What goes up eventually goes down... potentially leaving future trophy fish at risk. Dropping flows may soon leave fish trapped in temporary pools. Help PCT identify opportunities to rescue fish.
Glory Hole dumping may stop by some time this week and the creek may abruptly return to winter flows 50-80 cfs. PCT is seeking assistance in monitoring for possible stranded fish in bankside areas, small side channels and any other areas where standing water is forming isolated pools that are left disconnected from the main channels.
Several areas are at known risk:
Deer Sign: side channel reach from near the road across to the center of the island. Several braids run through this area.
Accesses 1-3 on Yolo side along the developed trail system
Access 3, island across from lower parking lot
Access 5, Island may contain new braided channels down the center, also new minor side channels on Yolo side between Access 4-5
CDFW has a procedure in place if large numbers of fish are threatened but it is imperative that notification comes quickly so that they can be informed.
Please inform members of PCT of the location(s) of potential stranding or post a reply to the blog here: http://putahcreektrout.org/2017/03/07/potential-fish-stranding .
Hi Dan Thanks for bringing this up and posting a comprehensive post . I already spoke with Stepheny hogan and she emailed the persons responsible for Putah and CC me so I can contact them if any fish are spotted , but just call me as this whole forwarding CC information is getting a little confusing but im sure you may already have there information , one of them is the Heritage Wild Trout biologist that oversees that program and the other is the DFWL biologist i think she said out of ? anyways please feel free to call me if I can help in any way ... <*)()(><
Information for all: CDFW has a standard protocol for fish rescue and requires completion of a rescue request form. PCT is preparing that document now. CDFW will oversee any rescues. The task now and until the creek returns to within its banks is to look for potential standing water areas as flow drops and then survey the areas listed in Dan's post as the creek becomes safe to wade. If fish are seen report to Dan, Chris, or myself.
This is very important: it is counterproductive to have a number of people contacting various CDFW departmental staff with information or requests because it confuses the situation and the coordination and implementation of a rescue operation. PCT has responsibility for coordinating with CDFW. PCT will need volunteers to assist CDFW should a rescue be warranted. And we need your eyes for the next few weeks to help us help CDFW's assessment and planning process.
We greatly appreciate the involvement of all in the protection of the creek. There will be a lot of work to be done this coming year to undo or repair the damage we've likely experienced in an extraordinarily different rainy season. Other things we need immediate help with: photos of any damage to banks, trees, shrubs; channels. Photos of changes in channel form or rerouting (riffles and runs especially); photos of heavy siltation areas. Photos of dead fish. Provide GPS coordinates if you can or site location and forward to Dan, Chris or myself by email.
I was up there yesterday and saw some really suspicious swirls when I approached the landlocked pool at access 5 . if anyone wants to do a little more investigation and see if it is stranded fish call me at 294-4738
I had the day off today and decided to check out the creek. I saw a dead hen near the bridge, but it looked to have died a long time before. Did anyone else see this today?
I searched around no. 3 and didn't find anything. I would think
that the pool down by .5 and deer sign are the obvious places to look. And there was (is?) a back channel between.4 and a.5 on the far side of the bank, but I don't think that anybody can get there until the water drops. To any new folk to the creek, do NOT try to cross the water until the flow drops to 200cfs or less. And even then use extreme caution as nobody yet knows the new bottom configuration. And read Richard's post about the rattler.
Yeah beware of rattlers. Our ranch is on the west side of access 5 and I've already had to kill 2 rattlers near our house and one was actually in our workshop. Last year was a good year, meaning not many rattlers. But this year so far looks to be a bad year. Also access 3 is always a hot spot for rattlers as there is usually a den there in the boulder area.