Nehalem River Fall Chinook Salmon Escapement Indicator Project 1998-2002

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: White, Jody, Hal Weeks, and Brian Riggers

Publish Date: 2003

Online Link: None

BPA Project #:

Contact Information

Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Name: Cedric Cooney

Job Position: Natural Resources Data and Systems Manager

Telephone: 503-947-6094

E-Mail Address: cedric.x.cooney@odfw.oregon.gov

Description

Abstract: The goal of this project is to develop precise estimates of spawner escapement in the North Fork and mainstem Nehalem River basins, and to identify survey indices that can be used to estimate spawner abundance for the NOC and MOC stock aggregates. The North Fork Nehalem River and the South Fork Coos River were originally selected by the CTC for feasibility studies of escapement and calibration efforts. The North Fork Nehalem was studied from 1998 through 2001, with disappointing results. Primary effort shifted to the mainstem Nehalem in 2000. In each case, a mark-recapture experiment was being conducted to obtain an estimate of fall Chinook populations in each river. Various survey indices are being used to estimate spawner abundance in tributary and mainstem spawning habitat including foot and boat surveys to obtain live fish counts and carcass counts. All or a combination of these methods will be assessed to provide a Chinook salmon spawner escapement to coastal Oregon rivers. Radio-telemetry was used to identify the distribution of Chinook spawners in the Nehalem basin in 2000 and 2001 between mainstem and tributary spawning strata which may contribute to the tuning of indices of abundance. A statistical creel survey is being conducted in the Nehalem Basin as a means of calibrating Oregon’s angler-returned catch card estimates of recreational salmon take in rivers. Work in the mainstem Nehalem will continue through the 2003 field season.

Purpose: Estimate the total escapement of adult chinook from ocean fisheries into the Nehalem River within ± 25% of the true value 95% of the time and to estimate the age specific proportions of the escapement within ± 5% of the true value 95% of the time. Specific tasks that must be completed to achieve the overall objective are: a) Estimate the spawning escapement of chinook salmon in North Fork Nehalem River (1998 – 2001) and the mainstem Nehalem River (2000 – 2002) such that the estimate is within ± 25% of the true value 95% of the time, and estimate age/sex specific proportions of that spawning escapement such that the estimate is within ± 5% of the true value 95% of the time. b) Estimate the sport harvest of chinook salmon in Nehalem River and Bay such that the estimate is within ± 25% of the true value 95% of the time, and estimate age/sex specific proportions of that harvest such that the estimates are within ± 5% of the true value 95% of the time. 2) Determine the appropriate spawner survey methodology that can be implemented at the aggregate level to estimate chinook spawner abundance in the other five Chinook production river systems in the NOC, by measuring several indexes of spawner abundance using ODFW’s standard spawning survey methods. 3) Estimate adult chinook salmon spawner distribution among mainstem and tributary spawning areas by radio telemetry (2000 and 2001 only).

Time Period of Content: 1998-2002

Geographic Extent: Nehalem River, Oregon

Status: Final

Use Constraints:

Format: PDF

Data Quality Information

Lineage-Source: Cumulative Progress Report for work conducted pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award Numbers: 1998-99; 1999-2000; 2000-2001: NA07FP0383; 2001–2002: NA17FP1280; and 2002–2003: NA17FP2458, and U.S. Section Chinook Technical Committee Project Numbers: N98-17, N98-16, C99-14, C00-10, C00-11, C00-13, N01-17, and C02-05.

Data Information

No data information was supplied.

Entity and Attribute Information

Attributes Description: Field attribute information is available in the attached file(s).

Is a physical copy maintained for reference at Headquarters? Unknown