Fisheries Branch -- Central Valley Chinook Salmon Documents

California Commercial Salmon Trollers Advisory Committee (CCSTAC) Meeting Agenda

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 15:53:01 -0700

Meeting Agenda - California Commercial Salmon Trollers Advisory Committee (CCSTAC) Meeting Agenda for Wednesday, November 19th, 2025

California Commercial Salmon Trollers Advisory Committee (CCSTAC) Meeting Agenda

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 07:17:22 -0700

April 2025 Meeting Agenda - Agenda for the April 24, 2025 Meeting of the California Commercial Salmon Trollers Advisory Committee (CCSTAC)

California Department of Fish and Wildlife 2024-2029 Monitoring Plan for Central Valley Fall-run Chinook Salmon in Lagunitas Watershed

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 10:51:30 -0800

Monitoring Plan - Monitoring plan that outlines field sampling/coordination and data sharing protocols necessary to assess potential impacts of Fort Baker Chinook Salmon releases on salmonids in the Lagunitas Creek watershed, specifically Lagunitas Creek.

California Commercial Salmon Trollers Advisory Committee (CCSTAC) Meeting Agenda

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 13:18:44 -0800

Meeting Agenda - California Commercial Salmon Trollers Advisory Committee (CCSTAC) Meeting Agenda for Tuesday November 12th, 2024

2023 Fall Run Chinook Salmon Production and Release Infographic

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 10:26:39 -0700

Chinook Salmon Hatchery Production - An info graphic that shows the production numbers at different hatcheries and the release locations.

JPE Letter to NMFS from the WR PWT 2016

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 18:28:57 -0700

Winter Run Chinook Juvenile Production Estimate -

Winter-run Chinook Salmon Escapement Estimates for 2014

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 18:24:09 -0700

Winter-run Chinook Salmon Escapement Estimates for 2014 -

Recovery of Coded-Wire Tags from Chinook Salmon in California's Central Valley Escapment and Ocean Harvest in 2011

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 14:37:45 -0700

Administrative Report - Each year, approximately 32 million fall Chinook salmon are produced at five hatcheries in California’s Central Valley (CV): Coleman National Fish Hatchery (CNFH), Feather River Hatchery (FRH), Nimbus Fish Hatchery (NFH), Mokelumne River Hatchery (MOK), and Merced River Fish Facility (MER). Production from these hatcheries contributes to major sport and commercial fisheries in ocean and inland areas. Prior to 2007, only small experimental releases (generally <100,000 fish) of CV fall Chinook were consistently released with microscopic (= 1 mm) coded-wire tags (CWT) inserted in their snouts. Each CWT contains a binary or alpha-numeric code that identifies a specific release group of salmon (e.g., agency, species, run, brood year, hatchery or wild stock, release size, release date(s), release location(s), number tagged and untagged). Any CV salmon containing a CWT is also externally marked with a clipped adipose fin (ad-clipped) to allow for visual identification. Although FRH did mark and tag a portion of their fall Chinook during 2000 through 2006, tagging rates were not consistent or representative of the 6-8 million fish produced annually by FRH. Almost all of the fall Chinook production releases at the other CV hatcheries were untagged during this time.

An Empirical Approach to Estimate Juvenile Salmon Entrainment over Fremont Weir

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 12:25:41 -0700

Juvenile Chinook salmon entrainment over Fremont Weir - Document evaluates the effects to Central Valley Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) of notching of the Fremont Weir in the Yolo Bypass, Yolo County. The report analyzes changes in juvenile fish entrainment onto the bypass under a weir notch configuration compared to current conditions. Juvenile salmon migrating down the Sacramento River and into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Rivers Delta benefit from access to now-rare floodplain habitat, exhibiting both increased growth and survival. The Yolo Bypass potentially offers floodplain habitat, if young fish have greater access. The analysis found notching at Fremont Weir would result in considerably greater entrainment of all four runs of Central Valley Chinook salmon and that the increase in availability to the floodplain is most notable during dry and critically dry water years.

Freshwater and ocean returns of marked winter-run and late fall-run chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, from the Sacramento River

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 12:09:15 -0700

CalFish collection. Contact cshannon@dfg.ca.gov for assistance - Report was never published. The objectives of this study were: 1) determine the contribution (return rate) of marked 1969, 1970, and 1971 brook year salmon to the ocean fisheries and spawning escapements; 2) determine the catch-escapement ratio for marked fish; 3) determine the distribution of catch for those marked fish caught at sea; 4) determine whether marked fish returned to the Sacramento River as other than winter-run or late fall-run adults.

2023 Chinook Salmon Enhancement Program Proposal Solicition Notice

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 14:06:05 -0700

Public Solicitation Notice - Public Solicitation Notice for the 2023 Chinook Salmon Enhancement and Restoration Program. The Department and the Committee are soliciting proposals for projects to release juvenile, hatchery-origin Central Valley Fall-run Chinook Salmon with the intent to increase ocean salmon landings. The 2023 solicitation is focusing on releasing up to 160,000 fish (per year) in or near Santa Cruz Harbor in 2023 and 2024, for a 2-year total of up to 320,000 fish.

Chinook Salmon Enhancement 2022 Public Solicitation Notice

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 15:09:51 -0700

Public Solicitation Notice -

Chinook Salmon Enhancement Program: Santa Cruz Wharf Initial Study and Negative Declaration

Tue, 04 May 2021 12:30:01 -0700

CEQA Initial Study and Negative Declaration -

Chinook Salmon Enhancement Program 2021 Public Solicitation Notice

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 10:10:15 -0700

Winter-run Chinook Salmon Escapement Estimates for 2015

Thu, 08 Mar 2018 16:16:53 -0800

Winter Run Chinook Escapment -

Updated Revised Winter-run Chinook Salmon Escapement Estimates for 2016

Thu, 08 Mar 2018 16:16:30 -0800

Winter Run Chinook Escapment -

Winter-run Chinook Salmon Escapement Estimates for 2017

Thu, 08 Mar 2018 16:16:16 -0800

Winter Run Chinook Escapment -

JPE Letter to NMFS from the WR PWT 2014

Thu, 08 Mar 2018 16:15:43 -0800

Winter Run Chinook Juvenile Production Estimate -

JPE Letter to NMFS from the WR PWT 2015

Thu, 08 Mar 2018 16:15:32 -0800

Winter Run Chinook Juvenile Production Estimate -

Negative Declaration for the Fall-run Chinook Salmon Acclimation in Santa Cruz Harbor, Santa Cruz County

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 15:36:50 -0800

Ocean net pen acclimation - The Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project (MBSTP) proposes to acclimate California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) hatchery-raised Central Valley juvenile fall-run Chinook Salmon at Santa Cruz Harbor (Santa Cruz County) for 1-3 hours and then release them into the Pacific Ocean. The project’s objective is to enhance an existing commercial and recreational ocean fishery. The Commercial Salmon Trollers Advisory Committee recommends this project. The CDFW is partnering with MBSTP on this acclimation project. This document is the Negative Declaration for this acclimation project.

Central Valley Angler Survey Effort Distribution Model Pilot Study 2016

Wed, 07 Dec 2016 11:22:35 -0800

Survey Methods Investigation, Chinook Salmon Harvest, Central Valley Angler Survey - The purpose of this memo is to summarize the results of the Central Valley Angler Survey (CVAS) Effort Distribution Model (EDM) Pilot Study conducted at Thermalito Outlet on the Feather River during July 2015.

Commercial salmon trollers advisory committee projects FY 14 15

Mon, 08 Jun 2015 08:58:51 -0700

Central Valley Chinook salmon enhancement projects - Projects supported by the CA Commercial Salmon Trollers Advisory Commmittee in Fiscal Year 14 15

Recovery of Coded-Wire Tags from Chinook Salmon in California’s Central Valley Escapement and Ocean Harvest in 2010

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:03:17 -0700

Administrative Report - Beginning with brood year 2006, at least 25% of fall-run Chinook production releases at CNFH (12-13 million), FRH (9-10 million), NFH (5-6 million), and MOK (4-5 million) have been marked and tagged each spring-run (Buttars 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010). This Constant Fractional Marking (CFM) program is a cooperative effort of the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG), the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD), and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC). In addition, 100% of the fall-run Chinook produced at the MER (approximately 50,000-300,000 annually) are marked and coded-wire tagged. Almost 100% of the spring-run Chinook reared at FRH and the late fall-run Chinook reared at CNFH have also been marked and coded-wire tagged. It should be noted that due to their extremely low production numbers, MOK marked and tagged 100% of their fall-run Chinook releases for brood years 2008 and 2009. During 2010, almost 27,000 CWTs were recovered from ad-clipped Chinook sampled in CV natural area spawning surveys, at CV hatcheries, in CV river creel surveys, and in California ocean commercial and recreational fisheries. Almost all of the fall-run Chinook CWTs recovered in the CV were tagged as part of the CFM program since most CV fish return at ages two, three, or four. Age five Chinook made up a very small fraction (0.01%) of the total CV fall-run escapement in 2010. This report evaluates the 2010 CV fall, spring, and late fall runs Chinook CWT recovery data in accordance with program objectives.

Projects undertaken with funds from the commercial salmon stamp accounts - FY 2012-2013

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:37:49 -0700

commercial salmon fisheries -

Historical abundance and decline of Chinook Salmon in the Central Valley Region of California

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:01:35 -0700

CalFish collection. Contact cshannon@dfg.ca.gov for assistance. - The Central Valley drainage of California formerly produced immense numbers of Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha. Four seasonal runs occur in this system-fall, late-fall, winter, and spring runs. Differences in life history timing and spatial distribution enabled the four runs to use the drainage to the fullest possible extent and once made it one of the richest regions in the world for Chinook salmon production. Native American fishers within the Central Valley drainage harvested Chinook salmon at estimated levels that reached 8.5 million pounds or more annually. Native harvests, therefore, were roughly comparable to the peak commercial harvests taken later by Euro-American fishers, but whether or not native fishing depressed the productive capacities of the salmon populations to any substantial degree is not known. The commercial Chinook salmon fishery in California started about 1850 in the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento San Joaquin Delta region, where it formed the nucleus of the first major fishery conducted by Euro-American immigrants in the state. This fishery was one of the important early industries that supported the Euro-American settlement of the Central Valley region. The salmon fishery remained centered there until the early 1900s, when ocean salmon fishing began to expand and eventually came to dominate the fishery. Annual catches by the early Sacramento-San Joaquin in-river fishery commonly reached 4-10 million pounds and generally were higher than the total statewide catches made during the most recent several decades. The historical abundances of Central Valley Chinook salmon before large-scale commercial exploitation and depletion of the runs cannot be determined with certainty. However, on the basis of early commercial catch records, the maximal production levels of the Central Valley Chinook salmon stocks in aggregate may be conservatively estimated to have reached approximately 1-2 million spawners annually. Although substantial investment has been made by the state of California in managing the Chinook salmon resource since the early years of the commercial fishery, Chinook salmon have declined over the decades to small fractions of their previous numbers. The decline of the Central Valley Chinook salmon resource was caused by several factors: over fishing, blockage and degradation of streams by mining activities, and reduction of salmon habitat and stream flows by dams and water diversions. Differences between the four Chinook salmon runs in life history timing and habitat requirements partly account for their different population histories; the winter run is now threatened with extinction, the spring run recently has approached a similarly imperiled state, and the late-fall run has been at moderately low population levels for the past two decades. Only the fall run, in aggregate, can be regarded as secure, but it too has undergone substantial reductions in abundance. Fall-run spawner numbers were especially low in

Contributions to the Biology of Central Valley Salmonids, Fish Bulletin 179: Volume One, Shasta Salmon Salvage Efforts: Coleman National Fish Hatchery on Battle Creek, 1895 - 1992

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:00:51 -0700

CalFish collection. Contact cshannon@dfg.ca.gov for assistance. - For well over a century, Californians have sought to compensate for depleted salmon runs in the upper Sacramento River Basin by creating fish hatcheries. Beginning in 1872, fish culturalist at Livingstone Stone located the West's first fish hatchery on the lower McCloud River. Between 1870 and 1960, 169 significant public and private fish hatcheries and egg collecting stations were operated throughout the state (Leitritz 1970, p 11). The fifth hatchery to be owned and managed by the US Commission of Fish and Fisheries (later renamed the US Fish Commission), was the Battle Creek Station located near Anderson. Originating on the western slopes of Mt. Lassen, Battle Creek flows some forty-two miles before emptying into the Sacramento River. Due largely to melting snow, Battle Creek enjoys a cold, year-round supply of filtered water. Porous volcanic rock acts as a sponge to absorb and gradually release stored underground waters. This Cascade stream also enjoys a reasonably steep gradient, falling some 5,000 feet, which made it a prime candidate for early hydroelectric development (Reynolds 1980, p 23). In 1901, five years after fish culturalists began harvesting Battle Creek's thriving populations of fall-, winter-, and spring-run Chinook salmon, developers sought to cash in on its hydroelectric potential. The Volta plant would generate peak load power for a proposed copper smelter at Keswick, near Mountain Copper's Iron Mountain mine (Reynolds 1980, p 29).

Status of Winter-Run Chinook Salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, in the Sacramento River

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:00:41 -0700

CalFish collection. Contact cshannon@dfg.ca.gov for assistance. - Winter-run Chinook salmon, (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), spawning populations in the Sacramento River have been declining at least since 1967. Since 1979 (except for 1981) the populations have remained at an alarmingly low level. Considerable data relative to winter-run salmon that utilize the Sacramento River have been generated during the past 20-years, but has not been published. The purpose of this report is to summarize some of the things that are known about winter-run salmon, and to suggest some possible reasons for their decline.

Summer Stream Temperatures Experienced by Adult Spring-run Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha) in a Central Valley Stream, A Thesis

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:00:35 -0700

CalFish collection. Contact cshannon@dfg.ca.gov for assistance. -

The impact of supplementation in winter-run Chinook salmon on effective population size.

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:00:34 -0700

CalFish collection. Contact cshannon@dfg.ca.gov for assistance. - Supplementation of young raised at a protected site, such as a hatchery, may influence the effective population size of an endangered species. A supplementation program for the endangered winter-run Chinook salmon from the Sacramento River, California, has been releasing fish since 1991. A breeding protocol, instituted in 1992, seeks to maximize the effective population size from the captive spawners by equaling their contributions to the released progeny. As a result, the releases in 1994 and 1995 appear not to have decreased the overall effective population size and may have increased it somewhat. However, mistaken use of non-winter-run Chinook spawners resulted in artificial crosses between runs with a potential reduction in effective population size, and imprinting of the released fish on Battle Creek, the site of the hatchery, resulted in limiting the contribution of the released fish to the target mainstem population. Rapid genetic analysis of captured spawners and a new rearing facility on the Sacramento River should alleviate these problems and their negative effect on the effective population size in future years.

An evaluation of four Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta juvenile salmon survival studies

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:00:29 -0700

CalFish collection. Contact cshannon@dfg.ca.gov for assistance. - The US Fish and Wildlife Service, Stockton Fish and Wildlife Office, has since the mid-1980s conducted several multi-year release-recovery experiments with coded-wire-tagged juvenile Chinook salmon. The objectives of the studies were (1) to estimate survival through the lower portions of the Sacramento and San Joaquin river systems, the California Delta, and (2) to quantify the factors affecting survival. Four of these studies, listed more or less by their historical start dates, are the Delta Cross Channel, Interior, Delta Action 8, and VAMP experiments.

Special Scientific Report- Fisheries No. 461: Winter-run Chinook salmon in the Sacramento River, California with notes on water temperature requirements at spawning

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:00:11 -0700

CalFish collection. Contact cshannon@dfg.ca.gov for assistance. - Salmon specialists throughout the Pacific Coast indicate that the winter-run Chinook salmon is restricted to California's Sacramento River system. The characteristics and habits of the race are unique in the following respects: Fresh-water holding period December to April; spawning period April into July. The upmigration is concurrent with the late segments of the fall run. but the adults are distinguishable by the green condition of the gonads. The down-migration is concurrent with that of the spring-run fry. but the migrants are 2-inch or larger fingerlings. Evidence is lacking to determine whether there is an earlier down-migration of fry. The race appears to hold great promise as a stock to be introduced into areas where May-August temperatures are 42. 50 - 57.50 F., for it supports superb angling during the fresh-water holding period. Water temperatures in May through August are seen as the factor limiting the natural extension of the range of the race.

The status of Late-fall and Spring Chinook Salmon in the Sacramento River Basin Regarding the Endangered Species Act, Special Report

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:00:00 -0700

CalFish collection. Contact cshannon@dfg.ca.gov for assistance. - This report provides an independent synthesis and analysis of data on the status of late-fall and spring Chinook salmon in the Sacramento River Basin. The report focuses on the two main questions that NMFS must answer before making an ESA listing determination for late-fall and spring Chinook in the Sacramento Basin. Do Sacramento late-fall and spring Chinook qualify as Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESU) by themselves or in combination with other populations? And do the population trends, such as abundance, for each ESU indicate that the population will go extinct if special protections are not provided?

Statistical procedures for detecting the CVPIA natural Chinook salmon production doubling goal and determining sustainability of production increases

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 07:59:58 -0700

CalFish collection. Contact cshannon@dfg.ca.gov for assistance. - Statistical procedures for detecting the CVPIA natural Chinook salmon production doubling goal and determining sustainability of production increases A mandate of Title 34 Central Valley Project Improvement Act (of Public Law 102-575), CVPIA, is to develop within three years of enactment and implement a program which makes all reasonable efforts to ensure that, by the year 2002, natural production of anadromous fish in Central Valley rivers and streams will be sustainable, on a long term basis, at levels not less than twice the average levels attained during the period of 1967-1991. In this report we develop statistical procedures aimed at comparing natural production levels in the 1967-1991 period and in years since then and we present ideas for methods to determine the sustainability of natural production levels observed during a given period.

Contributions to the Biology of Central Valley Salmonids, Fish Bulletin 179: Volume One, Factors Affecting Chinook Salmon Spawning in the Lower Feather River

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 07:59:57 -0700

CalFish collection. Contact cshannon@dfg.ca.gov for assistance. - We review the status of Chinook salmon in the lower Feather River and examine factors affecting Chinook salmon spawning since the construction of Oroville Dam. Spawning occurred in depths from 0.4 to 4 ft with the central 50% of observations in the 1. 6 to 2.6 ft range. Depth used was slightly higher at increased flows. Velocities of 0.4 to 4.8 ft/s (central 50% = 1. 5 to 2.7 ft/s) were used at all flows. Redds were constructed in substrate containing less than 60% fines in 0.2- to 1-inch to 6- to 9-inch gravel size classes. Redd surveys showed that spawning occurred in twice as much area below Thermalito Afterbay Outlet than the low flow channel (LFC). However, in most recent years, about 75% of fish spawned in the LFC. Superimposition indices calculated from these results suggest that there was insufficient spawning area in the LFC to support the number of spawning pairs, but adequate area below Thermalito Afterbay Outlet. Spawning activity was highest in the upper three miles of the LFC, whereas spawning area was relatively evenly distributed below Thermalito Afterbay Outlet. Historical results suggest superimposition significantly reduces egg survival. Statistical analysis of historical data showed that there has been a highly significant increase in the number of salmon spawning in the LFC. In-channel escapement explained a significant additional portion of the variability in spawning distribution. The significant increase in the proportion of spawners using the LFC over time may be at least partially attributable to an increasing proportion of river flow from this channel. Substrate composition based on Wolman counts and bulk samples do not explain trends in spawning distribution as LFC gravel has become progressively armored over the past 16 years, whereas downstream substrate composition has not changed detectably. Temperature trends were not significantly correlated with spawning distribution. We hypothesize that hatchery stocking location and genetic introgression between fall-run and spring-run Chinook stocks also account for spawning activity in the LFC. Spawning simulations using an egg production model based on these statistical analyses yielded very different results than a PHABSIM instream flow model.

Contributions to the Biology of Central Valley Salmonids, Fish Bulletin 179: Volume One, Chinook Salmon in the Lower American River, California’s Largest Urban Stream

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 07:59:57 -0700

CalFish collection. Contact cshannon@dfg.ca.gov for assistance. - The American River now supports a mixed run of hatchery and naturally produced fall-run Chinook averaging about 30,000 spawners; the spring-run was lost to dams. Salmon in the river have been much studied over the last 20 years, largely because of litigation over proposed diversions, but much uncertainty remains about various aspects of their biology and about the environmental conditions needed to support them. This paper briefly reviews what is known and not known about salmon in the American River and makes recommendations for future work.

Framework for Assessing Viability of Threatened and Endangered Chinook Salmon and Steelhead in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Basin

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 07:59:52 -0700

CalFish collection. Contact cshannon@dfg.ca.gov for assistance. - Protected evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) of salmonids require objective and measurable criteria for guiding their recovery. In this report, we develop a method for assessing population viability and two ways to integrate these population-level assessments into an assessment of ESU viability. Population viability is assessed with quantitative extinction models or criteria relating to population size, population growth rate, the occurrence of catastrophic declines, and the degree of hatchery influence. ESU viability is assessed by examining the number and distribution of viable populations across the landscape and their proximity to sources of catastrophic disturbance. Central Valley spring-run and winter-run Chinook salmon ESUs are not currently viable, according to the criteria-based assessment. In both ESUs, extant populations may be at low risk of extinction, but these populations represent a small portion of the historical ESUs, and are vulnerable to catastrophic disturbance. The winter-run Chinook salmon ESU, in the extreme case, is represented by a single population that spawns outside of its historical spawning range. We are unable to assess the status of the Central Valley steelhead ESU with our framework because almost all of its roughly 80 populations are classified as data deficient. The few exceptions are those populations with a closely associated hatchery, and the naturally spawning fish in these streams are at high risk of extinction. Population monitoring in this ESU is urgently needed. Global and regional climate change poses an additional risk to the survival of salmonids in the Central Valley. A literature review suggests that by 2100, mean summer temperatures in the Central Valley region may increase by 2-8¦C, precipitation will likely shift to more rain and less snow, with significant declines in total precipitation possible, and hydrographs will likely change, especially in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains. Warming at the lower end of the predicted range may allow spring-run Chinook salmon to persist in some streams, while making some currently utilized habitat inhospitable. At the upper end of the range of predicted warming, very little spring-run Chinook salmon habitat is expected to remain suitable. In spite of the precarious position of Central Valley salmonid ESUs, there are prospects for greatly improving their viability. Recovering Central Valley ESUs may require re-establishing populations where historical populations have been extirpated (e.g., upstream of major dams). Such major efforts should be focused on those watersheds that offer the best possibility of providing suitable habitat in a warmer future.

Bulletin 179: Volume One: Applications of Population Genetics to Conservation of Chinook Salmon Diversity in the Central Valley

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 07:59:05 -0700

CalFish collection. Contact cshannon@dfg.ca.gov for assistance. -

Brood-year 2003 winter Chinook juvenile production indices with comparisons to adult escapement

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 07:58:31 -0700

CalFish collection. Contact cshannon@dfg.ca.gov for assistance. - Brood-year 2003 winter Chinook salmon juvenile passage at Red Bluff Diversion Dam (RBDD) was 5,945,585 fry and pre-smolt/smolts combined, approximately 23% less than that observed for brood-year 2002. Fry-equivalent passage was 6,536,854. We compared rotary-screw trap fry-equivalent juvenile production indices (JPI's) to fry-equivalent juvenile production estimates (JPE's) derived using the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries (NOAA Fisheries) JPE model. The JPE model uses estimates of adult escapement as the primary variant. Two separate JPE's were calculated, the first using adult escapement estimates from the RBDD fish ladders and the second using adult escapement estimates from the winter Chinook carcass survey. Rotary-screw trap JPI's were strongly correlated in trend to carcass survey JPE's (r2 = 0.98, P < 0.001, df = 5) and, to a lesser extent, fish ladder JPE's (r2 = 0.85, P = 0.003, df = 6). However, paired comparisons revealed a significant difference in production estimates existed between JPI's and fish ladder JPE's (t = 3.81, P = 0.009, df = 6). Moreover, fish ladder JPE's fell below the lower 90% confidence interval (C.I.) about the rotary-trap JPI in six of seven years evaluated, indicating that fish ladder JPE's consistently underestimated juvenile winter Chinook production, relative to JPI's. Conversely, no significant difference was detected between rotary-trap JPI's and carcass survey JPE's (t = 1. 85, P = 0.124, df = 5), and carcass survey JPE's fell within the 90% C.I. for rotary-trap JPI's in five of six years evaluated. We concluded that the NOAA Fisheries JPE model, using RBDD fish ladder escapement estimates, underestimated juvenile winter Chinook production and that JPE's were more robust using carcass survey escapement estimates.

Past and Present Status of Central Valley Chinook Salmon

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 07:58:26 -0700

CalFish collection. Contact cshannon@dfg.ca.gov for assistance. -

A Plan for the Protection and Maintenance of Salmon and Steelhead in the American River, California, Together with Recommendations for Action

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 07:58:12 -0700

CalFish collection. Contact cshannon@dfg.ca.gov for assistance. - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Game have the responsibility under act of August 14, 1946 (60 stat. 1080; 16 U.S.C. 661) 79th Congress of preparing an action plan for the conservation of salmon and steelhead runs affected by the construction of Nimbus Dam on the American River. As a result of discussions between these agencies and with the Bureau of Reclamation, an investigative period of from February 1, to July 1, 1953 was originally selected to be devoted to the development of such a plan. An outline of the various items to be considered during this period was prepared and distributed to the agencies involved on February 2, 1953. As the investigation progressed it became apparent that effective salmon and steelhead salvage facilities must be in operation by the fall of 1954. To speed up preparations for handling the runs the deadline for the report on an action plan was advanced to May 15, 1953. This report follows the outline as closely as possible. The investigation of a few of the items has not been completed because of the curtailment of the investigative period. It may be necessary to submit a supplementary report covering these points at a later date.

Spring-run Chinook Salmon, Annual Report Prepared for the Fish and Game Commission.

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 07:57:21 -0700

CalFish collection. Contact cshannon@dfg.ca.gov for assistance. - This is the second annual report to the Fish and Game Commission for spring-run Chinook salmon since its listing as a threatened species on February 5, 1999. It builds on the following Department of Fish and Game (DFG) reports: Status of Actions to Restore Central Valley Spring-run Chinook Salmon, February 1996. The Status of the Sacramento River Spring-run Chinook Salmon; December 1996. Central Valley Spring-run Chinook Salmon, A Status Report to the Fish and Game Commission, January-June 1997; June 1997 Status of Actions to Restore Central Valley Spring-run Chinook Salmon; December 1997. A Status Review of the Spring-run Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Sacramento River Drainage, Candidate Species Status Report 98-01; June 1998. Spring-run Chinook Salmon, Annual Report Prepared for the Fish and Game Commission; June 2000. This report includes spring-run Chinook salmon adult counts for selected tributaries, monitoring activities, status of restoration and management activities, an update on Watershed Conservancy activities for selected tributaries, and updates on the Spring-run Salmon Protection Plan and the Juvenile Chinook Salmon Protection Decision Process. The numbers in this report for adult fish are based primarily on snorkel surveys where the actual fish were counted with the exception of Battle and Mill Creeks. Therefore, the term spawning escapement estimate is not used. Escapement estimates are usual1y derived by extrapolating the data into population estimates using a numerical formula. We have not done this, but presented the counts of fish actually seen. For Mill Creek, the estimate was calculated by expanding salmon redd counts within the spring-run Chinook spawning habitat. Battle Creek numbers were derived by combining the passage information gathered from both live trapping and underwater videography. The 2000 adult spring-run counts for the Sacramento River tributaries are visually represented in graph form in Appendix A.

Sacramento River Spring-run Chinook Salmon, 2001 Annual Report

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 07:57:06 -0700

CalFish collection. Contact cshannon@dfg.ca.gov for assistance. - The status of Sacramento River spring-run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and previous monitoring, restoration, and management activities have been documented by the Candidate Species Status Report (CDFG 1998) and Annual Reports to the Fish and Game Commission (CDFG 2000, 2001). Scientific information related to spring-run Chinook salmon distribution, life history, and current issues has been reviewed by Moyle (2002). Conservation efforts of spring-run Chinook salmon stakeholders have also been reported (Bingham and Harthorn 2000). This document is the third annual Sacramento River spring-run Chinook salmon report to the Commission since its listing as a threatened species on February 5, 1999. This report describes population status, research and monitoring activities, and status of restoration and management. The report also provides an update on watershed conservancy activities on selected Sacramento River tributaries. Current issues, science, and research regarding spring-run Chinook salmon conservation are also discussed in this report.

Spring-Run Chinook Salmon [2000 Central Valley]

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 07:57:05 -0700

CalFish collection. Contact cshannon@dfg.ca.gov for assistance. - This is the second annual report to the Fish and Game Commission for spring-run salmon since its listing as a threatened species on February 5, 1999. It builds on the following Department of Fish and Game (DFG) reports: Status of Actions to Restore Central Valley Spring-run Chinook salmon; February 1996. The Status of the Sacramento River Spring-run Chinook salmon; December 1996. Central Valley Spring-run Chinook salmon: A Status Report to the Fish and Game Commission, January-June 1997; June 1997. Status of Actions to Restore Central Valley Spring-run Chinook salmon; December 1997. A Status Review of the Spring-run Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Sacramento River Drainage, Candidate Species Status Report 98-01; June 1998. Spring-run Chinook salmon, Annual Report Prepared for the Fish and Game Commission; June 2000. This report includes spring-run Chinook salmon adult counts for selected tributaries, monitoring activities, status of restoration and management activities, an update on Watershed Conservancy activities for selected tributaries, and updates on the Spring-run Salmon Protection Plan and the Juvenile Chinook Salmon Protection Decision Process. The numbers in this report for adult fish are based primarily on snorkel surveys where the actual fish were counted with the exception of Battle and Mill Creeks. Therefore, the term spawning escapement estimate is not used. Escapement estimates are usually derived by extrapolating the data into population estimates using a numerical formula. We have not done this, but presented the counts of fish actually seen. For Mill Creek, the estimate was calculated by expanding salmon redd counts within the spring-run Chinook spawning habitat. Battle Creek numbers were derived by combining the passage information gathered from both live trapping and underwater videography. The 2000 adult spring-run counts for the Sacramento River tributaries are visually represented in graph form in Appendix A. Contributors to this manuscript are listed in appendix B.

Sacramento River Winter-run Chinook Salmon Biennial Report 2000-2001

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 07:57:00 -0700

CalFish collection. Contact cshannon@dfg.ca.gov for assistance. - The Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon was listed as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act on September 22, 1989. Since that time, the Department of Fish and Game (Department) has submitted annual reports to the Fish and Game Commission, summarizing the population status and management and recovery actions taken each year. Beginning in 2000, the reporting frequency was changed to a biennial basis. The Department remains strongly committed to the protection and recovery of the Sacramento River writer-run Chinook. In the summer of 2001, the Department formed an internal Winter-run Technical Team to improve winter-run science and management. The mission of the team includes identification of winter-run monitoring, research, and management needs. exchange of technical information, and development of sound technical recommendations for winter-run management. Team members include staff from the Native Anadromous Fish and Watershed Branch. Habitat Conservation Division, Marine Region, Northern California - North Coast Region, and Sacramento Valley - Central Sierra Region. The Department plans to develop a technically based management approach that includes appropriate monitoring and analysis to support a progressive adaptive management program for the entire life cycle of winter-run Chinook. This report summarizes winter-run population status, harvest management conservation measures, research, Central Valley-wide restoration programs, and restoration and management actions for 2000 and 2001.ö

A Status Review of the Spring-Run Chinook Salmon in the Sacramento River Drainage : A Report to the Fish and Game Commission

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:46:44 -0700

Reports -

Spring-Run Chinook Salmon 2000 Annual Report Prepared for the Fish and Game Commission

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:46:32 -0700

Reports -

Sacramento River Spring-Run Chinook Salmon : 2001 Annual Report Prepared for the Fish and Game Commission

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:46:22 -0700

Reports -

Sacramento River Winter-Run Chinook Salmon Biennial Report 2002-2003 : Prepared for the Fish and Game Commission

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:46:10 -0700

Reports -

Sacramento River Spring-Run Chinook Salmon 2002-2003 Biennial Report : Prepared for the Fish and Game Commission

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:45:59 -0700

Reports -

Spring-Run Chinook Salmon 2000 Annual Report Prepared for the Fish and Game Commission Eratta

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:45:36 -0700

Reports -

Sacramento River Winter-Run Chinook Salmon Biennial Report 2000-2001

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:45:14 -0700

Reports -