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Migrational characteristics, biological observations, and relative survival of juvenile salmonids PDF

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Migrational Characteristics, Biological Observations, and Relative Survival of Juvenile Salmonids Entering the Columbia River Estuary Final Repott 1985 This report was funded by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), U.S. Department of Energy, as part of BPA's program to protect, mitigate, and enhance fish and wildlife affected by the development and operation of hydroelectric facilities on t.he Columbia River and its tributaries. The views in this report are the author's and do not necessarily represent the views of BPA. For copies of this report, write: Bonneville Power Administration Division of Fish and Wildlife Public Information Officer - PJ P.O. Box 3621 Portland, OR 97208 MIGRATIONAL CHARACTERIS TICS, BIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, AND RELATIVE SURVIVAL OF JUVENILE-SALMONIDS ENTERING THE COLUMBIA RIVER ESTUARY, 1966-1983 by Earl M. Dawley Richard D. Ledgerwood Theodore H. Blahm Carl W. Sims Joseph T. Durkin Richard A. Kirn Andris E. Rankis Gerald E. Monan and Frank J. Ossiander Final Report of Research Funded by Bonneville Power Administration U.S. Department of Energy Division of Fish and Wildlife P.O. Box 3621 Portland, Oregon 97208 Contract DE-Al79-84BP39652 and Coastal Zone and Estuarine Studies Division Northwest and Alaska Fisheries Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2725 Montlake Boulevard F.ast Seattle, Washing ton 98112 April 1986 CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION. • • . . • . • • . • . • . • • . • . . . . • . . GENERAL STUDY AREA. • • • . . . . • . • • . . • . • • . . • . • • • . • . SECTION I--FALL CHINOOK SALMON, 1966-1972 . • . . • . Introduction . • . • • • • • • . • . • • • • • . • . . • . • • • 1 4 7 7 Methods. • • • . • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • . • • • • . • • • 7 • • • . . Definition of Stocks. • . • . • • • • . • • • . • 9 Releases of Marked Hatchery Fish. • . . . • . • • • . • . 10 Results and Discussion • • • . • . . . • . . • . . . • • . • • • • • . • • • • . . . 10 Distribution. . • • • . • • • • . . • 10 . • Diel Movement Patterns. . • • • • . • • • . . . • 15 Migration Timing. . • . . . . • • • . • . . • • • • . . • 15 Rates of Downstream Movement. . • • . • . • • . • • • • . . • 21 Effect of Size at Release. • • . • . . . . • . • . • • • . 21 Effect of Release Location • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • 27 Effect of River Flow • • . • . • • • • . • • • • . • • • • 27 • • . . • • . • • . . • . 27 Size and Estuarine Residency. • . • Relative Survival of Hatchery Fall Chinook Salmon • • • • . . . 32 Conc lusions. . • • • • • • • . • . • • • • • • . • • . . 38 SECTION II--COHO SALMON, 1966-1971. • Introduction Methods. • • Results and Discussion • • • Annual and Monthly Catches. • . • . • . • • . • • • • • • • . 41 . . . . • . • • . • . • • • . . . • • . • • . . . . 41 • . • • • • • • . • . • • . • . . • • • • • • . • . 42 . • . • • • • . . • . . • . • • . . . 42 . • • . • • . . • . . • . • . . 42 Timing of Annual Migration. • . • • . • • . . . • • • . • . . . 42 Page • • 51 Rates of Movement. • • . . • . • • . ! • . . • • . . . • Variation in Hourly Seine Catches. . . • • . . . • . . . • • • . 58 • 58 Fish Length in Relation to Seaward Migration • • . • . • • • . 63 Conclusions . . • . • . . • • • • • • . . • • . • • . • • . • SECTION III--SALMONIDS, 1977-1983. • . . • . . • • • • • • . • • • . . 64 • • • • • . • . • • • • . 64 • • • Introduction. • • • • • • • Methods • . • • . • . . • • • • . • • • • . • • . • • . • • . 64 Sampling • . • . • . . • . . • • • . • • • • . • • . • • • • . . 64 Analysis . • . . . . . • • . . • . • • • . • • • . • • . 69 • • . • . . . 69 Relative Survival. . . . . . • . . . • Results and Discussion. Migrational Timing • . . . • . . . . • • . • • . • • . . . 70 . • . • • • . . . • . • . . . . • • . . 73 • 73 Spring and Summer Migration • . • • . • • . . • • Fall and Winter Migration . • • . . . . . • • . • • • • . • 73 Movement Rates . • . . • . • • • . • . . • • • • • . . • • • • . 79 Stocks Downstream from John Day Dam • • • • . • . . • . • • . 81 Stocks Upstream from John Day Dam . . . • • . . • • • • . . 86 Variability of Catch Diel Patterns • River Flow. • • • • • • Fish Size and Location of Sampling. . . . • . . . • • • . . . • • • . • • 89 . • • . . • • . • . • • • . • • • • . . 89 • • • • . . • • • • • 93 • • • • • • . • • . . • • • . • • . 96 . . • • . • • . • . • • . . .104 Replicate Groups of Marked Fish Relative Survival in Relation to Controlled Treatments • Fish Size • • • Transportation Past Dams. • • • • • . . • .106 . • . . . . . • • • • • • • . • . . • . • .106 . • • • • . • • . • • . • 111 Page Serial Releases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112 Stocks . . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120 Nutrition • • . . . • • • • • • . . . . . • • • • • .120 Rearing Density • • • • • • • • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120 Catch Rate Models for Subyearling Chinook Salmon • • . . . . . • 125 Survival of Subyearling Chinook Salmon to the Estuary • • • . . .129 Decreased Catches Related to the Eruption of Mount St. Helens • • 129 Characteristics of Wild Stocks. • • • • • . . . • • • • • • • .131 Timing, Size, and Catch Rates. • • • . . . . • • • • . . . . .131 Movement Rates • • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131 Conclusions. . . . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . .131 • • • . . . . . . .136 SECTION IV--ANCILLARY STUDIES . . . . Food Consumption of Juvenile Salmonids Captured at Jones Beach • • • 136 • • . . . • • . . . . .136 • • • • • • Introduction • • • . . . Methods • • . . . • • • • • • • • • • . . . • • . . . . . . . . .138 • • . . . . . . . • • • • . . . . .138 Stomach Fullness • • • . . . . . . . . . .139 Diet Composition and Overlap • • . . . . . .140 Proximate Analysis • • • • • • • • . . . . . Stomach Content Weight • • • • • • . . . . . . . . . . . . • • 140 Non-Feeding Juveniles 1979-81 and Some Effects from the Eruption of Mount St. Helens • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 141 Subyearling Chinook Salmon • • • • • • • • Yearling Chinook Salmon • • Coho Salmon. Steelhead • • . . . . . . . . . .141 . . . . . . . . . • • • • • • • .146 . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • • . . • • .149 Page Diet of Subyearling Chinook Salmon and Effects of the 1980 Eruption of Mount St. Helens • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Insecta . Crustacea • • . . . . . . .152 • 152 .152 Miscellaneous Prey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159 Geographical Differences. . . . . . . . . . • • • • • • • • .159 Feeding Characteristics of Juveniles Entering the Estuary • • • • • 159 Stomach Fullness Comparisons. • • • • • • . . . . . . . . . .159 Subyearling Chinook Salmon • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 159 Yearling Chinook Salmon • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 167 Coho Salmon. Steelhead • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • 171 Interspecific Comparisons. • • • • Effects of Time and Tide . • Diet Composition and Overlap. • • • • • • • • • • • • 175 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .175 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175 Proximate Analysis • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 179 Stomach Content Weight • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .179 Discussion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179 Compensation Mechanism for Low Food Availability • • • • • • • 184 Food Consumption Compared With Juveniles in Other Locations .184 Subyearling Chinook Salmon Yearling Chinook Salmon • • Coho Salmon and Steelhead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .184 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .186 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • 186 Food Consumption at Hatcheries • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 186 Interspecific Interaction • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 187 Conclusions • • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .187 Page Visceral Fat Content of Subyearling Chinook Salmon Captured at Jones Beach • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . . . . • • • .190 • • • • • . . • • • • • • • . . . . • • • • .190 Introduction . . • • . . . . • • • • . . . . . . .190 Methods. . . . . . . . . . • u • • • • • • • • • • • e • . . .190 Results. . . . . . . Conclusions. . . . • • . . . • • • . . . . • • • • • • . . .190 . . . . . . . .195 Catches of Non-Salmonids • • • • • . . . • • . . . • • • . . . . . • • . . • • • • . . .195 Introduction • • • • . . • • . . . . . • • . . .195 Results. • • • • . . . . . . . . SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .198 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • .200 LITERATURE CITED . . . . . . .201 . . . . . . • • . . • • • • • APPENDIX A--Uses of Estuarine Catch Data and Biological Samples or Observations collected for Related Research • • • • • • • • 215 . . . . APPENDIX B--Miscellaneous Tables Relating to Migration of Juvenile • • .224 • • • • • • • • Salmonids • • • • • • • INTRODUCTION Natural runs of salmonids in the Columbia River basin have decreased as a result of hydroelectric-dam development, poor land- and forestmanagement, and over-fishing (Raymond 1979; Netboy 1980). This has necessitated increased salmon culture to assure adequate numbers of returning adults. Hatcheries are now the primary source of salmon for the Columbia River; in the late 1970s, they annually produced about 100 mil lion fall chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; 21 million spring and summer chinook salmon; 3 0 mil lion coho salmon, O. kisutch; and 10 million steelhead, Salmo gairdneri. Even with hatchery production at this level, management agencies agree that, in general, salmonid harvests have deteriorated. Hatchery procedures and facilities are continually being modified to improve both the efficiency of production and the quality of juveniles produced. Initial efforts to evaluate changes in hatchery procedures were dependent upon adult contributions to the fishery and returns to the hatchery. Since salmonid survival depends on river, estuarine, and ocean habitats, the variations in adult return data are difficult to evaluate and unknown factors may overshadow the impacts of changes in hatchery culture techniques--a better system of evaluation was needed. From 19 6 6-1972, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Northwest and Alaska Fisheries Center, Coastal Zone and Estuarine Studies Division, developed and refined procedures for sampling juvenile salmon and steelhead entering the Columbia River estuary and ocean plume (Fig. 1). The sampling of hatchery f�sh at the terminus of their freshwater migration assisted ·in evaluati,ng hatchery production techniques and identifying migrational or behavioral characteristics that influence survival to and through the estuary. Because of a lack of funds, no samp ling was done from 1973 through 1976. From 1977 through 1983, the Northwest Regional Council and the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) funded the estuarine sampling program to provide assessment of salmonid outmigrations from wild stocks and from mitigation hatcheries experimenting with enhanced cultural procedures. The facilities or procedures implemented for safe juvenile salmonid passage at dams and through reservoirs were also evaluated. Extensive fish marking programs by state and federal fishery agencies provided the capability to assess migrational behavior and relative survival of identifiable hatchery and wild stocks. Fall chinook salmon (subyearlings), particularly, provided a consistent and thorough index because of inten�ive marking programs to assess contribution (Vreeland 1984). The Columbia River estuary sampling program was unique in attempting to estimate survival of different stocks and define various aspects of migratory behavior in a large river, with flows during the spring freshet Previous from 4 to 17 thousand cubic DEters per second (m 3 /second). knowledge of estuarine sampling for juvenile salmonids was limited to several small river systems and the evaluation of movement behavior, residence times, and feeding behavior, e.g., Chehalis River, Herrman 1971; Siuslaw River, Nicholas et al. 1979; Sixes River, Reimers 1973 and Bottom 1981; Nanaimo River, Healey 1980; and Yaquina River, Myers 1980. I During our initial research (1966-1972), various fishing methods (fyke, trawl, gill, and seine nets) were used at many locations throughout the estuary. Procedures and sites used from 1977-1980 and 1981-1983 were adopted from earlier work with the extension of sampling sites into marine waters adjacent to the mouth of the Columbia River. The speci fic objectives of the overall study with juvenile salmonids were as follows (objectives were expanded with time; Objectives 1-4 apply to research from 1966 through 1972, and Objectives 1-10 apply to research from 1977 through 1983): 1. Evaluate sampling equipment, develop procedures, and establish suitable sampling sites which could provide the recovery of representative samples of juvenile salmonid migrants from each fish stock passing through the estuary. 2. Document recovery dates for all marked fish, define migration timing for each species, and examine the di fferences between identifiable races and stocks in relation to biological, cultural, and migrational variables. Document movement rates between release and sampling sites and 3. evaluate effects from environmental and biological variables. 4. Examine diel movement patterns at Jones Beach. 5. Evaluate consistency of recovery percentages and determine the effects of river flow. 6. Provide capture percentages of marked groups to estimate relative survival of juvenile migrants in relation to: a. Fish production at mitigation hatcheries. b. Juvenile bypass systems at dams. c. Transportation programs. d. Fish size, release site, and date. e. Survival to adulthood. f. River flows and electrical power production. 7. Compare recovery data of marked wild fish to recovery data of hatchery stocks. 8. Examine stomach contents of tagged salmonids to determine the extent of inter- and intra-specific competition for food throughout the 1979-1983 migration period and relate stomach fullness to variables which may have affected feeding habits. Compare observed feeding rates to those of fish from other areas. 2

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