A Compendium of Grande Ronde River and Imnaha River Basins Spring Chinook Salmon Spawning Ground Surveys Conducted from 1948 through 2003

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: Tranquilli, J. V., B. C. Jonasson, M. Keefe, R. W. Carmichael

Publish Date: 2004

Online Link: https://www.fws.gov/lsnakecomplan/Reports/ODFWreports.html

BPA Project #:

Contact Information

Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Name: Joseph Feldhaus

Job Position: Assistant Project Leader

Telephone: 541-962-3724

E-Mail Address: Joseph.Feldhaus@odfw.oregon.gov

Description

Abstract: A variety of methods have been used to estimate the number of spring/summer Chinook salmon returning to spawn in Northeast Oregon streams. However, little quantitative information has been available to fisheries biologists and studies to quantify total annual escapement have not been conducted. Techniques used to estimate spawning escapement were often not documented (Van Cleave and Ting 1960, Oregon Fish Commission, unpublished data; Smith 1975). While other estimates have formed the basis for compensating losses due to the construction of the lower Snake River dams and setting subbasin supplementation goals, the accuracy of these estimates is unknown (USACE 1975, Carmichael and Boyce 1987, ODFW 1990). As populations continue to decline, accurate historic and current escapement estimates are needed to set management goals for conservation, recovery, supplementation, harvest, and to monitor population health. Spawning populations of spring/summer Chinook salmon have been monitored in Northeast Oregon streams since 1948 by visually counting redds. The Oregon Fish Commission established early surveys and in 1961 the Oregon Game Commission also began surveys. The two agencies were merged into the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in 1975. In the past, time and budget limitations prevented fishery biologists from surveying entire streams. Redd counts, therefore, were limited to only a portion of the available spawning habitat on each stream termed the “index” area. The index area was chosen as the area most likely to provide a good sample (represent majority of spawning) of spawning escapement for a given stream. Lower Snake River Compensation Plan (LSRCP) ODFW- Eastern Oregon Fish Research (EOFR)

Purpose:

Time Period of Content: 1948-2003

Geographic Extent: Grande Ronde, Wallowa, and Imnaha River Basins

Status: Final

Use Constraints:

Format: pdf

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