The Yuba Project joined Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission on a ride along to watch the team collect and deploy water temperature sensors. These sensors are placed throughout the Yuba River to monitor temperature daily throughout the year. The data from these sensors is compiled into annual reports, which are used by environmental agencies throughout the region. Having a clear picture of water temperature throughout the year is invaluable in monitoring the health of the river ecosystem.
About Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission and their work
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) staff partner with the Yuba County Water Agency, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife to monitor and evaluate various Chinook salmon life stages along the Lower Yuba River. PSMFC conducts escapement surveys by collecting spawned, adult salmon carcasses to estimate the adult spawning population. PSMFC finds and measures redds, aka salmon spawning nests, to analyze river substrate usage and spawning success rates. PSMFC maintains a 24-logger temperature array (pictured) to track water temperature changes in the Yuba River. Recently, PSMFC piloted a Juvenile Salmon Acoustic Telemetry Systems (JSATS) study to monitor juvenile survivorship during outmigration. These surveys and more allow PSMFC to provide accurate population estimates to county, state, and federal management programs.
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