1. Middle Fork Project Entrainment Direct Sampling Approach (Contingency Study)
September 8, 2008

2. Study Objectives Sample Reservoir Fish Distribution and Abundance
French Meadows and Hell Hole Reservoir Tunnel Deep Water Intakes
Directly Sample Entrainment
Ralston Afterbay, Middle Fork Interbay, and Duncan Diversion
Sample Young-of-the-year Fish Abundance and Timing
Duncan Creek

3. Study Area
Small Stream Diversion Duncan Creek Deep Water Intakes French Meadows Reservoir Hell Hole Reservoir Shallow Water Intakes Middle Fork Interbay Ralston Afterbay

4. Study Approach
Fish Distribution and Abundance near Deep Water Intake Structures (French Meadows and Hell Hole Reservoirs)
French Meadows-Hell Hole Tunnel & Hell Hole-Middle Fork Tunnel Intakes
Sample during four representative time periods
spring, early summer, late summer, and fall
Use single beam sonar to sample
Number, elevation (depth), and relative size of fish throughout water column
Sample a minimum of four 200 meter transects
Day and Night samples, at least one hour total effort each

5. Hell Hole and French Meadows Reservoirs
Hell Hole-Middle Fork Tunnel Outlet Depth
229 feet (93-313) Avg Depth
Dam Outlet Works Depth
263 feet ( ) Avg Depth
French Meadows-Hell Hole Tunnel Intake
102 feet (43-149) Avg Depth
Dam Instream Flow Outlet
151 feet (92-198) Avg Depth
Dam Low Level Outlet
169 Feet ( ) Avg Depth
All Numbers Are Preliminary and Subject to Change -- Do Not Cite

6. Study Approach Continued…
Direct Sampling for Entrainment at Middle Fork Interbay and Ralston Afterbay
Middle Fork Interbay Dam – Down Stream Side
Ralston Afterbay Intake Structure

7. Middle Fork Interbay and Ralston Afterbay cont…
Use split-beam sonar array (3 sonars) to identify number and relative size of fish potentially entrained
Fix sonar array to the inside of the trash racks of the tunnel intakes
Install and maintain equipment from ~Feb - Nov 2009 (process ~ 120 days of data)
Sonar array will ensonify approximately 50% of the tunnel intake openings

8. Middle Fork Interbay and Ralston Afterbay Sampling cont…
Acoustic Beams Inside Intake Structure
Trash Rack
Transducers
Inside Trash Rack
Example of a Transducer
Middle Fork Interbay and Ralston Afterbay Sampling cont…
Picture Illustrating the Hydroacoustic Sampling Design at Ralston - Oxbow Tunnel Inlet Structure.

9. Middle Fork Interbay and Ralston Afterbay Sampling cont…
General Schematic Illustrating the Orientation of Acoustic Beam and Sample Volume at Each Intake
Intake
Acoustic Beam
Trash Rack
Flow
Normal Upper Pool Level
Normal Lower Pool Level
Transducer
Intake Side View Intake Front View

10. Middle Fork Interbay and Ralston Afterbay Sampling cont…
Reservoir Water Levels
Sonar equipment will be turned off if reservoir water surface elevations in the reservoirs drop below the equipment (equipment is damaged if it is not submerged)
Data collection will resume once water surface elevations increase above the equipment

11. Middle Fork Interbay and Ralston Afterbay Sampling cont…
Data Processing
Process a maximum of 120 days of data at each intake
Every 6th day of data (60 days total)
Review data & process up to a max of 60 additional days of data at each intake
Collaboratively determine additional sampling with the Aquatic TG (e.g., when entrainment is variable)
Correct entrainment estimates for the percent of the intake actually ensonified
Calculate actual percent ensonified after installation of the sonar arrays.

12. Middle Fork Interbay and Ralston Afterbay Sampling cont…
Direction of fish travel and depth analysis
Direction of fish travel is translated into a compass angle
Fish traveling at angles towards the intakes and at the depth of the intake are assumed to be entrained

13. Direction of Travel Intake Entrainment Quadrant
(Top View)
Cross-section of Acoustic Beams
Trash Rack
Flow 45
270
180
225
135 90
315
Entrainment Quadrant
(angles 0-45° & °)

14. Direction of Travel (cont.)
0-45° °

15. Depth and Direction of Travel Determine Entrainment Risk (example)
Number of fish at risk of entrainment
Hypothetical depth of intake

16. Study Approach Continued
Sampling for Entrainment at Duncan Creek
Use Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags
Sample one diversion season (winter through early summer)
Duncan Creek Diversion Dam
Tunnel Intake

17. Duncan Creek Sampling cont…
PIT Tags
Sample for 5 days or 1000 trout (Oct – Nov 2008)
0 to 2 miles above diversion
Tag >=60 mm juvenile/adult fish
12.5 mm tags

18. Duncan Creek Sampling cont…
Install Tag Reader into Diversion Intake (Nov 2008)
Calibrate Reader beginning, middle, and end of diversion season
Minimum of 10 tags through reader each time
Monitor reader through winter (visits or satellite telemetry)
One of largest antenna openings Biomark has made (5’x 6.6’)
Example 17’ x 4’ antenna installation Example side-by-side 5’ x 5’ antennas.

19. Duncan Creek Sampling cont… Hydrology
“Passive” Diversion ... when flows exceed ~8 cfs water goes through the tunnel.

20. Duncan Creek Sampling cont…
Other Necessary Equipment
Propane generator
Propane tank
Electronics box
Satellite Transponder
Propane Generator
Electronics Box
Propane Tank

21. Duncan Creek Sampling cont…
Young-of-the-Year (YOY) Timing and Abundance
Sample upstream of the diversion
Sample on four occasions in May and June

22. Duncan Creek Sampling cont…
Assumptions and Permits
Antenna can be constructed that will work (size, metal interference, etc.) and be protected from damage or malfunction through the winter/spring (i.e.,difficult access)
A USFS special use permit (propane, generator, etc.), if needed, and CDFG permits for PIT tagging can be obtained.
PIT tag sampling, YOY timing and abundance upstream of the diversion (May and June), and fish population and other data (literature) will provide sufficient information to evaluate entrainment.
Successful completion of the PIT tag study depends on the above assumptions. If the assumptions cannot be met, then PCWA will not be held responsible for completing the study.

23. North and South Forks Long Canyon Creek
Entrainment Data Available
Duncan Creek Entrainment Sampling
Fish population data above and below diversion
Similar populations above and below (based on data to date)
Many YOY (not YOY recruitment limited?)
Resident trout, relatively small size about 22.5 cm
West Panther Creek and literature movement data
Hydrology/Temperature
5 months of extremely low flows <1 cfs limiting factor for fish population
Short diversion season (limited summer diversion)
Lower Long Canyon warm temperature
Existing barriers above and below diversions
Limited recreational fishery

24. Hydrology North Fork & South Fork Long Canyon Creek
~5 Months Low Natural Flows (no diversion)
~30% time flows less than 1 cfs
South Fork 90% Exceedance 0.45 cfs
North Fork 90% Exceedance 0.25 cfs
Diversions Typically End Early Summer
Flow pattern similar to Duncan Creek, but low lower magnitude

25. North Fork Long Canyon Creek
Summer/Fall flow
Below Diversion: NFLC 1.9
Above Diversion: NFLC 3.8

26. South Fork Long Canyon Creek
Summer/Fall Flow
Below Diversion: SFLC 2.3
Above Diversion: SFLC 4.2

27. North Fork Long Canyon
South Fork Long Canyon

28. North Fork Long Canyon
South Fork Long Canyon

29. Duncan Creek

30. Temperature

31. Fish Data
Fish Distribution in North and South Forks Long Canyon Creek Above and Below Diversions

32. Density and Biomass of Trout Above and Below Small Diversions

33. Density and Biomass of Trout Above and Below Small Diversions

34. Age, Growth Rates, and Size of Trout

35. Direct Sampling and New FERC License Collaboration Schedule