2000 June - This Seasons Fish Counts
Each year we capture wild adult steelhead at our fish trap at the Felton Water Diversion Facility on the San Lorenzo River. Both CDF&G and the NMFS continuously review our fish trapping operation and data collection.
The Felton fish trap is the major source of adult wild Steelhead for our stream restoration projects north of Aptos Creek. The San Lorenzo River has too many obstacles for us to use any other fish collection method at this time. We are constantly working with CDF&G to upgrade our methods for fish capture so that the actual run of fish moving up the San Lorenzo River each winter may be determined. We only operate the trap when enough water is available to inflate the rubber dam. This does not occur until after substantial rains have occurred in our area. The trap is not operational during very high water flows which follow large storms. We also do not operate the trap after we have taken our monthly quota of adult wild fish, or after we have taken our total quota of adult wild fish for the season. This usually occurs near the first week in April. On the average, we feel the trap is operational about 50% of the time.
In reviewing the data for the 1999/2000 season I found some interesting statistics and trends. A total of 532 adult fish were counted at the Felton facility. There were 243 males and 289 females. The first fish trapped was on 1/16/00. The largest fish was a 34 inch male, which passed through the trap on 1/30/00. There were 12 fish over 32 inches that passed through the trap this season. In the 1998/1999 season, we counted 532 Steelhead through our trap. The first fish trapped was on 1/7/99. There were 197 males & 335 females. We had two fish at 37 inches, both were females that were over 8 years old. In addition, we had 34 fish that were over 32 inches.
Our goal for next season is to have the trap data posted weekly on our new web page for all of you who wish to monitor the fish migration as it is occurring. Visit our web page at www.mbstp.org. We are always looking for interesting pictures to post on our web page. If you need any additional information, you may also contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Last Updated (Sunday, 12 July 2009 15:09)
