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• 491. [Article] Upper Calapooia River Fish Monitoring

  Abstract -- The project will occur on the Upper Calapooia River, between the Holley Bridge (USGS RM 45.5) and the perceived end of anadromy for salmonids (USGS RM 72.9). Historically the Calapooia River ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Upper Calapooia River Fish Monitoring Abstract -- The project will occur on the Upper Calapooia River, between the Holley Bridge (USGS RM 45.5) and the perceived end of anadromy for salmonids (USGS RM 72.9). Historically the Calapooia River marked the upper end of winter steelhead distribution in the Willamette Basin, and a spawning tributary for spring chinook. These are both DPS/ESU listed species, and little is known about their distribution and life history in the Calapooia River. A Rapid Bioassessment was completed in 2015 as well as winter steelhead redd survey in 2017 to try and establish baseline data including spawning gravel abundance/seeding availability, adult escapement, a foundation for long term trend analysis, as well as identify anchor habitats. The survey was also intended to inform ODFW with vital information regarding the possibility of jump-start seeding the Calapooia with Chinook, as well as guide the Calapooia WC’s restoration approach in this vital area. The 2017 return of Winter steelhead over the Willamette Falls (pinch point for all anadromy in the Willamette Valley) was the lowest on record, and the CWC and partners do not feel a proper baseline was established. The CWC proposes to complete 2 years of STW redd Surveys to create a baseline of adult escapement from 2 different cohorts, as well as collect summer water temperature data through the deployment of Hobo temperature loggers. This data can be used to create a reach wide restoration plan that will focus CWC restoration efforts in areas where they will be the most efficient and effective. Partners include ODFW, Weyerhaeuser, US Forest Service, Miners Association, and private residents. Title: Upper Calapooia River Fish Monitoring Abstract -- The project will occur on the Upper Calapooia River, between the Holley Bridge (USGS RM 45.5) and the perceived end of anadromy for salmonids (USGS RM 72.9). Historically the Calapooia River marked the upper end of winter steelhead distribution in the Willamette Basin, and a spawning tributary for spring chinook. These are both DPS/ESU listed species, and little is known about their distribution and life history in the Calapooia River. A Rapid Bioassessment was completed in 2015 as well as winter steelhead redd survey in 2017 to try and establish baseline data including spawning gravel abundance/seeding availability, adult escapement, a foundation for long term trend analysis, as well as identify anchor habitats. The survey was also intended to inform ODFW with vital information regarding the possibility of jump-start seeding the Calapooia with Chinook, as well as guide the Calapooia WC’s restoration approach in this vital area. The 2017 return of Winter steelhead over the Willamette Falls (pinch point for all anadromy in the Willamette Valley) was the lowest on record, and the CWC and partners do not feel a proper baseline was established. The CWC proposes to complete 2 years of STW redd Surveys to create a baseline of adult escapement from 2 different cohorts, as well as collect summer water temperature data through the deployment of Hobo temperature loggers. This data can be used to create a reach wide restoration plan that will focus CWC restoration efforts in areas where they will be the most efficient and effective. Partners include ODFW, Weyerhaeuser, US Forest Service, Miners Association, and private residents. Close

• 492. [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

• 493. [Article] Escapement and Productivity of Summer Steelhead and Spring Chinook Salmon in the John Day River; Annual Report 2017

  Abstract -- The John Day River, located in northeastern Oregon, supports five wild populations of summer steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and three populations of wild spring chinook (Oncorhynchus tschawytscha) ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Escapement and Productivity of Summer Steelhead and Spring Chinook Salmon in the John Day River; Annual Report 2017 Abstract -- The John Day River, located in northeastern Oregon, supports five wild populations of summer steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and three populations of wild spring chinook (Oncorhynchus tschawytscha) with no hatchery supplementation. However, these populations remain depressed relative to historic levels. In 1999, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) listed the Middle Columbia River summer steelhead Distinct Population Segment (DPS), which includes the John Day River Major Population Group (MPG), as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Although numerous habitat protection and rehabilitation projects have been implemented within the John Day River basin to improve steelhead and other salmonid freshwater production and survival, it has been difficult to estimate the effectiveness of these projects without a systematic program in place to collect information on the status, trends, and distribution of spawning activity, juvenile salmonids, and aquatic habitat conditions within the basin. Prior to the inception of this project, population and environmental monitoring of steelhead in the basin consisted of a combination of index spawning surveys and periodic monitoring of some status and trend indicators. While index spawning data is useful for drawing inference about long-term trends in adult steelhead abundance, they are limited for determining the status of steelhead escapement or distribution at the population or MPG scale because survey sites are not randomly selected and are likely biased towards streams with higher fish abundance. A broader approach to the monitoring and evaluation of status and trends in anadromous and resident salmonid populations and their habitats was needed to provide data to effectively support restoration efforts and guide alternative future management actions in the basin. The Independent Scientific Review Panel (ISRP) recommended that the region move away from index surveys and embrace probabilistic sampling for most population and habitat monitoring. To meet the ISRP recommendation, the structure and methods employed by the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds Monitoring Program were extended to the John Day basin. This approach incorporates the sampling strategy of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP). This research effort employs a statistically based and spatially explicit sampling design to answer key monitoring questions, integrate on-going sampling efforts, and improve agency coordination. The current program seeks to integrate project objectives focused on summer steelhead spawning metrics, juvenile salmonid metrics, and aquatic habitat conditions. Title: Escapement and Productivity of Summer Steelhead and Spring Chinook Salmon in the John Day River; Annual Report 2017 Abstract -- The John Day River, located in northeastern Oregon, supports five wild populations of summer steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and three populations of wild spring chinook (Oncorhynchus tschawytscha) with no hatchery supplementation. However, these populations remain depressed relative to historic levels. In 1999, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) listed the Middle Columbia River summer steelhead Distinct Population Segment (DPS), which includes the John Day River Major Population Group (MPG), as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Although numerous habitat protection and rehabilitation projects have been implemented within the John Day River basin to improve steelhead and other salmonid freshwater production and survival, it has been difficult to estimate the effectiveness of these projects without a systematic program in place to collect information on the status, trends, and distribution of spawning activity, juvenile salmonids, and aquatic habitat conditions within the basin. Prior to the inception of this project, population and environmental monitoring of steelhead in the basin consisted of a combination of index spawning surveys and periodic monitoring of some status and trend indicators. While index spawning data is useful for drawing inference about long-term trends in adult steelhead abundance, they are limited for determining the status of steelhead escapement or distribution at the population or MPG scale because survey sites are not randomly selected and are likely biased towards streams with higher fish abundance. A broader approach to the monitoring and evaluation of status and trends in anadromous and resident salmonid populations and their habitats was needed to provide data to effectively support restoration efforts and guide alternative future management actions in the basin. The Independent Scientific Review Panel (ISRP) recommended that the region move away from index surveys and embrace probabilistic sampling for most population and habitat monitoring. To meet the ISRP recommendation, the structure and methods employed by the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds Monitoring Program were extended to the John Day basin. This approach incorporates the sampling strategy of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP). This research effort employs a statistically based and spatially explicit sampling design to answer key monitoring questions, integrate on-going sampling efforts, and improve agency coordination. The current program seeks to integrate project objectives focused on summer steelhead spawning metrics, juvenile salmonid metrics, and aquatic habitat conditions. Close

• 494. [Article] Progress Reports 2017, Distribution and Abundance of Pit Sculpin in Drews and Camp Creeks, Oregon

  Abstract -- Pit Sculpin Cottus pitensis are endemic to Goose Lake basin, south-central Oregon. The species was listed as sensitive by the U.S. Forest Service Region 6 and Bureau of Land Management and ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Progress Reports 2017, Distribution and Abundance of Pit Sculpin in Drews and Camp Creeks, Oregon Abstract -- Pit Sculpin Cottus pitensis are endemic to Goose Lake basin, south-central Oregon. The species was listed as sensitive by the U.S. Forest Service Region 6 and Bureau of Land Management and by the State of Oregon. Recent surveys suggested Pit Sculpin have a restricted range in Oregon. The objectives of our surveys were to: 1) describe the current distribution and estimate the abundance of Pit Sculpin in Drews and Camp creeks, 2) describe the fish assemblages in Drews and Camp creeks, and 3) describe stream habitat conditions and collect habitat covariate data at each sampling location for modelling capture probabilities and abundance. We found Pit Sculpin distribution was limited to approximately 5.2 km of Drews Creek and 0.8 km of Camp Creek. Pit Sculpin primarily occupied riffles with gravel substrate. We estimated 12,331 and 1,518 Pit Sculpin in Drews and Camp creeks, respectively. Title: Progress Reports 2017, Distribution and Abundance of Pit Sculpin in Drews and Camp Creeks, Oregon Abstract -- Pit Sculpin Cottus pitensis are endemic to Goose Lake basin, south-central Oregon. The species was listed as sensitive by the U.S. Forest Service Region 6 and Bureau of Land Management and by the State of Oregon. Recent surveys suggested Pit Sculpin have a restricted range in Oregon. The objectives of our surveys were to: 1) describe the current distribution and estimate the abundance of Pit Sculpin in Drews and Camp creeks, 2) describe the fish assemblages in Drews and Camp creeks, and 3) describe stream habitat conditions and collect habitat covariate data at each sampling location for modelling capture probabilities and abundance. We found Pit Sculpin distribution was limited to approximately 5.2 km of Drews Creek and 0.8 km of Camp Creek. Pit Sculpin primarily occupied riffles with gravel substrate. We estimated 12,331 and 1,518 Pit Sculpin in Drews and Camp creeks, respectively. Close

• 495. [Article] Lake Survey of some Lakes in the Willamette and Mt Hood National Forests, 1957

  Abstract -- This report is the data obtained from a survey of 108 High Cascade Lakes by the Oregon State Game Commission in the northwest region during the summer of 1957. Twenty of these lakes were located ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Lake Survey of some Lakes in the Willamette and Mt Hood National Forests, 1957 Abstract -- This report is the data obtained from a survey of 108 High Cascade Lakes by the Oregon State Game Commission in the northwest region during the summer of 1957. Twenty of these lakes were located and named by the survey crew. Of this group of 20, four had fish present, although there was no recorded name or stocking record. An additional 27 potholes and shallow lakes were explored and followed to be unsuitable for fish. These factors are listed in the Appendix. Data collected on the lakes included water and air temperatures, the approximate depth and bottom types, presence of natural reproduction, angling pressure and the general condition of the fish population. Special attention was paid to the accessibility of the lakes. A sample of the fish was taken by angling or gill net sets. The female fish were weighed, measured and examined for sexual maturity. The degree of sexual maturity was classed as mature, maturing and immature. The lakes, in general, are so widely separated in this section of the Cascade that it is difficult to group them in specific basins, therefore, these lakes have been grouped in the Willamette National Forest and the Mt. Hood National Forest watershed 2 and Watershed 3, respectively. Title: Lake Survey of some Lakes in the Willamette and Mt Hood National Forests, 1957 Abstract -- This report is the data obtained from a survey of 108 High Cascade Lakes by the Oregon State Game Commission in the northwest region during the summer of 1957. Twenty of these lakes were located and named by the survey crew. Of this group of 20, four had fish present, although there was no recorded name or stocking record. An additional 27 potholes and shallow lakes were explored and followed to be unsuitable for fish. These factors are listed in the Appendix. Data collected on the lakes included water and air temperatures, the approximate depth and bottom types, presence of natural reproduction, angling pressure and the general condition of the fish population. Special attention was paid to the accessibility of the lakes. A sample of the fish was taken by angling or gill net sets. The female fish were weighed, measured and examined for sexual maturity. The degree of sexual maturity was classed as mature, maturing and immature. The lakes, in general, are so widely separated in this section of the Cascade that it is difficult to group them in specific basins, therefore, these lakes have been grouped in the Willamette National Forest and the Mt. Hood National Forest watershed 2 and Watershed 3, respectively. Close

• 496. [Article] Lake Survey of the Willamette National Forest, 1937

  Abstract -- This is the third and concluding report of the Willamette National Forest Lake Survey which was started in 1936. The survey was conducted under the joint cooperative agreement between U.S. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Lake Survey of the Willamette National Forest, 1937 Abstract -- This is the third and concluding report of the Willamette National Forest Lake Survey which was started in 1936. The survey was conducted under the joint cooperative agreement between U.S. Bureau of Fisheries, Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, signed March 18, 1935. This survey is a part of the tentative cooperative program of the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Bureau of Fisheries for stream and lake surveys, stream and lake improvements, and detailed fresh water investigations in the National Forests of Region 6, approved June 25, 1937. Title: Lake Survey of the Willamette National Forest, 1937 Abstract -- This is the third and concluding report of the Willamette National Forest Lake Survey which was started in 1936. The survey was conducted under the joint cooperative agreement between U.S. Bureau of Fisheries, Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, signed March 18, 1935. This survey is a part of the tentative cooperative program of the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Bureau of Fisheries for stream and lake surveys, stream and lake improvements, and detailed fresh water investigations in the National Forests of Region 6, approved June 25, 1937. Close