Lower Yuba River Accord G OLD C O U N T RY F LYFISHERS February 2, - PDF document

Lower Yuba River Accord G OLD C O U N T RY F LYFISHERS February 2, 2010 Overview & Update

A New Paradigm Th The Lower Yuba River Accord: L Y b Ri A d  Established a new operational program  Increased instream flows along 24 miles of the lower Yuba River for Chinook salmon, steelhead & aquatic habitat  Preserved YCWA’s ability to meet all of its responsibilities for flood control, water delivery with transfers, hydropower & recreation The Lower Yuba River Accord The Lower Yuba River Accord Lower Yuba River Accord Overview and Update 2010

Milestones to Success Defining Interests & Applying Science: Development 2002 - 2003 of the Accord Concepts & Flow Schedules Crafting the Accord Agreements 2004 From Controversy to Consensus: Signing Ceremony April 2005 Pilot Program Accord Flows, River Management 2005-2007 Team & EIR/EIS Process Accord Approved by SWRCB, Final Execution March 2008 Accord Flows, Monitoring & Evaluation Plan, RMT Ongoing Studies Program Operations Consulting Studies Program, Operations Consulting Lower Yuba River Accord Overview and Update 2010

Lower Yuba Accord - Background  Englebright Dam to Feather River Confluence  Developed to meet multiple interests:  Local water supply Local water supply reliability  In-river habitat  Conjunctive use to j enhance supply  EWA water supply  Funding for Monitoring & Evaluation Program  Funding for flood control & water supplies Lower Yuba River Accord Overview and Update 2010

Accord Cornerstone: Increased Flows Th The Yuba River Accord increases Y b Ri A d i annual use of available water supply:  Accord Flow Schedules & Index Structure = Higher Flow Structure Higher Flow Requirements  Better match of minimum streamflow to available water  Lower End-of-September Storage Target  Implements increased releases from storage in relatively wet years from storage in relatively wet years  Groundwater Supply Available as Backup  Local agricultural irrigators agree to pump groundwater to make surface water available to Yuba River Lower Yuba River Accord Overview and Update 2010

Flow Schedules & Evaluation Work  River Management Team (RMT) study & evaluation work to verify efficacy of Yuba Accord flow schedules  10-year, fully-funded program implemented on the Yuba River, applicable to other Central Valley Rivers  FY 2008-09: FY 2008 09:  $1.1M study work underway  10 FTE employees through PSMFC p y g  Monitoring & Evaluation Program developed  Results available on web site: www.yubaaccordrmt.com Lower Yuba River Accord Overview and Update 2010

Yuba Accord River Management Team  Functional & efficient working group  An effective forum for discussion and input into Lower p Yuba River management & operations  Implementation of M&E Plan drives studies, budget, planning planning  Input to YCWA on:  Seasonal Operations  Real-time Flow Management  Response to Unforeseen Circumstances  Regulatory Compliance Lower Yuba River Accord Overview and Update 2010

Focus of River Management Team Science Science  Evaluate whether the implementation of the Yuba Accord accomplishes its biological objectives accomplishes its biological objectives  Maximize occurrence of appropriate holding, spawning, incubation, rearing, and emigration flows  Provide suitable water temperatures  Adult salmonid immigration, holding, and spawning   Juvenile salmonid rearing and emigration Juvenile salmonid rearing and emigration  Promote a dynamic, resilient, and diverse fish assemblage  Minimize potential stressors to fish species and life stages p p g  Provide guidance regarding management and restoration activities Lower Yuba River Accord Overview and Update 2010

Yuba Accord M&E Program  The RMT developed a Rigorous Scientific Program to p g g Conduct Studies, Analyses, and Reporting of Results – the Yuba Accord M&E Program  Maintain Fish in Good Condition M i t i Fi h i G d C diti  California Fish & Game Code § 5937  Promote Viable Salmonid Populations P t Vi bl S l id P l ti  VSP and Recovery Metrics  Flow and Water Temperature Fl d W t T t Relationships  Fish Populations  Aquatic Habitat Attributes McElhany et al . 2000 Lower Yuba River Accord Overview and Update 2010

Viable Salmonid Populations ADULT ADULT JUVENILE JUVENILE ABUNDANCE ABUNDANCE PRODUCTIVITY PRODUCTIVITY ADULT ADULT ADULT ADULT JUVENILE JUVENILE JUVENILE JUVENILE SPATIAL SPATIAL DIVERSITY DIVERSITY STRUCTURE STRUCTURE ADULT JUVENILE • Establish Performance Indicators • Identify Data Requirements • Define Analytics Define Analytics • Examine Relationships Between Measures of VSP Parameters and Flows and Water Temperatures

Yuba Accord M&E Program State-of-the-Art Multi-Agency/Party Clear Framework (VSP) Specific Sampling Consensus-Based Protocols & Procedures Applied Regulatory Concepts p Integrated Data Analyses g y 10-Year Program 10 Year Program Specific Goals & Objectives Coordinated with CVP-wide Programs Dependable Funding Performance Indicators (~$5.5 million) Quantitative Metrics Quantitative Metrics 830 cfs High Medium Low Low = redd Very Poor Non-habitat Lower Yuba River Accord Overview and Update 2010

M&E Program Framework  Obtain data necessary to conduct the analytics associated with each performance indicator of the M&E Program  Survey and sampling specific protocols & procedures developed for each monitoring & study activity  Individual protocols & procedures are coordinated with non-  Individual protocols & procedures are coordinated with non- RMT funded monitoring & study activities  CVPIA Comprehensive Assessment Monitoring Program  CDFG Angler Survey Program  CDFG Heritage and Wild Trout Program  UC Davis California Fish Tracking Consortium  UC Davis California Fish Tracking Consortium Lower Yuba River Accord Overview and Update 2010

Yuba Accord M&E Program STUDY PLANS – DATA COLLECTION PROTOCOLS & PROCEDURES  Flow & Water Temperature Monitoring  Morphological Unit & Mesohabitat Classification  Digital Elevation Model  Digital Elevation Model  2-D Hydraulic Modeling  Substrate & Cover Classification & Mapping  Acoustic Tracking  Genetic Analyses  Vaki Riverwatcher System Monitoring  Chinook Salmon Carcass Surveys  Otoliths, Scales, Tissue, CWT Sampling Ot lith S l Ti CWT S li  Redd Surveys  Superimposition  Juvenile Snorkel Surveys  Rotary Screw Trapping  Riparian Vegetation Mapping Lower Yuba River Accord Overview and Update 2010

Other Accord Benefits Funding for Flood Control & Water Supply • Feather River Setback Levee • Wheatland Canal Project Lower Yuba River Accord Overview and Update 2010

Awards & Recognition 2009 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award for the 2009 Governor s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award for the Lower Yuba River Accord 2009 National Hydropower Association Award for Outstanding Stewards of America’s Waters of America s Waters 2008 ACWA Theodore Roosevelt Environmental Award for Excellence in Conservation and Natural Resources Management Lower Yuba River Accord Overview and Update 2010