Investigations Into The Life History Of Naturally Produced Spring Chinook Salmon and Summer Steelhead In The Grande Ronde River Subbasin - BPA Annual Report 2016

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: Jonasson, B. C., E. R. Sedell, A. B. Garner, C. Horn, K. L. Bliesner, E. N. Branigan, O. C. Davis, J. W. Dowdy, S. D. Favrot, G. A. McMichael, B. C. Power, S. K. Tattam, T. J. Warner, J. R. Ruzycki

Publish Date: 2017

Online Link: https://www.cbfish.org/Document.mvc/Viewer/P154645

BPA Project #: 1992-026-04

Contact Information

Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Name: Edwin (Ted) Sedell

Job Position: Project Leader

Telephone: 541-962-3954

E-Mail Address: Edwin.R.Sedell@odfw.oregon.gov

Description

Abstract: A partial goal of this project is to investigate the critical habitat, abundance, migration patterns, survival, and alternate life history strategies exhibited by spring Chinook salmon and summer steelhead juveniles from distinct populations in the Grande Ronde River and Imnaha River subbasins. The project will provide information on abundance of spring Chinook salmon and steelhead parr, estimates for egg-to-migrant survival for spring Chinook salmon and migrant survival for steelhead, estimate the Viable Salmonid Population (VSP) Indicator smolts per spawner for four populations of spring Chinook salmon, and assess stream conditions in selected study streams. This study provides a means for long term monitoring of juvenile salmonid production in the Grande Ronde and Imnaha River subbasins that is essential for assessing the success of restoration and enhancement efforts including hatchery supplementation and habitat improvement. As hatchery supplementation of spring Chinook salmon continues in the Grande Ronde Subbasin, we will monitor abundance of migrants, life history characteristics, and survival to various life stages to provide data to the Lower Snake River Compensation Plan - Oregon Evaluation project to determine the effectiveness of this management action. Another goal of the project is to annually evaluate summer steelhead population abundance for the Upper Grande Ronde River, and recently Joseph Creek, by conducting surveys of redds and spawning activity. These surveys provide those data needed to estimate adult steelhead escapement, improve our understanding of habitat utilization, and contribute to productivity and survival estimates for these populations.ODFW, Eastern Oregon Fish Research (EOFR)

Purpose: 1. Document the in-basin migration patterns and estimate abundance of spring Chinook salmon juveniles in Catherine Creek and the upper Grande Ronde, Minam, and Lostine rivers. 2. Determine overwinter mortality and the relative success of fall (early) migrant and spring (late) migrant life history strategies for spring Chinook salmon from tributary populations in Catherine Creek and the upper Grande Ronde, and Lostine rivers, and the relative success of fall (early) migrant and spring (late) migrant life history strategies for spring Chinook salmon from the Minam River. 3. Estimate and compare smolt survival probabilities at main stem Columbia and Snake River dams for migrants from five local, natural populations of spring Chinook salmon in the Grande Ronde River and Imnaha River subbasins. 4. Document the annual migration patterns for spring Chinook salmon juveniles from five local, natural populations in the Grande Ronde River and Imnaha River subbasins: Catherine Creek, Upper Grande Ronde, Lostine, Minam, and Imnaha rivers. 5. Document patterns of movement and estimate abundance of juvenile steelhead from tributary populations in Catherine Creek, the upper Grande Ronde, Lostine and the Minam rivers including migration timing, and duration. 6. Estimate and compare survival probabilities to main stem Columbia and Snake River dams for summer steelhead from four tributary populations: Catherine Creek and the upper Grande Ronde, Lostine, and Minam rivers. 7. Describe aquatic habitat conditions, using water temperature and discharge, in Catherine Creek and the upper Grande Ronde, Lostine, and Minam rivers. 8. Document and describe overwinter rearing reaches in the Grande Ronde Valley of Chinook salmon early migrants from Catherine Creek. 9. Estimate reach survival through the Grande Ronde Valley of Chinook salmon migrants from Catherine Creek. 10. Estimate adult steelhead escapement to the Upper Grande Ronde and Joseph Creek populations. 11. Estimate density and distribution of steelhead parr from the Upper Grande Ronde population and Chinook salmon parr from the Upper Grande Ronde and Catherine Creek populations.

Time Period of Content: 2016

Geographic Extent: Grande Ronde River basin

Status: Final

Use Constraints:

Format: pdf

Data Quality Information

Lineage-Source:

Data Information

Population	Indicators	Metrics
Catherine Creek Spring Chinook	Juvenile outmigrant abundance; Presmolt abundance	Age proportion; Survival rate; Total smolt outmigration
Joseph Creek Summer Steelhead	None selected	Total spawner abundance
Minam River Spring Chinook	Juvenile outmigrant abundance; Presmolt abundance; Recruits per spawner (juvenile)	Age proportion; Survival rate; Total smolt outmigration
Upper Grande Ronde Spring Chinook	Juvenile outmigrant abundance; Presmolt abundance; Recruits per spawner (juvenile)	Age proportion; Survival rate; Total smolt outmigration
Upper Grande Ronde Summer Steelhead	None selected	Survival rate; Total spawner abundance
Wallowa/Lostine River Spring Chinook	Juvenile outmigrant abundance; Recruits per spawner (juvenile)	Age proportion; Survival rate; Total smolt outmigration

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