stream-flow patterns are also favorablej floods do not occur until the 

 hatching period is nearly over, and stream runoff, even in dry years ^ 

 is enough to maintain a large run of spring salmon and many fall salmon. 



The real causes for lack of complete success in the transplantation 

 program lie in the low flows due to diversion of irrigation water, high 

 water temperatures in the lower portion of the stream, poorly screened 

 irrigation ditches and at least partial blockage by the Stanford-Vina 

 Irrigation Company Damo These conditions were present before salmon 

 were transferred from the Sacramento River, and the addition of salmon 

 similar in species and habits to the native population has resulted in 

 only partial success. 



The Deer Creek investigations led to the conclusion that certain 

 improvements are necessary if efforts to maintain in it a segment of 

 the Sacramento River spring-run salmon are to prove successful » These 

 improvements are (1) development of an irrigation water supply from 

 the Sacramento River for farm.s in the drainage which would permit the 

 natural flow of Deer Creek to reach the river, (2) channelization of 

 Deer Creek from the mouth of the canyon to the Sacramento River, and 

 (3) removal of all dams and obstructions now impeding the movement of 

 fish upstream and downstream. Channelization was done by the Uo S„ 

 Arn^r Corps of Engineers in 19^9, but was carried out in such a way 

 that the stream was widened instead of being deepened as would be 

 favorable for salmon spawning. The anticipated benefit thus was not 

 realized. 



Summary 



lo The construction of Shasta Dam created the problem of salvaging 

 and maintaining the salmon run in the river, normally present above this 

 structure. The plan of salvage and maintenance finally adopted, included, 

 among other features, the transfer of an important segment of the spring- 

 run from the Sacramento River to Deer Creek. 



2, Surveys of available spawning areas and observations of spawning 

 activities revealed that space in Deer Creek was available for over 

 15,000 s'almon nests. The native population of salmon was small enough 

 so that a total of 10,000 adult salmon could be transferred to Deer 

 Creek each year without causing overcrowded conditions, 



3, Experimental transfers of salmon from the Sacramento River to 

 Deer Creek in 19i|l determined that such transfers were feasible. The 

 salvage plan, as essentially approved by the Board of Consultants in 

 19hO, was put into operation on June 1, 19ii3« 



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