Authorizations and Permits for Protected Species (APPS)

• ESA Section 10(a)(1)(A) permit (Pacific fish/invertebrate enhancement) - Expired

Permit 18181-3A covers rescue operations within California's Central Valley in response to extreme environmental conditions and complex water operations. 
Rescues and monitoring will follow these general directions:
1) Trapping and relocation of adult salmonids and SDPS green sturgeon entering the Colusa Basin Drainage Canal at Wallace Weir- carried out year-round, annually.
2) Monitoring at Tisdale and Fremont weirs relies upon high flow events of sufficient magnitude to result in weir and bypass flooding. As high flow events do not occur every year, the duration of this project is dependent upon environmental conditions.
3) Extreme drought in the Central Valley has resulted in limited reservoir storage and reductions in flow. These conditions will likely lead to redd dewatering and stranding of juvenile salmonids in the Upper Sacramento River Basin including associated tributaries. Rescues/relocation of stranded juveniles will be conducted year-round as needed.

The primary purpose of Permit 18181-3A will be to assess entrainment of ESA-listed salmonids and SDPS green sturgeon resulting from extreme environmental conditions and complex water operations within California's Central Valley. The fishery agencies generally consider fish rescue efforts a last resort, as long-term survival benefits of such activities are unclear. Fish rescues can mask important underlying land and water development problems that might be causing or contributing to the isolation or stranding of fish. In addition, periodically disconnected habitats and isolation caused by drought and fluctuating water supply are in some degree natural events and likely important to natural selection processes.  

In some instances (i.e. trapping operations at Wallace Weir Facility), CDFW aims to prevent entrainment by trapping and relocating adult fish species of concern before they encounter inhospitable conditions. Other times, entrainment results from environmental conditions such as flooding or drought.  These conditions are often exacerbated by diversions and ongoing water operations. CDFW will assess the conditions leading to entrainment and determine whether rescue and relocation activities are warranted.  

CDFW currently serves as the lead fishery agency for all fish rescue actions.  In that capacity, CDFW will make the final decision about whether to pursue a rescue effort in accordance with the Key Rescue Objectives and Principles found within the Interagency Anadromous Fish Rescue Strategy (attached).