Two-Dimensional (2-D) Acoustic Fish Tracking at River Mile 85, Sacramento River, California
Abstract
Fish behavior in response to levee repairs at River Mile 85.6 of the Sacramento River was monitored using 60 VR2W 180-kHz and 45 VR2W 69-kHz receivers to create a large scale, two-dimensional (2-D) positioning system. Research teams released 250 late-fall Chinook salmon smolts from Coleman National Fish Hatchery were released into the river near Knights Landing, California. Smolts were implanted with VEMCO V6 180-kHz acoustic tags. Other research teams released late-fall Chinook, steelhead trout, smallmouth bass, striped bass, green sturgeon, and white sturgeon tagged with 69.0-kHz equipment. A stretch of river that was approximately 750 x 90 m in size was monitored from January 13, 2011 until March 5, 2011. More than 7,000 2-D positions were calculated for 215 late-fall Chinook salmon released near the study site. The majority (88.8%) of smolts never came within 20 m of the levee repair site, and their tracks occurred in the channel or away from the levee repair site with individuals rapidly moving through the study site. The average transit time through the study site was 14 min 04 sec. No significant difference in the migratory rates of smolts released at different locations (p = 0.084). There was a strong diel component to the movement of juvenile Chinook salmon smolts at the study site (p < 0.01). A significant difference was observed in the survival rate of the smolts when they were grouped by size (<130 mm = small; >130 mm = large), but not by release date. The levee repair site did not appear to have a positive influence on smolt recruitment. Many of the smolts that approached the repair site subsequently moved away from the area, and smolts detected within the levee repair area were not observed to have significantly longer transit times through the sit than fish that were observed in the channel or on the opposite bank (p = 0.54).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA583086
Entities
People
- Brian Mulvey
- David L. Smith
- Philip T. Sandstrom
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center