The Status and Trend of Physical Habitat and Rearing Potential in Coho Bearing Streams in the Oregon Coastal Coho Evolutionary Significant Unit Report Number: OPSW-ODFW-2009-5

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: Anlauf, K.J., Jones K. and Stein, C.

Publish Date: July 2009

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: In 1997, the Oregon Coastal Restoration Initiative (OCSRI 1997) identified the quality of stream habitat as a potential factor influencing the decline of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in Oregon coastal streams. In 1998, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) implemented a monitoring program that utilized a random, spatially balanced survey design to provide statistically rigorous information on the status and trend of habitat conditions in Oregon coastal streams. In response to the ESA listing of coho salmon, the State of Oregon published a comprehensive review of aquatic habitat in the Oregon Coastal Coho Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU) in 2005 (Rodgers et al 2005). The NOAA Fisheries more recently published a request for additional information in the 2009 Federal Register notice (Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 81 / Wednesday, April 29, 2009). This report will serve as an update to Rodgers et al (2005), and will provide an analysis of the current status and trends in aquatic habitat from 1998 through 2008 within the Oregon Coastal Coho ESU. The status and trend of instream physical habitat conditions in the Oregon Coastal coho ESU were assessed from twelve variables collected by the ODFW habitat monitoring program from 1998-2008. Habitat conditions were described at the scale of the ESU, four monitoring areas/strata within the ESU, and by six land use categories (agriculture, urban, private non-industrial and industrial forest, and public state and federal forest). The condition of habitat was compared among monitoring areas and land use categories. In addition, the habitat condition at random survey sites was compared to that at sites experiencing minimal human disturbance (i.e. reference sites). Potential winter rearing capacity for juvenile coho salmon was calculated for all available habitat and for high quality habitat at the monitoring area scale and in selected population units. We calculated the rearing potential from high quality habitat because modeling (Nickelson and Lawson 1998) demonstrated that during periods of prolonged poor ocean survival, only areas with high quality habitat will be able to support coho at full seeding during poor marine conditions. The final objective of this report is to discuss whether sufficient habitat capacity exists to support productivity of juvenile coho at the monitoring strata scale during periods of low marine survival.

Purpose:

Time Period of Content:

Geographic Extent: Oregon Coastal Streams

Status: Final

Use Constraints:

Format: PDF File

Data Quality Information

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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? No