Fish and Game Commission Meeting February 5, 2014 Fisheries Branch Stafford Lehr Request for Emergency Regulatory Action

“The overarching goal is to protect as many wild spawning adults this year due to long- term projections that conditions will not improve throughout the rest of the water year. It is anticipated that there will be compounding mortality for every life history stage in these watersheds above normal mortality rates.”

Problem Statement Current stream flows in many systems are inadequate to provide passage for migrating adult steelhead trout and salmon, increasing their vulnerability to mortality from predation, physiological stress, and angling

Proposed Emergency Response Implement emergency angling closures of selected waters to increase survival of adult wild steelhead and salmon by reducing angling mortality

Current Angling Closures Department authority under Title 14, Article 4, Section 8.00(c) South Central Coast Streams – Special Low Flow Closures December 1 through March 1 When stream flows are inadequate to provide fish passage for migrating steelhead trout and salmon

Overview of Proposed Emergency Closures American River Russian River North Coast and Central Coast low- flow restrictions South Central District streams west of Highway 1

Proposed Emergency Closures American River: from Nimbus Dam to the SMUD power line crossing at the southwest boundary of Ancil Hoffman Park until April 30 Russian River: main stem below the confluence of the East Branch of the Russian River until April 30

Proposed Emergency Closures Low Flow Restrictions: Extend angling closures for the North Coast and Central Coast areas through April 30 South Central District: close any stream west of Hwy 1 bridge except those listed by name in the Special Regulations until April 30

Questions / Thank You Stafford Lehr Chief of Fisheries Branch (916)