Recovery Planning

Sustainability

Natural Resources

Environmental Compliance

Russian River Estuary

Documenting Biodiversity of Coastal Salmon

To view or download Bodega Marine Lab's latest genetics work on coastal salmon in Northern California, click on the links below. Due to the large file size of this report, it has been broken into sections for faster download and viewing.

Status of Pacific Coast Salmon

Since 1991, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has listed twenty-six Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) of salmonids on the Pacific Coast as endangered or threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ESA requires that recovery plans be developed and implemented for the conservation and survival of these species. For recovery planning, NMFS has divided the ESUs on the Pacific Coast into nine geographic domains and will develop recovery plans for each. The Russian River watershed is part of the North-Central California Coast Recovery Planning Domain (Planning Domain), which encompasses watersheds from Mendocino County to Santa Cruz County. NMFS is in the early stages of the recovery planning process for this domain, which contains habitat for 3 threatened species (coho salmon, chinook salmon, and steelhead). On April 5, 2001, the California Fish and Game Commission started the process of listing coho salmon north of San Francisco Bay as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act. Both NMFS and the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) have identified their intentions to develop and implement early recovery actions for North Coast salmonids.

Recovery Planning Process

Section 4(f) of the ESA requires NMFS to develop and implement recovery plans for the conservation and survival of the threatened and endangered species. There are two major steps in the recovery planning process: the first step involves determining the conditions necessary to recover a listed species, and the second step involves developing a recovery plan that specifies the actions needed to change the conditions identified in the first step. To develop this information, NMFS will assemble a Technical Recovery Team (TRT) that identifies the factors limiting salmonid populations; characterizes habitat/fish abundance relationships; identifies recovery goals; and needed early recovery actions; identifies research, evaluation, and monitoring needs; and serves as science advisors to other groups charged with developing measures to achieve recovery. Early recovery actions may need to be approved by NMFS quickly so that initial land, water, or fishery management activities can be conducted as soon as possible.

A comprehensive approach to recovery planning is needed to address issues across the Planning Domain in order to consider and prioritize all the activities that limit salmon productivity and achieve successful recovery. The cooperation of numerous federal, state, regional and local agencies and private or academic institutions, various water users, and numerous local watershed councils that are currently involved in restoration, recovery and research activities related to salmonids will be critical to achieve recovery objectives. A crucial part of this process is for the fisheries agencies (NMFS and CDFG) to procure services of appropriate public and private agencies and institutions to assist in developing and implementing a recovery plan. Data collected by state, regional, local, and private entities regarding the status of the species, factors affecting the species, and ongoing or possible future restoration and conservation efforts need to be included in the planning process. Public agencies and private entities have much to offer to assist recovery planning and implementation of recovery efforts.

The Sonoma County Water Agency (Agency) is a public agency that conducts activities and maintains and operates facilities related to water diversion and storage, flood protection and sanitation. The Agency has recognized the need to balance salmonid habitat protection with the obligations of providing an adequate water supply, and maintaining flood control and sanitation facilities; and has accepted the role of assisting with the preparation of tools to assist in the recovery planning process and shape policies for the Russian River watershed and the Planning Domain that promote protection and restoration of salmonid habitat. By participating in recovery planning by conducting and supporting needed studies for the recovery planning process, the Agency hopes to stimulate federal, state, and local commitment and involvement to facilitate the timely completion of the process to the benefit of all parties involved.

Tools for Recovery Planning

The Agency is currently coordinating the development and seeking funding assistance for the following tools that assist with the recovery planning process and integrate with federal, state, regional, and local agencies and other entities involved in restoration, research, and recovery activities. These tools will provide information integral to the recovery planning process by providing information on habitat conditions needed to recover listed species and focusing restoration actions.

Klamath Resource Information System (KRIS) and Geographic Information System (GIS)

The KRIS database program is a Windows-based computer program that integrates and allows easy access to maps, data tables, charts, photographs, and research materials relevant to fisheries, water quality, and watershed management. The KRIS program assembles data in an easy-to-use format and permits users to analyze and evaluate changes and trends in watershed conditions over time. Development of a KRIS and GIS will provide a database of existing information relevant to fisheries, water quality, and watershed management throughout the north coast region. GIS data layers needed to evaluate factors limiting salmonid production will be developed and integrated with the KRIS database. The KRIS database program is currently being used as an information management tool by state agencies for a number of other north coast watersheds under the North Coast Watershed Assessment Program and will provide a unified platform for data review, analysis, and maintenance.

The Agency has entered into an agreement with the Institute for Fisheries Resources to develop a KRIS database for the North Bay that will incorporate existing watershed information and GIS data pertinent to salmon and steelhead recovery and develop new data relevant to the Agency's ongoing Section 7 Consultation and the recovery planning process. Additional GIS layers needed for recovery planning will be digitized under a separate program and prioritized in coordination with NMFS, CDFG, and the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, North Coast Region (NCRWQCB), and other local entities involved in the recovery planning process in the Planning Domain. The North Bay KRIS database will include information on separate watersheds in the northern portion of the Planning Domain: the Navarro and Garcia Rivers and immediately adjacent minor streams; the San Pablo Bay excluding the Napa River; the Russian River; as well as coastal watersheds of Marin and Sonoma counties including Salmon Creek, Bodega Bay, and Tomales and Drakes Bays.

Russian River Basin Plan Revision

The Agency and the NCRWQCB have entered into an agreement to revise the Russian River Basin Plan to incorporate water quality objectives and criteria protective of salmonids. The NCRWQCB is conducting various water quality monitoring activities and analyses to provide data necessary for the Basin Plan Amendment and for the calibration of the Russian River water quality model and additional temperature and water quality models for north coast watersheds in the Planning Domain. This data will be used for the Agency's ongoing Russian River Section 7 Consultation and to develop the Basin Plan Amendment.

Water Quality Modeling

The Agency and the NCRWQCB entered into an agreement to develop a water quality model for the Russian River. The model was developed with oversight by the NCRWQCB. The model will be used by the Agency for the Russian River Section 7 Consultation and by the NCRWQCB during revision of the Russian River Basin Plan. Additional temperature or water quality models will be developed for streams and creeks within the Planning Domain, including but not limited to the Petaluma River, Sonoma Creek, Lagunitas Creek, and Navarro River.

Conservation Hatchery Program

A conservation hatchery would be used to facilitate recovery of fisheries in the Russian River watershed. A conservation hatchery is a rearing facility that breeds fish genetically equivalent to native stock, with the goal of rearing fish capable of returning to reproduce naturally in their native habitat. Unlike production-oriented hatcheries, a conservation hatchery is intended to contribute to the recovery of a listed species by supplementing the native population. The area's existing hatcheries (owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and operated by the CDFG) are primarily production oriented, but could function as conservation hatcheries by incorporating new conservation management strategies.

Genetics Research

Genetics research is being conducted by Bodega Marine Lab (BML) to identify native fish stocks and focus recovery efforts. The genetic analyses will tell us if there are any native fish stocks in the Russian River watershed, where these stocks are located, and whether they are suitable for use in a conservation hatchery. The Agency and BML entered into an agreement to document biodiversity of coastal salmon in northern California for fisheries enhancement. Under the agreement, BML is conducting a study of population genetics for coho and chinook salmon and steelhead in the Russian River watershed. The information developed by BML under the agreement will contribute to recovery planning efforts for these listed species within the Russian River, and will be used in the Agency's ongoing Section 7 Consultation.

California Coastal Ocean Monitoring

Salmon spend approximately seventy-five percent of their life in the ocean but little is known about how ocean conditions influence salmonid survival and abundance. Long-term measurements of circulation in the plume area of the Russian River and other north bay streams and monitoring of various ocean water quality parameters by BML will be used to determine variations influencing or driving salmon abundance, and will be used to initiate a model of Russian River flows and velocities. Data describing the marine environment and identifying factors impeding salmonids are essential for the long-term assessment of coastal salmon recovery. To effectively evaluate future changes in management practices within the Russian River watershed, it is imperative to differentiate between the impact to salmon populations due to changes in ocean conditions and the impact due to changes in watershed management practices.

The Agency and BML have entered into an agreement to characterize ocean circulation and describe ocean conditions that influence salmonid survival and abundance. The agreement provides for data collection between Stewart's Point and Point Reyes. Ocean monitoring will involve the placement of high-frequency coastal radar (CODAR) units and mooring to allow for data collection in marine areas not currently addressed by existing ocean monitoring equipment.