SFPUC 2001 Alameda Watershed Management Plan

XII. SUMMARY OF COMMMENTS AND RESPONSESB. SUMMARY OF COMMENTS AND RESPONSESHistorically, the upper reaches of Alameda, San Antonio, Calaveras, and Arroyo Hondo creeksprovided spawning and rearing habitat for steelhead trout and coho salmon (Jeff Miller, AlamedaCreek Alliance, pers. comm.). While native-run coho salmon have not been documented in thecreek for many years, steelhead trout have been seen in recent years trying to migrate upstreamfrom the lower reaches of Alameda Creek. A recent study 1 concluded that the returning steelheadare genetically similar to the native rainbow trout populations, and that the native rainbow trout“should be managed as part of the threatened population of Central California Coast steelhead.”Another recent study 2 determined that restoring viable steelhead populations in the AlamedaCreek watershed is biologically and economically feasible, without significant disruption tocurrent beneficial uses (including water supply and recreation). Under a current agreementbetween the Alameda County Flood Control District, East Bay Regional Parks District, theCalifornia Department of Fish and Game, and the National Marine Fisheries Service, steelhead,including a radio-tagged gravid female, have been hand-carried past barriers in the lowerAlameda Creek and are believed to be spawning upstream (Miller, pers. comm.). Also, theAlameda County Flood Control District is preparing a grant proposal to construct a fish ladder toallow passage of migrating fish past a major drop structure in the lower flood control channeleight miles upstream from the Bay (Richard Wetzig, Alameda County Public Works, pers.comm.).These and other activities on Alameda Creek suggest the likelihood that there will be steelhead,and perhaps salmon, migrating upstream as far as SFPUC property in the not-to-distant future,well within the planning horizon of the Management Plan. Because of this probability, thethreatened Central California steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) should be listed in EIRTable III.E-3 with “moderate” or “high” potential to occur within the watershed, and their needsshould be fully considered in the Management Plan and the EIR. The Management Plan and EIRshould guarantee implementation of management actions that will:1. Assure sufficient, appropriately timed, flows for fish passage through Alameda, SanAntonio, and Calaveras creeks. Stream flow studies should be conducted to determine whatflows are necessary, and should include an evaluation of necessary flows downstream.2. Protect water quality to a level protective of target fish populations (including steelhead)and the vertebrates and invertebrates that support them.3. Remove fish passage barriers where possible and provide adequate passage where barriersare required for operation of the water supply system.1 Nielsen, Jennifer L. and Monique C. Fountain. 1999. Microsatellite analyses of Alameda Creek rainbow/steelheadtrout. Alaska Biological Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska. Report prepared for Applied Marine Sciences, Inc.,Livermore, CA.2 Gunther, Andrew J., Jeffrey Hagar, and Paul Salop. 1999. [Draft] An assessment of the feasibility of restoring aviable steelhead trout population in the Alameda Creek watershed. Applied Marine Sciences, Inc., Livermore, CAand Hagar Environmental Science, Richmond, CA. Report prepared for the Alameda Creek Fisheries RestorationWork Group.NOP 96.223E: Alameda Watershed Management Plan C&R.70 ESA / 930385