Volume 2009/10, Issue 9
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February 22, 2010 | |
Stanislaus Salmon Festival
Meeting: February 24
Stanislaus River Watershed Group
Meeting:
February 24
VAMP Biology Technical Team
Meeting:
February 26
AFS/SRF Annual Meeting:
March 10-14
Delta Science Program VAMP Review:
March 2-3
TRTAC Meeting:
March 18
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Photo by FISHBIO.
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Key Highlights
Calaveras
River Juvenile Migration Monitoring. A total of 56 O. mykiss were captured at Shelton Road (RM 28) increasing the
season total to 424.
Mokelumne
River Juvenile Migration Monitoring. A total of
2,097 Chinook salmon were captured at Vino Farms (RM 54) increasing the season
total to 6,766 and one Chinook salmon was captured at Golf (RM 38) increasing
the season total to 17.
Stanislaus
River Juvenile Migration Monitoring. On February 2 seining surveys
were conducted at various locations between Oakdale (RM 40) and the confluence
with the San Joaquin River. A total of 21 Chinook salmon were captured at
Oakdale (RM 40) and 6 Chinook were captured at Riverbank (RM 33).
The
Stanislaus River rotary screw trap at Oakdale (RM 40) sampled continuously
between February 1 and February 14.
A total of 10,345 Chinook salmon were captured increasing the season
total to 26,969.
The
Stanislaus River rotary screw trap at Caswell State Park (RM 8) sampled
continuously during the reporting period. A total of 168 Chinook salmon were
captured increasing the season total to 278.
Tuolumne
River Juvenile Migration Monitoring. A total of 223
Chinook salmon were captured at Waterford (RM 30) increasing the season total
to 726. A total of 3 Chinook salmon were captured at Grayson (RM 5) increasing
the season total to 15.
Stanislaus
River Weir Monitoring. A total of 8 Chinook salmon were detected as they passed
upstream of the Stanislaus River Weir increasing the season total to 1,270.
Tuolumne
River Weir Monitoring. A total of 11 Chinook salmon were detected as they passed
upstream of the Tuolumne River Weir increasing the season total to 295.
San Joaquin River
Conditions. San Joaquin River flows at Vernalis
increased ranging between 1,840 cfs and 2,893 cfs. Water temperatures in the
San Joaquin River ranged between 52.5�F and 55.5�F and average
daily dissolved oxygen (DO) ranged between 8.9 mg/L and 9.9 mg/L.
Delta Exports. Combined total
exports (state and federal pumps) fluctuated during
the reporting period ranging between 5,936 cfs and 7,641 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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2009/10 Calaveras River Juvenile Migration Monitoring
 The Calaveras River rotary screw trap at Shelton Road (RM 28) sampled nine days between February 1 and February 14. A total of 56 O. mykiss were captured, increasing the season total to 424. Daily catch ranged between three and fifteen O. mykiss (Figure 3). Most of the O. mykiss captured, (n=41) were Age 1+ (100-299 mm) and were rated as parr (n=4), silvery parr (n=35), and smolt (n=2). Fourteen YOY (<100 mm) were also captured and were rated as sac-fry (n=1), fry (n=12), and parr (n=1) (Figure 2). Average forklengths and weights of O. mykiss are provided in Table 1 for 55 fish that were measured.
No Chinook salmon have been captured this season. 
Instantaneous temperatures recorded at the trap ranged from 46.0�F to 50.0�F (Figure 2), and turbidity ranged from 1.78 NTU to 4.36 NTU. Daily average flow fluctuated between 23 cfs and 44 cfs at New Hogan Dam (NHG), between 8 cfs and 59 cfs at Cosgrove Creek (COS) and between 5 cfs and 201 cfs at Bellota (MRS).
Table1. Biosampling data for O. mykiss captured at Shelton Road between February 1 and February 14, 2010. Parentheses indicate range.
Figure 3. Daily O. mykiss catch at Shelton Road and Calaveras River flow recorded by New Hogan Dam (NHG) and Cosgrove Creek (COS) combined, between November 1, 2009 and February 14, 2010.
Figure 4. Daily O. mykiss catch at Shelton Road and Calaveras River temperature recorded instantaneously at trap location between November 1, 2009 and February 14, 2010.
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2009/10 Mokelumne River Juvenile Migration Monitoring
The Mokelumne River rotary screw trap at Vino Farms (RM 54) continued to sample
intermittently between February 1 and February 14 and a total of 2,097 Chinook
salmon were captured increasing the season total to 6,766.
Average
daily flows from Camanche Reservoir (CMN) were stable between 331 cfs and 334
cfs (Figure 5). Instantaneous temperature ranged between 49.3�F and 50.7�F and instantaneous turbidity ranged between
1.70 NTU and 4.33 NTU.
No O. mykiss were captured at
Vino Farms during the report period. One O.
mykiss has been captured so far this season.
Figure 5. Daily Chinook catches at Vino
Farms and Mokelumne River flow recorded by Camanche Reservior (CMN), between
December 1, 2009 and February 14, 2010.
The Mokelumne River rotary
screw trap at Golf (RM 38) continued to sample intermittently between February 1 and
February 14 and a total of 1 Chinook salmon was captured increasing the season total to 17 (Figure 6).
Average daily flows
recorded at Woodbridge (WBR) ranged between 252 cfs and 285 cfs (Figure 4). Instantaneous temperature ranged between 49.3�F and 52.0�F and
instantaneous turbidity ranged between 2.11 NTU and 5.31 NTU.
No O. mykiss were captured at
Golf during this reporting period. Three O.
mykiss have been captured so far this season.
Figure 6. Daily Chinook catches at Golf and Mokelumne
River flow recorded at Woodbridge (WBR), between December 1, 2009 and February
14, 2010.
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2010 Stanislaus River Juvenile Migration Monitoring
Stanislaus River seining surveys were conducted on February 2 at various locations between Oakdale (RM 40) and the confluence with the San Joaquin River. A total of 21 Chinook salmon were captured at Oakdale (RM 40) and 6 Chinook were captured at Riverbank (RM 33). Forklengths ranged from 29 to 45 mm (avg: 36.3 mm). No salmon were captured downstream of Riverbank. Average daily flow at Ripon was 250 cfs.
The Stanislaus River rotary screw trap at Oakdale (RM 40) sampled continuously between February 1 and February 14. A total of 10,345 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period increasing the season total to 26,969. Daily catch ranged between 272 and 2,149 Chinook salmon. Average forklengths and weights of Chinook salmon are provided in Table 2 for 1,052 fish that were measured. Most of the measured Chinook were fry (n=1,018) but there were also some parr (n=8) and smolts (n=26), including 14 larger fish (i.e., > 100 mm).
 Four O. mykiss were captured at Oakdale during the reporting period increasing the season total to seven (Figure 7).
Table 2. Biosampling data for Chinook salmon and O. mykiss captured and measured at Oakdale between February 1 and February 14, 2010.
Instantaneous temperature recorded at the trap ranged from 48.3�F to 51.4�F, and turbidity ranged from 0.42 NTU to 5.26 NTU. Daily average flow increased during the reporting period from 326 cfs to 1,012 cfs at Goodwin Dam (GDW) and 229 cfs to 957 cfs at Ripon (RIP) (Figure 8).
Two trap efficiency experiments were conducted with naturally spawned juvenile Chinook salmon marked caudal fin green (CFG). Preliminary capture efficiency estimates from these releases were 14.6% and 3.7% at flows of 610 cfs and 1,000 cfs, respectively (Table 3).
Table 3. Trap efficiency experiments conducted at Oakdale between February 1 and February 14, 2010.
Figure 8. Daily Chinook salmon catch at Oakdale and Stanislaus River flow recorded at Goodwin Dam (GDW) and Ripon (RIP), 2010.
The Stanislaus River rotary screw trap at Caswell State Park (RM 8) sampled continuously between February 1 and February 14.
A total of 168 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period increasing the season total to 278. Daily catch ranged between zero and 60 Chinook salmon. Most of the measured Chinook were fry (n=167) but there was also a smolt.
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 50.5�F and 52.3�F, and turbidity ranged from 2.32 NTU to 11.50 NTU. Daily average flow at Ripon (RIP) fluctuated between 229 cfs and 957 cfs.
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2010 Tuolumne River Juvenile Migration Monitoring
The Tuolumne River rotary screw trap at Waterford (RM 30) operated continuously between February 1 through February 14. A total of 223 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period increasing the season total to 726. Daily catch ranged between zero and 117 Chinook salmon (Figure 9). Average forklengths and weights of Chinook salmon are provided in Table 4 for 156 fish that were measured. Most of the measured fish were fry (n=150) but there were also smolts (n=6).
No O. mykiss were captured during this reporting period.
Table 4. Biosampling data for Chinook salmon captured and measured at Waterford between February 1 and February 14, 2010. Parentheses indicate range.
Instantaneous temperature taken at the trap ranged from 51.4�F to 54.6�F, and turbidity ranged from 0.63 NTU to 7.99 NTU. Daily average flow records from La Grange (LGN) are not complete for the reporting period but flows were estimated to be stable around 225 cfs.
Two trap efficiency experiments were conducted using naturally spawned juvenile Chinook salmon marked caudal fin orange (CFO). Preliminary capture efficiency estimates from these releases were 2.9% and 6.9% at estimated flows of 225 cfs (Table 5).
Table 5. Trap efficiency tests conducted at Waterford between February 1 and February 14, 2010.
Figure 9. Daily Chinook salmon catch at Waterford and Tuolumne River flow recorded by La Grange (LGN) and Modesto (MOD), 2010.
The Tuolumne River rotary screw trap at Grayson (RM 5) continued sampling during the reporting period. A total of 3 Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period increasing the season total to 15 (Figure 10). Average forklengths and weights of Chinook salmon are provided in Table 6 for all 3 fish that were measured.
No O. mykiss captured yet this season.
Trap efficiency releases have not yet been conducted this season due to insufficient daily catch.
Instantaneous temperature taken at the trap ranged from 52.7�F to 56.3�F, and turbidity ranged from 0.62 NTU to 29.40 NTU. Daily average flows at Modesto (MOD) fluctuated between 282 cfs and 767 cfs which were caused by natural freshets due to precipitation events.Daily average flow at Modesto (MOD) has not been available since February 10.
Table 6. Biosampling data for Chinook salmon captured and measured at Grayson between February 1 and February 14, 2010. Parentheses indicate range.
Figure 10. Daily Chinook salmon catch at Grayson and Tuolumne River flow at La Grange (LGN) and Modesto (MOD), 2010.
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2009/10 Stanislaus River Weir Monitoring
Between February 1 and February 14 a total of eight Chinook salmon were detected as they passed upstream of the Stanislaus River Weir increasing the season total to 1,270. Daily passage ranged between zero and two Chinook salmon. Trapping was conducted February 7 through February 11 due to high turbidity (eg. >3 NTU) which precluded identification to species using the vaki system. Two O. mykiss were detected passing upstream during this reporting period increasing the season total to eight O. mykiss. Table 7. Annual Chinook passage at the Stanislaus River Weir 2003-2009. Asterisk denotes extended no sampling period from January 10-March 23, 2009.
Daily average flow in the Stanislaus River at Goodwin Dam (GDW; RM 58) increased from 326 cfs to 1,012 cfs. Flows at Ripon (RIP; RM 15) increased from 229 cfs and 957 cfs (Figure 11). Note: flows downstream of Goodwin Dam may be higher than dam releases due to irrigation returns and other factors. Instantaneous water temperatures measured at the weir ranged between 49.6˚F and 52.3˚F and daily average water temperatures at Ripon (RPN; RM 15) ranged between 52.2˚F and 53.8˚F (Figure 12). Instantaneous turbidity ranged between 2.34 NTU and 8.25 NTU (Figure 13). Instantaneous dissolved oxygen ranged between 9.92 mg/L and 11.62 mg/L and daily average dissolved oxygen at Ripon (RPN; RM 15) ranged between 9.8 mg/L and 10.3 mg/L (Figure 14).
Figure 11. Daily upstream Chinook passage recorded at the Stanislaus River Weir in relation to daily average flows (cfs) recorded in the Stanislaus River at Goodwin (GDW) and Ripon (RIP) and in the San Joaquin River at Vernalis (VNS), 2009/10.
Figure 12. Daily upstream Chinook passage recorded at the Stanislaus River Weir in relation to instantaneous water temperature recorded at the weir and daily average water temperature recorded in the Stanislaus River at Ripon (RPN) and in the San Joaquin River at Vernalis (VER), Mossdale (MSD) and Rough & Ready (RRI), 2009/10.
Figure 13. Daily upstream Chinook passage recorded at the Stanislaus River Weir and instantaneous turbidity recorded at the weir, 2009/10.
Figure 14. Daily upstream Chinook passage recorded at the Stanislaus River Weir and instantaneous dissolved oxygen recorded at the weir and daily average dissolved oxygen recorded in the Stanislaus River at Ripon (RPN) and in the San Joaquin River at Mossdale (MSD) and Rough & Ready (RRI), 2009/10.
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2009/10 Tuolumne River Weir Monitoring
Between January 18 and January 31 a
total of 3 Chinook salmon were detected as they passed upstream of the Tuolumne
River Weir increasing the season total to 283. Daily passage ranged between
zero and two Chinook.
Daily average flow records from the Tuolumne
River at La Grange (LGN; RM 51.8) are incomplete for the reporting period but
it is estimated that flows were stable around 225 cfs. Flow at Modesto (MOD; RM
17) fluctuated during the reporting period between 223 cfs and 1,023 cfs
(Figure 17). Note: flows at Modesto may be higher than La Grange due to
accretion and Dry Creek inflow. Instantaneous water temperatures measured at
the weir ranged between 48.3˚F and 55.2˚F and daily average water temperatures
at Modesto (MOD; RM 17) are complete for only three of the 14 days during the
reporting period and ranged between 50.3˚F and 52.0˚F (Figure 18).
Instantaneous turbidity ranged between 0.23 NTU and 25.20 NTU (Figure 19), and
instantaneous dissolved oxygen ranged between 9.06 mg/L and 10.42 mg/L (Figure
20).
Figure
17. Daily upstream Chinook passage at the Tuolumne River Weir and daily average
flows (cfs) recorded in the Tuolumne River at La Grange (LGN) and Modesto (MOD)
and in the San Joaquin River at Maze Rd. Bridge (MRB) and Vernalis (VNS), 2009/10.
Figure
18. Daily upstream Chinook passage at the Tuolumne River Weir and instantaneous
water temperature recorded at the weir and daily average water temperature
recorded in the Tuolumne River at Modesto (MOD) and in the San Joaquin River at
Maze Rd. Bridge (MRB), Vernalis (VER), Mossdale (MSD) and Rough & Ready
(RRI), 2009/10.
Figure
19. Daily upstream Chinook passage at the Tuolumne River Weir and instantaneous
turbidity recorded at the weir, 2009/10.
Figure
20. Daily upstream Chinook passage at the Tuolumne River Weir and instantaneous
dissolved oxygen recorded at the weir and daily average dissolved oxygen
recorded in the San Joaquin River at Mossdale (MSD) and Rough & Ready
(RRI), 2009/10.
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Between January 18 and January 31, flows in
the San Joaquin River at Vernalis sharply increased from 1,465 cfs to 4,494 cfs
starting on January 19 due to storm runoff and fell to 2,061 cfs by January 31
(Figure 21). Water temperatures in the San Joaquin River fluctuated between 47.7�F and 52.6�F at Vernalis; between 48.2�F and 52.7�F at Mossdale; and between 48.8�F and 50.5�F at Rough 'n Ready Island (Figure 22).
Average daily dissolved oxygen (DO) in the San Joaquin River exhibited an
overall decrease ranging between 8.0 mg/L and 9.8 mg/L in the deep water ship
channel (measured at Rough 'n Ready Island) and fluctuated between 8.7 mg/L and
9.7 mg/L at Mossdale (Figure 23).
Figure
21. San Joaquin River flow at Vernalis, January 1, 2009 through January 31,
2010.
Figure
22. San Joaquin River daily average water temperature at Vernalis, Mossdale,
and Rough 'n Ready, January 1, 2009 through January 31, 2010.
Figure
23. San Joaquin daily average dissolved oxygen at Mossdale and Rough 'n Ready, January
1, 2009 through January 31, 2010.
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Delta Exports
Combined total exports (state and federal
pumps) generally increased from
5,947 cfs on January 19 to 8,680 cfs on January 30, then dropped to
approximately 7,000 cfs on January 31. Mean daily pumping at the Harvey O. Banks Pumping
Plant (state pumps) ranged from 582 cfs and 5,353 cfs. Mean daily pumping at
the C.W. Jones Pumping Plant (federal pumps previously known as Tracy Pumping
Plant) ranged from 1,007 cfs to 3,329 cfs during the reporting period (Figure
24).
Figure
24. Daily exports at the Federal and State pumping stations, January 1, 2009
through January 31, 2010.
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