U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Update: Update:Near Shore Ecology proj

Near Shore Ecology proj

M.E. Andersen and L.G. Coggins, JSBSC, GCMRCTWG meeting October 2008
Approach to Studying Steady F

September/October 2008-20121. Current Science Program (previo

reviewed by TWG and AMWG)

2. Near Shore Ecology/Steady Flow 

solicitation and project

3. 2008 NSE/SF Pilot project4. 2009 Develop Steady Flows Scie
2. Near Shore Ecology/Stea

 Solicitation reviewed by Science 

(May ‘08)

 Requested/received input from N

FWS

 Competitive solicitation (released  Solicitation open for 60 days, clos Responses reviewed by independ

(Dec. ‘08)
2. Near Shore Ecology Study – 

Background  Biological Opinion Conservation 

“.... nearshore ecology study ... will re

variables to ecological attributes of habitats (velocity, depth, temperaturproductivity, etc.) and the relative im

such habitat conditions to important native and nonnative fishes. This stincorporate planned science activitievaluating the high flow test on nearas well as the 5-year period of steadreleases in September and October.
Near Shore Ecology/Steady 

 Primary Science Questions

 What sampling and analytical meth

appropriate for determining abundaor occurrence of small native and nfishes? 

 What are the habitat types that juve

and nonnative fish select? 

 How do abiotic and biotic factors in

individual growth and survival in thtypes?

 How available are these habitat typ
3. Pilot Study

 Study plan developed by GCMRC  Reviewed by Science Advisors (J Conduct pilot study (Aug. – Sep. 
Pilot Study (Aug. & Sep. 200

 Objectives

 Evaluate methods to obtain density, 

and occupancy of near shore habitajuvenile fishes

 Estimate relative piscivory risk amo

habitat types and flow patterns

 Estimate use and movement of fish 

habitats

 Evaluate methods to assess flow im

growth (otoliths, RNA/DNA ratios)
Pilot Study Aug. ’08 (MLFF)

 Investigating

 Humpback chub habitat use Humpback chub population in LCR r Capture and tagging methods Collecting flannelmouth sucker sam

growth study
Pilot Study Aug. ’08 (MLFF)

 Preliminary observations

 Humpback chub numbers relatively  Nonnative fishes number relatively l Trout species generally absent in sa

2005-07, now being observed in sma

 Preliminary data presented to TWG: 

Preliminary data, sub
Hoopnet catch rates by month 

species

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

0.000.050.100.150.20

A

Humpback Chub (fish/hr)

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

0.0000.0020.0040.0060.008

B

Flannelmouth Sucker (fish/hr)

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

0.0000.0020.0040.006

C

Bluehead Sucker (fish/hr)

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

0.0000.0020.0040.006

D

Speckled Dace (fish/hr) 

Note: different scales
HBC hoopnet catch rate by 

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

0.000.050.100.150.20

A

Humpback Chub (fish/hr)
HBC > 150 mm TL hoopnet catc

month

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

0.000.050.100.150.20

A

Humpback Chub (fish/hr)
Average TL by species caught 

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

0

20406080

100120140160180200

A

Humpback Chub TL (mm)

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

0

4080

120160200240280320360400

B

Flannelmouth Sucker TL (mm)

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

0

20406080

100120140160180200220240260280300

C

Bluehead Sucker TL (mm)

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

0

20406080

100120

D

Speckled Dace TL (mm)
Average TL of HBC caught in h

by month

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

0

20406080

100120140160180200

A

Humpback Chub TL (mm)
Length distribution of HBC in h

all months 1998-2002

0 50 100 150 200 250 

0.000 0.005 0.010 0.015 0.020

Probability Density

Total Len

gth (mm)

Density

2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 
Length distribution of HBC in h

all months 2003-2008

0 50 100 150 200 250 

0.000 0.005 0.010 0.015 0.020 0.025

Probability Density

Total Len

gth (mm)

Density

2008 (2006 (2005 (2004 (2003 (
Length distribution of HBC by y

August only 1998 & 2001

0 50 100 150 200 250 

0.000 0.005 0.010 0.015

Probability Density

Total Len

gth (mm)

Density

200199
Length distribution of HBC by y

August only 2003-2008 

0 50 100 150 200 250 

0.000 0.005 0.010 0.015 0.020 0.025 0.030

Probability Density

Total Len

gth (mm)

Density

2008 2006 2005 2004 2003 
Pilot Study Sep. ’08 (Steady 

 Investigating

 Humpback chub habitat use Humpback chub population in LCR r Capture and tagging methods 
NSE/SF Studies

1. Continue with the current scienc

 Existing projects help inform future  2000 LSSF synthesis underway Existing projects contribute to und

2008 Steady Flows Aquatic food base Riparian vegetation monitoring Rainbow trout monitoring Near shore temperature modeling

2. NSE/SF Solicitation3. NSE Pilot Study
NSE/SF Studies

4. Develop Fall Steady Flows Scien

FY 2009

 Cooperator (Jan. ‘09) LSSF synthesis draft plans (Feb. ‘0 GCMRC draft fall steady flows scie

(1 Apr ‘09)

 SA and TWG review of plan (Apr. –  Finalize plan (July ‘09)