Evaluation of Juvenile Salmonid Outmigration and Survival in the Lower Umatilla River Basin; Annual Report 2009

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: Hanson, Josh T., Terra Lang Schultz and Richard W. Carmichael

Publish Date: September 2010

Online Link: None

BPA Project #: 1989-024-01

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: In 2009, 3,745 natural and 28,880 hatchery smolts were collected in the juvenile bypass facility at Three Mile Falls Dam (TMFD). A total of 2,876 PIT tagged juvenile salmon and steelhead and 104 adults were detected. Mean fork length at emigration for natural summer steelhead was 168 mm. Age at emigration was 29.9% age-1 and 70.1% age-2. Condition factor for steelhead smolts was poor (< 1.00) throughout the season and Neascus sp. (black spot), continued to be prevalent. Median emigration time to TMFD and John Day Dam (JDD) for natural summer steelhead occurred in the middle of May (5/14-5/20) compared to late May (5/21-5/27) at Bonneville Dam (BON) and early June (5/28-6/3) at the Columbia River Estuary. Abundance for natural origin summer steelhead was 33,883 ± 4,262 smolts. Survival from Meacham Creek to TMFD, TMFD to JDD, and JDD to BON for the 2009 outmigration year was 47%, 60%, and 38%; respectively. For brood year 2007, we estimated the production of 16 smolts-per-female for summer steelhead. Egg-to-smolt survival for summer steelhead in brood year 2007 was 0.3% and smolt-to-adult return for outmigration year 2007 was 5.4%. The number of spawning females and egg deposition appeared to be associated with the growth, age composition, and production of summer steelhead smolts, thus providing evidence for density dependent effects. Growth appeared to be better during the first rearing season when fish densities were low, leading to a higher composition of age-1 smolts and more smolts produced per spawning female. The downward trend observed in egg-to-smolt survival and correlation between summer low flows and egg-to-smolt survival suggest that smolt production and freshwater productivity of summer steelhead is limited by the quantity and quality of available freshwater habitat.

Purpose:

Time Period of Content: 2008-2009

Geographic Extent: Lower Umatilla River Basin

Status: Final

Use Constraints:

Format: PDF File

Data Quality Information

Lineage-Source:

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