Overview
The Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) funds habitat
improvement work in the Central Valley of California to increase
salmonid populations in furtherance of meeting CVPIA fish doubling
goals. This data package contains five datasets.
Enclosure Study – Growth Data
This dataset covers enclosure studies that examined salmonid
growth rates in the Sacramento River and focused on assessing
effectiveness of salmonid habitat improvement projects. Data was
collected in July and August 2019 from project sites, constructed
habitat project sites, and control sites where no treatment is
planned. Six enclosures with juvenile Fall Run Chinook salmon from
Coleman National Fish Hatchery were placed in each habitat type.
Fish growth was tracked for approximately 6.5 weeks. Annual
reports summarize the survey findings.
Enclosure Study – Gut Contents Data
This dataset covers enclosure studies that examined salmonid
growth rates in the Sacramento River and focused on assessing
effectiveness of salmonid habitat improvement projects. Data was
collected in July and August 2019 from project sites, constructed
habitat project sites, and control sites where no treatment is
planned. Six enclosures with juvenile Fall Run Chinook salmon from
Coleman National Fish Hatchery were placed in each habitat type.
Enclosures remained in the river for approximately 6.5 weeks. At
the end of the study, fish were euthanized, and we dissected their
guts and enumerated the taxa found. Annual reports summarize the
survey findings.
Microhabitat Use Data
This dataset covers salmonid microhabitat use conducted in the
Sacramento River and focused on assessing effectiveness of
salmonid habitat improvement projects. Surveys are conducted
roughly monthly and include pre-project sites, constructed habitat
project sites, and control sites where no treatment is planned.
Based upon habitat inventory data, annually identify which habitat
units within each side channel will be selected for the collection
of habitat-use data. Habitats are randomly selected but stratified
to include the full range of available habitat types to capture
the range in depths and velocities present, at approximately equal
surface areas each. Habitat selection attempts to capture the full
range of microhabitat cover types identified from microhabitat
mapping efforts. Snorkel surveys are conducted to achieve an
abundance index, with the addition that when a selected habitat
unit is encountered, the location of fish observed is marked with
a weighted flag on the stream bottom. The species / run, and size
of juvenile(s) and numbers observed at that location is recorded.
After the selected habitat unit has been completely surveyed,
flagged locations are revisited, and we collect habitat data
specific to each of those sample points.
Seining Data
This dataset covers salmonid lengths, weights, and conditions
collected via seining in the Sacramento River and focuses on
assessing effectiveness of salmonid habitat improvement projects.
Surveys are conducted roughly monthly and include pre-project
sites, constructed habitat project sites, and control sites where
no treatment is planned. Wandering pole seine and/or simple arc
set beach seine methods were used to capture juvenile salmonids.
Randomized sample locations within side channels for wandering
pole seining were stratified by habitat type so that the range of
available habitat type and quality were sampled. Beach seining
methods were implemented at fixed sites. Mainstem sites were
selected far enough away from side channels so that juvenile fish
are not likely to be using both habitats.
Snorkel Index Data
This dataset covers salmonid observations conducted in the
Sacramento River and focused on assessing effectiveness of
salmonid habitat improvement projects. Surveys are conducted
roughly every other week and include pre-project sites,
constructed habitat project sites, and control sites where no
treatment is planned. Sites are snorkeled by a crew of two to
three people and all salmonids are counted by size category within
pre-set survey reaches. Snorkelers record data on dive slates and
then transcribe to paper data sheets and computer files. Annual
reports summarize the survey findings.
