Science activity

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. Additionally, the program incorporates gear efficiency experiments and shallow water sampling protocols whenever feasible to enhance data collection.
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.