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592. [Image] Genetic analysis of Klamath River green sturgeon (acipensar [i.e. acipenser] medirostris)
Abstract The utility of using isozyme analysis to study the stock structure among West Coast populations of green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) was assessed. Isozyme analysis was not determined ...Citation Citation
- Title:
- Genetic analysis of Klamath River green sturgeon (acipensar [i.e. acipenser] medirostris)
- Author:
- Mulligan, Helen
- Year:
- 2000, 2005
Abstract The utility of using isozyme analysis to study the stock structure among West Coast populations of green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) was assessed. Isozyme analysis was not determined to be an adequate method for assessing stock structure in green sturgeon for the following reasons: 1) the complex nature of isozyme expression 2) the relatively poor resolution of enzyme systems for our samples 3) the invasive nature of collecting tissue samples for isozyme analysis, which necessitates sacrificing the fish, precludes collection of samples from some rivers. The stomach contents of 23 green sturgeon collected from fish harvested in the Klamath River were analyzed. Only four stomachs contained identifiable food items, with the others containing food far too digested for identification, gravel, or no contents. Two stomachs contained the small gastropod, Olivellapyna, one stomach contained the carapace remains of a female Dungeness crab, Cancer magister, and one stomach contained the posterior portions of three ammocoetes, Lampetra tridentata. Preliminary analysis was conducted using mtDNA to assess the potential of using this technique for assessing the stock structure of green sturgeon. Although the Klamath River Fishery Restoration Program did not fund this analysis, the results are presented because this work was designed to yield complementary information to the isozyme study. No diagnostic differences were detected between samples collected from the Klamath River and the Columbia River estuary using Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism analysis. Study results indicated that microsateliite DNA analyst might be the most appropriate current genetic technique for assessing the population structure of green sturgeon.
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Only portions of issues of The Water Report are available in the Klamath Waters Digital Library. See the full report at http://www.thewaterreport.com/
Citation Citation
- Title:
- The Water Report - Klamath update water purchase / release
- Author:
- Envirotech Publications
- Year:
- 2004, 2008, 2006
Only portions of issues of The Water Report are available in the Klamath Waters Digital Library. See the full report at http://www.thewaterreport.com/
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Public Review Draft 4- 27- 05 Conservation Plan Miller Lake Lamprey, Lampetra ( Entosphenus) minima April, 2005 Executive summary - The Miller Lake Lamprey was believed extinct after a chemical treatment in ...
Citation Citation
- Title:
- Conservation plan, Miller Lake lamprey, Lampetra (Entosphenus) minima : April, 2005
- Author:
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Year:
- 2005
Public Review Draft 4- 27- 05 Conservation Plan Miller Lake Lamprey, Lampetra ( Entosphenus) minima April, 2005 Executive summary - The Miller Lake Lamprey was believed extinct after a chemical treatment in 1958, targeting lamprey and tui chub, extirpated both from Miller Lake. The lamprey population was later recognized to be a distinct species, Lampetra minima ( Bond and Kan 1973). It was the smallest lamprey species in the world ( maturing at less than 4 in), and at that time was known only from Miller Lake, where it was extinct In 1992, a small lamprey caught in the Upper Williamson River was identified as a Miller Lake Lamprey, and subsequent investigations have identified six local populations of this lamprey in two small subdrainages of the Upper Klamath Basin. Management strategies to preserve this species include: conserving appropriate habitat conditions and availability within the natural range of the Miller Lake Lamprey, addressing potential impacts from stocking streams with hatchery fish, reducing entrainment, and establishing connectivity within and between local populations. A man- made barrier built in 1959 still exists on Miller Creek. Originally created to prevent the re- establishment of lamprey in Miller Lake after the chemical treatment, the barrier currently prevents natural dispersal of the Miller Creek population and re- colonization of both extensive habitat in upper Miller Creek and Miller Lake itself. Removal of the barrier, which is in disrepair but continues to exclude lamprey, is feasible and will eliminate the only man- made feature obstructing natural connectivity within the Miller Lake drainage, the species' type locality. This conservation plan is intended to provide guidance for management actions and conservation of the Miller Lake Lamprey. Introduction lhe Miller Lake Lamprey, Lampetra { Entosphenus) minima, is the worlds smallest predatory lamprey, reaching a size of only 3- 6", and is endemic to the Klamath Basin ( Bond and Kan 1973, Gill et al. 2003, Lorion et al. 2000). It is also one of the few species to have " recovered" from extinction. Miller Lake was chemically treated with toxaphene by the Oregon Game Commission on September 16,1958 to eliminate Tui Chub ( Siphateles bicolor) and a population of unidentified lamprey ( Gerlach 1958, Gerlach and Borovicka 1964). The lamprey in Miller Lake was later discovered to have been a unique species, apparently restricted in range to the Miller Lake drainage ( a small, disjunct tributary to the Upper Williamson River), and was scientifically described by Bond and Kan ( 1973) fifteen years subsequent to its presumed extirpation. Public Review Draft 4- 27- 05 Although there appear to be no immediate threats to the Miller Lake Lamprey ( Kostow 2002), the species is of considerable conservation concern due to: 1) its relatively limited range in two small sub drainages of the Klamath Basin, 2) its continued absence in the ecologically unique setting of Miller Lake ( type locality) and 3) its evolutionary distinctiveness as the smallest known predatory lamprey in the world, maturing at less than four inches. Life History Distribution - The Miller Lake Lamprey is currently known from only two small sub- drainages of the Upper Klamath Basin, the upper Williamson River and the upper Sycan River above Sycan Marsh ( Lorion et al. 2000). The upper Williamson River contains four known populations ( Miller Creek, Jack Creek, Klamath Marsh, and mainstem Williamson River above the marsh). Miller Creek, which drains Miller Lake, is within the upper Williamson Watershed, but it goes sub- surface in the pumice soils and does not reach the Klamath Marsh or Williamson River. Miller Lake has presumably been isolated from the rest of the drainage since the eruption of Mt. Mazama ( Crater Lake) over 6,000 years ago. Jack Creek, a small northern tributary to the upper Williamson River, is also generally disjunct from the mainstem Williamson River due to low, intermittent surface flows in its lower reaches. The Upper Sycan drainage ( a northern tributary of the Sprague River) contains two principal populations, Long Creek drainage and the upper Sycan River drainage above Sycan Marsh. Lamprey have been documented in Coyote Creek and Shake Creek above Sycan Marsh by Nature Conservancy. Lamprey in Shake Creek have not been identified to species. Geographic Variability - In general, individuals from the modern Williamson and Sycan sub-drainages are morphologically similar ( Lorion et al. 2000). However, there are indications of geographic differences between populations. The Sycan populations exhibit significantly higher variability in the number of bicuspid posterial teeth, and the Miller Creek population generally tend to be darker on their ventral surface. Specimens from the original Miller Lake population ( pre- 1958) had, on average, fewer anterial teeth. They also tended to have larger eyes and oral disks relative to total length when compared to modern populations; however, this appears to be due to their slightly smaller size. The available genetic information also indicates that there are geographic differences in the mitochondrial genome ( mtDNA) between Sycan ( Sprague) and Williamson lamprey populations, with one haplotype found only in the Upper Sycan and another limited to lamprey populations in the Sprague River drainage ( Lorion et al. 2000). Continued genetic work on the Klamath lamprey fauna, examining additional genes, indicates that the population of lamprey in Miller Creek may be genetically different than both the other upper Williamson and Sycan populations ( Docker pers. com. 2004). Habitat - Miller Lake Lampreys currently occupy relatively cool, clear streams ( Gunckel and Reid 2004, Kan and Bond 1981, Lorion et al. 2000, Reid pers. com. 2004). Adults are generally associated with structural cover, including loose rocks and woody debris. In lower Miller Creek, where rocky habitat is limited, adult lampreys were consistently found in woody debris jams and even under seat boards from an old outhouse that had fallen into the creek ( Reid pers. obs. 1998). Ammocoetes ( a larval stage lasting about 5 years) live in the substrate and are generally Public Review Draft 4- 27- 05 associated with depositional environments. In streams, ammocoetes are frequently found in silty backwater areas, low energy stream edges, and in pool eddies where leaf litter and other organics ( including adult lamprey carcasses) tend to accumulate. At night ammocoetes may move into the water column to disperse downstream or into more favorable habitat. In Miller Lake ammocoetes were found in organic detritus all along the shoreline but rarely in the extremely cold tributaries flowing into the lake ( Kan and Bond 1981). Recent extensive collections of Pacific Lamprey ammocoetes along the coast indicate that ammocoetes do not occupy otherwise apparently suitable sediments if the upper layer is poorly oxygenated ( Reid and Goodman pers. obs. 2004). Reproduction - Miller Lake Lampreys spawn in shallow redds in clean gravels and sand, which are moved out of the redd by lamprey sucking onto small rocks and actively moving them out of the way ( Markle pers. com. 2004, Reid pers. com. 2004). In streams, redds are generally made in shallow water, often at the tail of a pool or run, and are roughly 10 cm in diameter and a few centimeters deep. In Miller Lake, lampreys were observed spawning in water as deep as 20 feet ( Cochrun 1951b, Kan and Bond 1981). Males attach to the female's head and wrap around her body, aligning genitals and allowing fertilization of the eggs as they emerge. Eggs are heavier than water and are mixed into the bottom of the redd by spawning actions. Kan and Bond ( 1981) found that female lampreys from Miller Lake contained an average of about 600 eggs. Time to hatching is not known, but is probably on the order of a few weeks. Larvae ( ammocoetes) emerge at about 8 mm and move into fine sediments. Adults die after spawning. Feeding - Miller Lake Lampreys feed on fish only as adults. Ammocoetes have no eyes or teeth and are purely filter feeders, burrowing in the sediment and feeding on suspended microorganisms and algae. The ammocoete phase lasts about five years, during which time the ammocoetes grow to around 150 mm. After transformation, adults enter a predatory phase before spawning that generally lasts for less than a year ( from transformation in the summer/ fall to spawning in summer of the following year). Adults feed primarily on flesh that is gouged and rasped out of a small wound (<= 11 mm) under the sucking disk ( Cochran 1994, Kan and Bond 1981). Adults apparently show little selectivity for prey. The adult lampreys in Miller Lake historically fed on both tui chubs and available salmonids ( rainbow, brook and juvenile brown trout) in Miller Lake ( Kan and Bond 1981). They also scavenged dead tui chubs and trout, as well as cannibalizing other lampreys. In Miller Creek, most recent observations found occasional lamprey wounds on brook trout, which were the most abundant species in the creek, but it is probable that lampreys also feed on both rainbows and young brown trout in the creek ( S. Reid pers. obs. 1998). In Jack Creek lampreys feed on speckled dace, the only other fish present in the stream, and in the Upper Sycan they feed on both trout and dace. Unlike other predatory lampreys, but similar to non- feeding brook lampreys, adult Miller Lake Lampreys loose body length and mass between the time they transform and actual spawning, indicating that energetic needs and gonadal development are not compensated for by the amount of food they consume ( Hubbs 1971, Kan and Bond 1981, Lorion et al. 2000). Lamprey / Trout Interaction - Although there have been no direct studies of the ecological interaction between lampreys and trout in the Klamath Basin, it is notable that healthy trout and lamprey populations coexist throughout the basin. Lampreys certainly prey on trout, and both adult lampreys and ammocoetes may represent a significant food resource to piscivorous adult Public Review Draft 4- 27- 05 trout. Native redband trout co- exist with much larger predatory lampreys (" Klamath Lake Lamprey", Lampetra { Entosphenus) sp., and Klamath River Lamprey, L. ( E.) similis) in Upper Klamath Lake. A large percentage of the trophy redband trout in Upper Klamath Lake, as well as both redband and brown trout in the Wood and Williamson Rivers, exhibit recent or healed lamprey scars. In smaller streams where Miller Lake Lampreys ( length 3- 6 in) co- exist with native and introduced trout ( redband, bull, brook and brown trout), there appears to be little impact to adult trout, and local fishermen are rarely even aware of the presence of the lamprey ( S. Reid, pers. comm. 2004, R. Smith, pers. comm. 2004). Surveys by USFWS and USFS in 1998- 1999 found that very few of the trout in Miller Creek, the Williamson or upper Sycan Rivers had scars, and during extensive snorkeling surveys, only a few trout were actually observed with lampreys attached ( S. Reid USFWS pers. com., 2004). Historical reports from Miller Lake prior to the extirpation of lampreys indicate that tui chubs were the principal prey, and dead tui chubs were often reported ( Cochrun 1951a, b, Gerlach 1958, Kan 1975, Kan and Bond 1981). Some cannibalism on other lampreys, as well as scavenging of dead fish carcasses, was also observed ( Kan and Bond 1981). Specific mortality of adult trout was not reported, although large trout were noted to have collections of scars and some mortality of fingerlings was observed. Recent observations of occasional fingerling trout mortality and much more frequent lethal predation on speckled dace (< 10 cm TL) in the Sycan River and Jack Creek, as well as the observation of apparently healthy adult trout with healed wounds, suggests that lethal predation on trout is generally limited to fingerlings ( Markle pers. com. 2004, Reid pers. com. 2004, Smith pers. com. 2004). It is not believed that predation on Miller Lake lamprey by piscivorous adult trout has been a threat to the sustainability of lamprey populations. These populations have co- evolved with native trout and appear to be productive enough to withstand some level of predation. The Jack Creek population is an exception. Jack Creek is believed to only support populations of Miller Lake lamprey and speckled dace. Since this lamprey population evolved absent predation from trout, there is a concern that an introduction of piscivorous adult trout could upset the ecological balance in Jack Creek and present a threat to both the lamprey and dace populations. For this reason, stocking of hatchery fish is prohibited by rule in Jack Creek or other streams containing Miller Lake lamprey. Miller Lake Fisheries - Miller Lake currently supports a recreational trout fishery of entirely introduced species. Miller Lake's one notable native species, the Miller Lake Lamprey, was thought extinct when the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the current Klamath Basin Fish Management Plan ( ODFW 1997). Today, Miller Lake provides a popular " catchable" and fingerling rainbow trout program, a trophy brown trout fishery, and an under- utilized kokanee population of small- sized individuals ( Smith pers. com. 2004). Due to the role of Miller Lake as a recreational fishery and concerns over the potential impact of lampreys on introduced trout populations in the lake, the history and status of Miller Lake fisheries are summarized below by species. Rainbow trout fingerlings ( 2- 4 inches) were planted in Miller Lake until 1948, when stocking was discontinued due to poor returns. At that time, the poor rainbow fishery was believed to have been due to lamprey predation and competition with resident tui chubs ( Cochrun 1950, Public Review Draft 4- 27- 05 1951a). However, based on the reported poor performance of stocked fingerling rainbows post-treatment ( see below), without either lampreys or tui chubs, it appears that local habitat conditions, and not trophic competition with tui chub or parasitism by lamprey, were driving the poor rainbow population dynamics. Recent observations by ODFW biologists have indicated that while the rainbow trout in Miller Lake are surviving, growing and being harvested by anglers, survival and growth have been, at best, marginal ( Smith pers. com. 2004). Trapnet samples in Miller Lake have been very inefficient at capturing older age class rainbow trout so the average size of sampled trout is not representative of the fish that are available for angler harvest. While trapnet sets typically made in the fall are not particularly good indicators of the rainbow population in Miller Lake, Trapnet sampling of rainbow trout documented an average length of approximately 8 inches in 1988 and approximately 4 inches in 1997. The release of catchable- sized rainbow trout into Miller Lake was initiated in 2001 to supplement the ongoing fingerling stocking program. Brown trout were first introduced into Miller Lake in 1981 and have been stocked annually since. Although small numbers may have been present prior to treatment. Survival and growth of brown trout has been excellent ( Smith pers. com. 2004). Brown trout averaged approximately 17 inches in length in 1998 and approximately 16 inches in 2001. Larger fish captured in trap net sets exceed 10 pounds. Miller Lake was identified by sport- fishing author Denny Rickards as one of the top ten brown trout producing lakes in the western United States. Lampreys themselves, as well as their impaired prey, might in turn serve as additional prey for the large, highly piscivorous brown trout. Stocks of kokanee were introduced to Miller Lake from several states between 1964 and 1971 ( all post- treatment). Kokanee have been very successful reproducing and stocking has not been necessary since 1971. The average size of maturing adults have remained relatively small. Miller Lake is an oligotrophic lake with very low productivity ( Johnson et al. 1985). The length of maturing female kokanee ranged between 7.5- 10 inches between 1965 tol972, and the average size of kokanee females in 2001 was approximately 8 inches. Based on the relatively small length of maturing kokanee females, it appears that environmental conditions or interspecific competition with other trout are driving the kokanee population dynamics. Brook trout were stocked in Miller Lake from the 1930' s until 1948. Brook trout were present in Miller Creek and apparently survived in tributaries during the 1958 treatment, since seven brook trout ( 6- 14 in) were gill- netted from the lake in 1964, prior to introduction of 85,000 kokanee and 150,000 rainbow fingerlings. No brook trout are currently stocked into the lake or tributaries of the lake. A healthy self- sustaining population of brook trout is currently present in Miller Creek, below the lamprey barrier, where they have apparently coexisted with lampreys since both recovered from the 1958 treatment. Tui chubs were present in Miller Lake prior to the 1958 treatment. It is not known whether tui chub were a native or introduced population. However, based on the elevation and atypical tui chub habitat in the lake, it is believed to have been an un- authorized introduction, most probably as a baitfish. Trophic competition between tui chub and rainbow trout has been consistently demonstrated in several Oregon lakes, including Diamond Lake in Douglas County. Tui chub or " roach" problems in Miller Lake were identified by Ken Cochrun ( Fisheries Agent, Oregon State Public Review Draft 4- 27- 05 game Comm.) in his 1950 and 1951 annual reports ( Cochrun 1950, 1951a). However, Mr. Cochrun felt that the " large population" of tui chub would be relatively easy to control compared to the lamprey and hence the need for the radical chemical treatment with toxaphene, which would eliminate both species, rather than rotenone, which would have limited effect on the lamprey ammocoetes in the substrate. In the 1950' s, as is still the case, considerable amount of time was expended by fishery districts controlling tui chub (" roach"), as noted in Mr. Cochrun's annual reports. Tui chubs were never restocked after the treatment and are no longer present in the Miller Lake drainage. One of the goals of this conservation plan for the Miller Lake Lamprey is to re- establish a lamprey population in Miller Lake itself. Historical reports from Miller Lake prior to the extirpation of lampreys nowhere mention specific mortality of adult trout, even when lamprey were abundant, although large trout were noted to have collections of scars ( see above - Lamprey/ Trout Interaction). Based on historical accounts and recent observations from the Upper Sycan drainages, mortality when observed has been on small fish (< 10cm TL). Observations from Miller Lake in the past and recent observations of trophy redband trout fisheries in Upper Klamath Lake indicate that little to no effect is experienced by the fish based on the occurrence of healed lamprey scars. Self- sustaining populations of brown and brook trout ( unstocked) currently coexist with lampreys in Miller Creek below the lamprey barrier. Were lamprey to become reestablished in Miller Lake, they would probably feed primarily on juvenile kokanee, which are abundant in the lake. Although lamprey predation on adult trout may result in some stress and condition loss, the principal effect on adult kokanee and trout fisheries in Miller Lake is likely to be aesthetic, with small round wounds (< l/ 2 in), or scars, on the side of fish. Future Recreational Fish Management The recreational trout and kokanee salmon fisheries in Miller Lake are an extremely valuable fish resource to local community and anglers. All efforts will be made by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to continue to offer angling recreation at current harvestable levels. In the unlikely event that the re- establishment of the Miller Lake lamprey adversely impacts the trout and kokanee population abundance, then additional fish stocking or other compatible management actions will be initiated as necessary to meet recreational fishery management objectives. Conservation Plan Note: Underlined, bold text in italics represents those portions of the conservation plan that are proposed to be adopted into Oregon Administrative Rule by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission. Purpose This conservation plan is intended to provide guidance for management actions and conservation of the Miller Lake lamprey, Lampetra ( Entosphenus) minima. This is the first step in securing populations that currently exist in the Klamath Basin and in Public Review Draft 4- 27- 05 determining their status, abundance, distribution, and life history needs. As new information on the lamprey becomes available it is expected that this document will be modified and updated to reflect the current state of our knowledge. Species Management Unit and Population Description The Miller Lake Lamprey species management unit is comprised of six documented populations and one uncertain population. They are: • Mainstem Upper Williamson River above Klamath Marsh • Miller Creek • Jack Creek • Sycan River above Sycan Marsh • Long Creek • Coyote Creek • Shake Creek ( lamprey present have not been identified to species) Desired Status The desired status of the Miller Lake lamprey is for the species to be distributed widely throughout its historic range, with populations robust enough to withstand stochastic environmental events, and with both the populations and their habitat secure from anthropogenic threats. Current Status The Miller Lake Lamprey is endemic to the Klamath Basin and was recently re- described ( Lorion et al 2000). It is currently known from two sub- drainages. The Williamson River sub- drainage includes populations in Miller Creek, Jack Creek, Klamath Marsh and the mainstem upper Williamson River. In the Sycan sub- drainage the lamprey exists in Long Creek and in the upper Sycan River above the Sycan Marsh. Information regarding the abundance and population structure of Miller Lake lamprey in these systems is not available, and only anecdotal information is available for the life history or habitat requirements of the species. For detailed information on the current information available for the species see Life History section. No immediate threats to the Miller Lake Lamprey are known to currently exist, except for the barrier to connectivity between Miller Creek and Miller Lake. Public Review Draft 4- 27- 05 Management Strategies The short- and long- term management strategies for the Miller Lake Lamprey species management unit are: Short- term Strategy a) Re- establish connectivity to Miller Lake. Long- term Strategies b) Ensure appropriate habitat conditions and availability within the natural range of Miller Lake lamprey. c) Reduce entrainment or the potential for entrainment of adult and larval lampreys into water diversions. d) Reduce stranding or the potential for stranding of larval lampreys in dewatered segments of streams below water diversions. e) Maintain unobstructed opportunities, within and among populations for genetic exchange, natural dispersal or migration activities, and re- colonization of unoccupied portions of historical habitat. f) No hatchery fish shall be stocked in streams that support Miller Lake lamprey. Management strategies are those general conditions relevant to the conservation of the species that are considered essential to ensure its long- term survival within its natural range. Although there are many aspects of a species life- history and management that may play a role in the species' biology, the management strategies include those aspects that are currently considered to be both essential for its long- term survival and that are potentially at risk. Conservation Actions Conservation actions are those specific activities or projects that have been identified as appropriate for the realization of the above conservation goals. General - Due to the general lack of information about the life- history, habitat requirements, and distribution of the Miller Lake Lamprey, any studies which increase our understanding of the species will contribute to future conservation planning and should be supported. Habitat - At this time, the general habitat requirements of the Miller Lake Lamprey populations in the upper Williamson and upper Sycan drainages appear to be similar to those of the native trout populations, and habitat restoration or enhancement projects that benefit the trout populations should be beneficial to the lamprey as well. However, there may be specific differences between these species that should be considered in future projects as our understanding of the lamprey's life- history increases. Public Review Draft 4- 27- 05 Entrainment - At this time there has been no evaluation of potential entrainment risks to the Miller Lake Lamprey. Unscreened or improperly screened irrigation diversions currently exist on the upper Sycan and upper Williamson River systems. Private irrigator participation into the screening program should continue to be encouraged and supported. Stranding - At this time there has been no evaluation of potential stranding risks to the Miller Lake Lamprey. Current water diversions reduce the stream flow in segments of the streams directly below the diversion point. Minimum stream flows or gradual ramping strategies should be encouraged where practicable. Connectivity - The Miller Lake Lamprey is not known to carry out extensive spawning migrations. However, due the tendency for ammocoetes to drift downstream during the multi- year larval stage, it is essential that local populations have free upstream passage opportunities during the period when adults are residing in the stream. The swimming characteristics and passage capabilities of trout ( for whom many fish ladders are designed) and lamprey are very different. Lamprey- friendly ladders or passage corridors should be encouraged in the design phase of new projects, and occupied lamprey streams should be evaluated for the presence of older fish ladders, as well as other artificial barriers. Re- establishment of the Miller Lake population - Miller Lake itself, the type locality for the species, remains the only known historical habitat from which the Miller Lake Lamprey is known to have been extirpated. It also represents both an ecologically unique habitat and a crucial component in the evolutionary legacy of the species. Following the extirpation of lampreys from Miller Lake in 1958, a lamprey barrier was constructed in Miller Creek to prevent recolonization of the lake from Miller Creek. The barrier remains in place today. Removal of this barrier should have a high priority in order to meet the conservation goals for the Miller Lake Lamprey and is discussed in more detail below. The barrier was constructed by the State of Oregon Game Commission in 1959 at the upstream extent of a short, high- gradient cascade in Miller Creek approximately 54 mile downstream from the outlet of Miller Lake and forest road 9772. It consists of a low stonework dam ( about 2 ft high) constructed of mortared native rocks, with a metal plate and lip bolted on top. The configuration is very effective as a man- made barrier to fish passage. However, the current condition of the concrete and rock structure is substantially deteriorated. A recent examination by ODFW, USFWS and USFS personnel indicates that the structure would be relatively easy to remove using hand tools without adverse instream impacts ( evaluated by R. Smith et al., September 2003). Recent baseline surveys ( August 2004) of lamprey ammocoetes in the Miller drainage indicate that they are apparently limited to less than two miles of low- gradient stream in lower Miller Creek ( Gunckel and Reid 2004). Allowing lampreys to re- establish a population above the cascade in Miller Creek and Miller Lake will aid in creating an additional buffer against stochastic events that could otherwise eradicate this geographically limited population. Additional surveys should be scheduled on a five- 10 Public Review Draft 4- 27- 05 year basis to evaluate status of the population and the success of re- colonization efforts. Removal of the barrier should allow natural expansion of the population and recolonization of the lake from the Miller Creek population, which survived the original extirpation. Information Gaps 1) Life history - very little quantitative information is available on the life history and habitat requirements of either ammocoetes or adults with which to guide management decisions. 2) Distribution - current understanding of distribution is based on surveys in the 1990' s that primarily focused on the Williamson and Sprague River drainages. Other potential areas in the Klamath Basin outside these drainages have not been properly surveyed. 3) No specific population or fine- scale distributional surveys have been undertaken for any populations outside of the Miller Lake drainage. 4) Preliminary morphological and genetic information suggests that there are regional differences between the various populations of Miller Lake Lamprey in the Klamath Basin. However, the available information is not yet sufficient for making management decisions relative to population independence or uniqueness. Strategies to Address Gaps 1) A Miller Lake Lamprey Technical Management Team has been formed to promote investigation, management and conservation of the Miller Lake Lamprey. This team currently consists of biologists from ODFW ( Roger Smith and Stephanie Gunckel), Oregon State University ( Douglas Markle), the Western Lamprey Project ( Stewart Reid), and the Great Lakes Inst. Environmental Research ( Margaret Docker - lamprey genetics). 2) ODFW will, where appropriate, incorporate lampreys into their fish survey protocols in the Klamath Basin and will seek to collaborate with other researchers carrying out lamprey surveys in the Basin. 3) ODFW and the Miller Lake Lamprey Technical Management Team will promote the investigation of morphological and genetic information informative to resolving regional differences between the various populations of Miller Lake Lamprey. 11 Public Review Draft 4- 27- 05 Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Research Promote scientific studies of the Miller Lake Lamprey to aid in the conservation of the Monitoring Where appropriate, incorporate lampreys into fish survey protocols in the Klamath Basin and seek to collaborate with other researchers carrying out lamprey surveys in the Basin. Evaluation Periodically evaluate the status of Miller Lake lamprey and the success of the conservation plan management strategies. Research - Due to the paucity of available quantitative information on the distribution, life history, habitat requirements of either ammocoetes or adults, ODFW will promote scientific studies of the Miller Lake Lamprey to aid in the conservation of the species. Monitoring - ODFW, in collaboration with USFWS, has documented baseline distribution of the fish in Miller Creek with the lamprey barrier in place ( Gunckel and Reid 2004). Monitoring of the population will continue to evaluate upstream movement, distribution, abundance, and re- colonization of the lake through the cooperative effort of ODFW and the Miller Lake Lamprey Technical Management Team. The ODFW and the Technical Management Team, will meet and discuss progress after the barrier has been removed, and the lampreys have had unobstructed passage to Miller Lake for five years. Adaptive Management a) A Miller Lake Lamprey Technical Management Team shall be formed. b) The Miller Lake Lamprey Technical Management Team shall meet periodically to review the success of the management actions identified in the Miller Lake Lamprey Conservation Plan and identify modifications to management actions that are needed to achieve the desired status for Miller Lake lamprey. No immediate threats to the Miller Lake Lamprey are known to currently exist, except for the barrier in Miller Creek. The Miller Lake Lamprey Technical Management Team ( see under Strategies to Address Gaps) has been formed to promote investigation, management and conservation of the Miller Lake Lamprey. The team will meet periodically to evaluate current status and management strategies in light of new information. 12 Public Review Draft 4- 27- 05 Current management action is proposed for removal of the Miller Creek Barrier. The lamprey population in Miller Creek will continue to be monitored by ODFW following the 2004 baseline surveys. After five years the Miller Lake Lamprey Technical Management Team will evaluate the status of the Miller Creek population and the success of natural re- colonization of Miller Lake. If sufficient progress has not been made, then discussions regarding active re- introduction of lampreys to the lake will be initiated. Trigger for Plan Modification Substantial negative changes in the distribution or abundance of the Miller Lake lamprey, or the recognition of new threats to the species, shall prompt a review of the species management unit's status and all Miller Lake Lamprey Conservation Plan management strategies by the Miller Lake Lamprey Technical Management Team. Appropriate modifications to the Miller Lake Lamprey Conservation Plan intended to better achieve the desired status identified in the Plan shall be proposed by the Miller Lake Lamprey Technical Management Team. Reporting a) The Miller Lake Lamprey Technical Management Team shall periodically report on the status of Miller Lake lamprey and the effectiveness of the management strategies identified in the Miller lake Lamprey Conservation Plan. b) Annual Miller Lake Lamprey data collected and any reports on the status of Miller Lake Lamprey or evaluations of the Miller Lake Lamprey Conservation Plan shall be made available to the public. The staff of the ODFW's Klamath Watershed District and Native Fish Research Project will periodically report monitoring and research results through native fish conservation strategy stock status reviews. 13 Public Review Draft 4- 27- 05 Citations Bond, C. E. and T. T. Kan. 1973. Lampetra ( Entosphenus) minima n. sp., a dwarfed parasitic lamprey from Oregon. Copeia 1973: 568- 574. Cochran, P. A. and R. E. Jenkins. 1994. Small fishes as hosts for parasitic lampreys. Copeia 1994: 499- 504. Cochrun, K. 1950. Annual Report - Fishery Division, Central Region, Klamath District: Miller Lake. Oregon State Game Commision. Cochrun, K. 1951a. Annual Report - Fishery Division, Central Region, Klamath District: Miller Lake. Oregon State Game Commision. Cochrun, K. 1951b. Letter to Dr. HJ. Rayner, Chief of Fisheries Operations, Oregon State Game Commission. 4 November 1951. Gerlach, A. 1958. Rehabilitation of Miller Lake, 1958. Report to files - Fishery Division, Central Region, Klamath District. Oregon State Game Commision. Gerlach, A. 1959. Annual Report - Fishery Division, Central Region, Klamath District: Miller Lake. Oregon State Game Commision. Gerlach, A. and R. Borovicka. 1964. State- wide fishery rehabilitation: Miller Lake and tributaries segment ( Completion Report F- 20- D- 11). Oregon State Game Commission. Gill, H. S., C. B. Renaud, F. Chapleau, R. L. Mayden and I. C. Potter. 2003. Phylogeny of living parasitic lampreys ( Petromyzontiformes) based on morphological data. Copeia 2003: 687- 703. Gunckel S. and S. Reid. 2004. Baseline survey of Miller Lake Lamprey ( Entosphenus minimus) ammocoete distribution in the Miller Lake subdrainage. Oregon Dept. Fish and Wildlife. Hubbs, C. L. 1971. Lampetra ( Entosphenus) lethophaga, new species, the nonparasitic derivative of the Pacific lamprey. Trans. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist. 16: 125- 164. Johnson, D. M., R. R. Peterson, D. R. Lycan, J. W. Sweet, M. E. Neuhaus and A. L. Schaedel. 1985. Miller Lake In Atlas of Oregon Lakes. Oregon State Univ. Press. Corvallis, Oregon. Kan, T. T. 1975. Systematics, variation, distribution, and biology of lampreys of the genus Lampetra in Oregon. Doctoral Dissertation, Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, Oregon. Kan, T. T. and C. E. Bond. 1981. Notes on the biology of the Miller Lake lamprey Lampetra { Entosphenus) minima. Northwest Sci. 55: 70- 74. 14 Public Review Draft 4- 27- 05 Kostow, K. 2002. Oregon lampreys: natural history, status and analysis of management issues. Info. Rept. 2002- 01, Fish Division, Oregon Dept. Fish and Wildlife. Lorion, CM., D. F. Markle, S. B. Reid and M. F. Docker. 2000. Redescription of the presumed-extinct Miller Lake Lamprey, Lampetra minima. Copeia 2000: 1019- 1028. Oregon Dept. Fish and Wildlife. 1997. Klamath River Basin, Oregon - Fish Management Plan, August 22, 1997. Personal Communications Docker, Margaret F. - Great Lakes Inst. Environmental Research, Univ. Windsor; 401 Sunset Ave, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4 Goodman, Damon - Fisheries Biology, Humboldt State Univ.; 1 Harpst Street, Arcata, CA 95521- 8299 Markle, Doug F. - Dept. Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State Univ.; 104 Nash Hall, Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR 97331- 3803 Reid, Stewart B. - U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered Species Division; 6610 Washburn Way, Klamath Falls, OR 97603; Current address - Western Fishes, 2045 East Main, Ashland OR 97520 Smith, Roger C. - District Fish Biologist, Oregon Dept. Fish and Wildlife; 1850 Miller Island Road West, Klamath Falls, OR 97603 15
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596. [Image] Geology and ground-water resources of the Swan Lake-Yonna Valleys area, Klamath County, Oregon
Abstract The Swan Lake-Yonna Valleys area consists of two intermountain valleys with their subordinate side valleys adjoining slopes, and mountainous boundary ridges, In all the area covered is about 256 ...Citation Citation
- Title:
- Geology and ground-water resources of the Swan Lake-Yonna Valleys area, Klamath County, Oregon
- Author:
- Meyers, Joseph D.
- Year:
- 1952, 2007, 2005
Abstract The Swan Lake-Yonna Valleys area consists of two intermountain valleys with their subordinate side valleys adjoining slopes, and mountainous boundary ridges, In all the area covered is about 256 square miles but the essential agricultural sections are restricted to the floors of Swan Lake and Yonna valleys with their respective subsidiary extensions of Pine Flats and Alkali Lake flats, a valley-floor area totaling about 90 square miles The floors of Swan Lake Valley and Yonna Valley lie at an altitude of about U52OO feet but the mountainous boundary ridges rise generally to 6000 feeto Yonna Valley is largely drained to Lost River by Buck Creek but also in part to Alkali Lakeo Swan Lake Valley and Pine Flats have only internal drainage. The Swan Lake Valley floor is the top of a deep alluvial fill, while Yonna Valley floor is mainly an erosional surface sloping to lines of through drainage Precipitation is about lit inches annually on the valley floors 9 but must be much more, possibly 18 to 24 inches, on the higher parts of the drainage basins. The growing season is short and killing frosts do occur in late spring and early fall. The rock units forming the bedrock structure of the area are consolidated or semiconsolidated rocks of Tertiary age and are largely of volcanic-flow and volcanic-sedimentary originc They consist of three main elements, a lower lava-rock unit, a sedimentary and volcanic-sedimentary unit, and an upper lava-rock unito The unconsolidated deposits are the older alluvium of Quaternary (and in part of late-Tertiary) age and the younger alluvium of Quaternary age0 The bedrock is faulted and deformed particularly so along a northwest-southeast set of fault lines that have given a remarkable linearity to the topography. Unpublished records subject to revision Ground water occurs below a regional water table that slopes south-ward to the level of the Lost Rivero The upper lava rocks and the lower lava rocks contain the principal permeable zones that occur beneath the areao Breccia and other porous zones in those rocks in places yield water to wells at a rate as large as 35OOO gallons per minute with but 1 or 2 feet of drawdowno The economical construction of irrigation wells requires the determination of the best possible location at which those rocks may be tapped at shallow depth below the level of the water tableo The ground water in general relatively low in dissolved mineral matter and is but slightly to moderately hard and would be considered chemically satisfactory for most uaeso Irrigation is the principal use of the ground water in the area north of the Horsefly Irrigation Districto There 3? wells supplied about 6,000 acre-feet of water to about 3800 acres of land in 1950. Water-level records obtained since 19U8 and approximations of the probable annual recharge from precipitation indicate that the present withdrawals are considerably less than the annual increment of the ground-water recharge, Rough estimates indicate that an increase in withdrawals of as much as 100 percent or more can take place before ground-water levels, by a persistent lowering, will begin to indicate that the annual replenishment is being exceeded.
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19 p.; Caption title; "November 19, 2004"
Citation Citation
- Title:
- Critical Habitat Reform Act of 2004: report together with dissenting views (to accompany H.R. 2933) (including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office)
- Author:
- United States. Congress. House. Committee on Resources
- Year:
- 2004, 2006, 2005
19 p.; Caption title; "November 19, 2004"
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598. [Image] Three great factors in Oregon's development
An article on the agricultural, industrial and economic development of the state of Oregon in the early 20th centuryCitation -
A GUIDE TO PART I - ESTABLISHING COMMON BASINS A GUIDE TO PART II - THE FOUR ELEMENTS OF THE OREGON PLAN THE OREGON PLAN - BASIN BY BASIN KEY TO BASIN LAYOUTS BASIN REPORTS North Coast Umpqua South Coast ...
Citation Citation
- Title:
- Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds biennial report, 2001-2003
- Author:
- Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board
- Year:
- 2003, 2005, 2004
A GUIDE TO PART I - ESTABLISHING COMMON BASINS A GUIDE TO PART II - THE FOUR ELEMENTS OF THE OREGON PLAN THE OREGON PLAN - BASIN BY BASIN KEY TO BASIN LAYOUTS BASIN REPORTS North Coast Umpqua South Coast Rogue Klamath Lakes Basin Owyhee-Malheur Powder Grande Ronde Umatilla John Day Deschutes Hood Lower Columbia Willamette FEDERAL CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION DATA THE OREGON PLAN - FOUR ELEMENTS AGENCY ACTIONS VOLUNTARY RESTORATION ACTIONS BY OREGONIANS MONITORING SCIENCE OVERSIGHT HI. THE OREGON PLAN-OBSERVATIONS and RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE OWEB BOARD DATA SOURCES and CREDITS
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600. [Image] Reproductive biology and demographics of endangered Lost River and shortnose suckers in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon
We analyzed the reproductive biology and demographics of the Lost River sucker Deltistes luxatus and shortnose sucker Chasmistes brevirostris, two endangered species endemic to the upper Klamath Basin ...Citation Citation
- Title:
- Reproductive biology and demographics of endangered Lost River and shortnose suckers in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon
- Author:
- Perkins, David L.; Scoppettone, Gary; Buettner, Mark
- Year:
- 2000, 2005
We analyzed the reproductive biology and demographics of the Lost River sucker Deltistes luxatus and shortnose sucker Chasmistes brevirostris, two endangered species endemic to the upper Klamath Basin of Oregon and California, from 1984-1997. Lost River suckers had distinct river and lake shoreline spawning stocks, and individuals of both species commonly spawned in consecutive years. In the Williamson River and lower Sprague River, spawning migration by both species occurred mainly during a 5-week period that started within the first three weeks of April and peaked between mid April and early May, although a separate, earlier (mid March) run of Lost River suckers may also spawn in the upper Sprague River. Migration of both species was several times higher at dawn (0500-0730 h) and evening (1800-2200 h) than other times of the day. Peak migrations almost always corresponded to peaks in water temperature, usually at 10-15°C. Lost River suckers were captured at springs along the east shore of the lake from late February through mid May, with peak spawning usually in mid March to mid April. Shortnose suckers were generally captured at the springs from late March through late May, but the time of peak spawning was not determined. Size and age at maturity was determined by recruitment from a strong year class (1991). Male Lost River suckers began recruitment into the adult population at age 4+ (375-475 mm). Substantial recruitment of females did not begin until age 7+ (510-560 mm). Male and female shortnose suckers began recruitment at age 4+, with the majority offish recruited by age 5+. Males recruited at 270-370 mm; females recruited at 325-425 mm. Fecundity estimates were quite variable ranging from 44,000-236,000 eggs per female Lost River sucker and 18,000-72,000 eggs per female shortnose sucker. In 1984 and 1985, the spawning populations of both species were dominated by large, old individuals, with little indication of recent adult recruitment. In the next 13 years, only one strong year class (1991) recruited into the spawning populations of both species. This year class temporarily boosted population numbers, but annual fish kills from 1995 to 1997 eliminated most adults of both species. Associated with poor water quality caused by the proliferation and decay of blue-green algae Aphanizomenonflos-aquae, these fish kills raise concern that alterations to the lake ecosystem over the past several decades have Perkins et al. Lost River and shortnose suckers 5 increased the magnitude and frequency of poor water quality. As a result, mortality rates of all life stages may have increased, thereby disrupting the species' life history pattern and potentially decreasing long-term population viability. Introduction The Lost River sucker Deltistes luxatus and shortnose sucker Chasmistes brevirostris are large, long-lived suckers endemic to the upper Klamath Basin of Oregon and California. Both species are typically lake dwelling but migrate to tributaries or shoreline springs to spawn (Moyle 1976, Scoppettone and Vinyard 1991). Once extremely abundant (Cope 1884, Gilbert 1898), both species have experienced severe population declines and were federally listed as endangered in 1988 (USFWS 1988). Much of the original habitat of these suckers has been destroyed or altered by conversion of lake areas to agriculture, dams, instream flow diversions, and water quality problems associated with timber harvest, loss of riparian vegetation, livestock grazing, and agricultural practices (USFWS 1988). Knowledge of the life history of Lost River and shortnose suckers is fundamental to recovery of these species. The objective of this report was to present the results of studies conducted from 1987-1998 on the reproductive biology and demographics of Lost River and shortnose suckers, and to compare these results with earlier unpublished data. Study Sites Studies were conducted on Upper Klamath Lake and the lower Williamson-Sprague river system (Figure 1). These waters form the upper portion of the Klamath River Basin in south-central Oregon and represent most remaining native habitat of Lost River and shortnose suckers. Upper Klamath Lake is a remnant of pluvial Lake Modoc that included eight major basins and encompassed 2,839 km2 (Dicken 1980). Today, Upper Klamath Lake serves as a storage reservoir that provides water for agricultural irrigation, waterfowl refuges, instream flow requirements of anadromous fish, and hydroelectric power generation. At full capacity, the lake covers approximately 360 km2 and has an average depth of 2.4 m. Most deeper water (3-12 m) is restricted to narrow trenches along the western shore. Lake elevation is controlled at the outlet by Link River