Santa Ynez River Fisheries Studies

The Fish Management Plan responds to concerns about providing a reasonable balance in the allocation of SYR water between Public Trust Resources (steelhead) and competing consumptive uses, as well as evaluates and recommends nonflow-related actions that benefit Public Trust Resources. To achieve this objective, the proposed items employ management actions that provide a high benefit to fish or fish habitat, and are consistent with water supply availability, project facilities, access to private lands and competing demands for limited resources.

The recommended management actions are based upon adaptive management strategy, enabling managers to respond to annual and seasonal variation in hydrologic conditions and water supply availability within the SYR basin. This strategy also allows Reclamation and the water agencies that contract for Cachuma Project Water (Member Units) to implement measures on public lands and private property as opportunities become available.

The proposed management actions are designed to:

• Protect and improve instream habitat within the mainstem SYR and tributaries downstream of Bradbury Dam

• Create opportunities for successful reproduction and survival of anadramous steelhead trout

• Avoid adverse effects on other aquatic or riparian biological resources

• Conjunctively use water releases to enhance mainstem aquatic conditions during recharge requirements as set forth in WR 89-18.

Reaches of the mainstem and tributaries selected as having priority for habitat protection and improvement were identifies based upon: 1) seasonal and annual instream flow patterns, 2) water temperature, 3) quality and suitability of existing habitat, 4) opportunities for habitat improvement, and 5) private property ownership of the subject habitat areas.
 

Opportunities for enhancing aquatic habitat and fish populations depend on physical habitat conditions, water availability, access to habitat by fish, and access to property for implementation. The key actions include flow related measures to manage and sustain summer stream flows in the upper portions of the mainstem and Hilton Creek, enhancement and protection of physical habitat, and modifications of impediments to fish passage. Other actions include occasional relocation of steelhead/rainbow trout from deteriorating summer habitat and downstream transport of out-migrants from the upper basin around Bradbury Dam. Because much of the lower river is in private ownership, a public education and outreach program will be implemented to foster voluntary participation by landowners in restoration efforts and support by the general public.

• Creation of a Adaptive Management Account to provide water for passage to spawning grounds and rearing over the course of the summer

• Modifications to Lower Hilton Creek by increasing access to the upper reaches of the creek, and providing a permanent watering system that delivers cool water to the creek throughout the year.

2. Improve Existing Habitat

• Protection and enhancement of spawning and rearing habitat in the tributaries through use of conservation easements and leases, construction projects to help reduce the input of fine sediments to the creeks

• Structural improvements in mainstem pools to increase the amount of cover available for steelhead/rainbow trout inhabiting the lower Santa Ynez River watershed

3. Improve Access to Spawning and Rearing Habitat

• Removal of passage impediments associated with road crossings in Hilton, Quiota, and Salsipuedes Creeks to provide greater opportunities for adult steelhead to migrate to historic creek spawning grounds that have been blocked for decades

• Modifying a cascade on Hilton Creek to allow steelhead to migrate to additional spawning locations

4. Increase Public Awareness

• Public education and outreach to increase awareness by local landowners and the public of types of actions and land-use practices which will benefit aquatic resources

• Provide Technical Assistance and financial assistance for voluntary actions to improve steelhead habitat on private lands