First page Back Continue Last page Overview Graphics
Summary of Findings
Fish
Post-construction
Displacement of fish:
- Potential localized density dependant mortality of resident species (e.g., gobies, flatfish)
- Pelagic species (anchovy, topsmelt, herring) less affected; population level effect unlikely
Delays in migration (1-2 days est.)
Increase in hard substrates may benefit Pacific herring spawning and shiner perch
Notes:
The effects that we expect, again, are loss of habitat and, due to that loss of habitat, we expect to see some local density dependent mortality of some of the resident fish. Now these are fish like gobies and flat fish, which live most of their life in a given area of the Bay. Basically what we are saying is that the loss of habitat will create a localized reduction in populations of these species. However, for pelagic species, things like anchovy and top smelt, Pacific Herring, which range throughout the Bay and in and out of the Bay into the Pacific Ocean, we believe that an effect would be less likely and that a population level effect would likely be un-measurable. We will also see some delays in migration due to the platform structures. This would be for Salmonid species, Chinook Salmon and Steelhead. We estimate one to two days based on swimming rates, and this would be to the extent that these fish migrate along the west side of the Bay. If they are migrating in the channel or on the east side of the Bay, they would be unaffected by the project. We will also see an increase in hard substrate that may benefit Pacific Herring to the extent that they may spawn on those hard substrates near SFO. Over the last decade or so, spawning as far south as SFO has been rare.