LOWER YUBA RIVER ACCORD Monitoring and Evaluation Program Redd Surveys Casey Campos PSMFC

Redd Survey Presentation Pilot Redd Survey Index-Area Survey, Extensive-Area Survey, Aerial Survey Lessons Learned From the Pilot Survey Analysis of Pilot Survey Data Overview of Redd Survey Protocols Preliminary Results from Redd Survey Overview

Pilot Redd Survey Index-Area Redd Survey Redd Attributes Level of Superimposition Spawning Periodicities of Differing Runs Index-Area Site

Pilot Redd Survey Extensive-Area Redd Survey Monthly River Surveys Spatial and Temporal Redd Distribution throughout the spawning season

Pilot Redd Survey Aerial Redd Survey Entire River Survey Spatial and Temporal Redd Distribution Lasting Record of Redd Distribution

Lessons Learned from Pilot Redd Survey Aerial Redd Survey More redds observed during extensive survey Sun glare on riffles Inability to distinguish individual redds from photos Discontinued after first flight

Lessons Learned from Pilot Redd Survey Index-Area Survey Tracking superimposition and obtaining physical redd attributes Impossible to use to describe spawning distribution throughout all reaches of the lower Yuba River

Lessons Learned from Pilot Redd Survey Extensive-Area Survey Identified as the most appropriate means of collecting a long term data set Monthly frequency used during the Pilot Year was inadequate for addressing M&E Plan analytics

Analysis of Pilot Redd Survey Data Robust Analysis of Pilot Data completed by HDR Index area redd counts were fit to a statistical model of the assumed true redd distribution A simulation approach was used to compare the effects of sampling frequency on data collection Sampling frequencies of weekly, bi-weekly, tri-weekly and monthly were investigated Estimated redd counts were then generated for each of the sampling frequencies and compared to the index areas estimated redd counts Comparison of the number of Chinook salmon redds counted during the Index-Area survey and the number of redds predicted by the fitted statistical model. R2 indicates the coefficient of determination, and MSE is the mean square error of the fit.

Conclusions From Pilot Data Analysis Sampling frequency affects –Estimated redd abundance –Estimates of spawning timing –Evaluation of the correct number of spawning runs Weekly sampling frequency provides the most precise and least biased estimates of spawning abundance

Overview of and Long-Term Redd Survey Weekly extensive-area redd surveys August to May Surveys now including the Englebright Reach Systematic sampling of every 17 th redd for physical measurements Newly constructed redds marked to avoid double counts Data dictionary added to GPS units to increase data collection efficiency

Preliminary Results Spatial/Temporal Distribution of Chinook Salmon Initiation of spawning occurs in the upper reaches…distribution moves downriver Suggests some separation of spring-run and fall/late fall-run salmon

Preliminary Results Spatial/Temporal Density of Chinook Salmon Redds Density of Chinook Salmon Redds moves downriver over time

Preliminary Results Chinook Salmon Redd Density Highest density of Chinook salmon redds occurs above Hwy. 20 Above State Route 20 (4 River Miles); Between State Route 20 and Daguerre (7 River Miles); Below Daguerre (10 River Miles)

Feb 1 – 5, 2010Jan 25 – 29, 2010Jan 18 – 22, 2010 Daguerre Point Dam Timbuctoo Lower Yuba River Narrows Pool Hwy 20 Bridge Simpson Lane Bridge RST site Feather River Englebright Reservoir Redds Appearing by Week Feb 8 – 10, 2010Sept. 7 – 11, 2009Sept. 14 – 18, 2009Sept. 21 – 25, 2009Sept. 28 – Oct. 2, 2009Oct. 5 – 9, 2009Oct. 12 – 16, 2009Oct. 19 – 23, 2009Oct. 26 – 30, 2009Nov. 2 – 6, 2009Nov. 9 – 13, 2009Nov. 16 – 20, 2009Nov. 23 – 27, 2009Nov. 30 – Dec. 4, 2009Dec. 7 – 11, 2009Dec. 14 – 18, 2009Dec. 21 – 25, 2009Dec. 28, 2009 – Jan. 1, 2010Jan. 4 – 8, 2010Jan. 11 – 15, 2010Feb. 15 – 19, 2010Feb. 22 – 26, 2010March 8 – 12, 2010March 15 – 19, 2010March 22 – 26, 2010March 29 – April 2, 2010April 5 – 9, 2010 No survey March 1 – 5, 2010 Prepared by Leslie Alber

Preliminary Results Spatial/Temporal Distribution of Steelhead Trout Steelhead trout observed spawning near the end of December, peak spawning at the end of March Highest density and number of Steelhead trout redds observed above Route 20

Next Steps Identification of our long-term redd monitoring study design! One completed year of data collection Determine what effects Accord flows and temperatures have on the spawning distribution of salmonids in the lower Yuba River High resolution mapping and modeling inputs will greatly enhance our ability to determine flow and temperature effects on the distribution of spawning salmonids

Thank You for Coming Special Thanks to : Lower Yuba River PSMFC Staff River Management Team Members California Department of Fish and Game Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission