Development of a unique multiagency fish tracking collaborative in California

Abstract In California’s Central Valley, a unique science collaborative built around a shared telemetry network has been developed to track and understand the factors affecting the survival and movement of anadromous species such as salmonids and sturgeons throughout their migration to and from the ocean. The Interagency Telemetry Advisory Group (ITAG) gathers scientists from state and federal natural resource management agencies, universities, and consulting companies that work collaboratively to maintain this science program. Additionally, ITAG offers a unique opportunity to rapidly deliver monitoring data across California’s largest watersheds (Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers), supporting assessments of imperiled fish movements and survival across various hydrological conditions, which helps inform management actions. While ITAG collaboratively collects and disseminates telemetry data similar to other collaborative telemetry networks, it distinguishes itself by providing real-time data, analysis, and predictive modeling. This capability supports resource managers in making adaptive, data-driven decisions and enables scientists to develop predictive models that further advance understanding of population dynamics. In the field of fisheries and water management, ITAG presents an important opportunity to address complex challenges at broad spatiotemporal scales, enabling evaluation of the impacts of extreme basinwide events, such as multiyear droughts and floods. Sustaining this science collaborative into the future could be beneficial for safeguarding California listed species under a warming climate.