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Volume 2010, Issue 15
June 11, 2010
In This Issue
Calaveras River Juvenile Migration Monitoring
Mokelumne River Juvenile Migration Monitoring
San Joaquin River Juvenile Migration Monitoring
Stanislaus River Juvenile Migration Monitoring
Tuolumne River Juvenile Migration Monitoring
Stanislaus River Weir Monitoring
San Joaquin Conditions
Delta Exports
events
Delta Stewardship Council Meeting:
June 24-25

Bay Planning Coalition Dredging Workshop:

June 29

Water Education Foundation Delta Tour:

July 14-18
 
Delta Science Conference:

Sept. 27-29

links

FISHBIO

 
 
Columbia River DART

signup
field notes
prickly sculpin
  Photo by FISHBIO.
 
Key Highlights
 
Calaveras River Juvenile Migration Monitoring. A total of 141 O. mykiss were captured at Shelton Road (RM 28), increasing the season total to 2,723.

Mokelumne River Juvenile Migration Monitoring. A total of 50 Chinook salmon were captured at Vino Farms (RM 54), increasing the season total to 8,386. 177 Chinook salmon were captured at Golf (RM 38), increasing the season total to 380, and 113 Chinook salmon were captured at Woodbridge (RM 38), increasing the season total to 227.

San Joaquin River Juvenile Migration Monitoring. A total of 88 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured at Mossdale during the reporting period, increasing the season total to 289.

Stanislaus River Juvenile Migration Monitoring. Stanislaus River seining surveys were concluded for the season on May 14. During the ten days of surveys 285 Chinook salmon were captured at various locations between Oakdale (RM 40) and the confluence with the San Joaquin River. 
A total of 209 Chinook salmon were captured in the Oakdale rotary screw trap (RM 40), increasing the season total to 36,465.
A total of 116 Chinook salmon were captured at the Caswell State Park rotary screw trap (RM 8), increasing the season total to 1,104.

Tuolumne River Juvenile Migration Monitoring. A total of 360 Chinook salmon were captured at Waterford (RM 30), increasing the season total to 2,239. Twenty Chinook salmon were captured at Grayson (RM 5), increasing the season total to 48.

Weir Monitoring. Seven Chinook salmon were detected as they passed upstream of the Stanislaus River Weir.

San Joaquin River Conditions. San Joaquin River flows at Vernalis ranged from 3,760 cfs to 5,068 cfs. Water temperatures in the San Joaquin River ranged between 58.9�F and 68.7�F and average daily dissolved oxygen (DO) ranged between 8.9 mg/L and 9.7 mg/L.

Delta Exports. Combined total exports (state and federal pumps) increased during the reporting period ranging from 823 cfs to 7,306 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.
 


2009/10 Calaveras River Juvenile Migration Monitoring
 
The Calaveras River rotary screw trap at Shelton Road (RM 28) sampled twelve days between May 17 and June 6. A total of 141 O. mykiss were captured, increasing the season total to 2,723. Daily catch ranged between 2 and 20 O. mykiss (Figure 1). Most of the O. mykiss captured, (n=135) were YOY (<100 mm) and were rated as fry (n=2), parr (n=125), and silvery parr (n=4). Five Age 1+ (100-299 mm) fish were captured and rated as silvery parr (n=4) and smolt (n=1). Average forklengths and weights are provided in Table 1 for 140 of O. mykiss measured.
No Chinook salmon have been captured this season.
 
Instantaneous temperatures recorded at the trap ranged from 57�F to 62�F (Figure 2), and turbidity ranged from 0.07 NTU to 1.00 NTU. Daily average flow fluctuated between 76 cfs and 188 cfs at New Hogan Dam (NHG), between 0 cfs and 17 cfs at Cosgrove Creek (COS), and between 24 cfs and 42 cfs at Bellota (MRS).
 
 
Table 1. Biosampling data for O. mykiss captured and measured at Shelton Road between May 17 and June 6, 2010. Parentheses indicate range.

Catch Table

 

Flow and Catch

Figure 1. 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 June 6, 2010.





 
 Temp and Catch

Figure 2. Daily O. mykiss catch at Shelton Road and Calaveras River temperature recorded instantaneously at trap location between November 1, 2009 and June 6, 2010.

 
2009/10 Mokelumne River Juvenile Migration Monitoring
 
The Mokelumne River rotary screw trap at Vino Farms (RM 54) continued to sample intermittently between May 17 and June 6 and a total of 50 Chinook salmon were captured, increasing the season total to 8,386.

Average daily flows from Camanche Reservoir (CMN) fluctuated between 799 cfs and 1,397 cfs (Figure 3). Instantaneous temperature ranged between 54.3�F and 56.8�F and instantaneous turbidity ranged between 1.43 NTU and 4.90 NTU.
 
Three O. mykiss were captured at Vino Farms during the report period increasing the season total to 50.
 


Flow and Catch

Figure 3. Daily Chinook catches at Vino Farms and Mokelumne River flow recorded by Camanche Reservoir (CMN), between December 1, 2009 and June 6, 2010.
 
The Mokelumne River rotary screw trap at Golf (RM 38)  continued to sample intermittently between May 17 and June 6. A total of 177 Chinook salmon were captured increasing the season total to 380 (Figure 4).
 
Average daily flow recorded at Woodbridge (WBR) fluctuated between 587 cfs and 1,118 cfs. Instantaneous temperature ranged between 56.3�F and 60.1�F and instantaneous turbidity ranged between 2.01 NTU and 3.36 NTU.
 
Ten O. mykiss were captured at Golf during this reporting period, increasing the season total to 707 (Note: One of the O. mykiss had clipped adipose fins indicating hatchery origin).

 
 Flow and Catch
Figure 4. Daily Chinook catches at Golf and Mokelumne River flow recorded at Woodbridge (WBR), between December 1, 2009 and June 6, 2010.
 
The Mokelumne River bypass trap at Woodbridge (RM 38) continued sampling during the reporting period. One hundred and thirteen Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period increasing the season total to 227 (Figure 5).
 
Average daily flows recorded at Woodbridge (WBR) fluctuated between 587 cfs and 1,118 cfs. Instantaneous temperature ranged between 56.3�F and 60.4�F and instantaneous turbidity ranged between 1.91 NTU and 3.03 NTU.
 
Twenty-two O. mykiss were captured at Woodbridge during this reporting period increasing the season total to 114 (Note: Two of the O. mykiss had clipped adipose fins suggesting hatchery origin).

Flow and Catch 

Figure 5. Daily Chinook catches at Woodbridge and Mokelumne River flow recorded at Woodbridge (WBR), between April 14 and June 6, 2010.



San Joaquin River Juvenile Migration Monitoring

California Department of Fish and Game conducted ten days (ten tows per day) of Kodiak Trawling (Mossdale Trawl) on the San Joaquin River near Mossdale between May 17 and May 30. A total of 88 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured, and catch ranged between 0 and 22 Chinook per ten tows (Figure 6).




Trawl Data
 
Figure 6. Chinook salmon catch (per ten tows) at the Mossdale Trawl and San Joaquin River flow recorded by Vernalis (VNS), 2010.


2010 Stanislaus River Juvenile Migration Monitoring

The Stanislaus River rotary screw trap at Oakdale (RM 40)  started sampling
Figure 7. O. mykiss observed in the Stanislaus River during snorkel survey.
O. mykiss
intermittently during the reporting period and sampled thirteen days between May 17 and June 6. A total of 209 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reportingperiod, increasing the season total to 36,465. Daily catch ranged between zero and fifty-three Chinook salmon. Average forklengths and weights of Chinook salmon are provided in Table 2 for 196 fish that were measured. All of the measured Chinook were smolts (n=171), including 12 larger fish (i.e., > 100 mm).

Five O. mykiss were captured at Oakdale during the reporting period, increasing the season total to 14 O. mykiss (Figure 7).


Table 2. Biosampling data for Chinook salmon and O. mykiss captured and measured at Oakdale between May 17 and June 6, 2010.

Catch Table
   
Instantaneous temperature recorded at the trap ranged from 54.1�F to 64.2�F, and turbidity ranged from 0.29 NTU to 1.08 NTU. Daily average flow during the reporting period decreased from 824 cfs to 202 cfs at Goodwin Dam (GDW) and 924 cfs to 295 cfs at Ripon (RIP) (Figure 8).

One trap efficiency experiment was conducted with naturally spawned juvenile Chinook salmon marked caudal fin green (CFG). Preliminary capture efficiency estimate from the release was 4.3% at flows of 209 cfs (Table 3).

Table 3. Trap efficiency experiments conducted at Oakdale between May 17 and June 6, 2010.
Efficiency data
 
Flow and Catch 

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 intermittently between May 17 and June 6.  A total of 116 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period increasing the season total to 1,104. Daily catch ranged between zero and 16 Chinook salmon.

No O. mykiss were captured during the sampling period. Season total remains at one.

No trap efficiency experiments were conducted due to insufficient daily catch.

Instantaneous temperature recorded at the trap ranged from 57.0�F and 72.5�F, and turbidity ranged from 1.86 NTU to 5.37 NTU. Daily average flow at Ripon (RIP) decreased from 924 cfs and 295 cfs.

Stanislaus River seining surveys were concluded for the season on May 14. During the ten days of surveys 285 Chinook salmon were captured at various locations between Oakdale (RM 40) and the confluence with the San Joaquin River (Table 4).

Table 4. Biosampling data for Chinook salmon captured on the Stanislaus River between Oakdale (RM 40) and the confluence of the San Joaquin River, 2010.
Seining Data


2010 Tuolumne River Juvenile Migration Monitoring

The Tuolumne River rotary screw trap at Waterford (RM 30) operated continuously between May 17 and June 6. A total of 360 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured during the reporting period increasing the season total to 2,239. Daily catch ranged between zero and fifty Chinook salmon. Average forklengths and weights of Chinook salmon are provided in Table 5 for 358 fish that were measured. Most of the measured fish were smolt (n=356) but a fry (n=1) and a parr (n=1) were also observed.

No O. mykiss have been captured so far this season.

Table 5. Biosampling data for Chinook salmon captured and measured at Waterford between May 17 and June 6, 2010. Parentheses indicate range.
 Catch Table

Instantaneous temperature taken at the trap ranged from 51.0�F to 56.3�F, and turbidity ranged from 0.08 NTU to 2.05 NTU. Daily average flow records from La Grange (LGN) ranged from 2,030 cfs to 3,260 cfs (Figure 9).

Due to insufficient daily catch, no trap efficiency experiments were conducted during the reporting period.
 
Flow and Catch

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 traps at Grayson (RM 5) sampled continuously between May 17 and June 6. Twenty Chinook salmon were captured during the
Figure 10. Chinook salmon captured at the Tuolumne River rotary screw trap at Grayson.
Chinook salmon
reporting period increasing the season total to 48 (Figure 10; Table 6).

No O. mykiss have been 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 51.8�F to 58.3�F, and turbidity ranged from 0.69 NTU to 9.29 NTU. Daily average flow at Modesto (MOD) has not been available since April 21 (Figure 11).
 
Table 6. Biosampling data for Chinook salmon captured and measured at Grayson between May 17 and June 6, 2010. Parentheses indicate range.
Catch Table 

Flow and Catch
Figure 11. Daily Chinook salmon catch at Grayson and Tuolumne River flow at La Grange (LGN) and Modesto (MOD), 2010.


 
2009/10 Stanislaus River Weir Monitoring 
 
Between May 17 and June 6 seven Chinook salmon were detected passing upstream of the Stanislaus River Weir, increasing the season total to 1,288.
 
One O. mykiss (170 mm) was detected passing upstream during this reporting period, increasing the season total to ten O. mykiss (Table 7).
 
Table 7. Net passage counts for all species between May 17 and June 6, 2010 at the Stanislaus River Weir.
Net Counts

 
San Joaquin Conditions
 
Between May 17 and June 6 flows in the San Joaquin River at Vernalis ranged from 3,760 cfs to 5,068 cfs (Figure 12). Water temperatures in the San Joaquin River fluctuated between 58.9�F and 68.7�F at Vernalis; between 60.0�F and 71.0�F at Mossdale; and between 62.6�F and 73.1�F at Rough 'n Ready Island (Figure 13). Average daily dissolved oxygen (DO) in the San Joaquin River fluctuated between 7.3 mg/L and 8.6 mg/L in the deep water ship channel (measured at Rough 'n Ready Island) and fluctuated between 8.9 mg/L and 9.7 mg/L at Mossdale (Figure 14).



Flow 

Figure 12. San Joaquin River flow at Vernalis, June 1, 2009 through June 6, 2010.


Temperature 
Figure 13. San Joaquin River daily average water temperature at Vernalis, Mossdale, and Rough 'n Ready, June 1, 2009 through June 6, 2010.

 
D.O.
 
Figure 14. San Joaquin River daily average dissolved oxygen at Mossdale and Rough 'n Ready, June 1, 2009 through June 6, 2010.


Water temperature in the San Joaquin River generally increased between January and June. Comparatively, water temperature during this time period was similar (2007 to 2010); however, it appears that some fluctuation occurred during the months of April and May (Figure 15).

Temperature
Temperature
Temperature

Figure 15. San Joaquin River daily average water temperature at Rough n' Ready Island, Mossdale, and Vernalis, January through June, (2007-2010).


 
Delta Exports 
 
Combined total exports (state and federal pumps) increased during the reporting period ranging from 823 cfs to 7,306 cfs. Mean daily pumping at the Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant (state pumps) increased from 0 cfs to 4,273 cfs. Mean daily pumping at the C.W. Jones Pumping Plant (federal pumps previously known as Tracy Pumping Plant) increased from 789 cfs to 3,515 cfs during the reporting period (Figure 16).



Exports 

Figure 16. Daily exports at the Federal and State pumping stations, June 1, 2009 through June 6, 2010.

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