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• 11. [Article] 2006 OPRD- Oregon Chub Population Monitoring on Oregon State Park Lands Progress Reports 2006

  Abstract -- Oregon chub Oregonichthys crameri, small minnows endemic to the Willamette River drainage of western Oregon (Markle et al. 1991), were federally listed as endangered under the Endangered Species ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: 2006 OPRD- Oregon Chub Population Monitoring on Oregon State Park Lands Progress Reports 2006 Abstract -- Oregon chub Oregonichthys crameri, small minnows endemic to the Willamette River drainage of western Oregon (Markle et al. 1991), were federally listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 1993 (Markle and Pearsons 1990; Rhew 1993). This species was formerly distributed throughout the Willamette River Valley (Snyder 1908) in off-channel habitats such as beaver ponds, oxbows, backwater sloughs, and flooded marshes. These habitats usually have little or no water flow, have silty and organic substrate, and have an abundance of aquatic vegetation and cover for hiding and spawning. In the last 100 years, off-channel habitats have disappeared because of changes in seasonal flows and habitat characteristics resulting from the construction of flood control dams, revetments, channelization, diking, and the drainage of wetlands for bottomland agriculture. This loss of habitat combined with the introduction of non-native species to the Willamette Valley resulted in a restricted distribution and sharp decline in Oregon chub abundance. The Oregon chub is further threatened by predation and competition by non-native species such as largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, crappies Pomoxis sp., sunfishes Lepomis sp., bullheads Ameiurus sp., and western mosquitofish Gambusia affinis. To evaluate abundance and distribution of Oregon chub populations, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has conducted surveys since 1991. Information collected also included the presence of non-native and native species, the characteristics of Oregon chub habitats, the characteristics of potential introduction sites, evaluation of Oregon chub introductions, and life history characteristics (Scheerer 2002, Scheerer and McDonald 2003, Scheerer et al. 2006). The Oregon Chub Recovery Plan (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998) set recovery criteria for downlisting the species to “threatened” and for delisting the species. The criteria for downlisting the species are: 1) establish and manage 10 populations of at least 500 adult fish, 2) all of these populations must exhibit a stable or increasing trend for five years, and 3) at least three populations meeting criterion 1 and 2 must be located in each of the three recovery areas (Middle Fork Willamette River, Santiam River, and Mid-Willamette River tributaries). In 2006, there were 18 populations totaling 500 or more individuals. Thirteen of these populations met the above criteria. Eight were located in the Middle Fork Willamette drainage, three were located in the Mid-Willamette drainage, and two were located in the Santiam drainage (Scheerer et al. 2006). The status of this species has improved substantially over the past decade and with the addition of a single Santiam population, the downlisting criteria will be met (Scheerer et al. 2006). Title: 2006 OPRD- Oregon Chub Population Monitoring on Oregon State Park Lands Progress Reports 2006 Abstract -- Oregon chub Oregonichthys crameri, small minnows endemic to the Willamette River drainage of western Oregon (Markle et al. 1991), were federally listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 1993 (Markle and Pearsons 1990; Rhew 1993). This species was formerly distributed throughout the Willamette River Valley (Snyder 1908) in off-channel habitats such as beaver ponds, oxbows, backwater sloughs, and flooded marshes. These habitats usually have little or no water flow, have silty and organic substrate, and have an abundance of aquatic vegetation and cover for hiding and spawning. In the last 100 years, off-channel habitats have disappeared because of changes in seasonal flows and habitat characteristics resulting from the construction of flood control dams, revetments, channelization, diking, and the drainage of wetlands for bottomland agriculture. This loss of habitat combined with the introduction of non-native species to the Willamette Valley resulted in a restricted distribution and sharp decline in Oregon chub abundance. The Oregon chub is further threatened by predation and competition by non-native species such as largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, crappies Pomoxis sp., sunfishes Lepomis sp., bullheads Ameiurus sp., and western mosquitofish Gambusia affinis. To evaluate abundance and distribution of Oregon chub populations, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has conducted surveys since 1991. Information collected also included the presence of non-native and native species, the characteristics of Oregon chub habitats, the characteristics of potential introduction sites, evaluation of Oregon chub introductions, and life history characteristics (Scheerer 2002, Scheerer and McDonald 2003, Scheerer et al. 2006). The Oregon Chub Recovery Plan (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998) set recovery criteria for downlisting the species to “threatened” and for delisting the species. The criteria for downlisting the species are: 1) establish and manage 10 populations of at least 500 adult fish, 2) all of these populations must exhibit a stable or increasing trend for five years, and 3) at least three populations meeting criterion 1 and 2 must be located in each of the three recovery areas (Middle Fork Willamette River, Santiam River, and Mid-Willamette River tributaries). In 2006, there were 18 populations totaling 500 or more individuals. Thirteen of these populations met the above criteria. Eight were located in the Middle Fork Willamette drainage, three were located in the Mid-Willamette drainage, and two were located in the Santiam drainage (Scheerer et al. 2006). The status of this species has improved substantially over the past decade and with the addition of a single Santiam population, the downlisting criteria will be met (Scheerer et al. 2006). Close

• 12. [Article] The Oregon Conservation Strategy, 2006

  Abstract -- State and federal agencies, as well as other organizations, have developed and led many plans during the years to guide conservation of Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats. Most of ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Oregon Conservation Strategy, 2006 Abstract -- State and federal agencies, as well as other organizations, have developed and led many plans during the years to guide conservation of Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats. Most of these plans have focused on a particular species, area or natural resource. Although wildlife conservation often has been an implicit concern of these plans, many were developed primarily for other purposes. With the creation of this Oregon Conservation Strategy, Oregon has its first overarching state strategy for conserving fish and wildlife. The Conservation Strategy is an effort to use the best available science to create a broad vision and conceptual framework for long-term conservation of Oregon's native fish and wildlife, as well as various in­vertebrates and native plants. As a guide to conserving the species and habitats that have defined the nature of Oregon, this strategy can help ensure that Oregon's natural treasures are passed on to future generations. The Conservation Strategy emphasizes proactively conserving declining species and habitats to reduce the possibility of future federal or state listings. It is not a regulatory document, but instead presents issues and opportunities, and recommends voluntary actions that will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of conservation in Oregon. Healthy fish and wildlife populations require adequate habitat, which is provided in natural systems and, for many species, in landscapes managed for forestry, agriculture, range and urban uses. The goals of the Conservation Strategy are to maintain healthy fish and wildlife populations by maintaining and restoring functioning habitats, preventing declines of at-risk species, and reversing declines in these resources where possible. These goals fit well with ODFW's statutory obligation to protect and enhance Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations. However, this is not a management plan for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Instead, it is a broad strategy for all of Oregon, offering potential roles and opportunities for residents, agencies and organizations. It incorporates information and insights from a broad range of natural resources assessments and conservation plans, supple­mented by the professional expertise and practical experiences of a cross-section of Oregon's resource managers and conservation interests. It is designed to have a variety of applications both inside and outside of state government. Most important, perhaps, it establishes the basis for a common understanding of the challenges facing Oregon's fish and wildlife, and provides a shared set of priorities for addressing the state's conservation needs. The heart of the Conservation Strategy is a blueprint for voluntary action to address the long-term needs of Oregon's fish and wildlife. The future for many species will depend on landowners' and land managers' willingness to voluntarily take action on their own to protect and improve fish and wildlife habitat. The strategy outlined in this document considers fish and wildlife from a statewide perspective, establishing a broader context for decisions about the species and habitats in greatest need of conservation attention. It also recognizes that these issues vary in different regions, requiring conservation actions to be tailored to the unique needs of the fish, wildlife and human communities that coexist throughout Oregon. Much good work already is being done by private landowners. water-shed councils, conservation organizations and agencies like the many soil and water conservation districts. This strategy continues building on the solid foundation these groups have set for Oregon's conservation future. This document is called a strategy, not a plan, because its purpose is to help people make decisions more strategically about how they can invest time and resources in fish and wildlife conservation. To that end, the Conservation Strategy focuses on a suite of species and habitats, many of them closely linked, that are in greatest need of conservation attention. The strategy provides guidance on the types of actions most likely to benefit these species and habitats, and describes a variety of non-regulatory programs that can help landowners and land managers with implementation. For agencies and organizations working on a larger scale, the Conservation Strategy highlights specific geographic "Conservation Opportunity Areas" that provide good opportunities to address the conservation needs of high-priority habitats and species. These landscape-scale areas include both public and private ownership where targeted investments in conservation actions and incentives for private landowners are likely to generate the greatest long-term benefits for fish and wildlife. The expanding footprint of human development and 150 years of landscape alteration have left much of Oregon's fish and wildlife at varying degrees of risk. For example, the song of Oregon's state bird, the western meadowlark, is rarely heard in the Willamette Valley any more. A grassland bird still common in eastern Oregon, the meadowlark is not going to be a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act any time soon. But the state bird is in trouble across a significant portion of its historic range in Oregon. Like most of Oregon's wildlife, it retains a natural resilience and will respond to improved habitat conditions. However, the meadowlark needs some conservation attention. For the western meadowlark and dozens of other similarly vulnerable species including fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, invertebrates and plants, the Oregon Conservation Strategy offers hope for a more secure future. Title: The Oregon Conservation Strategy, 2006 Abstract -- State and federal agencies, as well as other organizations, have developed and led many plans during the years to guide conservation of Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats. Most of these plans have focused on a particular species, area or natural resource. Although wildlife conservation often has been an implicit concern of these plans, many were developed primarily for other purposes. With the creation of this Oregon Conservation Strategy, Oregon has its first overarching state strategy for conserving fish and wildlife. The Conservation Strategy is an effort to use the best available science to create a broad vision and conceptual framework for long-term conservation of Oregon's native fish and wildlife, as well as various in­vertebrates and native plants. As a guide to conserving the species and habitats that have defined the nature of Oregon, this strategy can help ensure that Oregon's natural treasures are passed on to future generations. The Conservation Strategy emphasizes proactively conserving declining species and habitats to reduce the possibility of future federal or state listings. It is not a regulatory document, but instead presents issues and opportunities, and recommends voluntary actions that will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of conservation in Oregon. Healthy fish and wildlife populations require adequate habitat, which is provided in natural systems and, for many species, in landscapes managed for forestry, agriculture, range and urban uses. The goals of the Conservation Strategy are to maintain healthy fish and wildlife populations by maintaining and restoring functioning habitats, preventing declines of at-risk species, and reversing declines in these resources where possible. These goals fit well with ODFW's statutory obligation to protect and enhance Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations. However, this is not a management plan for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Instead, it is a broad strategy for all of Oregon, offering potential roles and opportunities for residents, agencies and organizations. It incorporates information and insights from a broad range of natural resources assessments and conservation plans, supple­mented by the professional expertise and practical experiences of a cross-section of Oregon's resource managers and conservation interests. It is designed to have a variety of applications both inside and outside of state government. Most important, perhaps, it establishes the basis for a common understanding of the challenges facing Oregon's fish and wildlife, and provides a shared set of priorities for addressing the state's conservation needs. The heart of the Conservation Strategy is a blueprint for voluntary action to address the long-term needs of Oregon's fish and wildlife. The future for many species will depend on landowners' and land managers' willingness to voluntarily take action on their own to protect and improve fish and wildlife habitat. The strategy outlined in this document considers fish and wildlife from a statewide perspective, establishing a broader context for decisions about the species and habitats in greatest need of conservation attention. It also recognizes that these issues vary in different regions, requiring conservation actions to be tailored to the unique needs of the fish, wildlife and human communities that coexist throughout Oregon. Much good work already is being done by private landowners. water-shed councils, conservation organizations and agencies like the many soil and water conservation districts. This strategy continues building on the solid foundation these groups have set for Oregon's conservation future. This document is called a strategy, not a plan, because its purpose is to help people make decisions more strategically about how they can invest time and resources in fish and wildlife conservation. To that end, the Conservation Strategy focuses on a suite of species and habitats, many of them closely linked, that are in greatest need of conservation attention. The strategy provides guidance on the types of actions most likely to benefit these species and habitats, and describes a variety of non-regulatory programs that can help landowners and land managers with implementation. For agencies and organizations working on a larger scale, the Conservation Strategy highlights specific geographic "Conservation Opportunity Areas" that provide good opportunities to address the conservation needs of high-priority habitats and species. These landscape-scale areas include both public and private ownership where targeted investments in conservation actions and incentives for private landowners are likely to generate the greatest long-term benefits for fish and wildlife. The expanding footprint of human development and 150 years of landscape alteration have left much of Oregon's fish and wildlife at varying degrees of risk. For example, the song of Oregon's state bird, the western meadowlark, is rarely heard in the Willamette Valley any more. A grassland bird still common in eastern Oregon, the meadowlark is not going to be a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act any time soon. But the state bird is in trouble across a significant portion of its historic range in Oregon. Like most of Oregon's wildlife, it retains a natural resilience and will respond to improved habitat conditions. However, the meadowlark needs some conservation attention. For the western meadowlark and dozens of other similarly vulnerable species including fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, invertebrates and plants, the Oregon Conservation Strategy offers hope for a more secure future. Close

• 13. [Article] Downstream rearing of juvenile Chinook salmon abundance, distribution and growth in the Upper Mainstem of the John Day River

  Abstract -- Juvenile spring Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) emerge from the gravel in the late winter or early spring, and most follow a life history pattern known as Natal Reach Rearing (NRR) in which ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Downstream rearing of juvenile Chinook salmon abundance, distribution and growth in the Upper Mainstem of the John Day River Abstract -- Juvenile spring Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) emerge from the gravel in the late winter or early spring, and most follow a life history pattern known as Natal Reach Rearing (NRR) in which juvenile fish remain in the stream reaches where they were spawned until their second spring of life when they start migrating towards the ocean (Healey 1991). However, in Columbia River tributaries, some juveniles have been observed following a Downstream Rearing (DSR) life history, in which they start moving downstream during their first spring towards other nursery habitats or perhaps ocean rearing (Copeland & Venditti 2009; Schroeder et al. 2016). Rearing in different habitats during their first year gives fish with these two life histories access to diverse food resources and, it is hypothesized that, this leads to different survival and growth advantages for these two groups. Differences in growth are of interest in efforts to conserve this threatened species because size is positively correlated to survival for salmon across multiple stages of their life cycle (Groot & Margolis 1991; Healey 1991; Quinn & Peterson 1996; Roni et al. 2012) Chinook salmon in the upper John Day River, Oregon, exhibit both NRR and DSR life history patterns. Fish following the DSR life history pattern are larger than NRR fish late in the spring, possibly due to factors such as higher fish density, lower stream productivity, and colder water temperatures in their natal reach than in the downstream reaches. However, this size advantage may be lost due to adverse summer conditions. Hot summer days combined with the withdrawal of water for agriculture lead to stream water temperatures well above lethal thresholds for salmon in many downstream reaches. DSR fish have been observed in tributaries of the mainstem John Day River, however their growth and survival during summer is unknown. Title: Downstream rearing of juvenile Chinook salmon abundance, distribution and growth in the Upper Mainstem of the John Day River Abstract -- Juvenile spring Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) emerge from the gravel in the late winter or early spring, and most follow a life history pattern known as Natal Reach Rearing (NRR) in which juvenile fish remain in the stream reaches where they were spawned until their second spring of life when they start migrating towards the ocean (Healey 1991). However, in Columbia River tributaries, some juveniles have been observed following a Downstream Rearing (DSR) life history, in which they start moving downstream during their first spring towards other nursery habitats or perhaps ocean rearing (Copeland & Venditti 2009; Schroeder et al. 2016). Rearing in different habitats during their first year gives fish with these two life histories access to diverse food resources and, it is hypothesized that, this leads to different survival and growth advantages for these two groups. Differences in growth are of interest in efforts to conserve this threatened species because size is positively correlated to survival for salmon across multiple stages of their life cycle (Groot & Margolis 1991; Healey 1991; Quinn & Peterson 1996; Roni et al. 2012) Chinook salmon in the upper John Day River, Oregon, exhibit both NRR and DSR life history patterns. Fish following the DSR life history pattern are larger than NRR fish late in the spring, possibly due to factors such as higher fish density, lower stream productivity, and colder water temperatures in their natal reach than in the downstream reaches. However, this size advantage may be lost due to adverse summer conditions. Hot summer days combined with the withdrawal of water for agriculture lead to stream water temperatures well above lethal thresholds for salmon in many downstream reaches. DSR fish have been observed in tributaries of the mainstem John Day River, however their growth and survival during summer is unknown. Close