Delta Smelt Enclosure Studies, North Delta Arc of the upper San Francisco Estuary, CA, 2019 - 2024

This dataset comprises data from seven different enclosure studies, each of which used Delta Smelt reared by the UC Davis Fish Conservation and Culture Laboratory (FCCL). Each study had unique study questions and utilized slightly different methods. Enclosure Prototype (Rio Vista (RV) and Sacramento Deep Water Ship Channel (SDWSC)) – these studies, conducted January through February (RV) and March (SDWSC) of 2019, were designed to test different enclosure mesh sizes to assess their effects on Delta Smelt growth, survival, and feeding efficacy over a period of four weeks. Three different enclosure designs were deployed at two locations (Rio Vista and the Sacramento Deep Water Ship Channel), with 60 to 64 fish per enclosure and a control group of 30 fish at FCCL. See Baerwald et al, 2023 for details. - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286027 North Delta Pilot – This study, conducted in July and August of 2019, was implemented to test the feasibility of using enclosures to evaluate a flow action designed to improve food for Delta Smelt in the Yolo Bypass, and test upper thermal limits in field conditions for cultured Delta Smelt. Three enclosures were placed at Rio Vista and one enclosure was placed in the Yolo Bypass. Each enclosure held 60 fish. A control group of 90 fish was held at FCCL. The study lasted for four weeks; however, the Yolo Bypass enclosures were removed after three weeks following a heat wave that was lethal to all enclosure fish at that site. Suisun Marsh Pilot – This study, conducted in October and November of 2019, tested the feasibility of using enclosures to evaluate a flow action designed to improve low salinity habitat for Delta Smelt in Suisun Marsh. Three enclosures per site were placed at three locations (Suisun Marsh, Rio Vista, and the Yolo Bypass). Each enclosure held 60 fish, and a control group of 90 fish was held at FCCL. The study lasted for four weeks. Domestication/Behavior – This study, conducted in January and February of 20