Search

Search Results

• 381. [Article] Willamette Biological Opinion Hatchery Research 2010 Annual Report

  Abstract -- Task 1.1: Distribution, Abundance, and Proportion of Hatchery and Natural-Origin Chinook Salmon: Counts of spring Chinook redds were similar in 2010 compared to the 2002–2009 averages for the ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Willamette Biological Opinion Hatchery Research 2010 Annual Report Abstract -- Task 1.1: Distribution, Abundance, and Proportion of Hatchery and Natural-Origin Chinook Salmon: Counts of spring Chinook redds were similar in 2010 compared to the 2002–2009 averages for the Middle Fork Willamette, McKenzie and the North Santiam rivers and significantly higher in the South Santiam River Preliminary analyses indicate that the proportions of hatchery fish recovered as carcasses from the spawning grounds varied significantly among all four surveyed sub-basins (South Santiam > M. Fork Willamette > North Santiam > McKenzie) Task 1.2: Monitor fin-clipped & unclipped fish passing Leaburg and Upper Bennett dams. Adult fish passage at Leaburg and Upper Bennett dams was continuously monitored in 2010. We estimated that 2,696 spring Chinook (52% unclipped) passed above Leaburg Dam and 5,956 passed above upper Bennett Dam (14% unclipped). Passage at Leaburg Dam of fin-clipped fish was strongly bimodal with peaks in June (coincident with passage of the majority of unclipped fish) and September (coincident with a smaller proportion of unclipped fish). This bimodal peak suggests that hatchery fish might be removed in September to reduce the proportion of hatchery origin spawners while simultaneously reducing the impacts of handling wild fish. Task 2.1: Collection, spawn timing, and Hatchery/Wild (H/W ) composition for broodstock management. Collection, spawn timing, and H/W composition for broodstock management were successfully monitored at all facilities in 2010. Task 2.2: Determine Survival of Outplanted Fish and Abundance of Spawners. Patterns of pre-spawning mortality were similar to results in 2009 with mortality below project dams significantly higher than that above project dams. We did not detect significant differences in mortality between clipped and unclipped spring Chinook. In comparisons of pre-spawning mortality among sub-basins above project dams, pre-spawning mortality was uniformly low in the Breitenbush and N. Santiam above Detroit, S. Santiam above Foster, and in the S. Fork McKenzie. Pre-spawning mortality was uniformly higher above project dams in the N. Fork Mid. Fork Willamette, Fall Creek and the Little N. Fork Santiam. No comprehensive surveys were conducted in the Middle Fork Willamette. Task 3.1: Determine the extent of summer steelhead reproduction in the wild: We developed a formal study plan to analyze and interpret genetic results from a collection of 299 tissue samples from unclipped juvenile steelhead at Willamette Falls, five from the mainstem Willamette River, and two from the South Santiam River in 2010 in addition to a single sample from an unclipped adult steelhead at the Minto fish collection facility. Samples were preserved 7 and cataloged and then shipped to the NOAA Fisheries Manchester, Washington (WA) laboratory for analysis. Task 3.2: Evaluate release strategies for summer steelhead to increase migration and reduce impacts on wild fish. Study plans to evaluate advantages and disadvantages of volitional release strategies were completed and presented in the 2009 annual report to USACE (Cannon et al. 2010). Funding to process the tissue samples was not available in 2010, and no progress was made in executing the proposed work. Title: Willamette Biological Opinion Hatchery Research 2010 Annual Report Abstract -- Task 1.1: Distribution, Abundance, and Proportion of Hatchery and Natural-Origin Chinook Salmon: Counts of spring Chinook redds were similar in 2010 compared to the 2002–2009 averages for the Middle Fork Willamette, McKenzie and the North Santiam rivers and significantly higher in the South Santiam River Preliminary analyses indicate that the proportions of hatchery fish recovered as carcasses from the spawning grounds varied significantly among all four surveyed sub-basins (South Santiam > M. Fork Willamette > North Santiam > McKenzie) Task 1.2: Monitor fin-clipped & unclipped fish passing Leaburg and Upper Bennett dams. Adult fish passage at Leaburg and Upper Bennett dams was continuously monitored in 2010. We estimated that 2,696 spring Chinook (52% unclipped) passed above Leaburg Dam and 5,956 passed above upper Bennett Dam (14% unclipped). Passage at Leaburg Dam of fin-clipped fish was strongly bimodal with peaks in June (coincident with passage of the majority of unclipped fish) and September (coincident with a smaller proportion of unclipped fish). This bimodal peak suggests that hatchery fish might be removed in September to reduce the proportion of hatchery origin spawners while simultaneously reducing the impacts of handling wild fish. Task 2.1: Collection, spawn timing, and Hatchery/Wild (H/W ) composition for broodstock management. Collection, spawn timing, and H/W composition for broodstock management were successfully monitored at all facilities in 2010. Task 2.2: Determine Survival of Outplanted Fish and Abundance of Spawners. Patterns of pre-spawning mortality were similar to results in 2009 with mortality below project dams significantly higher than that above project dams. We did not detect significant differences in mortality between clipped and unclipped spring Chinook. In comparisons of pre-spawning mortality among sub-basins above project dams, pre-spawning mortality was uniformly low in the Breitenbush and N. Santiam above Detroit, S. Santiam above Foster, and in the S. Fork McKenzie. Pre-spawning mortality was uniformly higher above project dams in the N. Fork Mid. Fork Willamette, Fall Creek and the Little N. Fork Santiam. No comprehensive surveys were conducted in the Middle Fork Willamette. Task 3.1: Determine the extent of summer steelhead reproduction in the wild: We developed a formal study plan to analyze and interpret genetic results from a collection of 299 tissue samples from unclipped juvenile steelhead at Willamette Falls, five from the mainstem Willamette River, and two from the South Santiam River in 2010 in addition to a single sample from an unclipped adult steelhead at the Minto fish collection facility. Samples were preserved 7 and cataloged and then shipped to the NOAA Fisheries Manchester, Washington (WA) laboratory for analysis. Task 3.2: Evaluate release strategies for summer steelhead to increase migration and reduce impacts on wild fish. Study plans to evaluate advantages and disadvantages of volitional release strategies were completed and presented in the 2009 annual report to USACE (Cannon et al. 2010). Funding to process the tissue samples was not available in 2010, and no progress was made in executing the proposed work. Close

• 382. [Article] Tenmile Lake Basin Partnership - OWEB Final Report: Grant 217-2051

  Abstract -- Pacific Lamprey are native to the Tenmile Watershed and culturally important to the local Native American Tribes. Likewise, Salmon and Steelhead have both an economic and cultural significance ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Tenmile Lake Basin Partnership - OWEB Final Report: Grant 217-2051 Abstract -- Pacific Lamprey are native to the Tenmile Watershed and culturally important to the local Native American Tribes. Likewise, Salmon and Steelhead have both an economic and cultural significance to the local citizens and Tribes. Pacific Lamprey were historically harvested by the people of the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI), but it was unknown if Pacific Lamprey were still present in the Tenmile Watershed. A fish trap was built on Eel Lake by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) in 1989 for the purpose of fish capture and rearing. The trap is effective in capturing Salmon and Steelhead but may act as a barrier to the passage of Pacific Lamprey. This monitoring effort was designed to assess the presence/absence of Pacific Lamprey in the Tenmile Watershed, identify migration timing, potential lamprey passage barriers and rearing/spawning habitats, and collect and organize data from Eel Lake Trap on native Coho, Cutthroat, and native/hatchery Steelhead returns and trends. Lamprey larvae (ammocoete) monitoring was conducted in the summer of 2017 using electro-shockers. Shocking occurred on 3 tributaries of Tenmile Lakes (Big Creek, Johnson Creek, and Shutter Creek), and 3 creeks within the Eel Lake basin (Eel Creek, Clear Creek, and Winters Arm Creek). Two species of lamprey were identified, Western Brook (Lampetra richardsoni) and Pacific (Entosphenus tridentatus). Western Brook were found in all sampled Tenmile Lakes Basin streams, but only in the streams above Eel Lake Trap in the Eel Lake Basin. No Western Brook were identified in Eel Creek below the Trap. Pacific Lamprey were found in Johnson Creek and Big Creek in the Tenmile Lakes Basin, and in Eel Creek in the Eel Lake Basin. No Pacific Lamprey were identified above the Eel Lake Trap, suggesting that it may act as a complete passage barrier to that species. In addition, over 200 adult Pacific Lamprey were salvaged from an ODOT culvert enhancement project on Eel Creek near Hwy 101. Pacific Lamprey larvae were identified upstream of this project, but it is likely that it was a partial barrier. Two other ODOT culverts were identified as potential partial lamprey barriers on Eel Cr. Spawning areas for Pacific and Western Brook Lamprey are similar to spawning areas for salmon. Upper reaches of all the Tenmile Lake tributaries have appropriate spawning gravel. Lower stream areas are often high in sediment which is conducive to rearing lamprey larvae. This was confirmed in Johnson creek with high numbers of Pacific Lamprey larvae found at the mouth as it enters South Tenmile Lake. Farther upstream in the Johnson Creek system, larvae were abundant, but much smaller with many being too small to identify (<65mm). Western Brook larvae were found, but no Pacific Lamprey larvae were identified, perhaps amongst those unidentified specimens. Western Brook ammocoetes were also found at the lower site on Johnson Creek, and in Big Creek and Shutter Creek. Pacific Lamprey migration into the watershed is difficult to determine due to the elusive nature of the species and their life cycle trait of migrating in from the ocean in the spring of one year, then holding over until the next spring before spawning. When specimens are captured, it is difficult to determine whether it is a fresh migrant or last year’s holdover. Even if it can be determined which year it is from, it is still difficult to know how long it has been in the system before it was captured. In Phase 2 of this project, we will capture Pacific Lamprey either in traps near the mouth of Eel Cr, or at the lower culverts. This should give us a better sense of migration timing. Native Coho salmon counts at Eel Lake Trap were down significantly from the recorded high at the Trap of 441 in 2012, with only 66 native Coho returning in 2018 (the winter of 2017-2018). The previous 2 years were also low with 2016 and 2017 showing returns of only 53 and 118 respectively. The Coho numbers for most of the Oregon Coast also showed low returns. Hatchery Winter Steelhead counts were 502 for 2018. This compares to a record high of 828 in 2007, 595 in 2016, and 226 in 2017. Returning native Steelhead only numbered 10 for the 2018 season. The average return for Native Steelhead is 24. In 2018, 60 Steelhead were spawned including 2 native males, but no native females. 252 hatchery Steelhead were recycled into Saunders Lake, and 148 into Butterfield Lake. ODFW allocated 25,000 smolts for the Tenmile Watershed, which were acclimated and then released in April 2018. Title: Tenmile Lake Basin Partnership - OWEB Final Report: Grant 217-2051 Abstract -- Pacific Lamprey are native to the Tenmile Watershed and culturally important to the local Native American Tribes. Likewise, Salmon and Steelhead have both an economic and cultural significance to the local citizens and Tribes. Pacific Lamprey were historically harvested by the people of the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI), but it was unknown if Pacific Lamprey were still present in the Tenmile Watershed. A fish trap was built on Eel Lake by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) in 1989 for the purpose of fish capture and rearing. The trap is effective in capturing Salmon and Steelhead but may act as a barrier to the passage of Pacific Lamprey. This monitoring effort was designed to assess the presence/absence of Pacific Lamprey in the Tenmile Watershed, identify migration timing, potential lamprey passage barriers and rearing/spawning habitats, and collect and organize data from Eel Lake Trap on native Coho, Cutthroat, and native/hatchery Steelhead returns and trends. Lamprey larvae (ammocoete) monitoring was conducted in the summer of 2017 using electro-shockers. Shocking occurred on 3 tributaries of Tenmile Lakes (Big Creek, Johnson Creek, and Shutter Creek), and 3 creeks within the Eel Lake basin (Eel Creek, Clear Creek, and Winters Arm Creek). Two species of lamprey were identified, Western Brook (Lampetra richardsoni) and Pacific (Entosphenus tridentatus). Western Brook were found in all sampled Tenmile Lakes Basin streams, but only in the streams above Eel Lake Trap in the Eel Lake Basin. No Western Brook were identified in Eel Creek below the Trap. Pacific Lamprey were found in Johnson Creek and Big Creek in the Tenmile Lakes Basin, and in Eel Creek in the Eel Lake Basin. No Pacific Lamprey were identified above the Eel Lake Trap, suggesting that it may act as a complete passage barrier to that species. In addition, over 200 adult Pacific Lamprey were salvaged from an ODOT culvert enhancement project on Eel Creek near Hwy 101. Pacific Lamprey larvae were identified upstream of this project, but it is likely that it was a partial barrier. Two other ODOT culverts were identified as potential partial lamprey barriers on Eel Cr. Spawning areas for Pacific and Western Brook Lamprey are similar to spawning areas for salmon. Upper reaches of all the Tenmile Lake tributaries have appropriate spawning gravel. Lower stream areas are often high in sediment which is conducive to rearing lamprey larvae. This was confirmed in Johnson creek with high numbers of Pacific Lamprey larvae found at the mouth as it enters South Tenmile Lake. Farther upstream in the Johnson Creek system, larvae were abundant, but much smaller with many being too small to identify (<65mm). Western Brook larvae were found, but no Pacific Lamprey larvae were identified, perhaps amongst those unidentified specimens. Western Brook ammocoetes were also found at the lower site on Johnson Creek, and in Big Creek and Shutter Creek. Pacific Lamprey migration into the watershed is difficult to determine due to the elusive nature of the species and their life cycle trait of migrating in from the ocean in the spring of one year, then holding over until the next spring before spawning. When specimens are captured, it is difficult to determine whether it is a fresh migrant or last year’s holdover. Even if it can be determined which year it is from, it is still difficult to know how long it has been in the system before it was captured. In Phase 2 of this project, we will capture Pacific Lamprey either in traps near the mouth of Eel Cr, or at the lower culverts. This should give us a better sense of migration timing. Native Coho salmon counts at Eel Lake Trap were down significantly from the recorded high at the Trap of 441 in 2012, with only 66 native Coho returning in 2018 (the winter of 2017-2018). The previous 2 years were also low with 2016 and 2017 showing returns of only 53 and 118 respectively. The Coho numbers for most of the Oregon Coast also showed low returns. Hatchery Winter Steelhead counts were 502 for 2018. This compares to a record high of 828 in 2007, 595 in 2016, and 226 in 2017. Returning native Steelhead only numbered 10 for the 2018 season. The average return for Native Steelhead is 24. In 2018, 60 Steelhead were spawned including 2 native males, but no native females. 252 hatchery Steelhead were recycled into Saunders Lake, and 148 into Butterfield Lake. ODFW allocated 25,000 smolts for the Tenmile Watershed, which were acclimated and then released in April 2018. Close