Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
March 13, 2009
3. Watersheds –
NOAA fisheries proposes protection for smelt
The Associated Press
Adult steelhead climbs fish ladder but turns around
The
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NOAA fisheries proposes protection for smelt
The Associated Press – 3/12/09
The agency's scientific review found that the fish is declining throughout its range from Northern California into
Smelt, also known as eulachon, candlefish or Columbia River smelt, are small, oceangoing fish with a historic range stretching from
The Cowlitz Tribe in
A team of biologists from the fisheries service and other agencies concluded there are at least two distinct segments of Pacific smelt on the West Coast. If approved, federal protection would apply to the smelt population that extends from the
If the stock is eventually listed as threatened, protection would only affect smelt in
NOAA's scientific review found that smelt face several threats, and are likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future.
Smelt are particularly vulnerable to being caught in shrimp fishing in the
As climate change affects the timing of spring flows in Northwest rivers, further declines are expected, the review found.
Pacific smelt are rich in calories and vital to other marine and freshwater life. They typically spent three to five years in the ocean before returning to rivers to spawn in late winter and early spring.
The
The agency will be taking public comments on the proposal through May 12.#
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11896615?nclick_check=1
Adult steelhead climbs fish ladder but turns around
The
By Chris Stolz
Courtesy photo A 28-inch steelhead was found at the top of the
After rainstorms in the backcountry brought high water through the
It is the first time in many years that one of endangered species has made it up through the fish ladder and over the dam, said fish biologist Steve Howard.
“The fish got completely though the ladder and exited it, but for some reason got turned around and was found in a forebay section that drains into the diversion canals,” Howard said.
The fish was put in a cooler and relocated upstream below
The steelhead was discovered while the water company lawyers were negotiating with the conservation group CalTrout over modifications in the amount of seasonal water flow, among other issues.
Steelhead migrate during the rainy season, which will end on May 1.
“It’s kind of ironic timing that while we were wrangling, a beautiful native steelhead shows up above the dam,” said Nica Knite, who supervises
Flow rate issues
Last July the diversion dam and its fish ladder were ruled by the National Marine Fisheries Service to be jeopardizing the survival of the local steelhead, which in 1997 was declared an endangered species. The biological opinion called for substantial “long-term physical modifications.”
Chris Yates, who oversees endangered species issues for the fisheries service in
“United has come to us to take the next step under the process, which is advising them on how to put together an application process that will specify how they will improve conditions for the steelhead,” he said. “They are consulting with us on their on-going operations, and from my perspective they are acting in good faith.”
Over millions of years, adult steelhead have developed the ability to sense in the ocean when streamflows are high, and migrate upstream during high water and rainstorms. Although the fish are identical to rainbow trout when they are small, as adults in the ocean their bodies change, and typically become much larger, weighing as much as 55 pounds. They can live as long as 11 years and migrate and spawn more than once, unlike salmon.
According to Howard, two flow issues are being worked out between the fisheries service and the water company. The first calls for more water for adult fish migrating upstream after rainstorms, to give them a better chance to find the fish ladder, which was a problem identified by the federal biologists. The second allows for a bypass to a nearby estuary, so juvenile fish can swim to the ocean, instead of being trapped by United and transported by truck.
“We’re close to agreement on ramping (flow) rates,” Howard said. “The smolt bypass flow is a more difficult question, because if we follow the biological opinion we will lose so much groundwater that saltwater intrusion in the Oxnard Plain could become a problem again.”
Dragging its feet
The concrete dam was constructed in 1991 to divert water from the
Environmental and conservation groups complain United is dragging its feet on the steelhead issue.
“It’s clear that United’s operation of the Freeman Diversion always leaves the steelhead in second place,” said Alasdair Coyne, conservation director for Keep the Sespe Wild.
However, Mike Solomon, general manager for United, took offense at that charge.
“We’re frustrated at how long it’s taking ourselves,” Solomon said. “But we have hired an independent panel of fish experts to advise us, and we are meeting with CalTrout next week.”
He added they will discuss when they can expect to see the fish panel’s report.#
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/mar/13/adult-steelhead-has-trouble-after-getting-fish/
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