The Anadromous Fish Restoration Program, A Status Update

The Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop and implement a program that makes all reasonable efforts to double natural production of anadromous fish in California's Central Valley streams. The program is known as the Anadromous Fish Restoration Program (AFRP). Species of anadromous fish to be restored under the AFRP include Chinook salmon, steelhead, striped bass, American shad, and white and green sturgeon. The AFRP is an opportunity for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Reclamation to collaborate with other agencies, organizations and the public to increase natural production of anadromous fish in Central Valley streams by augmenting and assisting restoration efforts presently conducted by local watershed workgroups, the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), and others. The Final Restoration Plan is a comprehensive approach to doubling anadromous fish populations in Central Valley streams. The plan documents restoration goals, objectives, project implementation strategies, describes restoration actions and evaluations, project prioritizations, monitoring, and adaptive management. The AFRP has observed significant changes in the average natural production of fall run Chinook salmon between the 1967-1991 and 1992-2010 time periods in seven watersheds (p < 0.05) and has met the doubling goal in Butte, Battle, and Clear creeks. The AFRP average natural production for late fall Chinook salmon increased in Battle Creek but decreased in the Sacramento River (p < 0.05). Spring run Chinook salmon in Butte Creek increased significantly from the 1967-1991 baseline period (p < 0.05) but decreased in the Sacramento River. Winter run in the Sacramento River has also seen a significant decrease from the baseline period (p < 0.05). The AFRP is currently 14%, 83%, and 1% below the baseline average (1967-1991) for all races of Chinook salmon, steelhead, and white sturgeon respectively. The AFRP Chinook salmon natural production average has been decreasing in the last couple of years due to low adult escapement estimates resulting from poor ocean returns.