Title
Improvements in Fish Collection Facilities at the Federal Tracy Pumping Plant in the South San Francisco Bay Delta, California
Publication Date
1993
Publication Title
Fish Passage Policy and Technology: Proceedings of a Symposium
Start Page
155
End Page
160
Editors
Bates, K.
Publication Place
Bethesda, MD
Publisher
American Fisheries Society
Abstract
The Tracy Fish Collection Facility was constructed in the mid-1950s to salvage young fish, primarily striped bass and salmon, diverted from the Delta by the Tracy Pumping Plant. The fish facility consists of two sets of louvers which guide fish from the flow into holding tanks. Large numbers of fish comprised of some 30 species are salvaged and returned to the Delta. Facility problems include the inability to maintain preferred primary and secondary channel velocities and bypass ratios, and fish predation. Other problems related to salvage and trucking activities. A long term program is ongoing to make improvements through altered operations, construction modifications, and greater biological assessment and monitoring. Two years of systematic predator removals have reduced the size of adult predators. Hydraulic assessments have identified new automated instrumentation for installation within the next year. New fish hauling trucks are in operation. Updated louver efficiency tests with striped bass and juvenile salmon are underway to provide guidance for future physical modifications. Recommendations or long term physical and/or operational changes will be made in 1994. An agreement to provide mitigation funds was signed in 1992 between the Bureau of Reclamation and the State of California.