Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Sacramento Pikeminnow and Striped Bass at the Red Bluff Diversion Complex, Including the Research Pumping Plant, Sacramento, California: January 1997 to August 1998. Red Bluff Research Pumping Plant Report Series.

摘要

Red Bluff Research Pumping Plant (RPP) is being evaluated by the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) to determine if pumping water through Archimedes or internal helical pumps is a viable method for meeting water delivery requirements to the Tehama-Colusa Canal system. Pumps were installed at the RPP and were operated on an experimental basis. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) was contracted to determine the in-river biological implications of the RPP. A goal of these investigations was to determine if construction and operation of the RPP may influence local population size and distribution of Sacramento pikeminnow, Ptychocheilus grandis, and striped bass, Morone saxatilis, and possible predation impacts on emigrating juvenile salmonids. This report summarizes monitoring activities at Red Bluff Diversion Dam (RBDD) from January, 1997 through August, 1998. Sacramento pikeminnow and striped bass were sampled by angling and electrofishing, during daylight hours. The areas sampled included RBDD, the RPP, the bypass outfall structure and a relatively undisturbed area downstream of RBDD. Specific sample sites were selected and a uniform sampling protocol was implemented. Mean catch per hour (CPH) was calculated at each site for both species and each sampling technique. A three-way block analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine if significant differences in mean CPH existed among sampling sites, operational protocols at RBDD (gates raised versus gates lowered), and periods when experimental pumps were runmng versus when pumps were idle.