Escapements of Chinook Salmon in Southeast Alaska and Transboundary Rivers in 1994
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Fishery Data Series No. 95-35 Escapements of Chinook Salmon in Southeast Alaska and Transboundary Rivers in 1994 bY Keith A. Pahlke November 1995 Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Sport Fish FISHERY DATA SERIES NO. 95-35 ESCAPEMENTS OF CHINOOK SALMON IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA AND TRANSBOUNDARY RIVERS IN 1994 Keith A. Pahlke Division of Sport Fish, Douglas Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Sport Fish, Research and Technical Services 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, Alaska, 995 18-1599 November 1995 The Fishery Data Series was established in 1987 for the publication of technically oriented results for a single project or group of closely related projects. Fishery Data Series reports are intended for fishery and other technical professionals. Distribution is to state and local publication distribution centers, libraries and individuals and, on request, to other libraries, agencies, and individuals. This publication has undergone editorial and peer review. Keith A. Pahlke Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish P. 0. Box 240020, Douglas, AK 99824-0020, USA This document should be cited as: Pahlke, Keith A. 1995. Escapement of chinook salmon in Southeast Alaska and Transboundaty Rivers in 1994. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No. 9.5-3.5,Anchorage. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game administers all programs and activities free from discrimination on the basis of sex, color, race, religion, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, or disability. For information on alternative formats available for this and other department publications, contact the department ADA Coordinator at (voice) 907-465-4120, or (TDD) 907-465-3646. Any person who believes s/he has been discriminated against should write to: ADF&G, P.O. Box 25526, Juneau, AK 99802-5526; or O.E.O., U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................................................................ ii LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................................... iv ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................................... 1 Description of study sites. ......................................................................................................................................... 2 METHODS.. .................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Indices of escapement.. ............................................................................................................................................. 5 RESULTS ...................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Taku River ................................................................................................................................................................ I Stikine River ............................................................................................................................................................. 7 Andrew Creek.. ....................................................................................................................................................... 12 Alsek River.. ........................................................................................................................................................... 12 Unuk River ............................................................................................................................................................. .16 Chickamin River.. ................................................................................................................................................... 19 Blossom River.. ....................................................................................................................................................... 2 1 Keta River.. ............................................................................................................................................................. 2 1 Marten and Wilson rivers.. ...................................................................................................................................... 2 1 King Salmon River ................................................................................................................................................. 23 Situk River.. ............................................................................................................................................................ 23 Chilkat River.. ......................................................................................................................................................... 23 DISCUSSION.. ............................................................................................................................................................ 23 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................................................................................................... 27 LITERATURE CITED ................................................................................................................................................ 27 APPENDIX A .............................................................................................................................................................. 29 LIST OF TABLES 1. Estimated escapement of chinook salmon to Southeast Alaska and transboundary rivers in 1994.. ............ 8 2. Counts of spawning chinook salmon in index areas of the Taku River, 195 1-1994 ..................................... 9 3. Distribution of spawning chinook salmon among index areas of the Taku River during years when all index areas were surveyed.. ..................................................................................................................... 10 4. Counts of spawning chinook salmon in index areas of the Stikine River, 1956-l 994 ................................ 11 5. Comparison of aerial survey counts of chinook salmon to counts at the Little Tahltan River weir on the same date, and final count of escapement through the weir, 1985-l 994 ............................................... 12 6. Counts of spawning chinook salmon in Andrew Creek, 1956-1994.. ......................................................... 13 7. Escapement of chinook salmon to the Klukshu River and counts of spawning adults in other tributaries of the Alsek River, 1962-l 994 ................................................................................................... 15 8. Peak escapement counts of chinook salmon to index areas of the Unuk River, 1960-l 994 ........................ 17 9. Distribution of spawning chinook salmon among index areas of the Unuk River for years when all index areas were surveyed ............................................................................................................................ 18 10. Counts of chinook salmon in index areas of the Chickamin River, 1960-l 994 ........................................... 19 11. Distribution of spawning chinook salmon into index areas of the Chickamin River for years when all index areas were surveyed.. ...................................................................................................................... 20 12. Counts of chinook salmon for selected rivers in Behm Canal, 1948-1994 ................................................. 22 13. Peak escapement counts and weir counts of chinook salmon for the King Salmon River, 1957-1994 ....... 24 14. Harvest, escapement, and minimum total run of Situk River chinook salmon, 1984-l 994 ......................... 26 LIST OF FIGURES 1. Map showing location of chinook salmon systems in Southeast Alaska, Yakutat, and transboundary rivers.. ................................................................................................................................... 3 2. Estimated total escapement of large chinook salmon to transboundary Southeast Alaska rivers, 1975-1994.. ..................................................................................................................................................... 8 3. Counts of chinook salmon in index areas of the Taku River, 1975-1994.. .................................................. 10 4. Counts of chinook salmon at the Little Tahltan River weir, Stikine River, 1975-l 994.. ............................ 12 5. Counts of chinook salmon at the Andrew Creek weir and in aerial surveys, 1975-1994 ........................... 14 6. Escapement of chinook salmon to the Klukshu River tributary ofthe Alsek River, 1975-1994 ................ 14 7. Counts of large chinook salmon in index areas of the Unuk River, 1975-1994 ........................................