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Survival and movement patterns of central California coast native steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the Napa River

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Abstract

Drawing on acoustic telemetry this study identifies and describes local and regional scale survival and movement patterns of Central California Coast steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), including their potential utilization of newly restored tidal marsh habitats in the Napa River system. Between April 8th and May 5th of 2010, 20 steelhead smolts ranging in fork length from 164 to 305 mm were collected, tagged with acoustic transmitters, and released in the upper Napa River (above tidal influence). We found no effect of release date (P < 0.001) or size (P < 0.005) on survival estimates based on model likelihoods. Cumulative survival from smolt release location to the Golden Gate Bridge over approximately 77 river kilometers (RKM) was 0.60 (SE = 0.16). Reach-specific survival was lowest in the initial 30 km reach (0.70 SE = 0.1). Survival was higher in San Pablo Bay (0.89 SE = 0.1) and San Francisco Bay (0.96 SE = 0.2). Sixty percent of the fish that entered the ocean were detected on a line of acoustic monitors at Point Reyes approximately 60 km north of the Golden Gate. Average movement rates of smolts were highest in San Pablo Bay (36.6 km∙d-1 SE = 3.3) and San Francisco Bay (28.9 km∙d-1 SE = 6.6). Smolts migrated more slowly in the river (9.0 km∙d-1 SE = 0.9) and ocean (4.1 km∙d-1 SE = 1.2). However, smolt movement rates in the river were dependent on location. Average movement rates of smolts were greatest shortly before their exit from the Napa River (83 km∙d-1 SE = 13.2). Fish were not detected within the recently reconnected former salt production ponds (North, Central, and South units) adjacent to the Napa River. Based on the detection patterns of fish throughout the study area, it appears that most fish were moving at relatively high rates and were not exploring off-channel habitat.

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Acknowledgements

Thank you to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Restoration Center (Southwest Region staff) and Ducks Unlimited. Funding to complete this research was provided by NOAA American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through a grant to Ducks Unlimited. We also thank the California Department of Game for allowing us to deploy receivers in the restored tidal marsh habitats (North, Central, and South units). We thank the California Fish Tracking Consortium for maintaining both the receiver array and centralized database which made possible detections at locations outside of the Napa River. We thank the Biotelemetry Laboratory at UC Davis for supplies and technical support. We also thank Jonathan Koehler and the Napa County Resource Conservation District for operating the rotary screw trap, which enabled us to tag the juvenile steelhead. POST and NOAA Santa Cruz for supporting the Pt Reyes line of receivers.

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  1. Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    P. T. Sandstrom & G. Singer

  2. ECORP Consulting, Inc., 2525 Warren Drive, Rocklin, CA, 95677, USA

    T. Keegan

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  1. P. T. Sandstrom
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  2. T. Keegan
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  3. G. Singer
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Correspondence to P. T. Sandstrom.

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Sandstrom, P.T., Keegan, T. & Singer, G. Survival and movement patterns of central California coast native steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the Napa River. Environ Biol Fish 96, 287–302 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-012-0092-4

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