Robert H. Gray 00 160 and Dennis D. Dauble Freshwater Sciences Ecosystems Department Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories Richland, W ashingcon 993 5 2 Checklist and Relative Abundance of Fish Species from the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River Abstract A checklist of fish species collected in over 30 years of research is presented for the Columbia River adjoining the U.S. Energy Research and Development A<lminimation's Hanford Reserva­ tion (km 550-629), southcentral W as hington. Differences in species composition and relative abundance within the area are discussed. Introduction Several sources list fish species inhabiting various pares of the Columbia River system (Schultz and DeLa.cey, 1935; Schultz, 1936; Roebeck et. al., 1954; Davis et. al,., 1956; Miller, 1959; McPhail, 1967; Reimers and Bond, 1967; Eddy, 1969; Patten et. d., 1970). Although fisheries scientists have collected information on resident and anadromous fishes for over 30 years, little quantitative data have been published regarding the ma­ jority of species inhabiting the Columbia River adjoining the Energy Research and Development Administration's Hanford reservation in sourhcentral Washington. The Columbia River adjoins the Hanford reservation beginning about 10 km ( 6 miles ) north of Richland, Washington, between river kilometers (km) 5 50 and 629, and between river miles (rm) 343 and 393 ( Fig. 1). The Hanford reservation is a unique area because of its closure to the general public since 1942 by federal regu­ lations. Furthermore, it contains the last free-flowing stretch of the Columbia River remaining above Bonneville Dam. Mose early fishery investigations in the Hanford area were concerned with salmon­ ids in association with potential thermal, chemical and radiation impacts from the op­ eration of up to nine plutonium production reactors during World War II and until 1971. In recent years, assessment studies for future siring of nuclear power plants at Hanford have required extensive collections of all fish species. This article lists the fish fauna, relying mainly on data collected during 1973-1975 at two different Han­ ford locations. Less common species collected earlier by ocher workers from sites within the Hanford area are included to provide a composite list. Methods and Materials From April, 1973, to June, 1974, fish were sampled weekly between Columbia River km 605 and 613 (rm 378-383). In September, 1974, sampling began between km 557 and 566 (rm 348-354) and continued at intervals of about three weeks. After collection, species were identified by using standard taxonomic keys ( Schultz, 1936; 208 Northwest Science, Vol. 51 , No. 3, 1977 I< RI VER KI LO\!\ ETER 605 - 613 (RM 378 - 383) HANFORD RESERVATION RI VER KI LO'VI ETER ~ / 557 - 566 i)/ IRM 348 - 3541 . 0 10 km r,..-..--... C I ,, ... I I Figure 1. Location of the ERDA Hanford Reservation and fish sampling locations. Carl et. al., 1967; Eddy, 1969; Bond, 1973). Quesciorui.ble identifications were con­ firmed by taxonomists and fisheries biologists having extensive experience with Colum­ bia River fishes ( C. D. Becker and D. G. Warson, Battelle Northwest Laboratories; C. E. Bond, Oregon Seate University). To insure taxonomic consistency, selected specimens were preserved in 5 percent formalin and maintained in a reference collection. Several types of sampling gear and methods were used to suit various areas and to compensate for gear selectivity. Methods included : gill nets, trammel nets, beach seines, hoop nets, minnow traps, trotlines, elecrroshocker, various types of trawls, and hook and line. Some species were collected from the traveling screens of a water intake strucrnre at Columbia rm 380 ( Gray, Page, Wolf, and Schneider, 1975; Page, Gray, Fish Species from the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River 209 and Wolf, 1975). The resulting species list was derived from all the above methods. However, only gill nets, hoop nets, and beach seine collections provided relative abun­ dance data for one complete annual cycle at the two sampling sites. Gill nets were sec from shore into the river or were sec offshore perpendicular to the current in deeper waters, and were rocaced among various locations at each study area. Nees were about 2 m ( 6-8 ft.) deep and composed of panels of different mesh size ranging in 1.25 cm ( 0.5 in.) increments, from 1.25-10 cm ( 0.5-4 in.) square­ mesh. Nets varied in length from 7.5-37.5 m (25-125 ft.). Nee length was dependent on location and hydrological conditions of the river at the time of set. Gill nets were set in the afterncon and retrieved the next morning about 19 hours later. Hoop nets were usually sec for 1 w"eek periods, checked every 24-72 hours, and rotated among various locations. Hoop nets were composed of two 61 cm ( 24 in.) diameter tunnels, each 3 m ( 10 ft.) long and set in pairs so the mouth of one tunnel faced the mouth of the second. Each tunnel was supported by 6 hoops with throats attached on the first and third hoop. The two tunnels were connected with a lead, 61 cm ( 24 in.) high and 6 m ( 20 ft.) long. Mesh size of the throats, netting surround­ ing the hoops and connecting lead, was 1.2 5 cm ( 0.5 in.) square mesh. Beach seining was done at four locations on both sides of the river at each study site. Seining encompassed about 30 m ( 100 ft.) of shoreline at each location. The seine was 1.2 m ( 4 fr.) deep, 9 m (30 ft.) long and consisted of 0.32 ( Ys in.) mesh. Catch per unit effort ( C/UE) of fish collected by gill net, hoop net, and beach seine was calculated as follows: Gill net C/ UE was the average number of fish caught per overnight set ( about 19 hours) of 3 3 m (100 ft.) of net. Hoop nee C/UE was the average number of fish caught per 24 hours set. Beach seine C/UE was the average number of fish caught per beach seine haul. Results and Discussion Forry-three species of fish representing 13 families have been collected since 1943 in the Columbia River adjoining the Hanford Reservation (Table 1 ) . These include mainly resident, but also anadromous ( Clupeidae, Pecromyzoocidae, Salmonidae) forms. Thirty-seven species of fish representing 12 families were collected at river km 557-566 and 605-613 in 1973-75. Thirty-one species were collected ar km 605-613 and 34 species at km 557566. Differences in species lists between the up and downriver sires were attributable to the presence or absence of various species. Mottled sculpin ( C ottus bairdi), reticu­ late sculpin (C. perplexus) and leopard dace (Rhinichth')'s falcatus) were only collected at km 605-613. Mountain sucker ( Catos to mus platJrhpichus), smallmourh bass ( Mi­ cropterus dolomietti), largemouth bass (M. salmoides), black bullhead (lctalurtts melas), yellow bullhead (I. natalis), and walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) were only collected at km 5 5 7- 566. Differences between the two sites are somewhat relative. Fish move up and downriver and all species may be present at both sites at some time during the year. Ac the upriver site, resident redside shiner (Richardsonius balteatus), northern squaw­ fish (Ptychocheilus oregonensis), largescale sucker (Catostomus machrocheilus) and the anadromous chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) were caught in near equal numbers and collectively comprised 90 percent of rhe total catch. 210 Gray and Dauble TABLE 1. Composite list of fish species by family collected at Columbia River km 605-613 from March, 1973, through June, 1974; km 55 7-566 from September, 1974, through September, 1975, and elsewhere on the Hanford Reservation. , Other Sample Hanford Family Scientific Name Common Name Location Sires KM 605- KM 557- 613 566 Acipenseridae-Srurgeons Acipenser transmontanus White sturgeon X X Richardson Catostomidae-Sucker~ Catostomus columbianus Bridgelip sucker X X Eigenmann & Eigenmann C. macrocheilus Largescale sucker X X Girard C. plat')'rhynchus Mountain sucker X Cope Centrarchidae-Bass Lepomir gibbosus Pumpkinseed X X and Sunfish Linnaeus L. macrochiws Bluegill X X Rafinesque Microptems dolomieui Smallmourh bass X Lacepede M. salmoides Largemouth bass X Lacepede Pomoxis annularis White crappie Xl Rafinesque P. nigro1naculatus Black crappie X X Leseur Clupeidae-Herrings Alosa sapidi.ssima American shad X X Wilson Cottidae-Sculpins Cottur arper Prickly sculpin X X Richardson C. baird; Mottled sculpin X Girard C. beldingi Piute sculpin X X Eigenmann & Eigenmann C. perplexus Reticulate sculpin X Gilbert & Evermann C. rhothem Torrent sculpin X X Smith Cyprinidae-Minnows Acrocheilus alutaceur Chi!elmouth X X and Carps Agassiz & Pickering Cyprinus caTpio Carp X X Linnaeus M J!ocheilus caurinus Peamouth X X Richardson Ptychochei:us oregonensis Northern X X Richardson squawfish Rhinichthys cataractae Longnose dace X X Valenciennes R . /alcatus Leopard dace X Eigenmann & Eigenmann R. osculus Speckled dace X X Girard Richardsonius balteatus Redside shiner X X Richardson Tinca tinca Tench xi Linnaeus Fish Species from the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River 211 TABLE 1 ( Continued) Gadidae-Codfishes Lota Iota Burbot Xl,2,3 Linnaeus Gasterosteidae-Sticklebacks GasterostettS aculeattts Threes pine X X Linnaeus stickleback Ictaluridae-F reshwater Ictal11ms melas Black bullhead X Catfishes Rafinesque I. 11atalis Yellow ·bullhead X Leseur I. pnnctattts Channel catfish X X Rafinesque Percidae-Perches Perea fla vescens Yellow perch X X Mitchell Stizostedion vitre11m Walleye X Mitchell Percopsidae-T rou tperches Percopsis transmo11ta11a Sand Roller X X Ei genmann & Eigenmann Petromyzontidae-Lampreys E11 tosphe11us tridentatm Pacific lamprey X X Gairdner Lampetra ayresi River lamprey x2 · Gunther Salmonidae-Salmon, Corego1ms clupeaformis Lake Whitefish Xl trout, whitefish i\fi tchell 011corh·y11ch11s kisutch Coho salmon X X Walbaum 0 . nerka Sockeye salmon X X Walbaum 0 . tshawytscha Chinook salmon X X Walbaum Prosopium 1t'itliamso11i Mountain Girard Whitefish X X Salmo clarki Cutthroat trout xi Richardson S.