Intensively Monitored Watersheds: 2008 Fish Population Studies in the Hood Canal and Lower Columbia Stream Complexes
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
STATE OF WASHINGTON December 2009 Intensively Monitored Watersheds: 2008 Fish Population Studies in the Hood Canal and Lower Columbia Stream Complexes by Clayton Kinsel, Pat Hanratty, Mara Zimmerman, and Bryce Glaser, Steven Gray, Todd Hillson, Dan Rawding, Steven VanderPloeg Washington Department of FISH AND WILDLIFE Fish Program Science Division FPA 09-12 Intensively Monitored Watersheds: 2008 Fish Population Studies in the Hood Canal and Lower Columbia Stream Complexes Clayton Kinsel, Pat Hanratty, Mara Zimmerman and Bryce Glaser, Steven Gray, Todd Hillson, Dan Rawding, Steven VanderPloeg Fish Program Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife December 2009 Acknowledgements This work was funded by the Salmon Recovery Funding Board. Hood Canal Data for the Hood Canal IMW project were collected by an experienced crew of technicians led by Mat Gillum. Eric Kummerow, Scott Walker, and Karen Shields each brought their individual expertise, commitment, and enthusiasm to this project. They responded to the whim of the weather, tides, and fishing schedules and have intimate knowledge of the watersheds, the fish, and fishing seasons. All field staff put in long hours, often at night during inclement weather, to ensure that traps continued to fish and that fish were handled and sampled in a gentle and timely fashion. Pete Topping and Mike Ackley provided logistical support related to trap installation and removal and expertise in trap design and function. Kelly Kiyohara edited earlier versions of this report. Biologists from Weyerhauser and Washington Department of Ecology worked collaboratively to sample and mark coho parr. University of Washington has continuously provided access to the Big Beef property and research station since our long-term monitoring project began in 1978. Ryan Nauer and Ned Pittman (Habitat Program, WDFW) shared their knowledge of the watersheds and occasionally assisted with spawner surveys, parr surveys, and trap checks. Puget Sound Sampling Unit (WDFW) worked cooperatively to sample the Area 12 chum and coho fisheries. Data retrieved from fishery sampling are used to calculate harvest rates of Big Beef Creek coho. Thom Johnson (WDFW, Region 6 District Biologist) provided with fishing regulation information and assisted with ESA permitting. The Hood Canal IMW project would not be possible without the support of Hood Canal landowners who grant access to the creeks and tribal fishermen who cooperate with the harvest sampling efforts. Lower Columbia Juvenile migrant data were collected by Steve Wolthausen, Brad Allen, and Nathan Miller. Coho parr sampling was conducted by Steve Wolthausen and Clayton Kinsel. Coho spawner surveys were conducted by Steve Wolthausen, Brad Allen, Nathan Miller, and TJ Monaghan. Chinook spawner surveys were conducted by Jeff Fisher, Brad Swift, and Paul Lodholz. Steelhead spawner surveys were conducted by Kathy Mai, Lisa Rasmusan, Paul Lodholz, Sierra Franks, Nathan Woodard, Ann Stephenson, Paul Dunlap, and Josua Holowatz. Installation of the Abernathy weir and juvenile traps was completed with the assistance of Mike Ackley, Clayton Kinsel, and Pete Topping. Kelly Kiyohara edited earlier versions of the report. Biologists from Weyerhauser and Washington Department of Ecology worked collaboratively to sample and mark coho parr. John Holmes (USFWS) provided biological data from adult coho captures at the Abernathy Fish Technology Center weir. USFWS provided office space for field staff and storage space for trapping equipment. Access to the upper watershed of Germany Creek is provided by Sierra Pacific lumber company. The Lower Columbia IMW project would not be possible without the cooperation of local residents who grant access to the creeks. 2008 Intensively Monitored Watersheds Annual Report i 2008 Intensively Monitored Watersheds Annual Report ii Table of Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................. i List of Tables .......................................................................................................................................... v List of Figures ........................................................................................................................................ ix Chapter 1. Introduction to Intensively Monitored Watersheds Project ................................................. 1 Chapter 2. Hood Canal Stream Complex .............................................................................................. 3 Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................ 3 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 5 Hood Canal Parr Evaluation ............................................................................................................... 7 Hood Canal Smolt Evaluation .......................................................................................................... 11 Hood Canal Adult Evaluation .......................................................................................................... 23 Chapter 3. Lower Columbia stream complex ...................................................................................... 45 Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................... 45 Lower Columbia Parr Evaluation ..................................................................................................... 49 Lower Columbia Smolt Evaluation .................................................................................................. 55 Lower Columbia Adult Coho Evaluation ......................................................................................... 81 Lower Columbia Adult Chinook Evaluation .................................................................................... 97 Lower Columbia Adult Winter Steelhead Evaluation .................................................................... 121 References .......................................................................................................................................... 133 Appendix A ........................................................................................................................................ 139 Appendix B ......................................................................................................................................... 143 Appendix C ......................................................................................................................................... 145 Appendix D ........................................................................................................................................ 157 Appendix E ......................................................................................................................................... 159 Appendix F ......................................................................................................................................... 171 2008 Intensively Monitored Watersheds Annual Report iii 2008 Intensively Monitored Watersheds Annual Report iv List of Tables TABLE 2-1.─Coho and steelhead parr marked in Hood Canal IMW streams in 2008. Coho were marked with an adipose clip. Steelhead were marked with PIT tags. ......................... 9 TABLE 2-2.─Summer parr abundance and overwinter survival of coho in Hood Canal IMW streams (2006 brood year). Estimates are based on marked parr (n1, summer 2007), recaptures of marked smolts (m2, spring 2008), and total capture of smolts (n2, spring 2008). Mark and recapture information is used to estimate summer parr abundance (N) and overwinter survival (S). Variance, confidence intervals (C.I.), and coefficient of variation (C.V.) are reported for the abundance estimate. ............................................ 9 TABLE 2-3.─Summer parr abundance and overwinter survival for the 2006 brood year (BY) of coho compared to average values of the 2003, 2004, and 2005 brood years in Hood Canal IMW streams. ............................................................................................................. 10 TABLE 2-4.─Total catch of downstream migrant salmonids at Little Anderson, Big Beef, Seabeck, and Stavis creeks during spring 2008. ........................................................................ 13 TABLE 2-5.─Total estimated coho smolt production for the 2006 brood year (2008 outmigration year) in Little Anderson, Big Beef, Seabeck, and Stavis creeks. Big Beef Creek estimate includes catch at main-stem trap and FRI pond trap. Estimates before and after trapping are based on downstream migration timing averaged over four model years at Big Beef Creek (1980-1982, 1984). .............................................................. 13 TABLE 2-6.─Disposition of tagged and untagged coho smolts in Big Beef Creek, 2008. ............... 18 TABLE 2-7.─Summer parr abundance, overwinter survival, and smolt production for BY 2006 coho compared to average values (BY 2003, 2004, and 2005) in Hood Canal IMW streams. .................................................................................................................................... 20 TABLE 2-8.─Disposition of coho returning to Big Beef Creek weir, fall 2008. Unmarked and marked