Pelagic Organism Decline Overview
In the last few years, the abundance indices calculated by the Interagency Ecological Program (IEP) Fall Midwater Trawl survey (FMWT) and Summer Townet Survey (TNS) show marked declines in numerous pelagic fishes in the upper San Francisco Estuary (the Delta and Suisun Bay) (IEP 2005). The abundance indices for 2002-2004 include record lows for delta smelt and age-0 striped bass and near-record lows for longfin smelt and threadfin shad.
In contrast, the San Francisco Bay Study did not show significant declines in its catches of marine/lower estuary species. Based on these findings, the problem appears to be limited to fish dependent on the upper estuary. In response to these changes, the IEP formed a Pelagic Organism Decline ("POD") work team to evaluate the potential causes.
POD Links
The following links are presented as a way to find additional information to support the understanding of the Pelagic Organism Decline. Please contact the Science Program webmaster to suggest appropriate links to add to this page.
Interagency Ecological Program (IEP)
IEP Members
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACE)
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
- U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
- California Department of Fish and Game (DFG)
- Central Valley Bay Delta Branch
- Real Time Monitoring
- 20mm Survey
- North Bay Aqueduct
- Spring Kodiak Trawl
- Fall Mid Water Trawl
- Summer Townet Survey
- Bay-Delta Monitoring
- Fish Salvage Monitoring
- Department of Water Resources (DWR)
- State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)
- San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI)
- Bay-Delta Program (CALFED)