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Fisheries Enhancement Program

The purpose of the FEP is to improve the native fish resources of the Russian River and its tributaries. Since it began in 1996, the program has had a wide range of activities including habitat surveys, water quality assessments, habitat restoration, fish ladder design, and community creek clean-up events. The primary focus of the FEP is to enhance habitat for three salmonids: steelhead, Chinook salmon, and coho salmon. These three species are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. The California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) considers coho salmon endangered. The specific objectives of the FEP are: 1) to work cooperatively and in conjunction with other federal, state, and local agencies to preserve, enhance and restore fishery habitats and resources; 2) to develop research programs to study the fisheries within affected watersheds; and 3) to assist the Environmental Compliance Section of the Agency in the assessment of impacts, the writing of environmental documents, and permit compliance for Agency projects which may effect fisheries resources.

To accomplish the objectives of the FEP, the Agency conducts and coordinates fishery enhancement projects and provides grants to private and public organizations as an incentive to implement enhancement projects. Typical FEP projects include stream restoration, fish surveys, habitat assessments, and other fish enhancement activities. Work Plans describe the projects funded under the FEP. These plans are prepared annually by the Agency and are approved by the Agency's Board of Directors. FEP projects are coordinated with various agencies, such as the CDFG, North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (NCRWQCB), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and local Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs). The priorities for specific projects are established by the Agency in collaboration with CDFG and other agencies. Data collected during FEP habitat studies are provided to CDFG for entry into the Russian River Basin Plan Geographic Information System database and is accessible to other agencies through CDFG. Also, the Agency maintains all data collected for the FEP in their files.

  
Porter Creek Restoration to prevent erosion: before (left), during (middle), and after (right)

FEP Annual Report 1997-2001

This annual report summarizes 63 projects supported by the Agency and includes stream restoration, fish and habitat studies, and other related projects.

Fisheries Research

The Natural Resource Section conducts fisheries research and monitoring activities to support ongoing Agency operations and Endangered Species Act compliance. Several of the more recent fisheries reports are summarized below.


Mirabel Rubber Dam/Wohler Pool Fish Sampling Program

This five-year study evaluated the potential effects of the Mirabel Rubber Dam and Wohler Pool, a seasonal water supply reservoir, along the Russian River on Chinook salmon and steelhead. The study included video monitoring the fall adult Chinook salmon migration, rotary screw trapping during the spring of out migrating juvenile steelhead and salmon, and electrofishing salmonids and large fish predators in the Wohler Pool.

Steelhead Smolt Radio-telemetry Studies

Radio-telemetry was used to study steelhead smolt passage through the Wohler Pool on the mainstem Russian River. Transmitters were surgically implanted in hatchery smolts, and their movements were recorded above Mirabel Dam by boat and passage around the dam site with a fixed datalogging receiver. Radio tracking in spring 2000 showed the percentage of fish that passed the dam site differed substantially before and after the river was impounded. We expanded the study in 2001 and 2002 to include a free-flowing control reach and released smolts 11 km above the dam. Multiple telemetry stations were used to compare travel rates and residence times in free-flowing (river) and impounded (reservoir) reaches during both years. In 2002 we compared flow characteristics and smolt responses to three dam configurations: (1) full inflation, (2) partial deflation, and (3) partial deflation to create a notched effect.

Biological and Water Quality Monitoring in the Russian River Estuary

This study evaluated and monitored the impact of mechanical sandbar breaching at the mouth of the Russian River. The study included water quality sampling, fish and invertebrate sampling, and observations of pinniped (e.g., seal) numbers and behavior before and after breaching. An initial management study was conducted in 1992-1993 followed by five years of monitoring from 1996-2000.

Russian River Estuary Fish and Macro-Invertebrate Study

This study evaluates the distribution and abundance of aquatic species in the Russian River Estuary during late spring through early fall. The Estuary is the tidally-influenced portion of the river upstream from the coast. Juvenile steelhead and Chinook salmon were found in the Estuary. During 2003 the study evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of using several field survey techniques. Subsequent studies in 2004 and 2005 found juvenile steelhead in the upper Estuary during the entire study period and juvenile Chinook salmon throughout the Estuary until mid-summer.

Chinook Salmon Spawning Study, Russian River

This study includes spawning surveys for Chinook salmon for three consecutive years from 2002 and 2004. The purpose of the study was to determine the distribution and abundance of Chinook salmon spawning sites and compare results among years. The Agency began conducting surveys to address concerns that reduced water releases from Lake Mendocino may impact migrating and spawning Chinook salmon. Overall there has been a marked increase in the number of spawning Chinook salmon since the 1980s when Chinook salmon were considered nearly extirpated from the Russian River basin. This study documented 900 to over 1,000 redds annually in the upper Russian River.

Upper Russian River Steelhead Distribution Study

This study evaluated the distribution of young steelhead during summer conditions and assessed habitat along the Russian River from Ukiah to Healdsburg. Rearing habitat for steelhead may be limited in the river when water temperatures are highest. The fish composition included 12 native and non-native fish species. A total of 1,436 steelhead were observed in the 37 sample sites. Steelhead were found primarily upstream of Cloverdale with observations as high as 265 steelhead/km.

Data Report 1999-2001: Russian River Basin Steelhead and Coho Salmon Monitoring Program Pilot Study

This report summarizes fish and habitat data collected for the Russian River Basin Steelhead and Coho Salmon Monitoring Program. The monitoring program was designed to detect trends in salmonid populations and identify possible fisheries management and enhancement opportunities. The program includes detailed information on the distribution, habitat use, and abundance of juvenile steelhead and coho salmon in streams of the Russian River basin. Electrofishing and snorkel surveys were used to sample fish in five tributaries of the Russian River.

Restoration/Fish Passage

As part of its Fisheries Enhancement Program (FEP), the Agency sponsors and conducts riparian and aquatic habitat restoration projects within the Russian River watershed. Through restoration projects, the Agency strives to improve habitat for fish and other aquatic species and restore runs of salmonid species that have been negatively impacted by current and historic watershed uses. Several of these reports may be downloaded and viewed from the links provided below.

Mumford Dam Fish Passage and Riparian Restoration Project

A partnership between the Sonoma County Water Agency, California Department of Fish and Game, Coastal Conservancy, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission and American Rivers to provide fish passage over a major barrier to anadromous fish migration on the main stem of the Russian River.

Crocker Creek Dam Removal Project

The objectives of this project were to restore anadromous fish passage to the Crocker Creek watershed and stabilize eroding stream banks in the vicinity of the Crocker Creek Dam. Historically, the Crocker Creek Dam was a concrete buttress dam approximately 30 feet high and 100 feet wide and was originally constructed in the early 1900s. In 1995, the entire northern side of the dam collapsed and the creek upstream of the dam experienced major erosion and collapsed banks as a result of the acute loss of the major grade control structure. The dilapidated dam continued to obstruct fish passage. The project consisted of several restoration activities, including demolishing the remaining dam and spillway structures, stabilizing the dam abutment, biotechnical channel adjustments, and bank recontouring and revegetation. This fish passage project had its desired effect - adult steelhead were observed spawning above the restored dam area in 2005.

Copeland Creek Restoration Project

This project restored the creek channel along approximately 6,000 feet of Copeland Creek, which was intensively grazed by cattle for over a century. Starting in 1999, the project was implemented in four phases. The fourth and final phase of construction was completed during fall 2003. The project aimed to stabilize banks, decrease creek sediment load, fence and exclude cattle from the creek, and improve habitat for steelhead and other native fish and wildlife.

 
Copeland Creek Restoration Project before (left) and after (right)

Grants Program

To help meet the goals of the FEP Program, grants are available for fisheries habitat enhancement projects within the Russian River watershed. Eligible applicants include individuals, community groups, schools, other non-profits, and local, state and federal agencies. The grants can fund simple projects such as organizing volunteer help to monitor and clean up streams, or can fund complex stream restoration work.

Funding priority is given to projects that focus directly on enhancement of salmonid populations and habitat and cooperative involvement with other groups or agencies.

All FEP grants must be approved by the Agency's Board of Directors. Contingency funds may be available for smaller projects that are developed after the approval of the annual Fisheries Enhancement Program, which generally occurs in July of each year.