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Title	Review of Four Juvenile Salmon Coded Wire Tag Experiements Conducted in the Delta
Lead	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS]
Description	The US Fish and Wildlife Service, Stockton Fish and Wildlife Office, has since the mid-1980s conducted several multi-year release-recovery experiments with coded-wire-tagged juvenile Chinook salmon. The objectives of the studies were (1) to estimate survival through the lower portions of the Sacramento and San Joaquin river systems, the California Delta, and (2) to quantify the factors affecting survival. Four of these studies, listed more or less by their historical start dates, are the Delta Cross Channel, Interior, Delta Action 8, and VAMP experiments.
Science topics	Chinook Salmon
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Pilot Mark-Recapture Study to Estimate Delta Smelt Pre-Screen Loss and Salvage Efficiency
Lead	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS]
Description	The purpose of this project is to perform a study to determine whether it is feasible to quantify entrainment losses of juvenile and adult delta smelt due to water exports. This information is critical to better understanding the movement of Delta smelt in the system.
Science topics	Delta Smelt
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Estimating Juvenile Chinook Salmon Spring and Winter Run bundance at Chipps Island
Lead	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS]
Description	The purpose of this project will develop and implement a DNA sampling protocol for juvenile Chinook salmon captured at Chipps Island.
Science topics	Chinook Salmon
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Estimating Abundance of Juvenile Winter-run Chinook Salmon Entering and Exiting the Delta [SAIL]
Lead	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS]
Description	This is a continuation of a five-year project funded by CDWR and CDFW and the Central Valley Project Improvement Act in 2017. The objective of the project is to improve estimates of population abundances for fall, winter and spring run juvenile Chinook Salmon at Sacramento and Chipps Island by improving trawl efficiency estimates using data from releases of coded wire tags (CWT), acoustic tags (AT), and by genetically sampling the trawl catch in 2025 and 2026. The project will (1) develop statistical models for estimating trawl efficiencies using 2016-2025 data for paired AT-CWT releases of winter run and fall-run Chinook Salmon; (2) use 2016-2025 genetic sampling of trawl catch in combination with efficiency estimates to estimate population abundances of fall, spring and winter run at Sacramento and Chipps Island for 2016-2025; (3) implement trawl efficiency studies for multiple salmon runs in 2025-2026 informed by the prior results and in coordination with hatcheries for inclusion of AT fish with existing CWT releases; and (4) combine trawl efficiencies with genetic samples of trawl catch to provide estimates of fall, spring and winter-run salmon abundance (with estimated precision) entering and exiting the Delta in 2016-2025.
Science topics	Chinook Salmon
Updated	May 19, 2025

Title	Enhanced Delta Smelt Monitoring [EDSM]
Lead	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS]
Description	Description: The Enhanced Delta Smelt Monitoring (EDSM) program is a comprehensive, year-round monitoring initiative that employs multiple research crews conducting concurrent trawling operations across designated strata within the San Francisco Estuary. The program specifically targets post-larval Delta Smelt from April through June using 20mm trawling gear, while Kodiak trawling gear is utilized for the remainder of the year. Need: The ongoing decline of the Delta Smelt population has underscored the critical need for continuous improvement in the data supporting our understanding of the ecological and anthropogenic factors influencing Delta Smelt population dynamics. The EDSM program plays a vital role in providing essential biological data that informs management strategies aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of water operations on this endangered species. By capturing data across nearly all life stages of Delta Smelt, including near-real-time information on juvenile and adult stages, the EDSM program offers significant conservation benefits. This data is promptly disseminated to the Smelt Working Group and other resource managers to facilitate informed decision-making during the critical entrainment season. Objectives: -Estimate the total abundance of Delta Smelt, including standard errors or confidence intervals, on a weekly to bi-weekly basis across various life stages (post-larvae, juveniles, sub-adults, adults) throughout the year. -Assess the spatial distribution of Delta Smelt at a management-relevant temporal and spatial resolution. -Provide data that supports management decisions and addresses scientific inquiries related to sampling efficiency, drivers of Delta Smelt population patterns, and other conservation and management-related topics.
Science topics	Conductivity, Crustaceans, Delta Smelt, Dissolved oxygen, Endangered species, Fish, Invertebrates, Jellyfish, Main channels, Monitoring methods and techniques, Mysis, Other species, Pelagic fish, Salinity, Temperature, Turbidity, Water conveyance / infrastructure, Water management, Water operations / exports, Water temperature
Updated	May 23, 2025

Title	Extracting Better Information from Long-Term Monitoring Data: Estimating Occupancy and Abundance of Near-Shore Fishes in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta
Lead	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS]
Description	Description The purpose of this study is to expand IEP monitoring and inference to other dominant near-shore, littoral habitats not sampled by beach seines through the use of boat electrofishing. To accomplish this we will sample key littoral fish species across various near-shore habitats in order to determine how best to estimate abundance, occupancy, capture probabilities, and related environmental drivers. Need Expanding DJFMP sampling to other habitats throughout the Delta will allow our program to detect and monitor fishes and ecological trends through time, alleviating a recognized data gap. Current sampling relies on data collected through non-random fixed point sampling of unobstructed habitats, which limits the utility of our data to inform management decision. Objectives • Design boat electrofishing survey methods to expand DJFMP’s monitoring into habitats and locations not sampled by beach seining. • Design and develop field and data analysis methods for estimating capture probability and abundance using boat electrofishing techniques. • Predict spatio-temporal distribution of habitats occupied by key littoral species.
Science topics	Habitat
Updated	April 24, 2025

Title	San Francisco Bay Joint Venture
Lead	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS]
Description	The San Francisco Bay Joint Venture (SFBJV) brings together over one hundred environmental organizations, governmental agencies, landowners, and the business community to achieve a common goal and vision: protect, restore and enhance wetlands throughout the nine Bay Area counties, for the benefit of wildlife and people. The San Francisco Bay Joint Venture (SFBJV) is one of twenty-two habitat-based Migratory Bird Joint Ventures (JV) that cover nearly all of the U.S. and Canada and much of Mexico. The SFBJV coordinates strategic habitat conservation throughout the nine San Francisco (SF) Bay Area counties in accordance with the SFBJV Implementation Plan. SFBJV partners work to protect, restore and enhance habitats through project implementation and by advancing related science, policy and communication priorities. The Joint Venture program provides opportunities to develop and deliver creative solutions to our current conservation challenges through the power of collaboration and partnership. The SFBJV is funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and grants from other partners and programs.
Science topics	Hunting, Agriculture, Urban development, Recreation & tourism, Surface water / flow, Flood, Mudflats, Intertidal / transition zones, Above-highwater refugia, Main channels, Sloughs, Backwater, Submerged aquatic vegetation, Floating aquatic vegetation, Seasonally flooded, Open water, Managed ponds, Riparian wildlife, Delta islands, Pacific flyway, Waterfowl, Shorebirds, Gulls, Saltwater / freshwater marshes, Habitat, Non-resident / overwintering birds
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Coleman and Livingston Stone Hatchery Releases
Lead	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS]
Description	The federal hatcheries mark and tag fish that are released into the river or bay using a combination of coded wire tags (CWT) and adipose fin clipping. The number of fish tagged and the identifiers are reported to the RMPC which is part of the RMIS. The Regional Mark Processing Center (RMPC) provides essential services to international, state, federal, and tribal fisheries organizations involved in marking anadromous salmonids throughout the Pacific region. These services include regional coordination of some tagging and fin marking programs, maintenance of databases for Coded Wire Tag Releases, Recoveries, and Locations, as well as the dissemination of reports of these data in electronic or printed form when requested. These databases are known collectively as the Regional Mark Information System (RMIS).â€
Science topics	Water temperature, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Turbidity, Chinook Salmon, Steelhead Trout, Conductivity
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Aquatic Invasive Species [AIS] Program
Lead	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS]
Description	The overarching AIS goal is that "Risks of aquatic invasive species invasions are substantially reduced, and their economic, ecological, and human health impacts are minimized.â€ This goal is addressed through a series of performance and workload measures. The AIS Program provides funding for Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinators for each Region within the Service and their respective aquatic nuisance species activities. These coordinators work closely with the public and private sector to develop and implement invasive species projects. One of the primary initiatives of the program is the prevention of invasive species via boats through the "100th Meridian Initiative" (overseen by individual AIS regional coordinators). This initiative aims to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species by boats personal watercraft and other pathways. Through boat inspections and boaters assessments along the 100th meridian, partners can learn how to prevent the spread of zebra mussels and other AIS via transport of boats and personal watercraft.
Science topics	Mudflats, Intertidal / transition zones, Above-highwater refugia, Main channels, Sloughs, Backwater, Submerged aquatic vegetation, Floating aquatic vegetation, Seasonally flooded, Open water, Managed ponds, Riparian wildlife, Mollusks, Crustaceans, Striped bass, Corbicula/Potamocorbula, Nutria, Water hyacinth, Brazilian waterweed, Spongeplant, Giant reed, Yellow star thistle, Saltwater / freshwater marshes, Fish, Mammals, Amphibians and reptiles, Invasive / non native species
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Juvenile Salmonid Monitoring - Red Bluff Diversion Dam
Lead	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS]
Description	The Red Bluff Fish and Wildlife Office (RBFWO) established a juvenile fish monitoring program using rotary-screw traps at the Red Bluff Diversion Dam (RBDD) in 1994. The primary objectives of this project at present are to (1) obtain juvenile winter Chinook production indices and to correlate these indices with estimated escapement from adult estimates provided by the winter Chinook carcass survey, (2) define seasonal and temporal patterns of abundance of winter, spring, fall and late-fall run Chinook salmon and steelhead trout passing RBDD and (3) obtain relative abundance information (catch per unit volume) for green sturgeon and lamprey to monitor trends in abundance.
Science topics	Water conveyance / infrastructure, Surface water / flow, Stage, Velocity, Water temperature, Turbidity, Chinook Salmon, Steelhead Trout, Green sturgeon, Water intakes, fish screens & passage
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Delta Juvenile Fish Monitoring Program [DJFMP]
Lead	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS]
Description	The Delta Juvenile Fish Monitoring Program (DJFMP) has monitored natural-origin and hatchery-origin juvenile Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and other fish species within the San Francisco Estuary (SFE) since 1976 using a combination of midwater trawls and beach seines. Since 2000, three trawl sites and at least 58 beach seine sites have been sampled weekly or biweekly within the SFE and lower Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. The main objectives of the DJFMP are: 1. Document the long-term abundance and distribution of juvenile Chinook Salmon in the Delta. 2. Comprehensively monitor throughout the year to document the presence of all races of juvenile Chinook Salmon. 3. Intensively monitor juvenile Chinook salmon during the fall and winter months for use in managing water project operations (Delta Cross Channel gates and water export levels) on a real-time basis. 4. Document the abundance and distribution of Steelhead. 5. Document the abundance and distribution of non-salmonid species.
Science topics	Aquatic vegetation, Chinook Salmon, Conductivity, Crustaceans, Dissolved oxygen, Endangered species, Environmental drivers, Estuaries, Fish, Habitat, Historical ecology, Intertidal / transition zones, Invasive / non native species, Invertebrates, Jellyfish, Main channels, Monitoring methods and techniques, Mysis, Open water, Other species, Pelagic fish, Salinity, Salmon migration, Salmon rearing, SAV/FAV, Steelhead Trout, Turbidity, Water conveyance / infrastructure, Water management, Water operations / exports, Water temperature
Updated	May 21, 2025

Title	National Wetlands Inventory
Lead	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS]
Description	"The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) was established by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to conduct a nationwide inventory of U.S. wetlands to provide biologists and others with information on the distribution and type of wetlands to aid in conservation efforts. This is done through the use of a wetland classification system, and the development of techniques for mapping and recording data. This dataset represents the extent, approximate location and type of wetlands and deepwater habitats in California." See: https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/nwi/Overview.html
Science topics	Surface water / flow, Mudflats, Intertidal / transition zones, Seasonally flooded, Open water, Managed ponds, Riparian wildlife, Saltwater / freshwater marshes
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Mid-Winter Waterfowl Survey [MWS]
Lead	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS]
Description	Some geese and ducks are not adequately monitored during the spring and summer because they nest in areas not well covered by breeding population surveys. Abundance indices for these species are obtained from surveys on wintering areas. Most of these surveys are targeted at specific species or populations. A nationwide effort to survey all waterfowl is conducted annually in January. This, the Mid-winter Waterfowl Survey, provides information on population trends for some species, distribution on the wintering grounds, and habitat use. The Mid-Winter Waterfowl Survey is conducted cooperatively by the states and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Science topics	Hunting, Waterfowl
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Central Valley Joint Venture [CVJV]
Lead	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS]
Description	The Central Valley Joint Venture (CVJV) is a self-directed coalition consisting of 21 State and Federal agencies, private conservation organizations and one corporation. This partnership directs their efforts toward the common goal of providing for the habitat needs of migrating and resident birds in the Central Valley of California. The CVJV was established in 1988 as a regional partnership focused on the conservation of waterfowl and wetlands under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. It has since broadened its focus to the conservation of habitats for other birds, consistent with major national and international bird conservation plans and the North American Bird Conservation Initiative. The Central Valley Habitat Joint Venture was formally organized in 1988 and was one of the original six priority joint ventures formed under the NAWMP. Renamed the Central Valley Joint Venture in 2004, the Management Board now consists of nineteen public and private members. The CVJV is currently administered through a coordination office within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and is guided by a Management Board that receives input and recommendations from a variety of working committees.
Science topics	Hunting, Agriculture, Urban development, Recreation & tourism, Mudflats, Intertidal / transition zones, Above-highwater refugia, Seasonally flooded, Riparian wildlife, Waterfowl, Shorebirds, Gulls, Habitat, Non-resident / overwintering birds
Updated	April 29, 2022

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