook were captured during the reporting period.
Figure 3. Chinook salmon catch (per ten tows) at the Mossdale Trawl and San Joaquin River flow recorded by Vernalis (VNS), 2009.
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2009 Stanislaus River Juvenile Migration Monitoring
Stanislaus River seining surveys were conducted on April 27 and May 12. Four sites were sampled including Riverbank (RM 33), McHenry Recreation Area (RM 28), Caswell (RM 9) and Two Rivers (RM 0).
No Chinook were captured at any of the locations on April 27, and one Chinook was captured at Caswell on May 12. Average daily flow at Ripon was 958 cfs and 877 cfs, respectively.
The rotary screw trap at Oakdale (RM 40) sampled 30 days between April 27 and May 31. A total of 257 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period, increasing the season total to 59,612. Daily catch ranged between one and 27 Chinook (Figure 5). Average forklengths and weights of Chinook salmon are provided in Table 3 for 256 fish that were measured. Most measured Chinook were smolts (n=239), but some fry (n=14) and parr (n=3) were also observed.
No O. mykiss were captured during the sampling period.
No trap efficiency experiments were conducted due to insufficient daily catch.
Instantaneous temperature recorded at the trap ranged from 51�F to 58�F, and turbidity ranged from 0.3 NTU to 3.6 NTU. Daily average flow on the Stanislaus River ranged between 697 cfs and 1,312 cfs at Goodwin Dam (GDW), and between 713 cfs and 1,173 cfs at Ripon (RIP).
Table 2. Biosampling data for Chinook salmon captured and measured at Oakdale between April 27 and May 31, 2009. Parentheses indicate range.
Figure 4. Daily Chinook salmon catch at Oakdale and Stanislaus River flow recorded by Goodwin Dam (GDW) and Ripon (RIP), 2009.
Figure 5. Individual Chinook salmon forklengths at Oakdale, 2009.
The rotary screw trap at Caswell State Park (RM 8) sampled continuously between April 27 and May 31. A total of 159 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period, increasing the season total to 762. All measured Chinook were rated as smolts (n=150) and average forklength was 97 mm.
No O. mykiss were captured during the sampling period.
No trap efficiency experiments were conducted due to insufficient daily catch.
Instantaneous temperature recorded at the trap ranged from 55�F to 66�F, and turbidity ranged from 1.0 NTU to 3.9 NTU. Daily average flow at Ripon (RIP) fluctuated between 713 cfs and 1,173 cfs.
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2009 Tuolumne River Juvenile Migration Monitoring
The ninth TID seining survey was conducted May 5 on the Tuolumne and San Joaquin rivers. A total of 16 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. One (34 mm) O. mykiss fry was captured at Old La Grange Bridge (RM 50.5).
The tenth TID seining survey was conducted May 19 on the Tuolumne and San Joaquin rivers. A total of 54 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured in the Tuolumne River between Old La Grange Bridge (RM 50.5) and Tuolumne River Resort (RM 42.3) and none were captured in the San Joaquin River.
The rotary screw trap at Waterford (RM 30) operated continuously between April 27 and May 31. A total of 879 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period, increasing the season total to 3,674. Daily catch ranged between zero and 565 Chinook (Figure 7). Average forklengths and weights of Chinook salmon are provided in Table 4 for 309 fish that were measured. Most of the measured Chinook were smolts (n=280), but there were also fry (n=22) and parr (n=7).
No O. mykiss were captured during the sampling period.
Instantaneous temperature recorded at the trap ranged from 54�F to 66�F, and turbidity ranged from 0.2 NTU to 321.0 NTU. Daily average flow at La Grange (LGN) fluctuated during the reporting period ranging between 281 cfs and 955 cfs.
No trap efficiency experiments were conducted due to insufficient daily catch.
Table 3. Biosampling data for Chinook salmon captured and measured at Waterford between April 27 and May 31, 2009. Parentheses indicate range.
Figure 6. Daily Chinook salmon catch at Waterford and Tuolumne River flow recorded by La Grange (LGN) and Modesto (MOD), 2009.
Figure 7. Individual Chinook salmon forklengths at Waterford, 2009.
The side by side rotary screw trap configuration at Grayson (RM 5) operated continuously between April 27 and May 31. A total of 139 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period, increasing the season total to 153. Daily catch ranged between zero and 79 Chinook (Figure 9). Average forklengths and weights of Chinook salmon are provided in Table 5 for 105 fish that were measured. Most of the measured Chinook were smolts (n=99), but there were also fry (n=1) and parr (n=5).
No O. mykiss were captured during the sampling period.
Instantaneous temperature recorded at the trap ranged from 59�F to 73�F, and turbidity ranged from 1.5 NTU to 200.0 NTU. Daily average flow at Modesto (MOD) fluctuated during the reporting period ranging between 430 cfs and 1,014 cfs.
No trap efficiency experiments were conducted due to insufficient daily catch.
Table 4. Biosampling data for Chinook salmon captured and measured at Grayson between April 27 and May 31, 2009. Parentheses indicate range.
Figure 9. 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 rotary screw trap at Hatfield State Park (RM 2) sampled 33 days between April 27 and May 29. Trap operations were discontinued on May 29 and the trap was subsequently removed. A total of 10 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period with the last one caught on May 11, increasing the season total to 11. All measured Chinook were rated as smolts (n=2) and average forklength was 99 mm.
No trap efficiency experiments were conducted due to insufficient daily catch.
Instantaneous temperature recorded at the trap ranged from 64�F to 78�F, and turbidity ranged from 1.6 NTU to 59.5 NTU. Daily average flow at Cressy (CRS) fluctuated between 146 cfs and 814.
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During the reporting period, flow in the San Joaquin River at Vernalis exhibited an overall decreasing trend ranging between 1,558 cfs and 2,555 cfs (Figure 10). Average daily water temperatures in the San Joaquin River exhibited an overall increasing trend ranging between 59.6�F and 72.8�F at Vernalis, between 61.1�F and 74.8�F at Mossdale; and between 64.6�F and 75.2�F at Rough 'n Ready Island (Figure 11). Average daily dissolved oxygen (DO) in the San Joaquin River ranged between 5.2 mg/L and 6.9 mg/L in the deep water ship channel (measured at Rough 'n Ready Island) and between 7.7 mg/L and 11.2 mg/L at Mossdale (Figure 12).
Figure 9. San Joaquin River flow at Vernalis, 2008/09.
Figure 10. San Joaquin River daily average water temperature at Vernalis, Mossdale, and Rough 'n Ready, 2008/09.
Figure 11. San Joaquin daily average dissolved oxygen at Mossdale and Rough 'n Ready, 2008/09.
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Delta Exports
Combined (state and federal pumps) total exports fluctuated during the reporting period ranging between zero cfs and 3,553 cfs. Mean daily pumping at the C.W. Jones Pumping Plant (federal pumps previously known as Tracy Pumping Plant) ranged between zero cfs and 1,807 cfs (Figure 13). Mean daily pumping at the Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant (state pumps) ranged between zero cfs and 2,447 cfs.
Figure 12. Daily exports at the C.W. Jones Pumping Plant (federal) and Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant (state), 2008/09.
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