2022 Enhanced Predatory Fish Removal and Relocation Study

The Enhanced Predatory Fish Removal and Relocation Study (EPFRRS) was developed as part of the proposed action during the 2019 Reinitiation of Consultation on Long-Term Operation of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (ROC on LTO) and was included in the Incidental Take Permit for the State Water Project (SWP ITP). The goal of EPFRRS is to use the most successful methods from previous studies, such as the Predator Reduction Electrofishing Study (PRES) and the Predatory Fish Relocation Study (PFRS), to reduce predation on protected fish species in Clifton Court Forebay (CCF), primarily juvenile Chinook Salmon and steelhead.

The EPFRRS 2022 field season ran from January 3 through May 12, with a one week cancellation from January 10 through January 14. Cancellation was for two reasons. 1) There were staff that contracted COVID, so fieldwork was cancelled to avoid potential exposures, and 2) there was a temporary increase in the presence of Sacramento Splittail in CCF.