Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians

BIG VALLEY BAND OF POMO INDIANS

Big Valley sub-basin creek water quality, quantity and Hitch Lavinia exilicauda Chi ecology, Spring, 2014 and 2015

Contact: Sarah Ryan, Environmental Director Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians Environmental Protection Department 2726 Mission Rancheria Road Lakeport, CA 95453

707-263-5277 Extension 105 Fax: 707-263-5378 Cell: 707-349-4040 Email: [email protected]

June 2015 I. Executive summary

Introduction The main aim of creek sampling within Big Valley sub-basin creeks is to determine water quality and quantity and information on the ecology of the hitch Lavinia exilicauda during the hitch runs which occurs typically in spring. Additionally, critical habitats for the hitch life cycle are investigated. In total 5 creeks within the Big Valley sub-basin were selected based on previous information which indicated that they supported hitch runs and observations that showed that spawners and young fish were seen in some of these creeks including Adobe, Kelsey and Cole. In addition, these creeks are within the ancestral territories of the Big Valley people and collecting spawning fish from these areas are an important part of the Tribe’s culture.

Further observations were carried out in 2015 with staff from Robinson Rancheria Environmental department and the sampling expanded to include Cooper Creek, Scotts Creek and Robinson Creek. During the spring of 2014 and 2015, the following creeks or creek points were sampled namely:  Seasonal Creek at Soda Bay Road  Adobe Creek at Soda Bay Road, Finley, Merritt and Bell Hill  Kelsey Creek at Soda Bay Road  Cole at Soda Bay Road, and Clark Drive

Stations were located using a Geo-Explorer 2005 GPS. The main parameters analyzed were: Temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, salinity, turbidity, total suspended sediments, dissolved oxygen. Water quality parameters were determined using a Hydrolab surveyor® DS5X DataSonde water quality multiprobeprofiler. Water depth (cm) and Water Flow (ft/sec) were measured at the thalweg using a Global Water Flow Meter, Model FP201.

Results for 2014 Spring spawning season Sampled sites were characterized by diminished water quantities in the spawning creeks. Kelsey Creek (Flow range- 0.00-76.76 Ft/sec; Depth at thalweg ranged 0.31-0.69 m) and Adobe (Flow range- 11.54-192.85 Ft/sec; Depth at thalweg ranged from 0.006-0.4 m). During February and March 2014, dry creek bed patches with non continuing water flow were noted at Adobe and Cole Creeks early in the season and this was reported to CDFW and game wardens. This created concerns that water diversions or obstructions were occurring and affecting the Clear Lake hitch run. Fish and Wildlife staff responded by inspecting the said areas but indicated to Big Valley Rancheria Environmental Director that they did not see any water diversions in particular, chalking it up to thirsty aquifers that needed to be recharged in certain areas. On March 24, during weekly creek monitoring, Big Valley EPA staff noticed sufficient water flow on Adobe Creek at Bell Hill Road crossing but further downstream at Merritt Road crossing it was bone dry (see Attachment 1 which was submitted to CA State Water Resources Control Board and the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife with no response). The previous week a fish die off (including candidate species Clear Lake hitch) occurred further downstream at Soda Bay Road crossing due to fish being stranded in small pools of water on Adobe Creek. This is the first reported case of death of mature fish (spawners) due to water drawdown. Typically spawners are able to make it back into the lake after the runs due to presence of contagious water flow in the creeks and it’s the young that are stranded in pools of water on the creeks. The dead fish consisted primarily of suckers and hitch resulting to significant loss of spawning hitch stock. At that time, staff engaged in a Clear Lake Hitch rescue with Department of Fish and Wildlife staff as well as the staff from Robinson Rancheria and Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake. Close to 200 hitch and other species mainly suckers were moved to nearby Kelsey Creek which still had some good water flow. Clear Lake hitch (State listed - threatened and candidate List, ESA) and Sacramento Sucker die off in Adobe Creek 3/18/14 due to stranding in a shallow pool

Page 2 of 32 because of lack of contiguous water flow impacted heavily on the spawning stock. Out of the total 31 dead fish species sampled 7 were hitch and 24 were suckers. Four of the seven fish were females filled with eggs, one had crystallized eggs.

With regards to water flows Kelsey Creek had initial high quantity but did not sustain this flow. Cole Creek was most impacted by drought and had the least flow. All the sites at Adobe Creek displayed average flows and depth suggesting that they provide fast flows required by hitch during the spawning runs. All the sampled creeks did not support sustained flows to provide the minimum environmental flows needed to support the integrity of the ecosystem and sustenance of hitch life cycle since they dried up and young fish (Young of the Year- YOY ) were trapped in the water pools in which they later died impacting on recruitment of hitch in Clear Lake. Out of the dead hitch enumerated most had an average of 6.125± 3.31 lesions caused by Anchor worm parasite Lernea cyprinacea L. Research indicates that Lernaea spp. infestations can have serious pathogenic effects on their fish hosts as they cause disruption and necrosis of gill epithelium, while attachment of adult females usually causes hemorrhages, muscle necrosis and an intense inflammatory response, sometimes associated with secondary bacterial. It has also been demonstrated that there is high mortality rates in the infected fish and reduced swimming ability, which might predispose to greater predation rates.

A summary of fish sightings in the major creeks supporting hitch runs in 2015 The first flow of water in the creeks occurred in early December 2014. The first water quality sampling was conducted on December 5, 2014 and all creeks had water except Cole Creek which was bone dry. The first fish sightings by Robinson Staff in the creeks occurred on February 9th at Scotts Creek. This was probably a hitch. On February 13th 2015 spawners were sighted at Adobe at Merritt crossing (4-8 suckers) and Adobe at Bell Hill (1 dead spawner sucker). On February 20th 2015, more fish were sighted at Adobe at Soda Bay Bridge and estimated to range from 700- 800 and were a mixture of hitch (about 70%) and 30 % suckers. Further observations showed that the hitch (See photo below) were much smaller (about 9 inches total length). Typically a mature spawner is on average 13- 15 inches total length, based on our observations since 2007. The hitch appeared to have injuries/lesions and parasitic infections most likely from Anchor worm infestation. The fish appeared to stay under the newly installed bridge downstream of Adobe at Soda Bay Bridge. It was not very clear why they were not moving upstream of this site but the most plausible reason would be due to flow or temperature conditions. The site was most likely a staging area before the hitch run. Temperatures were 12.01 ºC at this site and ranged from 8.83 at Cole Creek – 13.29 ºC at Adobe Merritt crossing. Typically surface water temperature is regulated by the season and locally by the presence /absence of vegetation and shading at the sampling sites. According to (Murphy 1948; Kimsey and Fisk 1960) the most ideal spawning temperature range is from 14-18 ºC. Ostensibly the hitch runs in Spring 2015 came much earlier than normally happens in Mid-March to April when the ideal temperatures are achieved. There is evidence that many hitch did not move upstream beyond Adobe at Soda Bay Bridge as later on in the season the fish fry at Adobe at Finley, Adobe at Merritt and Adobe at Bell Hill were predominantly suckers. This creates a recruitment failure for hitch during 2015 spring spawning season. In early May 2015 there were occasional sightings of juvenile hitch schooling at various locations on the lake shoreline. This was confirmed by CDFW staff in May 2015 through electrofishing at Soda Bay Cove where out of the total catch of 84 fish, 73 were hitch and the rest were Sacramento black fish. The hitch appeared to have been hatched 2 years earlier. Table 1.1 summarizes the major sightings of hitch in the creeks during the spring of 2015. The number of hitch entering the creeks has dwindled over the seasons. Adobe and Kelsey Creek continue to report some hitch sightings.

Table 1.1. A summary of hitch sightings in major creeks draining into Clear Lake for 2015 spring season. Adapted from Chi Council website with our own observations in Big Valley sub-basin. Further information from Dean Rogers, Robinson Rancheria

Page 3 of 32 Creek Observations Cole Creek No fish reported in the spring of 2015; Creek remained dry and lost contiguity early in the season Kelsey Creek Several schools of several hundred hitch seen Adobe Creek Several hundred fish seen. Fish (mixture of suckers and hitch seen at Adobe/Soda Bay bridge on February 20th 2015. Suckers may have made it upstream Manning Creek no reports Robinson Creek no reports of spawners seen but sucker fry were seen Cooper Creek A few hitch seen. On February 23rd about 30 hitch were seen at Witter Springs Road Bridge Hendricks Creek no reports Middle Creek No spawners sighted except one sighting in Rodman Slough. Sucker fry were seen Clover Creek No spawners were seen but sucker fry were seen. Schindler Creek Nothing sighted, water low Burns Valley Creek Nothing sighted Seigler Creek A few hitch seen

Conclusions and recommendations

1. Conflicting water demands impacting on hitch recruitment Results show that water use in the upstream reaches of creeks is impacting beneficial use of downstream users and environmental/in-stream flows. Massive fish kills including the hitch (state listed species) observed at Adobe Creek on 3/18/14 was due to fish stranding in shallow pools of water owing to lack of contiguous water flow. Results show a consistent loss of hitch spawning stock in the creeks due to stranding associated with water withdrawals. In addition, loss of young fish due to stranding associated with water drawdown impacts negatively on recruitment. Fish recruitment is the number of new young fish that enter a population in a given year. This is the number of fish larvae in one season that will survive and become juvenile fish in the next season. Observations in the creeks show that due to reduced flows, there is loss of connectivity and the creeks have intermittent flows. The juvenile hitch cannot reach the lake due to the lack of the creek continuum. These young hitch end up dying in the creeks due to diminished water quantity, quality and exposure to predation.

Research into the riparian and appropriative water rights of Adobe and Kelsey Creeks show 31 water rights holders in Kelsey Creek using 85 million gallons of water in 2013 and 134.5 million gallons in 2014. In Adobe Creek there are 7 water rights holders using 31.4 million gallons in both 2013 and 2014. A substantial amount of agricultural water use along these creeks is used during the hitch spawning months of March and April for frost protection purposes and this drawdown impacts the volume of water available for the fry to return to the lake. The water usage has not been evaluated by the State Water Resources Control Board to determine whether the creek has been over-allocated. Dry patches of creek leading to non-contiguous flow and therefore stranding of hitch fry during spawning season is a relatively new phenomena within the past several decades. (See Attachment 2, Water Rights Kelsey and Adobe Creeks)

In addition, private wells continue to be installed along Adobe and Kelsey Creeks. Between 2008 and 2014, 18 well permits were issued by the Lake County Department of Environmental Health for wells on parcels adjacent to these creeks. Groundwater pumping near wells is known to affect surface water volumes. (See Attachment 3, 2008-2014 Wells Along Kelsey and Adobe Creeks Image and Data Key)

There is also a need to look into possibilities of water storage upstream to for instance at Adobe Creek which can be accomplished by altering water management practices focusing on the Highland Springs Dam and Adobe Page 4 of 32 Reservoir to store water in winter and spring and having releases that would allow the hitch to complete their life cycle. Low water flows occasioned by abstraction for agriculture (irrigation and frost protection) contributes to earlier than normal drying of the creeks impacting on the hitch life cycle water requirements. This is exacerbated by inefficient irrigation techniques employing flood irrigation and overhead sprinklers. For instance in flood irrigation one-half of the water used ends up not getting to the crops which mean a lot of wasted water as much of it evaporates and transpires in the fields. There is need to adopt modern irrigation including spray and drip irrigation to bolster irrigation efficiency from about 60 percent (traditional spray irrigation) to over 90 percent contributing to water savings for in stream flows and ecological integrity.

2. Barriers to fish migrations and spawning

Currently over 11 barriers have been documented in 8 most promising creeks that support hitch migration. Many of these rock weirs were constructed to protect the footings of bridges on Kelsey, Scotts and Middle Creeks and consistently block hitch migration to about 30 miles of historic spawning beds on those creeks. Other physical barriers across streams include low water crossings, dams and culverts. Creek disturbance including barriers and creek bed alterations (Adobe at Bell Hill) to provide more water to the adjacent vineyards and stream bank clearance (Adobe at Soda Bay Bridge) to create space for a new bridge have impacted heavily on the hitch spawning and migration at Adobe Creek. This has impacted negatively on the spawning capacity of the hitch in the identified areas which are critical habitats as they provided shade and resting areas during the runs. The Tribe recommends that a program be put in place to remove these barriers to expand the hitch spawning range.

3. Parasitic infections

Observations reveal that parasitic infections by Lernea cyprinacea L. is a more recent phenomenon to infect the hitch and causes disruption and necrosis of gill epithelium, while attachment of adult females usually causes hemorrhages, muscle necrosis and an intense inflammatory response, sometimes associated with secondary bacterial. It has also been demonstrated that there are high mortality rates in the infected fish and reduced swimming ability, which might predispose to greater predation rates. Additionally research has shown that pathological effects of Lernaea sp. infestations are greater on smaller fish and hence recruitment because the attachment organ of the parasite penetrates more deeply into the body of the fish, often causing damage to internal organs. Lernaea infestations can have serious pathogenic effects on their fish hosts.

In view of the above and due to the current low hitch populations and the danger of extinction, this study recommends that the US Fish & Wildlife list the hitch as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) to complement the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) listing. It cannot be overemphasized that these listings will form important tools that buttress the fight to conserve Clear Lake hitch and restore California's native biological diversity. Listing of hitch under both laws will help to ensure the protection of the imperiled hitch, an iconic species of great cultural value to the original Pomo inhabitants of the Clear Lake region and a major keystone species in trophic relationships within Clear Lake ecosystem.

Page 5 of 32 II. Introduction Clear Lake hitch Lavinia exilicauda native to clear Lake were once so plentiful and formed a vital source of protein supplement and cultural component for the original Pomo inhabitants of the Clear Lake region. Hitch also form a critical link in the ecological foodwebs of Clear Lake and are keystone species preyed upon by bass, mergansers (Mergus merganser), herons, egrets, grebes, bald and golden eagles, hawks, osprey (Pandion haliaetus), terns, cormorants, white pelicans, belted kingfishers, and other birds, and taken opportunistically during spawning runs by raccoons, otters, skunks and minks. Hitch migrate each spring, when adults make their way upstream in tributaries of Clear Lake to spawn before they return to the lake. In the recent past, Clear Lake and its tributaries have been dramatically altered by urban development and water abstraction from agriculture. Much of the former stream and wetlands habitat suitable for hitch spawning and rearing have been destroyed or degraded, and barriers that impede hitch migration have been built in many streams that formerly had spawning habitats. Hitch can no longer reach the majority of former spawning areas, and some are forced to spawn opportunistically in ditches and wet meadows during high flows. Young hitch are trapped in water pools later in the season when water is abstracted for irrigation and frost protection of crops leading to recruitment failure as the Young of the Year (YOY) cannot access the lake to replenish hitch population in the lake. Big Valley Rancheria Tribal members have previously expressed concerns on the plummeted populations of the hitch in Clear Lake once a culturally importance species to the Pomo of Clear Lake and once a major source of protein in winter to the Big Valley Rancheria Tribal community.

In response to diminishing hitch populations, in 2012 the Center for Biodiversity (CBD) petitioned the State and Federal government to protect this imperiled fish species under both the California Endangered Species Act and the Federal Endangered Species Act. On August 6, 2014 the California Fish and Game Commission designated the Clear Lake hitch Lavinia exilicauda chi a state threatened fish species for protection under California’s State Endangered Species (CESA). Further in April 2015, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced that protecting the Clear Lake hitch under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) may be warranted.

III. Materials and methods The main aim of creek sampling within Big Valley sub-basin creeks is to determine water quality and quantity and information on the ecology of the hitch Lavinia exilicauda during the hitch runs which occurs typically in spring. Additionally, critical habitats for the hitch life cycle are investigated. In total 5 creeks within the Big Valley sub-basin were selected based on previous information which indicated that they supported hitch runs and observations that showed that spawners and young fish were seen in some of these creeks including Adobe, Kelsey and Cole. In addition, these creeks are within the ancestral territories of the Big Valley people and collecting spawning fish from these areas are an important part of the Tribe’s culture.

Stations were located using a Geo- Explorer 2005 GPS. The main parameters analyzed were; Temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, salinity, turbidity, total suspended sediments, dissolved oxygen. Water quality parameters were determined using a Hydrolab surveyor® DS5X DataSonde water quality multiprobeprofiler.

Page 6 of 32 Water depth (cm) and Water Flow (ft/sec) were measured at the thalweg using a Global Water Flow Meter, Model FP201. The sites are displayed in Figure 2.1 and Table 2.1

1 2 3 4 6 5 7

Figure 2.1. Map of Clear Lake showing the creeks that support hitch migration and the barriers that hinder hitch migration. The sampled Creeks are respectively; 1-Forbes Creek, 2-Seasonal Creek ; 3-Adobe at Soda Bay Bridge, 4-Adobe at Finley Bridge, 5-Adobe at Bell Hill, 6– Kelsey at Soda Bay Bridge, 7- Cole at Soda Bay Bridge. Map courtesy of Peter Windrem, Chair, Chi Council of Clear Lake. Table 2. 1. Selection criteria of the sampling locations in the Creeks on Big Valley sub-basin

Page 7 of 32 Site ID Site Name Latitude Longitude Analytical Habitat and Rationale for sampling (decimal ◦) (decimal ◦) Parameters FC1 Forbes Creek 39.04050 -122.9192 Water  Headwaters west of Lakeport; travels past Lakeport chemistry, Fairgrounds down Martin St to Will-O-Point flow and resort depth; Fish  Immediate plant community, grasses, observations Cyperaceous. Est cobble 15%, gravel 35%, Bank degradation 95%  Monitor water quality impacts from City of Lakeport SC1 Seasonal 39.11144 -122.9068 Water  Headwaters near Highway 175 on Hopland creek at Soda chemistry, Grade; travels western edge of Big Valley Bay Road, flow and behind commercial buildings on Soda Bay Culvert depth, Fish Road to Clear Lake observations  Immediate plant community: ruderal grasses, invasive weeds; Est. cobble 10%; est. gravel 30%; no sand; est. silt 60%; est. bank degradation 90%  Hitch Lavinia exilicauda spawning site AC2 Adobe at 39.0007 -122.8667 Water  Headwaters in Mayacamas Range; travels Finley Bridge chemistry, western side of Big Valley past Highland flow and Springs, Finley, and Rancho de la Fuente depth, Fish  Immediate plant community: willow (Salix observations sp.),non-native grasses on banks; extended plant community: ornamentals at residences, vineyard  Monitor water quality impacts from Ag-land. Hitch Lavinia exilicauda spawning site AC1 Adobe Creek 39.14871 -122.8708 Water  Immediate plant community: willow (Salix at Soda Bay chemistry, sp.), non-native grasses on banks; Rd at Rancho flow and extended plant community: ornamentals at De La Fuente depth residences, vineyard. Area was later cleared of vegetation to create room for a private bridge  Monitor water quality impacts from Ag-land Hitch Lavinia exilicauda spawning site KC1 Kelsey Creek 39.14445 -122.8356 Water  Headwaters on Cobb mountains at Soda Bay chemistry,  Immediate plant community willow (Salix Road flow and sp.), cottonwood (Populus sp.), ground. depth Cover Vinca minor, grasses, shrubby growth, Extended plant community, ~10 ft. away: vineyard  Monitor water quality impacts from Ag-land Hitch Lavinia exilicauda spawning site CC1 Cole at Soda 39.1416 -122.7529 Water  Begins at McIntire Ranch on Highway 175; Bay Road, chemistry, travels through Kelseyville along western bridge flow and base on Mt. Konocti to Clear Lake State depth Park  Immediate plant community: willow (Salix sp.), oak (Quercus sp.), cottonwood (Populus sp.), poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum)  Monitor water quality impacts from Ag-land. Hitch Lavinia exilicauda spawning site AC3 Adobe at 38.98269 -122.8667 Water  Sand bar willows (Salix sp). Substratum Merritt chemistry, pebbles. Regular disturbance of the site as I Crossing flow and the crossing has to be installed and Page 8 of 32 depth removed regularly to create a road connection across the creek.  Monitor water quality impacts from Ag-land Hitch Lavinia exilicauda spawning site AC4 Adobe Creek 38.95737 -122.8913 Water  Immediate vegetation: absent from road at Bell Hill chemistry, and close to road. Extended: willow (Salix flow and sp.), Oak (Quercus sp.), Cottonwood depth (Populus sp.), grassland, Ag-land, vineyards, pasture land, ornamental trees and plants near residences close by, weedy stalks  Stream bed alterations observed upstream of Bell Hill to create enough water volume to support irrigation efforts on an adjacent vineyard.  Monitor water quality impacts from Ag-land. Hitch Lavinia exilicauda spawning site

3. Results

3.1. Results of 2014 hitch spawning season.

The season was characterized by low flows which contributed to fish stranding. An analysis of water quality parameters is displayed in Figures 3.1- 3.5 below

3.1.1. Spatial variations in surface water temperature during the 2014 hitch spawning season

Results are displayed in Figure 3.1. Values were elevated at Adobe at Merritt crossing. This is associated with lack of riparian vegetation which exposes the site to sunlight. The site is shallow and also regularly disturbed to create passage across the creek by vehicles. Temperatures averaged 15º C which is the ideal temperature during the hitch runs.

) 15 C ° (

m 10 e T

0 FC1 SC1 AC1 AC2 AC3 AC4 KC1 CC1

Figure 3.1.1 Spatial trends (Mean ±SE) in Surface water temperature of creeks within the Big Valley sub-basin. The sampled creeks are respectively; FC- Forbes Creek; SC-Seasonal Creek ; AC1-Adobe at Soda Bay Bridge; AC2-Adobe at Finley Bridge; AC3- Adobe at Merritt crossing; AC4- Adobe at Bell Hill; KC1 – Kelsey at Soda Bay Bridge; CC1- Cole creek at Soda Bay Bridge.

Page 9 of 32 3.1.2. Spatial variations in dissolved oxygen and % DO sat.

Values are displayed in Figure 3.2 and show that dissolved oxygen levels are sufficient to support fish and other aquatic organisms within the creeks.

70.0 7.00 DO (mg/l) DO saturation (%) 60.0 6.00

50.0 5.00 . t ) a L S

40.0 4.00 / g %

m O (

D 30.0 3.00 O D

20.0 2.00

10.0 1.00

0.0 0.00 FC1 SC1 AC1 AC2 AC3 AC4 KC1 CC1

Figure 3.1.2. Spatial trends (Mean ±SE) in Dissolved oxygen of creeks within the Big Valley sub-basin. The sampled creeks are respectively; FC- Forbes Creek; SC-Seasonal Creek ; AC1-Adobe at Soda Bay Bridge; AC2-Adobe at Finley Bridge; AC3- Adobe at Merritt crossing; AC4- Adobe at Bell Hill; KC1 – Kelsey at Soda Bay Bridge; CC1- Cole creek at Soda Bay Bridge.

3.1.3 Spatial variations in Specific conductivity and Resistivity

Results are displayed in Figure 3.3. Seasonal Creek and Kelsey Creek displayed elevated conductivity values which is consistent with high salinity and TDS (See Figure 3.4).

0.50 Conductivity (mS/cm) RES (K^-cm) 5.0 0.45 4.5 0.40 4.0 0.35 3.5 ) ) m 0.30 3.0 c m / c S - ^

m 0.25 2.5 K (

(

C S P

0.20 2.0 E S R 0.15 1.5 0.10 1.0 0.05 0.5 0.00 0.0 FC1 SC1 AC1 AC2 AC3 AC4 KC1 CC1

Figure 3.1.3. Spatial trends (Mean ± SE) in specific conductivity and resistivity in the creeks within the Big Valley sub-basin The sampled creeks are respectively; FC- Forbes Creek; SC-Seasonal Creek ; AC1-Adobe at Soda Bay Bridge; AC2-Adobe at Finley Bridge; AC3- Adobe at Merritt crossing; AC4- Adobe at Bell Hill; KC1 – Kelsey at Soda Bay Bridge; CC1- Cole creek at Soda Bay Bridge.

Page 10 of 32 0.20 0.30 TDS (g/L) Salinity (ppt) 0.18 0.25 0.16 0.14

) 0.20 t ) p

0.12 L p / (

g ( y

t 0.10 0.15 i S n D i l 0.08 T a S 0.10 0.06 0.04 0.05 0.02 0.00 0.00 FC1 SC1 AC1 AC2 AC3 AC4 KC1 CC1

Figure 3.1.4 Spatial trends (Mean ± SE;) in TDS and salinity in the creeks within the Big Valley sub-basin. The sampled creeks are respectively; FC- Forbes Creek; SC-Seasonal Creek ; AC1-Adobe at Soda Bay Bridge; AC2-Adobe at Finley Bridge; AC3- Adobe at Merritt crossing; AC4- Adobe at Bell Hill; KC1 – Kelsey at Soda Bay Bridge; CC1- Cole creek at Soda Bay Bridge.

3.1.4. Spatial trends in flow and Depth for the creeks within the Big Valley sub-basin

Values are shown in Figure 3.5. In terms of water quantity Kelsey Creek sustained a high quantity but with diminished flow. Cole creek was most impacted by drought and had the least flow. All the sites at Adobe Creek displayed average flows and depth suggesting that they provide fast flows required by hitch during the spawning runs. All the sampled creeks did not support the hitch to complete the life cycle since they dried up and young fish were trapped in the water pools in which they later died impacting on recruitment of hitch in Clear Lake.

120 0.50 Depth at Thalweg (m) Flow (Ft/sec) 0.45

100 ) 0.40 m ( )

c 0.35 g e e

s 80 / w l .

t 0.30 a F h (

60 0.25 T - w

o h l t

F 0.20 p

40 e

0.15 D 0.10 20 0.05 0 0.00 FC1 SC1 AC1 AC2 AC3 AC4 KC1 CC1

Figure 3.1. 5. Spatial trends (Mean ±SE) in flow and depth in the creeks within the Big Valley sub-basin. The sampled creeks are respectively; FC- Forbes Creek; SC-Seasonal Creek ; AC1-Adobe at Soda Bay Bridge; AC2-Adobe at Finley Bridge; AC3- Adobe at Merritt crossing; AC4- Adobe at Bell Hill; KC1 – Kelsey at Soda Bay Bridge; CC1- Cole creek at Soda Bay Bridge.

3.2.Results for 2014 Spring spawning season Sampled sites were characterized by diminished water quantities in the spawning creeks. Kelsey Creek (Flow range- 0.00-76.76 Ft/sec; Depth at thalweg ranged 0.31-0.69 m) and Adobe (Flow range- 11.54-192.85 Ft/sec; Page 11 of 32 Depth at thalweg ranged from 0.006-0.4 m). During February and March 2014, dry creek bed patches were noted at Adobe and Cole creeks early in the season and this was reported to CDFW and game wardens. This created concerns that water diversions or obstructions were occurring and affecting the Clear Lake hitch run. Fish and Wildlife staff responded by inspecting the said areas but indicated to Big Valley Rancheria Environmental Director that they did not see any water diversions in particular, chalking it up to thirsty aquifers that needed to be recharged in certain areas. On March 24, during weekly creek monitoring, Big Valley EPA staff noticed sufficient water flow on Adobe Creek at Bell Hill Road crossing but further downstream at Merritt Road crossing it was bone dry. The previous week a fish die off (including candidate species Clear Lake hitch) occurred further downstream at Soda Bay Road crossing due to fish being stranded in small pools of water on Adobe Creek. This is the first reported case of death of mature fish (spawners) due to water drawdown. Typically spawners are able to make it back into the lake after the runs due to presence of contagious water flow in the creeks. The dead fish consisted primarily of suckers and hitch (Table 1). At that time, staff engaged in a Clear Lake Hitch rescue with Department of Fish and Wildlife staff as well as the staff from Robinson Rancheria and Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake. Close to 200 hitch and other species were moved to nearby Kelsey Creek which still had some good water flow. Clear Lake hitch (State listed - threatened and candidate List, ESA) and Sacramento Sucker die off in Adobe Creek 3/18/14 due to being stranded in a shallow pool because of lack of contiguous water flow. Out of the total 31 dead fish species sampled 7 were hitch and 24 were suckers. With regards to water flows Kelsey creek had initial high quantity but did not sustain this flow. Cole creek was most impacted by drought and had the least flow. All the sites at Adobe creek displayed average flows and depth suggesting that they provide fast flows required by hitch during the spawning runs. All the sampled creeks did not support sustained flows to provide the minimum environmental flows needed to support the integrity of the ecosystem and sustenance of hitch life cycle since they dried up and young fish (Young of the Year- YOY ) were trapped in the water pools in which they later died impacting on recruitment of hitch in Clear Lake. Out of the dead hitch enumerated had an average of 6.125± 3.31 lesions caused by Anchor worm parasite Lernea cyprinacea L. Research indicates that Lernaea spp. infestations can have serious pathogenic effects on their fish hosts as they cause disruption and necrosis of gill epithelium, while attachment of adult females usually causes hemorrhages, muscle necrosis and an intense inflammatory response, sometimes associated with secondary bacterial. It has also been demonstrated that there is high mortality rates in the infected fish and reduced swimming ability, which might predispose to greater predation rates.

Figure 3.1.6. . Clear Lake hitch (State listed and Candidate List, ESA) and Sacramento Sucker die off in Adobe Creek 3/18/14 due to stranding in a shallow pool because of lack of contiguous water flow. This represented a huge loss in spawning stock biomass of hitch in Clear Lake.

Page 12 of 32 Table 3. 1. 1. Lengths, Weight and sex of the fish found dead at Adobe Creek following the water drawdown and pooling up on March 18, 2014

Fish Sex Total length (inch) Total Weight Pounds Male Female (lb) Oz 1 Hitch Female 13 13 2 Hitch Male 14 14 3 Hitch Male 13 13 4 Hitch Female 15 15 5 Hitch Male 14.5 1 3 6 Hitch Female 14 1 4 7 Hitch Female 15.5 15 8 Hitch Female 14 1 2 9 Sucker Male 20.5 5 1 10 Sucker Male 19.5 3 9 11 Sucker Female 22.75 4 10 12 Sucker Male 17.75 2 11 13 Sucker Male 20 4 0 14 Sucker Female 19.25 3 2 15 Sucker Female 17.5 2 13 16 Sucker Male 17 2 3 17 Sucker Female 18 2 11 18 Sucker Female 19.75 3 6 19 Sucker Male 16 2 0 20 Sucker Male 17 2 0 21 Sucker Male 17.75 2 3 22 Sucker Male 17.5 3 23 Sucker Male 16.5 2 3 24 Sucker Male 18.25 2 12 25 Sucker Male 18.25 3 26 Sucker Female 17.75 2 10 27 Sucker Female 19.5 3 0 28 Sucker Male 20 4 8 29 Sucker Female 20 3 6 30 Sucker Female 17.5 2 4 31 Sucker Male 17.25 2 9

Page 13 of 32 Figure 3.1.7. Rescuing stranded hitch fry at Adobe Merritt crossing with CDFW (using an electrofisher), Big Valley Rancheria and Robinson staff. The drawdown was occasioned by water withdrawals from farmers for irrigated agriculture. Rescued fry were manually transported to Clear Lake and released at Big Valley Rancheria Tule boat festival site (BVCL6). Loss of fry impacts heavily on recruitment

3.3.Results of 2015 hitch spawning season.

3.3.1. Spatial variations in surface water temperature during the 2015 hitch spawning season

Results are displayed in Figure 3.2.1. Values were elevated at Adobe at Merritt crossing. This is associated with lack of riparian vegetation which exposes the site to sunlight. The site is shallow and also regularly disturbed to create passage across the creek by vehicles. Average temperatures averaged were lower than 14º C which was not ideal for hitch spawning. Hitch were observed early in the season when temperatures were at 12.01 º C. The ideal spawning temperatures range from 14-18 º C and this indicates poor timing by the hitch for 2015 spring season. Observations on the fry in the creeks revealed that they were predominantly suckers and this revealed that hitch spawning was weak for 2015 season.

Page 14 of 32 18.0 ) C º

( 16.0

e r

u 14.0 t a r

e 12.0 p m

e 10.0 T

r 8.0 e t a

W 6.0

g 4.0 a r e

v 2.0 A 0.0 FC1 SC1 AC1 KC1 CC1 AC2 AC3 AC4

Big Valley sub-basin creeks

Figure 3.2.1 Spatial trends (Mean ±SE) in Surface water temperature of creeks within the Big Valley sub-basin. The sampled creeks are respectively; FC- Forbes Creek; SC-Seasonal Creek ; AC1-Adobe at Soda Bay Bridge; AC2-Adobe at Finley Bridge; AC3- Adobe at Merritt crossing; AC4- Adobe at Bell Hill; KC1 – Kelsey at Soda Bay Bridge; CC1- Cole creek at Soda Bay Bridge.

3.1.2. Spatial variations in dissolved oxygen and % DO sat.

Values are displayed in Figure 3.2.2 and show that dissolved oxygen levels are sufficient to support fish and other aquatic organisms within the creeks. Values on average were higher than 7 mg/L

9.0 100 Dissolved oxygen (mg/l) % saturation 90

8.5 80

) L n / o i g t

70 a m r (

u n t e a s g

8.0 60 y n x e O g

y d 50 x e O v

l o % s

s 7.5 40 i D 30

7.0 20

6.5 0 FC1 SC1 AC1 KC1 CC1 AC2 AC3 AC4 Big Valley sub-basin creeks

Figure 3.2.2. Spatial trends (Mean ±SE) in Dissolved oxygen of creeks within the Big Valley sub-basin. The sampled creeks are respectively; FC- Forbes Creek; SC-Seasonal Creek ; AC1-Adobe at Soda Bay Bridge; AC2-Adobe at Finley Bridge; AC3- Adobe at Merritt crossing; AC4- Adobe at Bell Hill; KC1 – Kelsey at Soda Bay Bridge; CC1- Cole creek at Soda Bay Bridge.

Page 15 of 32 3.2.3 Spatial variations in Specific conductivity and Resistivity

Results are displayed in Figure 3.2.3 Seasonal creek elevated conductivity values which is in consistent with high salinity and TDS (See Figure 3.2.4). There is need to investigate high conductivity at seasonal creek owing to light industries including red mix on its watershed. 0.60 5.00 Conductivity (µS/cm) Resistivity (K^-cm ) 4.50

) 0.50

m 4.00 c /

S 3.50 ) m m

( 0.40

c - y

t s

i 3.00 v i m t h c 0.30 2.50 o u (

d y n t

2.00 i o v c i

c 0.20 s i i f 1.50 i s c e e R

p 1.00 S 0.10 0.50 0.00 0.00 FC1 SC1 AC1 KC1 CC1 AC2 AC3 AC4

Big Valley sub-basin creeks

Figure 3.2.3. Spatial trends (Mean ± SE) in specific conductivity and resistivity in the creeks within the Big Valley sub-basin. The sampled creeks are respectively; FC- Forbes Creek; SC-Seasonal Creek ; AC1-Adobe at Soda Bay Bridge; AC2-Adobe at Finley Bridge; AC3- Adobe at Merritt crossing; AC4- Adobe at Bell Hill; KC1 – Kelsey at Soda Bay Bridge; CC1- Cole creek at Soda Bay Bridge.

0.35 0.30 TDS (mg/L) Salinity (ppt)

0.30 0.25

0.25 0.20

0.20 ) ) L t /

0.15 p g ( p

(

0.15 y D t i T n i l

0.10 a 0.10 S

0.05 0.05

0.00 0.00 FC1 SC1 AC1 KC1 CC1 AC2 AC3 AC4 Big Valley subasin creeks

Page 16 of 32 Figure 3.2.4 Spatial trends (Mean ± SE;) in TDS and salinity in the creeks within the Big Valley sub-basin. The sampled creeks are respectively; FC- Forbes Creek; SC-Seasonal Creek ; AC1-Adobe at Soda Bay Bridge; AC2-Adobe at Finley Bridge; AC3- Adobe at Merritt crossing; AC4- Adobe at Bell Hill; KC1 – Kelsey at Soda Bay Bridge; CC1- Cole creek at Soda Bay Bridge.

3.1.5. Spatial trends in flow and Depth for the creeks within the Big Valley sub-basin

Values are shown in Figure 3.2.5. In terms of water quantity Kelsey Creek sustained a high quantity but with diminished flow. Cole creek was most impacted by drought and registered no flow throughout the sampling season. All the sites at Adobe Creek displayed high flows and depth suggesting that they are ideal conditions required by hitch during the spawning runs. All the sampled creeks did not support the hitch to complete the life cycle since they dried up and young fish were trapped in the water pools in which they later died impacting on recruitment of hitch in Clear Lake.

0.50 Average Depth (m) Average Flow (Ft/sec) 100.0 0.45 90.0

0.40 80.0

0.35 70.0 ) c e s

0.30 60.0 / ) t F m (

(

w h 0.25 50.0 t o l p f

e e d

0.20 40.0 g e a r g e a r v e 0.15 30.0 A v A 0.10 20.0

0.05 10.0

0.00 0.0 FC1 SC1 AC1 KC1 CC1 AC2 AC3 AC4 Big Valley Sub-basin creeks

Figure 3.2.5. Spatial trends (Mean ±SE) in flow and depth in the creeks within the Big Valley sub-basin. The sampled creeks are respectively; FC- Forbes Creek; SC-Seasonal Creek ; AC1-Adobe at Soda Bay Bridge; AC2-Adobe at Finley Bridge; AC3- Adobe at Merritt crossing; AC4- Adobe at Bell Hill; KC1 – Kelsey at Soda Bay Bridge; CC1- Cole creek at Soda Bay Bridge.

3.3.2. A summary of fish sightings in the major creeks supporting hitch runs in 2015

The first flow of water in the creeks occurred in early December 2014. The first water quality sampling was conducted on December 5, 2014 and all creeks had water except Cole creek which was bone dry. The first fish sightings by Robinson Staff in the creeks occurred on February 9th at Scotts creek. This was probably a hitch. On February 13th 2015 spawners were sighted at Adobe at Merritt crossing (4-8 suckers) and Adobe at Bell Hill (1 dead spawner sucker). On February 20th 2015, more fish were sighted at Adobe at Soda Bay Bridge and estimated to range from 700- 800 and were a mixture of hitch (about 70%) and 30 % suckers). Further observations showed that the hitch (See photo below) were much smaller (about 9 inches total length). Typically a mature spawner is on average 13- 15 inches total length. The hitch appeared to have injuries/lesions and parasitic infections most likely from Anchor worm infestation. The fish appeared to stay under the new bridge downstream of Adobe at Soda Bay

Page 17 of 32 Bridge. It was not very clear why they were not moving upstream of this site but the most plausible reason would be due to flow or temperature conditions. The site was most likely a staging area before the hitch run. Temperatures were 12.01 ºC at this site and ranged from 8.83 at Cole creek – 13.29 ºC at Adobe Merritt crossing. Typically surface water temperature is regulated by the season and locally by the presence /absence of vegetation and shading at the sampling sites. According to (Murphy 1948; Kimsey and Fisk 1960) the most ideal spawning temperature range is from 14-18 ºC. Ostensibly the hitch runs in Spring 2015 came much earlier than normally happens in Mid-March to April when the ideal temperatures are achieved. There is evidence that many hitch did not move upstream beyond Adobe/Soda Bay Bridge as later on in the season the fish fry at Adobe Finley, Adobe Merritt and Adobe Bell hill were predominantly suckers. This creates a recruitment failure for hitch during 2015 spring spawning season.

Figure 3.2.6. A school of hitch and suckers congregating at Adobe/Soda Bay on February 20th 2015. Observations revealed that spawning was very poor at this site (based on sighted hitch fry) as the fish arrived early in February when temperatures were not ideal for spawning.

Both 2014 and 2015 hitch spawning season reveal diminished numbers of hitch entering the creek to spawn. The spawning stock numbers were impacted when mature fish died in the creeks including stranding of young fish later in the season when the creeks dried up early due to increased abstraction of water for frost protection and flood irrigation. In early May 2015 there were occasional sightings of juvenile hitch schooling at various locations on the lake shoreline. This was confirmed by CDFW staff on May through electrofishing at Soda Bay Cove where out of the total catch of 84 fish, 73 were hitch and rest were Sacramento blackfish. The hitch appeared to have been hatched 2 years earlier.

Table 3.2.1 A summary of hitch sightings in major creeks draining into Clear Lake for 2015 spring season. Adapted from Chi Council website with additional own observations in Big Valley sub-basin. Further information from Dean Rogers, Robinson Rancheria

Creek Observations Cole creek No fish reported in the spring of 2015; Creek remained dry and lost contiguity early in the season Kelsey creek Several schools of several hundred hitch seen Adobe creek Several hundred fish seen. Fish (mixture of suckers and hitch seen at Adobe/Soda bay Page 18 of 32 bridge on February 20th 2015. Suckers may have made it upstream Manning creek no reports Robinson creek no reports of spawners seen but sucker fry were seen Cooper creek A few hitch seen. On February 23rd about 30 hitch were seen at Witter Springs Road Bridge Hendricks creek no reports Middle creek No spawners sighted except one sighting in Rodman Slough. Sucker fry were seen Clover creek No spawners were seen but sucker fry were seen. Schindler creek Nothing sighted, water low Burns Valley creek Nothing sighted Seigler creek A few hitch seen

Page 19 of 32 Conclusions and recommendations

4.1 Conflicting water demands impacting on hitch recruitment Results show that unregulated water use in the upstream reaches of creeks is impacting beneficial use of downstream users and environmental/instream flows. Massive fish kills including the hitch (state listed species) observed at Adobe on 3/18/14 was due to fish stranding in a shallow pool of water owing to lack of contiguous water flow. Results show a consistent loss of hitch spawning stock in the creeks due to stranding associated with water abstraction. Loss of young fish due to stranding associated with drawdown impacts negatively on recruitment. Recruitment is the number of new young fish that enter a population in a given year. This is the number of fish larvae in one season that will survive and become juvenile fish in the next season. Observations in the creeks show that due to reduced flows, there is loss of connectivity and the creeks have intermittent flows. The juvenile hitch cannot reach the lake due to the lack of the creek continuum. These young hitch end up dying in the creeks due to diminished water quantity, quality and exposure to predation. There is need to look into possibilities of water storage upstream for instance at Adobe Creek which can be accomplished by altering water management practices focusing on the Highland Springs Dam and Adobe Reservoir to store water in winter and spring and having releases that would allow the hitch to complete their life cycle (Figure 4.1).

Figure 4.1 Hill Spring and Adobe Reservoir can be harnessed to provide water for hitch ecological requirements at Adobe Creek. Adapted from Christensen Inc. (2002).

Page 20 of 32 Low water flows occasioned by abstraction for agriculture (irrigation and frost protection) contributes to earlier than normal drying of the creeks impacting on the hitch life cycle water requirements. This is exacerbated by inefficient irrigation techniques employing flood irrigation and overhead sprinklers. For instance in flood irrigation one-half of the water used ends up not getting to the crops which mean a lot of wasted water as much of it evaporates and transpires in the fields. There is need to adopt modern irrigation including spray and drip irrigation to bolster irrigation efficiency from about 60 percent (traditional spray irrigation) to over 90 percent contributing to water savings for in stream flows and ecological integrity.

Figure 4.2. Inefficient irrigation techniques as practiced and poor target on the crops with most of the water draining away. Improved techniques will lead to better water savings.

4.2.Barriers to fish migrations and spawning.

Currently over 11 barriers have been documented in 8 most promising creeks that support hitch migration (Figure 4.2). Many of these rock weirs were constructed to protect the footings of bridges on Kelsey, Scotts and Middle creeks and consistently block hitch migration to about 30 miles of historic spawning beds on those creeks. Other physical barriers across streams include low water crossings, dams and culverts. Creek disturbance including barriers and creek bed alterations (Adobe Bell Hill) to provide more water to the adjacent vineyards and stream bank clearance (Adobe – Soda Bay Bridge) to create space for a new bridge have impacted heavily on the hitch spawning and migration at Adobe Creek. This has impacted negatively on the spawning capacity of the hitch in the identified areas which are critical habitats as they provided shade and resting areas during the runs. The study recommends that a program be put in place to remove these barriers to expand the hitch spawning range.

Page 21 of 32 Figure 4.3. An inventory of fish barriers that hinder fish migration in the Creeks. These barriers should be eliminated in the short term to increase the hitch spawning range

4.3.Parasitic infections

Observations reveal that parasitic infections by Lernea cyprinacea L. is a more recent phenomenon to infect the hitch and causes disruption and necrosis of gill epithelium, while attachment of adult females usually causes hemorrhages, muscle necrosis and an intense inflammatory response, sometimes associated with secondary bacterial. It has also been demonstrated that there is high mortality rates in the infected fish and reduced swimming ability, which might predispose to greater predation rates. Additionally research has shown that pathological effects of Lernaea sp. Infestations are greater on smaller fish and hence recruitment because the attachment organ of the parasite penetrates more deeply into the body of the fish, often causing damage to internal organs. Lernaea infestations can have serious pathogenic effects on their fish hosts.

Page 22 of 32 Figure 4.4. Anchorworm Lernea cyprinacea L ecto-parasitic infections and lesions on the hitch Lavenia exilicauda

In view of the above and due to the current low hitch populations and the danger of extinction, the study recommends US Fish & Wildlife to list the hitch as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) to complement the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) listing. It cannot be overemphasized that these are important tools in the fight to conserve and restore California's native biological diversity.

Listing of hitch under both laws will help to ensure the protection of the imperiled hitch, an iconic species of great cultural value to original Pomo inhabitants of the Clear Lake region and a major keystone species in trophic relationships within Clear Lake ecosystem.

5.0 References 1. Murphy, G.I. 1948. Notes on the biology of the Sacramento hitch (Lavinia e. exilicauda) of Clear Lake, Lake County, California. Calif. Fish Game 34:101-110. 2. Kimsey, J.B. and L.O. Fisk. 1960. Keys to the freshwater and anadromous fishes of California. Calif. Fish Game 46:453-79.

Page 23 of 32 Appendix I. Summary of results of the water quality analysis of Creeks (2014 spring season). The sampled creeks are respectively; FC- Forbes Creek; SC-Seasonal Creek ; AC1-Adobe Soda Bay Bridge; AC2-Adobe Finley Bridge; AC3- Adobe Merritt crossing; AC4- Adobe Bell Hill; KC1 – Kelsey Soda Bay Bridge; CC1- Cole Creek at Soda Bay Bridge.

Indicates the value are within the limits Values out of Project Action Limit Level Summary of Results Mean Standard Counts (N) Minimum Maximum Median Standard Project Action Limit/Level Sampling site Parameters Deviation value Error DO (mg/l) 6.06 1.03 10 4.03 7.57 6.09 0.324 Water designated WARM = >5 DO saturation (%) mg/l; Water designated COLD = >7 mg/l; Waters designated SPWN = 7 mg/, Monthly mean > 85% saturation, and the 95 percentile concentration shall 62.72 11.38 10 42.6 80.7 63.45 3.598 not fall below 75% saturation pH The pH of water shall not be depressed below 6.5, or 7.56 0.22 10 7.19 7.9 7.61 0.069 elevated above 8.5 RES (K^-cm)

4.47 243 10 2.28 9.43 3.41 0.768 Not developed Conductivity FC1 (mS/cm) 0.276 0.11 10 0.106 0.439 0.295 0.036 Not developed TDS (g/l) 0.167 0.07 10 0.026 0.238 0.18 0.023 Not developed Temp (°C) Waters designated COLD or WARM shall not be increased more than 5ºF above natural 14.66 2.5 10 10.75 18.93 15.35 0.791 receiving water temp Turbidity (NTU) Where natural turbidity is between 5 and 50 NTU's, NTU's 13.58 21.92 10 1.5 64.8 3.1 6.932 cannot exceed 20% Salinity (ppt) 0.13 0.06 10 0.04 0.22 0.14 0.019 Not developed Flow (Ft/sec) 60.59 24.94 9 33.17 119.45 56.36 8.313 Not developed Depth at Thalweg (m) 0.14 0.11 10 0.02 0.37 0.11 0.036 Not developed DO (mg/l) 5.98 0.6 9 4.79 6.84 6.02 0.201 Water designated WARM = >5 SC1 DO saturation (%) mg/l; Water designated COLD = 62.78 7.94 9 46.2 73.9 64.5 2.646 >7 mg/l; Waters designated SPWN = 7 mg/, Monthly mean > 85% saturation, and the 95 percentile concentration shall not fall below 75% saturation pH The pH of water shall not be depressed below 6.5, or 7.55 0.35 9 7.03 7.94 7.67 0.117 elevated above 8.5 RES (K^-cm)

3.11 1.57 9 1.81 6.32 2.43 0.522 Not developed Conductivity (mS/cm) 0.389 0.15 9 0.159 0.552 0.41 0.051 Not developed TDS (g/l) 0.24 0.12 9 0.02 0.35 0.24 0.039 Not developed Temp (°C) Waters designated COLD or WARM shall not be increased more than 5ºF above natural 14.36 2.86 9 10.81 18.94 14.26 0.954 receiving water temp Turbidity (NTU) Where natural turbidity is between 5 and 50 NTU's, NTU's 15.36 26.29 9 1.3 81.5 4.4 8.763 can not exceed 20% Salinity (ppt) 0.19 0.08 9 0.007 0.28 0.21 0.027 Not developed Flow (Ft/sec) 39.82 34.84 9 16.15 113.76 21.82 13.169 Not developed Depth at Thalweg (m) 0.08 0.07 9 0.02 0.19 0.05 0.022 Not developed DO (mg/l) 5.5 1.39 7 2.93 6.88 6.16 0.526 Water designated WARM = >5 DO saturation (%) mg/l; Water designated COLD = >7 mg/l; Waters designated SPWN = 7 mg/, Monthly mean > 85% saturation, and the 95 percentile concentration shall 57.46 11.67 7 35.9 66.3 62.7 4.41 not fall below 75% saturation pH The pH of water shall not be AC1 depressed below 6.5, or 7.74 0.26 7 7.35 8.07 7.73 0.097 elevated above 8.5 RES (K^-cm)

4.29 0.98 7 3.33 6.32 3.95 0.37 Not developed Conductivity (mS/cm) 0.25 0.04 7 0.19 0.3 0.25 0.014 Not developed TDS (g/l) 0.16 0.02 7 0.12 0.19 0.16 0.009 Not developed

Page 25 of 32 Temp (°C) 14.29 2.62 7 10.63 18.59 14.71 0.992 Not developed Turbidity (NTU) Where natural turbidity is between 5 and 50 NTU's, NTU's 11.79 10.53 7 2.6 28.5 8 3.979 cannot exceed 20% Salinity (ppt) 0.12 0.02 7 0.09 0.15 0.12 0.007 Not developed Flow (Ft/sec) 47.29 54.99 3 7.93 110.12 23.82 31.748 Not developed Depth at Thalweg (m) 0.26 0.16 7 0.05 0.48 0.26 0.061 Not developed DO (mg/l) 5.07 1.8 10 1.77 7.83 5.42 0.568 Water designated WARM = >5 DO saturation (%) mg/l; Water designated COLD = >7 mg/l; Waters designated SPWN = 7 mg/, Monthly mean > 85% saturation, and the 95 percentile concentration shall 50.70 17.92 10 18.8 76.3 58.05 5.668 not fall below 75% saturation pH The pH of water shall not be depressed below 6.5, or 7.8 0.22 10 7.49 8.28 7.8 0.0071 elevated above 8.5 RES (K^-cm)

3.93 0.76 10 2.92 5.34 3.91 0.241 Not developed AC2 Conductivity (mS/cm) 0.26 0.05 10 0.19 0.34 0.26 0.016 Not developed TDS (g/l) 0.17 0.03 10 0.12 0.22 0.016 0.01 Not developed Temp (°C) 14.9 2.61 10 10.75 18.72 15.3 0.825 Not developed Turbidity (NTU) Where natural turbidity is between 5 and 50 NTU's, NTU's 17.69 18.54 10 1.7 59.9 10.85 5.864 cannot exceed 20% Salinity (ppt) 0.13 0.03 10 0.08 0.17 0.12 0.009 Not developed Flow (Ft/sec) 83.58 74.27 5 11.54 192.85 84.58 33.213 Not developed Depth at Thalweg (m) 0.24 0.13 5 0.006 0.4 0.27 0.059 Not developed DO (mg/l) 5.22 1.72 9 2.5 6.79 6.27 0.574 Water designated WARM = >5 DO saturation (%) mg/l; Water designated COLD = >7 mg/l; Waters designated AC3 SPWN = 7 mg/, Monthly mean > 85% saturation, and the 95 percentile concentration shall 56.56 14.36 9 33.2 70.7 64.2 4.787 not fall below 75% saturation

Page 26 of 32 pH The pH of water shall not be depressed below 6.5, or 7.91 0.36 10 7.26 8.56 7.96 0.114 elevated above 8.5 RES (K^-cm)

3.75 0.79 10 2.95 5.36 3.56 0.25 Not developed Conductivity (mS/cm) 0.28 0.05 10 0.19 0.34 0.28 0.016 Not developed TDS (g/l) 0.17 0.03 12 0.13 0.23 0.17 0.01 Not developed Temp (°C) 19.00 5.42 10 11.55 28.14 19.33 1.714 Not developed Turbidity (NTU) Where natural turbidity is between 5 and 50 NTU's, NTU's 5.77 6.51 10 2.2 23.6 3.05 2.06 cannot exceed 20% Salinity (ppt) 0.13 0.03 10 0.08 0.17 0.14 0.01 Not developed Flow (Ft/sec) 54.42 37.44 9 10.75 113.78 36.78 12.479 Not developed Depth at Thalweg (m) 0.15 0.13 9 0.01 0.46 0.13 0.044 Not developed DO (mg/l) 4.33 2 12 1.33 6.63 4.15 0.577 Water designated WARM = >5 DO saturation (%) mg/l; Water designated COLD = >7 mg/l; Waters designated SPWN = 7 mg/, Monthly mean > 85% saturation, and the 95 percentile concentration shall 44.17 19.29 10 15.2 68.5 43.8 6.099 not fall below 75% saturation pH The pH of water shall not be depressed below 6.5, or 7.49 0.29 12 7.21 8.1 7.37 0.085 elevated above 8.5 RES (K^-cm) AC4 3.93 0.82 12 2.77 5.37 3.85 0.238 Not developed Conductivity (mS/cm) 0.27 0.05 11 0.19 0.36 0.26 0.016 Not developed TDS (g/l) 0.17 0.03 12 0.13 0.23 0.17 0.01 Not developed Temp (°C) 16.66 3.62 12 11.48 22.97 17.64 1.046 Not developed Turbidity (NTU) Where natural turbidity is between 5 and 50 NTU's, NTU's 5.41 4.82 12 1.1 13.8 2.6 1.392 cannot exceed 20% Salinity (ppt) 0.13 0.03 12 0.09 0.18 0.13 0.008 Not developed Flow (Ft/sec) 107.29 104.33 8 14.37 269.37 49.35 36.887 Not developed

Page 27 of 32 Depth at Thalweg (m) 0.23 0.17 8 0.02 0.45 0.23 0.061 Not developed DO (mg/l) 5.77 1.42 12 2.93 7.58 5.89 0.411 Water designated WARM = >5 DO saturation (%) mg/l; Water designated COLD = >7 mg/l; Waters designated SPWN = 7 mg/, Monthly mean > 85% saturation, and the 95 percentile concentration shall 59.39 12.79 12 31 76.1 62.25 3.693 not fall below 75% saturation pH The pH of water shall not be depressed below 6.5, or 7.83 0.2 12 7.49 8.11 7.88 0.059 elevated above 8.5 RES (K^-cm)

3.73 1.27 12 2.08 6.24 3.46 0.367 Not developed KC1 Conductivity (mS/cm) 0.300 0.1 12 0.16 0.481 0.289 0.028 Not developed TDS (g/l) 0.19 0.06 12 0.10 0.309 0.185 0.019 Not developed Temp (°C) 14.59 2.82 12 9.399 18.56 15.26 0.814 Not developed Turbidity (NTU) Where natural turbidity is between 5 and 50 NTU's, NTU's 3.58 3.69 12 1.1 14 2.1 1.064 cannot exceed 20% Salinity (ppt) 0.14 0.05 12 0.07 0.24 0.14 0.015 Not developed Flow (Ft/sec) 28.84 24.0 9 0.0 76.76 29.23 7.999 Not developed Depth at Thalweg (m) 0.46 0.14 12 0.31 0.69 0.42 0.039 Not developed DO (mg/l) 4.54 2.03 3 2.33 6.31 4.99 1.17 Water designated WARM = >5 DO saturation (%) mg/l; Water designated COLD = >7 mg/l; Waters designated SPWN = 7 mg/, Monthly mean > 85% saturation, and the 95 percentile concentration shall 46.2 18.12 3 25.7 60.1 52.8 10.64 not fall below 75% saturation CC1 pH The pH of water shall not be depressed below 6.5, or 7.32 0.39 3 6.89 7.65 7.41 0.224 elevated above 8.5 RES (K^-cm)

4.74 1.98 3 2.51 6.28 5.42 1.142 Not developed Conductivity (mS/cm) 0.25 0.13 3 0.16 0.4 0.19 0.076 Not developed Page 28 of 32 TDS (g/l) 0.16 0.08 3 0.1 0.25 0.12 0.048 Not developed Temp (°C) 14.24 2.6 3 11.3 16.26 15.15 1.503 Not developed Turbidity (NTU) Where natural turbidity is between 5 and 50 NTU's, NTU's 28.53 24.97 3 1.6 50.9 33.1 14.144 cannot exceed 20% Salinity (ppt) 0.12 0.07 3 0.07 0.2 0.08 0.042 Not developed Flow (Ft/sec) 9.87 0 1 9.87 9.87 9.87 0 Not developed Depth at Thalweg (m) 0.165 0.287 6 0 0.7 0 0.117 Not developed

Page 29 of 32 Appendix II. Summary of results of the water quality analysis of Creeks (December 2014 -April 2015). The sampled creeks are respectively; FC- Forbes Creek; SC-Seasonal Creek ; AC1-Adobe Soda Bay Bridge; AC2-Adobe Finley Bridge; AC3- Adobe Merritt crossing; AC4- Adobe Bell Hill; KC1 – Kelsey Soda Bay Bridge; CC1- Cole Creek at Soda Bay Bridge.

Creeks Parameters Average SD Minimum Maximum Median SE Counts FC1 Depth at Thalweg (m) 0.046 0.04 0.02 0.16 0.03 0.01 9 Temperature, Water (°C) 11.581 1.62 9.19 14.30 11.12 0.06 9 Dissolved oxygen (DO) (mg/l) 7.897 1.68 4.57 9.65 8.47 0.06 9 pH 6.834 2.09 1.35 8.42 7.35 0.07 9 Specific conductance 0.326 0.06 0.21 0.39 0.33 0.01 9 Res- (K^-cm) 3.165 0.71 2.58 4.87 3.01 0.04 9 Turbidity - (NTU) 3.033 2.01 0.90 6.00 2.25 0.07 6 Flow- (Ft/sec) 54.941 24.07 30.52 109.35 43.59 0.25 9 Salinity (ppt) 0.159 0.03 0.09 0.19 0.16 0.01 9 Total dissolved solids- (g/L) 0.209 0.04 0.13 0.25 0.21 0.01 9 Dissolved oxygen saturation - (%) 76.611 16.20 42.90 94.30 82.00 0.20 9 SC Depth at Thalweg (m) 0.03 0.02 0.01 0.1 0.02 0.01 9 Temperature, Water (°C) 11.2 2.4 7.6 15.6 10.3 0.1 9 Dissolved oxygen (DO) (mg/l) 7.5 1.8 4.0 9.3 8.0 0.1 9 pH 7.6 0.4 7.2 8.4 7.6 0.0 9 Specific conductance 0.505 0.086 0.296 0.582 0.525 0.015 9 Res- (K^-cm) 2.058 0.518 1.717 3.392 1.906 0.036 9 Turbidity - (NTU) 4.5 6.9 0.7 18.5 1.7 0.1 6 Flow- (Ft/sec) 44.0 15.2 27.6 71.1 39.8 0.2 6 Salinity (ppt) 0.3 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.0 9 Total dissolved solids- (g/L) 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.3 0.0 9 Dissolved oxygen saturation - (%) 72.7 18.2 37.4 96.1 78.0 0.2 9 KC1 Depth at Thalweg (m) 0.5 0.2 0.3 0.8 0.4 0.0 9 Temperature, Water (°C) 12.1 2.0 9.4 15.1 11.9 0.1 9 Dissolved oxygen (DO) (mg/l) 8.3 2.4 4.5 11.0 8.7 0.1 9 pH 7.8 0.4 7.5 8.6 7.6 0.0 9 Specific conductance 0.308 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.3 0.0 9 Res- (K^-cm) 3.326 0.6 2.8 4.7 3.2 0.0 9

Page 30 of 32 Turbidity - (NTU) 2.7 1.7 1.7 6.0 1.9 0.1 6 Flow- (Ft/sec) 36.2 29.2 0.0 99.6 29.3 0.3 9 Salinity (ppt) 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.0 9 Total dissolved solids- (g/L) 0.197 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.0 9 Dissolved oxygen saturation - (%) 81.6 25.7 43.6 108.0 91.1 0.3 9 CC Depth at Thalweg (m) 0.37 0.12 0.12 0.55 0.39 0.02 9 Temperature, Water (°C) 11.60 3.04 8.06 17.84 10.45 0.09 9 Dissolved oxygen (DO) (mg/l) 7.38 2.13 4.06 10.49 6.95 0.07 9 pH 7.40 0.50 7.07 8.52 7.17 0.04 9 Specific conductance 0.30 0.09 0.17 0.42 0.32 0.01 9 Res- (K^-cm) 3.56 1.14 2.33 5.84 3.17 0.05 9 Turbidity - (NTU) 9.02 2.07 7.00 12.50 8.50 0.07 6 Flow- (Ft/sec) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0 Salinity (ppt) 0.15 0.05 0.08 0.22 0.15 0.01 9 Total dissolved solids- (g/L) 0.20 0.06 0.11 0.28 0.20 0.01 9 Dissolved oxygen saturation - (%) 73.32 24.50 41.70 115.10 66.60 0.25 9 AC1 Depth at Thalweg (m) 0.10 0.04 0.05 0.17 0.10 0.01 9 Temperature, Water (°C) 12.93 1.51 10.96 15.08 13.04 0.06 9 Dissolved oxygen (DO) (mg/l) 8.78 2.40 4.98 11.70 8.98 0.08 9 pH 7.85 0.45 7.30 8.79 7.73 0.03 9 Specific conductance 0.29 0.06 0.18 0.36 0.30 0.01 9 Res- (K^-cm) 3.58 0.90 2.82 5.66 3.40 0.05 9 Turbidity - (NTU) 8.98 11.94 0.80 30.13 2.30 0.17 8 Flow- (Ft/sec) 47.37 30.38 0.00 93.53 44.62 0.28 9 Salinity (ppt) 0.14 0.03 0.08 0.18 0.14 0.01 9 Total dissolved solids- (g/L) 0.19 0.04 0.11 0.23 0.19 0.01 9 Dissolved oxygen saturation - (%) 87.74 24.73 48.70 117.10 88.30 0.25 9 AC2 Depth at Thalweg (m) 0.178 0.095 0.100 0.400 0.150 0.015 9 Temperature, Water (°C) 12.666 1.509 10.790 15.430 12.610 0.061 9 Dissolved oxygen (DO) (mg/l) 7.937 2.141 4.140 10.430 7.700 0.073 9 pH 7.670 0.411 7.380 8.640 7.500 0.032 9 Specific conductance 0.294 0.060 0.176 0.361 0.295 0.012 9 Res- (K^-cm) 3.566 0.914 2.771 5.674 3.386 0.048 9 Page 31 of 32 Turbidity - (NTU) 8.083 10.959 1.500 30.100 3.400 0.166 6 Flow- (Ft/sec) 71.111 61.840 25.390 222.900 53.350 0.393 9 Salinity (ppt) 0.128 0.054 0.014 0.180 0.140 0.012 9 Total dissolved solids- (g/L) 0.188 0.038 0.113 0.231 0.189 0.010 9 Dissolved oxygen saturation - (%) 78.489 21.328 39.700 103.300 80.400 0.231 9 AC3 Depth at Thalweg (m) 0.177 0.072 0.100 0.300 0.130 0.013 9 Temperature, Water (°C) 15.273 2.330 12.810 18.510 14.640 0.076 9 Dissolved oxygen (DO) (mg/l) 8.720 2.206 5.560 11.370 9.310 0.074 9 pH 7.530 0.558 7.130 8.670 7.330 0.037 9 Specific conductance 0.282 0.061 0.176 0.358 0.288 0.012 9 Res- (K^-cm) 3.696 0.881 2.792 5.684 3.465 0.047 9 Turbidity - (NTU) 6.700 8.948 1.300 24.000 2.250 0.150 6 Flow- (Ft/sec) 75.863 41.095 7.930 140.160 69.080 0.321 9 Salinity (ppt) 0.133 0.032 0.080 0.180 0.140 0.009 9 Total dissolved solids- (g/L) 0.188 0.038 0.113 0.229 0.189 0.010 9 Dissolved oxygen saturation - (%) 93.011 27.129 55.600 121.500 96.600 0.260 9 AC4 Depth at Thalweg (m) 0.174 0.082 0.050 0.300 0.200 0.014 9 Temperature, Water (°C) 14.612 1.783 11.990 16.420 15.510 0.067 9 Dissolved oxygen (DO) (mg/l) 7.643 1.869 5.060 10.610 7.720 0.068 9 pH 7.408 0.613 6.880 8.820 7.230 0.039 9 Specific conductance 0.224 0.039 0.154 0.267 0.224 0.010 9 Res- (K^-cm) 4.496 0.916 3.741 6.473 4.094 0.048 9 Turbidity - (NTU) 6.917 10.983 1.300 28.900 1.600 0.166 6 Flow- (Ft/sec) 87.940 115.810 10.010 367.930 41.590 0.538 9 Salinity (ppt) 0.107 0.022 0.070 0.130 0.100 0.007 9 Total dissolved solids- (g/L) 0.154 0.027 0.099 0.190 0.156 0.008 9 Dissolved oxygen saturation - (%) 76.522 17.705 50.400 112.800 77.200 0.210 9

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