Spring Chinook Salmon in the Willamette and Sandy Rivers, Progress Reports 2002, F-163-R-07

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: Schroeder, R.K., K.R. Kenaston, R.B. Lindsay

Publish Date: 2002

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 Willamette and Sandy rivers support intense recreational fisheries for spring chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Fisheries in these basins rely primarily on annual hatchery releases of 5–8 million juveniles. Hatchery programs exist in the McKenzie, Middle Fork Willamette, North and South Santiam, Clackamas, and Sandy rivers mainly as mitigation for dams that blocked natural production areas. Some natural spawning occurs in most of the major basins and a few smaller tributaries upstream of Willamette Falls. The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted the Wild Fish Management Policy to reduce adverse impacts of hatchery programs on wild native stocks (ODFW 1992a). The main goal of the policy is to protect the genetic diversity of these stocks recognizing that genetic resources are a major component, not only in sustaining wild stocks, but also in perpetuating hatchery programs and the fisheries they support. In the past, hatchery programs and fish passage issues were the focus of spring chinook salmon management in the Willamette and Sandy basins. Limited information was collected on the genetic structure among basin populations, on abundance and distribution of natural spawning, on rearing and migrating of juvenile salmon, or on strategies for reducing risks that large hatchery programs pose for wild salmon populations. This study is being implemented to gather this information. A schematic of the study plan is shown in APPENDIX A. We conducted work in the main-stem Willamette River at Willamette Falls, and in the Middle Fork Willamette, McKenzie, North Santiam, South Santiam, Molalla, Clackamas, and Sandy rivers in 2002. Basin descriptions and background information on management and fish runs can be found in subbasin plans developed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW 1988, ODFW 1992b, ODFW 1992c, and ODFW 1996). Task headings below cross reference the study plan outlined in APPENDIX A. This report covers tasks that were worked on in late 2001 through early fall 2002.

Purpose:

Time Period of Content: 1996-2002

Geographic Extent: Willamette, McKenzie, Santiam, Clackamas, Molalla, Sandy Rivers

Status: Final

Use Constraints:

Format: PDF File

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Is a physical copy maintained for reference at Headquarters? Yes