Comments on: A fishy odyssey through the delta http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2008/07/07/a-fishy-odyssey-through-the-delta/ Science, Environment, and Nature in the SF Bay Area Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:39:48 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: ann dickinson http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2008/07/07/a-fishy-odyssey-through-the-delta/comment-page-1/#comment-63268 ann dickinson Wed, 13 May 2009 23:10:35 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/?p=684#comment-63268 Thanks for your comment, Steve. Though it might seem like hatcheries would be the solution, unfortunately they are not. Captive-raised delta smelt have never been successfully released into the wild. Even if it could be done successfully, it may not be a good idea: For example, evaluations of the effects of hatchery-reared salmon released into the wild suggest they may be doing more harm than good to the species and the ecosystem. And of course hatcheries wouldn’t do anything to address the other problems impacting delta smelt and so many other species in the Delta: poor water quality and lack of freshwater flows due to excessive water exports. Thanks for your comment, Steve. Though it might seem like hatcheries would be the solution, unfortunately they are not. Captive-raised delta smelt have never been successfully released into the wild. Even if it could be done successfully, it may not be a good idea: For example, evaluations of the effects of hatchery-reared salmon released into the wild suggest they may be doing more harm than good to the species and the ecosystem.

And of course hatcheries wouldn’t do anything to address the other problems impacting delta smelt and so many other species in the Delta: poor water quality and lack of freshwater flows due to excessive water exports.

]]> By: steve http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2008/07/07/a-fishy-odyssey-through-the-delta/comment-page-1/#comment-63228 steve Sat, 09 May 2009 02:23:52 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/?p=684#comment-63228 The solution may not have to be to redesign the fish screens. The answer may be simpler and less costly. Hatcheries to raise smelt to increase and off set the smelt population that is lost by the pumps. 10% of the farm raised fish could be released above the pumping stations and 90% past the pumping stations. Everyone would be happy. The solution may not have to be to redesign the fish screens. The answer may be simpler and less costly. Hatcheries to raise smelt to increase and off set the smelt population that is lost by the pumps. 10% of the farm raised fish could be released above the pumping stations and 90% past the pumping stations. Everyone would be happy.

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