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  • Title

    Enhanced Acoustic Tagging, Analysis, and Real-Time Monitoring

    Lead National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]
    Description Description This project tracks the movement and survival of wild and hatchery juvenile Chinook salmon with a large acoustic receiver network (JSATS), including real-time receivers, and the development of real-time metrics and retrospective modeling of juvenile salmon migration data. Need There is a well-documented need for improved detection and associated modeling of salmon migration and survival in the Central Valley. Understanding salmon survival and movement dynamics in the Delta and its tributaries is critical to the operation of state and federal water projects, recovery of ESA-listed species, and sport and commercial fisheries management. Objectives • Maintain 20 real-time JSATS receivers: will provide information on migrating salmon smolt location and timing of Delta entry and exist, which is key for informing time-sensitive decisions • Deployment of autonomous JSATS receiver array: this will provide fine-scale reach-specific survival and movement rates • Development of new metrics for the real-time data: this will inform key management relevant questions, such how many fish are entrained at critical junctions • Development of real-time website to convey movement and survival rates of acoustic tagged juvenile salmonids at various real-time locations in the Sacramento River and Delta.
    Science topics Salmon migration
    Updated April 29, 2022
  • Title

    Developing an eDNA metabarcoding protocol to improve fish and mussel monitoring in the San Francisco Estuary

    Lead National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]
    Description Description We propose to develop an eDNA metabarcoding protocol to complement existing IEP monitoring surveys and assess the effects of management activities such as habitat restoration or flow alteration. We will develop a reference sequence database for native and invasive fish, mussels, and other macroinvertebrates present in the San Francisco Estuary (SFE). We will optimize a molecular and computational pipeline for metabarcoding and ground truth the method against three SFE monitoring efforts, each using different sampling gear. We will investigate the relationship between eDNA sequence read count and fish biomass or abundance (EDSM survey). Finally, we will determine the ability of metabarcoding to detect fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages across large and small spatial scales and over time. Need Our overarching goal is to develop a non-invasive, low cost monitoring tool that can be used in conjunction with existing IEP monitoring programs or used alone to assess biological community composition at locations of interest in the SFE. This proposal is related to the 2020 – 2024 IEP Science Strategy by creating a new monitoring tool that can assist in two main areas: 1) Restoring Bay-Delta native fishes and community interactions and 2) assessing effects of flow alteration on Bay-delta aquatic resources. Broadly, this study will inform management decisions by supporting and augmenting existing monitoring surveys in the SFE. It will also lead to a richer and more complete understanding of SFE ecology. This study is not explicitly required by law or agreement, and to our knowledge is neither a recommended action nor a result from an IEP review or synthesis effort. Objectives Objective 1: Develop robust molecular methods and a computational pipeline for detection of SFE fish and macroinvertebrates by eDNA metabarcoding of water samples. Objective 2: Compare eDNA metabarcoding head-to-head with existing and historical monitoring data from three ongoing ecological surveys using diverse conventional sampling gear and evaluate accuracy of fish abundance and biomass estimates from eDNA metabarcoding data. Objective 3: Evaluate factors that influence eDNA detection of species of interest (e.g. rare or invasive species) and suites of species (e.g. benthic fishes and invertebrates) on two spatial scales, within and between habitats, along with temporal variation.
    Science topics Fish
    Updated April 29, 2022
  • Title

    Central Valley Enhanced Acoustic Tagging Project

    Lead National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]
    Description There is a well documented need for improved detection and associated modeling of salmon migration and survival in the Central Valley. We propose to address this need through an expanded acoustic receiver network and associated real-time and retrospective modeling of the data. The proposed work includes (1) the deployment of real-time receivers that will provide timely information on migrating salmon smolt location and timing, (2) expansion of the existing autonomous acoustic array to increase the coverage and detection efficiency;(3) development of new metrics for the real-time data for key management relevant questions such as entrainment estimates at critical junctions (Georgiana Slough and Delta Cross Channel);and (4) a retrospective analyses directly geared toward improving the quality and robustness of an existing forecasting model - the NMFS enhanced particle tracking model.
    Science topics Chinook Salmon, Steelhead Trout, Green sturgeon
    Updated April 29, 2022
  • Title

    National Water Level Observation Network [NWLON]

    Lead National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]
    Description NOAA’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) maintains the National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON), an observation network with more than 200 permanent water level stations on the coasts and Great Lakes. CO-OPS maintains three core observation and one modeling system. The National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON) is the foundation of the comprehensive system for observing, communicating, and assessing the impact of changing water levels nationwide. This system allows NOAA to provide the official tidal predictions for the nation. Accurate water level data is critical for safe and efficient marine navigation and for the protection of infrastructure along the coast. The NWLON also provides the national standards for tide and water level reference datums used for nautical charting, coastal engineering, international treaty regulation, and boundary determination. The NWLON is also widely recognized as the key federal component of the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS).
    Science topics Stage, Tides, Waves, Flood, Sea level rise
    Updated April 29, 2022
  • Title

    San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

    Lead National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]
    Description The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a network of 29 coastal sites designated to protect and study estuarine systems. Established through the Coastal Zone Management Act, the reserves represent a partnership program between NOAA and the coastal states. NOAA provides funding and national guidance, and each site is managed on a daily basis by a lead state agency or university with input from local partners.
    Science topics Stage, Air temperature, Precipitation, Wind, Solar irradiance, Nitrogen / ammonia, Phosphorous, Chlorophyll A / B, Salinity, Water temperature, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Turbidity, Intertidal / transition zones, Above-highwater refugia, Main channels, Sloughs, Backwater, Mollusks, Saltwater / freshwater marshes, Other species
    Updated April 29, 2022
  • Title

    Western Regional Climate Center [WRCC] - Weather Monitoring

    Lead National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]
    Description THE WESTERN REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTER (WRCC) is one of six National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Regional Climate Centers across the nation. The WRCC has been housed within DRI's Division of Atmospheric Science since its inauguration in 1986. WRCC acts as a repository for high-quality historical climate data and information for the western U.S., a region covering the eleven westernmost states, including Alaska, Hawaii, and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. WRCC offers value-added tools and maintains climate services staff to support the analysis and interpretation of climate data in support of decision-making. WRCC also helps to coordinate climate-related activities at local, state, regional, and national scales. Federal partners such as the National Integrated Drought Information System, the National Centers for Environmental Information, the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center, and the California Nevada Applications Program support some of WRCC's major activities. In addition to climate services, WRCC staff engage in applied research on a variety of weather and climate topics.
    Science topics Air temperature, Precipitation, Wind, Solar irradiance, Extreme heat, Extreme storms, Non-forested vegetation, Evaporation / evapotranspiration
    Updated April 29, 2022
  • Title

    Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service - Precipitation Monitoring

    Lead National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]
    Description "Observed" data is a byproduct of National Weather Service (NWS) operations at the 12 CONUS River Forecast Centers (RFCs), and is displayed as a gridded field with a spatial resolution of roughly 4x4 km. "Normal" precipitation is derived from PRISM climate data, created at Oregon State University. The PRISM gridded climate maps are considered the most detailed, highest-quality spatial climate datasets currently available. The 30 year PRISM normal from 1981-2010 is used for precipitation analysis since 2004. Prior to 2004 the 30 year PRISM normal from 1961-1990 is used.
    Science topics Surface water / flow, Groundwater, Precipitation, Stormwater runoff / drainage
    Updated April 29, 2022
  • Title

    Local Climatological Data

    Lead National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]
    Description (formerly the National Climate Data Center (NCDC)) Climate Data Online (CDO) provides free access to NCEI's archive of global historical weather and climate data in addition to station history information. These data include quality controlled daily, monthly, seasonal, and yearly measurements of temperature, precipitation, wind, and degree days as well as radar data and 30-year Climate Normals. Local Climatological Data (LCD) are summaries of climatological conditions from airport and other prominent weather stations managed by NWS, FAA, and DOD. The product includes hourly observations and associated remarks, and a record of hourly precipitation for the entire month. Also included are daily summaries summarizing temperature extremes, degree days, precipitation amounts and winds. The tabulated monthly summaries in the product include maximum, minimum, and average temperature, temperature departure from normal, dew point temperature, average station pressure, ceiling, visibility, weather type, wet bulb temperature, relative humidity, degree days (heating and cooling), daily precipitation, average wind speed, fastest wind speed/direction, sky cover, and occurrences of sunshine, snowfall and snow depth. The source data is global hourly (DSI 3505) which includes a number of quality control checks.
    Science topics Air temperature, Precipitation, Wind, Solar irradiance, Extreme heat, Extreme storms, Forests, Non-forested vegetation, Delta islands, Pacific flyway, Environmental drivers, Snowpack / snow water equivalent SWE, Evaporation / evapotranspiration
    Updated April 29, 2022
  • Title

    Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System [PORTS]

    Lead National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]
    Description PORTSA® is an integrated system of sensors concentrated in seaports that provide commercial vessel operators with accurate and reliable real-time information about environmental conditions. PORTA® measures and disseminates observations, predictions and nowcast/forecasts for water levels, currents, bridge air gap, salinity and meteorological parameters (e.g., winds, waves, atmospheric pressure, visibility, air and water temperatures). This data improves navigation safety by reducing groundings and collisions by up to 60% for commercial and recreational vessels and preventing oil spills. It can also increase shipping efficiency by reducing transit delays and allowing mariners to optimize their cargo load. Mariners need these data, tools, and services to make critical navigation decisions, especially as significantly larger vessels transit through U.S. ports because of the Panama Canal expansion.
    Science topics Docks and ports, Tides, Waves, Air temperature, Wind, Salinity, Water temperature, Main channels, Sloughs, Open water, Riparian wildlife, Environmental drivers, Vessels and shipping channels
    Updated April 29, 2022
  • Title

    Impact of Temperature and Contaminants on Chinook salmon survival: A Multi‐Stressor Approach

    Lead National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]
    Description This project will examine how contaminant exposures at different temperatures impact a number of critical physiological functions and the associated genes that maintain salmon fitness. The project will determine the sensitivity of fall‐run Chinook salmon to a mixture of bifenthrin, a pyrethoid pesticide, and triclosan, an antibacterial added to personal care products, at optimal and high temperatures that Chinook salmon encounter during their outmigration through the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. The hypothesis is that these stressors will impact salmon predator and disease susceptibility and will interact, such that the cumulative effect on salmon could not be predicted from multiple single exposures. To test the hypothesis, fall‐run Chinook salmon parr will be exposed to sublethal concentrations of bifenthrin, triclosan, and a mixture of bifenthrin and triclosan at different temperatures. The impacts of these exposures on salmon will be assessed with the following endpoints: (1) predator susceptibility through altered response latencies and escape velocities;  (2) disease susceptibility in response to a disease challenge; and (3) differential gene expression by high‐throughput sequencing of the Chinook salmon transcriptome.
    Science topics Pesticides
    Updated September 28, 2023