Historical Population Structure of Pacific Salmonids in the Willamette River and Lower Columbia River Basins
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NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NWFSC-73 Historical Population Structure of Pacific Salmonids in the Willamette River and Lower Columbia River Basins February 2006 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS Series The Northwest Fisheries Science Center of the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, uses the NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS series to issue infor- mal scientific and technical publications when com- plete formal review and editorial processing are not appropriate or feasible due to time constraints. Docu- ments published in this series may be referenced in the scientific and technical literature. The NMFS-NWFSC Technical Memorandum series of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center continues the NMFS-F/NWC series established in 1970 by the Northwest & Alaska Fisheries Science Center, which has since been split into the Northwest Fisheries Science Center and the Alaska Fisheries Science Center. The NMFS-AFSC Technical Memorandum series is now being used by the Alaska Fisheries Science Center. Reference throughout this document to trade names does not imply endorsement by the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA. This document should be cited as follows: Myers, J., C. Busack, D. Rawding, A. Marshall, D. Teel, D.M. Van Doornik, and M.T. Maher. 2006. Historical population structure of Pacific salmonids in the Willamette River and lower Columbia River basins. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-73, 311 p. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NWFSC-73 Historical Population Structure of Pacific Salmonids in the Willamette River and Lower Columbia River Basins James Myers, Craig Busack1, Dan Rawding2, Anne Marshall1, David Teel, Donald M. Van Doornik, and Michael T. Maher Northwest Fisheries Science Center Conservation Biology Division 2725 Montlake Boulevard East Seattle, Washington 98112 1 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 600 Capitol Way North Olympia, Washington 98501 2 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Region 5 2108 Grand Boulevard Vancouver, Washington 98661 February 2006 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Carlos M. Gutierrez, Secretary National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr. USN (Ret), Administrator National Marine Fisheries Service William T. Hogarth, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries Most NOAA Technical Memorandums NMFS-NWFSC are available online at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center web site (http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov) Copies are also available from: National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, VA 22161 phone orders (1-800-553-6847) e-mail orders ([email protected]) ii Table of Contents List of Figures.............................................................................................................................................vii List of Tables .............................................................................................................................................xiii Executive Summary....................................................................................................................................xv Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................................xxiii Abbreviations and Acronyms ...................................................................................................................xxv Introduction...................................................................................................................................................1 Definition of a Population.........................................................................................................................1 Structure above the Population Level....................................................................................................2 Structure below the Population Level....................................................................................................2 Conceptual Approach to Identifying Populations .....................................................................................3 Geography .............................................................................................................................................3 Migration Rates .....................................................................................................................................3 Genetic Attributes..................................................................................................................................3 Patterns of Life History and Phenotypic Characteristics .......................................................................4 Population Dynamics.............................................................................................................................4 Environmental and Habitat Characteristics ...........................................................................................4 Identifying Historical Populations of Salmonids ......................................................................................5 Criteria for Identifying the Distribution of Historical Populations........................................................5 Geographic Template Criteria ...............................................................................................................6 Ecological Information ..........................................................................................................................9 Biological Data......................................................................................................................................9 Population Boundaries for Fish and Habitat ...........................................................................................13 Chinook Salmon..........................................................................................................................................15 Life History .............................................................................................................................................15 Juvenile Emigration.............................................................................................................................15 Ocean Distribution...............................................................................................................................20 Return Migration .................................................................................................................................20 Age at Maturation................................................................................................................................22 Lower Columbia River Chinook Salmon ESU Historical Independent Populations ..............................23 Coast Range Tributaries ......................................................................................................................23 Western Cascade Range Tributaries....................................................................................................35 Columbia Gorge Tributaries................................................................................................................44 Upper Willamette River Chinook Salmon ESU Historical Independent Populations.............................47 Steelhead.....................................................................................................................................................59 iii Life History .............................................................................................................................................59 Lower Columbia River Steelhead ESU Historically Independent Populations ......................................62 Western Cascade Range Tributaries....................................................................................................62 Columbia Gorge Tributaries................................................................................................................68 Upper Willamette River Steelhead ESU Historical Independent Populations........................................70 Coho Salmon...............................................................................................................................................75 Life History .............................................................................................................................................75 Introduced Populations above Willamette Falls......................................................................................79 Historical Populations above The Dalles ................................................................................................80 Lower Columbia River Coho Salmon Historical Populations ................................................................81 Coast Range Tributaries ......................................................................................................................81 Western Cascade Range Tributaries....................................................................................................85 Columbia Gorge Tributaries................................................................................................................93 Chum Salmon .............................................................................................................................................97