Science Institute Biodiversity Climate- Change Sentinel Site Network Wildlife Survey Protocols Genetics Pollinators State Wildlife Action Plan Wildfire Impacts Wildlife Connectivity Pollution and Water Quality Ecosystems Pollinators Subscribe Receive Science Institute news by email. Email Subscribe All Science Spotlight Articles Surveying the Sacramento River and Delta March 7, 2017 How CDFW uses a combination of scientific techniques to better understand fish populations and the general health of Northern California waterways. (video) Since 1959 the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has used a combination of scientific techniques to better understand fish populations and the general health of Northern California waterways. Examples include tagging sturgeon, trawling the Delta for smelt, and counting salmon carcasses. CDFW uses data from these strategies and others to help influence operations of the State Water Project and Central Valley Project, ultimately helping decision makers determine water flows. This short video highlights these operations along the Sacramento River and into the Delta, including a smelt survey conducted by Environmental Scientist Felipe la Luz. Categories: Wildlife Research Tagged: cdfw fishsurveycalifornia deltainlandsmeltsalmonfisheriessciencetaggingtrawling state water projectcentral valley projectwildlife conservationvideo