Inland Waters: Lakes and Streams WFC 50 11 January 2011 Lisa Thompson Fisheries Extension Specialist Wildlife, Fish, & Conservation Biology Department University of California, Davis Take home messages Fish species in California s inland waters are highly adapted to the Mediterranean climate Extended periods of hot, dry weather Multi-year droughts Many species are at the southern limit of their range Outline Focus on Central Valley Fish species richness Distribution of species by elevation Clear Lake Hitch Butte Creek Spring-run run Chinook Anadromous salmonid California Regions Which region are you from? Which watershed? Which native fish species live there? Freshwater Fish Species Richness More native species at lower elevations Higher elevation waters less productive Fewer species in deserts, but rarity hotspots! Fish Species Richness # native species 67 # non-native native species 52 + How do they get here? 1
Fish Zones Fish Habitat Needs Water flow, volume Water temperature Dissolved oxygen Food supply Spawning habitat Rearing habitat Cover from predators Passage (corridors) to move between habitats during life cycle Moyle et al. 1998 Species Water Temperature Water Temperature ( F) Migration Spawning Incubation Juvenile Rearing Preferred Optimum Lethal Chinook 51.1-66.9 42.1-57.0 41.0-57.9 45.1-58.3 54.0 77.4 (Fall run) Chum 46.9-60.1 45.0-55.0 39.9-55.9 52.2-58.3 56.3 78.4 Coho 45.0-60.1 39.9-48.9 39.9-55.9 53.2-58.3 --- 78.4 Steelhead --- 39.0-48.9 --- 45.1-58.3 50.0 75.4 Source: Adapted from Beschta et al. (1987) Note: C = ( F-32)/1.8 Watersheds in Northern California Federal project State project Local project Wild & scenic Natural lake, river Saline / alkaline lake Irrigated area Urbanized area Pumping or power plant Map courtesy of the Water Education Foundation Lakes and Reservoirs California has relatively few natural lakes, but a lot of reservoirs Temperature depends on elevation, and on temperature of streams flowing in Often dammed at outflow for water regulation Streams High (Sierra; mountain-foothills) Cold, higher gradient Low (Central Valley foothills-mainstem Sacramento & San Joaquin-Delta) Warmer in summer, lower gradient Integrate inputs of pollution, nutrients & sediment from upstream Streams and rivers often dammed Flood control Hydropower Agricultural and municipal water use 2
Stream Hydrology Clear Lake North Fork American River Typical annual hydrograph of an undammed Sierra Nevada River High winter flows Low summer base flow 2007, 2008, and 2009 were drought years 2010 had below normal runoff 2011 is above average (so far) Dams reverse natural hydrograph Lower winter flows Higher summer flows Clear Lake Habitat Outflows from Clear Lake 2.5 million years old Area ~ 40,000 acres 17 miles long, 1 6 miles wide Elevation 1,300 feet Average depth ~ 25 feet Maximum depth ~ 55 feet Inflow from several tributary creeks Surface water temperature 42 o F 78 o F Some areas may reach 90 o F in late summer Historically, high nutrient levels and algae blooms Fish fauna has gone from 12 native species in 1872 to 5 native and 15 introduced species in 1998 Lake level is controlled by Cache Creek Dam Most of outflow occurs in summer Clear Lake Hitch California species of special concern Photo courtesy of Dr. Peter Moyle 3
Hitch Life History Minnow Live 4 6 years Can withstand water temperatures greater than 30 C Lives most of life cycle in Clear Lake Swims up tributary creeks to spawn Offspring hatch and migrate to lake within days to weeks Historically food for Pomo tribe Clear Lake Tributary Streams Dry in summer Brief flows during winter rains Hitch spawning videos Photo by Richard Macedo, CDFG Impacts to Hitch Streams are drying up earlier than historically Less time for hitch to swim back to the lake after spawning Diversions for irrigation, domestic needs Declining annual precipitation totals Dams block or impede upstream travel Adobe, Highland, Clover, and Kelsey Creeks Non-native native fish species Predation Competition for food Past gravel mining Hitch need gravel for incubation and protection of eggs Changes to the stream morphology Pollution from mining Migration Barriers on Clear Lake Tributaries Non-Native Fish Species in Clear Lake Clear Lake Non-Native Native Fish Species Quagga mussels??? Largemouth bass Silverside Green sunfish White catfish Bluegill Common carp 4
Anadromous Salmonid Ranges Chinook salmon Coho salmon Coastal cutthroat trout Steelhead Central Valley distribution reduced by dams Hatcheries designed to replace lost spawning and rearing habitat Coho salmon Cutthroat trout Salmon and Trout Chinook salmon Steelhead / Rainbow trout Photo by Larry Coté Anadromous Salmonid Life Cycle Adult Spawners ESTUARY FRESHWATER Egg Alevin Anadromous Fish Life Cycle Anadromous fish integrate the entire watershed, estuary, and ocean If habitat quality declines in one part of biome, fish abundance may decline Fry OCEAN Smolt ESTUARY Parr Salmon & Steelhead Life Histories Chinook Coho Steelhead Years in Stream 0-1 1 1-3 Years in Ocean 1-7 2 1-4 Spawner Age 4 3 2 7 (may spawn more than once) Adult Size Up to 100 lb. 7-12 lb. Up to 27 lb. Eggs per Female 5,000 12,000 2,000 5,000 200 12,000 Salmonid Population Trends Chinook salmon, coho salmon, coastal cutthroat trout, and steelhead Salmonids in California are at the southern limit of their geographical range Majority of populations are at moderate to high risk of extinction Several endangered populations, many threatened Wild populations less than 10% of historical size 5
Coho Population Trend (ocean survival) oho Survival (%) OPI Co 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 Fishery Year Estimated survival of hatchery coho salmon in the Oregon Production Index (OPI) area. Data from this area form the longest available time series, and include coho salmon from southern Washington through California. Data courtesy of the Pacific Fisheries Management Council. Number of fish (thousands) 1,000 Sacramento River fall-run Chinook salmon Population Trend 1,200 River harvest Ocean harvest Escapement 800 600 400 200 0 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 Year Butte Creek Foothill stream High and low gradient sections Chinook habitat up to 1,200 elevation Water temperatures cool Summer peak ~ 68 o F Steelhead may go higher up Rainbow trout in upper watershed m3/s 40 32 24 16 8 0 Butte Creek Hydrology Butte Creek at Chico Gage 1999-2003 USGS Gage WEAP Model O N D J F M A M J J A S Month Flow in spring-run run Chinook salmon holding area is dam-controlled in summer Flows about 40 cfs (cubic feet per second) Spring-run run Chinook Salmon One of 4 Chinook salmon runs in the Central Valley Fall, late-fall, winter, spring Spring-run run status - Federally threatened (ESA) Habitat and Life History Deep pools - Spawners hold here over summer ~ 0.75 m 2 ½ Riffles - Spawners dig redds and lay eggs here 6
Redd Vegetation Butte Creek Food Web Breeding passerine birds River otter Terrestrial insects Photo by Jenna Voss Scavengers* *Black bear, ringtail, turkey vultures, skunk, deer, raccoon Salmon (carcass) Marine organisms Rainbow trout Salmon juvenile Aquatic invertebrates Algae on rocks 9 other native fish species Impacts to Butte Creek Chinook Salmon Flow and temperature altered by dams and diversions Upstream movement was limited by dams (now removed) Valley and Delta habitat (diversions, levees, pollution, water pumping) Ocean fishing Climate change? Biome is important to fish species How important are fish to their biome? Photo by Dr. Melanie Truan 7