April 2001 Issues Online June 2007 April 2007 February 2007 December 2006 October 2006 August 2006 June 2006 April 2006 February 2006 December 2005 October 2005 August 2005 June 2005 April 2005 February 2005 December 2004 October 2004 August 2004 June 2004 April 2004 February 2004 December 2003 October 2003 August 2003 June 2003 April 2003 February 2003 December 2002 October 2002 August 2002 June 2002 April 2002 February 2002 December 2001 October 2001 August 2001 June 2001 April 2001 February 2001 December 2000 October 2000 August 2000 June 2000 April 2000 February 2000 December 1999 October 1999 August 1999 June 1999 April 1999 February 1999 December 1998 October 1998 August 1998 June 1998 April 1998 February 1998 December 1997 October 1997 August 1997 June 1997 April 1997 February 1997 December 1996 October 1996 August 1996 June 1996 April 1996 February 1996 December 1995 October 1995 August 1995 June 1995 April 1995 February 1995 December 1994 October 1994 August 1994 June 1994 April 1994 February 1994 December 1993 October 1993 August 1993 Select any issue from the menu in this bar.

Delta Cross Channel Investigated

Last fall, the Delta Cross Channel was inundated, not by rain, but by boatloads of researchers armed with traps, sonar and lots more gear, both high and low tech. Their mission — to find out how opening and closing the Channel's gates affects both water quality in the Delta and salmon runs up and down the Sacramento River. For weeks they worked day and night, and in March the team, a part of the Interagency Ecological Program, presented its findings at a workshop in Monterey. Presenters and observers alike agreed that not only was the research itself important, but also that the project showed how well a diverse group of scientists can, within a very short time frame, put together a multidisciplinary study with real-world policy implications.

The project included studies of hydrodynamics and salinity in and around the Channel, as well as the migration of both adult and juvenile anadromous fish in its vicinity. The scientists — from U.S. EPA, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, USGS, Cal Fish & Game and other agencies — released large groups of fish and also tracked individuals; they worked with the channel gates both open and closed, and on both ebb and flow tides. They discovered that almost all water quality benefits were obtained when the channel gates were opened during flood tides, and they found evidence that the fish do "go with the flow" of the Sacramento River, although the full implications of this aren't completely clear.

In general, says Bruce Herbold of the EPA, "For both water quality and fish protection, the tidal time scale is the most important consideration regarding operation of the Delta Cross Channel." He also says that the $350,000 study shows, "It's possible to do interesting and exciting science on a quick turnaround." During the workshop, one audience member drew loud cheers when he shouted out that the study was "a spectacular example of integrated science."

The scientists are hoping to do a follow up session —possibly in late May — to discuss the data from the November study, and to get ideas for possible follow up research. (The June issue of Estuary will feature a special insert highlighting the results of the project.)

Contact: Bruce Herbold (415) 744-1992

«To @@(newsletter_title)@@ Index

[ ABAG HOME | SFEP HOME ]

Copyright © 2002, San Francisco Estuary Project