Aquatics & Fisheries
Beardsley/Donnells Project, Middle Fork Stanislaus River, CA, Tri-Dam Project.
DTA personnel executed field studies that required innovative use of current technologies . Aerial video from helicopter and infrared photography was used to map habitats in a mostly inaccessible eight-mile diversion reach and for selection and agency approval of study sites. Acoustic Doppler instrumentation mounted on a small inflatable “mini-cat” was packed into remote locations to measure depth and velocity profiles of deep water cross sections including vertical rock-walled canyon pools over 25 feet deep. DTA used its proprietary habitat time series and interactive worksheet in its consultations with resource agencies. These studies and analytical techniques resulted in streamflow allocations favorable to both the Project owner and aquatic resources.