2022 Enhanced Predatory Fish Removal and Relocation Study
The Enhanced Predatory Fish Removal and Relocation Study (EPFRRS) was developed as part of the proposed action during the 2019 Reinitiation of Consultation on Long-Term Operation of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (ROC on LTO) and was included in the Incidental Take Permit for the State Water Project (SWP ITP). The goal of EPFRRS is to use the most successful methods from previous studies, such as the Predator Reduction Electrofishing Study (PRES) and the Predatory Fish Relocation Study (PFRS), to reduce predation on protected fish species in Clifton Court Forebay (CCF), primarily juvenile Chinook Salmon and steelhead. The EPFRRS 2022 field season ran from January 3 through May 12, with a one week cancellation from January 10 through January 14. Cancellation was for two reasons. 1) There were staff that contracted COVID, so fieldwork was cancelled to avoid potential exposures, and 2) there was a temporary increase in the presence of Sacramento Splittail in CCF.
Data files
Supporting files
| Data title and description | Access data | File details | Last updated |
|---|---|---|---|
EPFRRS 2022 Annual Report There were four gear types used during the 2022 field season; electrofishing, beach seine, hoop traps, and Kodiak trawl. Electrofishing consisted of two electrofishing boats focusing on hotspots identified during PRES and the 2021 field season. The 2,000 ft beach seine was used, and hoop traps were deployed for 24-48 hours of passive fishing. The Kodiak trawl was modified from its use during PFRS in 2019, with an enlarged net opening and a much longer taper to the cod-end. The beach seine and Kodiak trawl were alternated due to the high resource demand needed for these two gear-types (i.e., when the beach seine was fished the Kodiak trawl was not, and vice-versa). Predatory fish removed included black basses, Striped Bass, catfish, and sunfish. However, sunfish were removed opportunistically and were not specifically fished for. Fieldwork was scheduled for four days a week, Monday through Thursday, each week. However, fieldwork was canceled if the weather presented unsafe working conditions. In total, fieldwork was conducted on 55 days during the field season. | PDF | 06/24/26 |