LOWER YUBA RIVER ACCORDMonitoring and Evaluation Program

Redd Surveys

Casey Campos PSMFC

Redd Survey Presentation

• 2008-2009 Pilot Redd Survey

• Index-Area Survey, Extensive-Area Survey, Aerial Survey

• Lessons Learned From the Pilot Survey

• Analysis of Pilot Survey Data

• Overview of 2009-2010 Redd Survey Protocols

• Preliminary Results from 2009-2010 Redd Survey

Overview

2008-2009 Pilot Redd Survey

Index-Area Redd Survey

• Redd Attributes

• Level of Superimposition

• Spawning Periodicities of Differing Runs

Index-Area Site

2008-2009 Pilot Redd Survey

Extensive-Area Redd Survey

• Monthly River Surveys

• Spatial and Temporal Redd Distribution throughout the spawning season

2008-2009 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 area’s estimated redd counts

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Red

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Sampling Date

Redds Counted

Predicted Redd Counts

N = 34

R2 = 0.83

MSE = 3.2

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

Average Redd Abundance

(Redds)

95% Confidence Interval (Redds)

Relative Bias (%)

Weekly 596 (517 - 679) -0.42%

Bi-Weekly 591 (494 - 682) -1.24%

Tri-Weekly 624 (488 - 781) 4.19%

Monthly 686 (498 - 1021) 14.58%

599

Redd Abundance Estimated from 100 simulationsTrue Redd Abundance

(Redds)

Redd Survey Sampling

Frequency

Overview of 2009-2010 and Long-Term Redd Survey

• Weekly extensive-area redd surveys August to May

• Surveys now including the Englebright Reach

• Systematic sampling of every 17th redd for physical measurements

• Newly constructed redds marked to avoid double counts

• Data dictionary added to GPS units to increase data collection efficiency

Preliminary ResultsSpatial/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

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Spatial/Temporal Distribution of Chinook Salmon Redds

Above State Route 20Between State Route 20 and DaguerreBelow Daguerre Point Dam

Preliminary ResultsSpatial/Temporal Density of Chinook Salmon Redds

• Density of Chinook Salmon Redds moves downriver over time

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Weekly Chinook Salmon Redds per Mile

Above State Route 20Between State Route 20 and DaguerreBelow Daguerre

Preliminary ResultsChinook 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)

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Chinook Redds Per Mile During the 2009-2010 Spawning Season

Above State Route 20 =1,355Between State Route 20 and Daguerre =1,148Below Daguerre Point Dam =865338.75

Redds/Mile

164 Redds/Mile

86.5 Redds/Mile

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 ResultsSpatial/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

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Spatial/Temporal Distribution of Steelhead Trout Redds

Above State Route 20Between State Route 20 and DaguerreBelow Daguerre Point Dam

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