Bank Swallow River Mile Monitoring - Feather River - 2008-2014 [ds1099]

The bank swallow (Riparia riparia) is listed as a threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). Historical surveys of Feather River populations were completed in 1987 and 1988 by the California Department of Fish & Game (DFG). In 2002 and 2003 Department of Water Resources staff conducted bank swallow surveys under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Relicensing of Oroville Dam. The data from these surveys is analyzed in Study Plans SP-T1: Effects of Project Operations and Features on Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat, and SP-T2 Project Effects on Special Status Wildlife Species. In response to the report findings DWR and DFG consulted on the Feather River bank swallow populations and from this consultation a conservation easement of JEM Farms was acquired. JEM Farms is located at river mile 44-45 and contains walnut orchards adjacent to the Feather River channel. The banks of this site are vertical and erodible and therefore highly favorable for bank swallow habitat protection. The Feather River system was surveyed in June 2009 as part of our JEM Farms Easement agreement. In order to have an understanding of how well this conservation site is functioning we needed to know what the overall Feather River bank swallow population is. No population surveys on the Feather River had been completed since 2003. In coordination with CDFW and the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) staff from the Oroville Field Division, Northern Region and Division of Environmental Services surveyed the Feather River from River Mile 59 (at Thermalito Afterbay Outlet) to the mouth.

Ryan Martin, Sabrina Bell, and John Lance.

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