Oroville Facilities Relicensing - Resource Activities

Oroville Facilities Relicensing
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project No. 2100

Fisheries

Feather River Program Summary The Feather River fish studies were initiated in the early-1990s to document and monitor fish populations of the lower Feather River. Early efforts focused on studies to identify flow requirements for salmonids. The program has progressively expanded since the mid-1990s in preparation for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission relicensing of the State Water Project’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex. Program elements include operation of rotary screw traps, seining and snorkeling surveys to identify distribution, abundance and habitat use of juvenile steelhead and salmon. Other study elements include spawning surveys, temperature modeling, spawning gravel evaluations and benthic invertebrate sampling. The intense and sometimes conflicting pressures of environment, recreation, water use, and flood control demands make the Feather River a complex but fascinating system for study. The findings of this study have already made significant contributions to our biological understanding of the lower Feather River.

Lake Oroville Reservoir Fisheries Program Summary The Department of Water Resources first became involved with the Lake Oroville sport fishery in the 1980's when it began conducting periodic fisheries habitat enhancement projects. In 1993, DWR became more involved in fisheries activities as a result of the Amended Recreation Plan for Lake Oroville State Recreation Area, dated June 1993. FERC ordered DWR to contract with the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) to conduct a 5-year Fishery Study at Lake Oroville to, among other things, develop appropriate chinook salmon stocking levels for the lake. DWR was also ordered to expand the Feather River Hatchery to stock salmon in Lake Oroville, and to devise and implement a plan for fish habitat enhancement at the lake. It should be noted that all of these activities were required as part of the current FERC license that DWR holds; this license is in effect through 2007.

Fishery Study

The Fishery Study began in 1993, and following a one year extension, was completed at the end of 1999. Based upon the results of the study, DFG concluded that an annual stocking level of 170,000 yearling-sized chinook salmon is appropriate for Lake Oroville.

Feather River Hatchery Expansion

Following some lengthy debates with local angling organizations regarding the need for an expansion of the Feather River Hatchery, the manner in which the new facility would be used, and its ultimate size, the expansion was completed at the end of 1998. It includes a hatching/incubation facility for over 700,000 eggs, 600 feet of new raceway space that will accommodate over 700,000 fingerling chinook salmon, and a water disinfection system to provide an added level of protection from disease for the eggs and juvenile fish. Inland chinook salmon raised in this expansion facility that are surplus to the needs of Lake Oroville are stocked in other California waters designated by DFG.

Fish Habitat Enhancement

Since 1993, DWR has been conducting fish habitat enhancement projects at Lake Oroville on a regular basis. Well over 20,000 willow trees (rooted and cuttings) have been planted, hundreds of brush shelters have been constructed in coves all over Lake Oroville, using manzanita from the shoreline above the lake, and over 6,500 Christmas Trees collected from the surrounding area by DWR, DFG, local boy scouts, schools, angling organizations, merchants, and waste disposal companies. DWR’s efforts have more than doubled the amount of fish habitat enhancement at Lake Oroville. These projects were to end in 1998, but DWR has proposed to continue them through at least 2004.

Lake Oroville Fish Stocking

Since 1993, DWR has funded all of the chinook salmon stocking at Lake Oroville. This represents over 80 percent of the 2.4 million fish stocked in Lake Oroville during that period, raising the average per year level of stocking by 34 percent when compared with the years prior to DWR’s involvement in fish stocking. DWR has proposed to continue funding the FRH to raise chinook salmon for Lake Oroville through at least 2004.