March 3, 2009

1. Middle Fork American River ProjectAQ 2 – Fish Population Technical Study Report 2007 -2008Overview March 3, 2009

2. Study Objectives • Document fish species composition, distribution, and abundance in the Project bypass and peaking reaches. • Characterize fish growth, condition factor, and population age structure in the Project bypass and peaking reaches. • Characterize fish species composition, relative abundance, and size in Project reservoirs and diversion pools.

3. AQ 2 – Fish Population Study Elements and Reports

4. Study Implementation • After reviewing the 2007 study results, the Aquatic TWG identified a set of river study sites to sample in 2008 to augment the 2007 river sampling results.

5. Fish Population Study Sites • 2007 Sites • 21 River, 4 Reservoirs, 3 Diversion Pools • 2008 Sites • 14 River (3 New), Qualitative Hardhead, Ralston Afterbay

6. Fish Population Study Sites 2007 River Study Sites

7. Fish Population Study Sites 2008 River Study Sites

8. Fish Population Study Sites 2008 River Study Sites Hardhead Qualitative Hardhead Qualitative Hardhead Qualitative Hardhead Qualitative

9. Study Reporting • This report includes 2007 – 2008 results. • The 2008 results have been combined with the 2007 study results and the discussion has been updated.

10. Study Results • Distribution and Diversity • Reservoirs and Rivers • Abundance • Reservoirs, Rivers, Ralston Afterbay • Trout Biomass • Fish Population Comparison Sites • Fish Size, Age, Growth and Condition Factor • Timing of Fry • Others • Electrofishing versus Snorkeling • Small Stream Diversion Pool Sampling • Species and Lifestage Periodicity Chart • Water Temperature

11. Distribution, Diversity, Abundance, Biomass Data Sets • Rivers (2007 & 2008) • Project Bypass and Peaking • Comparison Rivers • Above Small Stream Diversions • Reservoirs • 2007 • Hell Hole Reservoir, French Meadows Reservoir, Middle Fork Interbay, Ralston Afterbay • 2008 • Ralston Afterbay (Sonar, Gill Nets, Electrofishng)

12. Distribution and Diversity • Rivers (Trout and Minnows)

13. Distribution and Diversity • Streams (Trout and Minnows)

14. Distribution and Diversity

15. Abundance Reservoirs (Gill Netting)

16. Trout Abundance (Rivers 2007)

17. Trout Abundance (Rivers 2007) Carefull with interpretation..see previous slide for pound per mile

18. Trout Abundance (Rivers 2007) (linear estimates only)

19. 2008 Report Correction 2007 Report 2007 Duncan Creek Data Sheet Error Error found during 2008 resampling: 17’ not 171 (also analysist swapped length and width in 2007 “recognizing” length should be longer than the width)

20. Trout Abundance (Rivers 2008)

21. Trout Abundance (Rivers 2008) (linear estimates only)

22. Hardhead/Pikeminnow Abundance • Study Wide (2007-2008) • 127 Hardhead • 90% < 6”, 95% from Ralston Afterbay • 217 Pikeminnow • 95% < 6”, 56% from Ralston Afterbay • Ralston Afterbay • >1000 per mile of shoreline (3 miles of shoreline) • Majority were 80-150 mm • River Sites • Overall very few observed at river sites (patchy distribution) • Bypass Reaches—Majority just upstream of Ralston in Rubicon River • Peaking Reach—Few locations (e.g., Otter Creek, Horseshoe Bar) • Comparison Reaches—Patchy distribution

23. Hardhead/Pikeminnow Abundance • Distribution above Ralston Afterbay limited by barriers

24. Fish Population Comparisons • Comparison Sites • Upstream and Downstream Diversions Sites • South Fork Long Canyon Diversion (2007,2008) • North Fork Long Canyon Diversion (2007) • Duncan Creek Diversion (2007,2008) • Upstream and Downstream of Reservoir Sites • French Meadows Reservoir (2007) • Hell Hole Reservoir (2007) • Comparison River Sites Versus • Peaking Reach Sites (2007,2008?) • Bypass Reach Sites (2007,2008)

25. Physical Comparability of River Comparison Sites

26. NF Long Cyn Duncan Crk SF Long Cyn Above & Below Diversions 2007

27. Above & Below Diversions 2007 (linear estimates only) SF Long Cyn NF Long Cyn Duncan Crk

28. SF Long Cyn Duncan Crk Above & Below Diversions 2008

29. SF Long Cyn Duncan Crk Above & Below Diversions 2008 (linear estimates only)

30. Other River Comparison Sites 2007 (linear estimates only)

31. Other River Comparison Sites 2008 (linear estimates only)

32. 2007 Trout Size Rivers & Streams

33. 2008 Trout Size Rivers & Streams

34. Trout Condition Factors in Rivers

35. Ralston Afterbay • Gill Netting • CPUE (see previous reservoir results) • Sonar • Map & Estimates by depth • Electrofishing • Map & Estimates by fish species and size • Gear Selectivity • All fish • Hardhead

36. Ralston Afterbay • Gill Netting Locations

37. Ralston Afterbay • Sonar Transects

38. Ralston Afterbay • Sonar Results

39. Ralston Afterbay • Electrofishing Locations

40. Ralston Afterbay • Electrofishing

41. Ralston Afterbay • Gear Size Selectivity

42. Ralston Afterbay • Hardhead

43. Other Survey Results (see 2007-2008 Report) • Trout Age and Growth Rivers • Reservoir Trout Size • Timing of Fry • Rainbow and Brown Trout Fry • Hardhead-Pikeminnow • 2007 Electrofishing Versus Snorkeling • 2007 Small Stream Diversion Pool Sampling • Species and Lifestage Periodicity • Water Temperature

44. Consultation Needs • Fish Population Sampling Sites 2009 • Review 2007 and 2008 data with Aquatic TWG to determine which river sites will be sampled in year 3, if any, to identify the temporal abundance of fish species. • Identify appropriate fish standing crop comparison datasets in collaboration with the Aquatic TWG