KOGRUKLUK RIVER WEIR SALMON STUDlES, 2002 By Kevin J. Clark and ( Douglas B. Molyneaux REGIONAL INFORMATION REPORT 1 NO. 3A03- II Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Commercial Fisheries Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Region 333 Raspberry Road Anchorage, Alaska 99518-1599 April 2003 I The Regional lnfomlation Report Series was established in 1987 to provide an information access system for all unpublished divisional reports. These reports frequently serve diverse and ad hoc informational purposes or archive basic uninterrupted data To accommodate timely reporting of recently collected infonnalion, reports in this series undergo only limited internal review and may contain preliminary data; this information may be subsequently finalized and published in the formal literature. Consequently, these repons should not be cited without prior approval ofthe author or the Division ofCommerciaJ Fisheries. AUTHORS Kevin J. Clark is a Fishery Biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Commercial Fisheries, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, AK 99518-1599; e-mail, kevin clark@,{ishgame.slale.ak.us. Douglas B. Molyneaux is the Kuskokwim Area Research Biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Commercial Fisheries, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, AK 99518­ 1599; [email protected]. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The success of the 2002 field season is attributed to the diligence and ability of the crew leader Chris Shelden and his crewmember Zach Fairbanks. Thanks also to other technicians who periodically assisted with operations including ADF&G technicians Heidi Alexie and Dave Turbovsky, Orutsararmuit Native Council technician Alexie Berlin, and Association of Village Council Presidents student intern Janet Bavilla. Larry DuBois analyzed the age, sex, and length data collected at the project and Doug Bue assisted with critical logistical support for the project. Susan McNeil and Anica Estes provided draft review of this report. Special thanks goes to Evan and Ignatti Ignatti for their continued support ofthis project and the field crew. Funding for this project was provided primarily by the State of Alaska. Additional support was provided through a grant from the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, which was administered by the Bering Sea Fishennen's Association (grant # E0044 1023), and grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (grant # NA96FMO 196). The continued support of these funding groups is greatly appreciated. OEOIADA STATEMENT The Alaska Department of Fish and Game administers all programs and activities free from discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, or disability. The department administers all programs and activities in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility, or if you desire further information please write to ADF&G, P.O. Box 25526, Juneau, AK 99802-5526; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 300 Webb, Arlington, VA 22203; or O.E.O., U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington DC 20240. For further infonnation, please contact the department ADA Coordinator at (voice) 907-465-4120, (TDD) 907-465-3646, or (FAX) 907-465-2440. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES v LIST OF FIGURES vi LIST OF APPENDICES vii ABSTRACT viii INTRODUCTION 1 Objectives 2 Background .3 METHODS .4 Study Area .4 Weir Design and Operation .4 Weir Design .4 Weir Maintenance 5 Boat Passage 5 Counting Schedule _ 5 Fish Passage 5 Estimating Missed Salmon Passage 5 Salmon Age-Sex-Length Composition 6 ASL Sanlpling 7 Estimating ASL Composition ofEscapement 7 Mark-Recapture Tag Recovery 8 Climatological and Hydrological Monitoring 9 RESULTS 10 Weir Operations 10 Fish Passage 10 Chinook Salmon J0 Chum Salmon 10 Sockeye Salmon 10 Coho Salmon 11 Pink Salmon 11 Age-Sex-Length Data 11 Chinook Salmon 11 Chum Salmon 11 Coho Salmon J2 III TABLE OF CO TENTS (Continued) Mark-Recapture Tag Recovery 12 Mainstem Kuskokwim River Chum and Coho Salmon Mark-Recapture Study 12 Radio Telemetry Mark-Recapture Study 13 Climatological and Hydrological Conditions 13 DISCUSSION 14 Weir Operations 14 Fish Passage 14 Chinook Salmon 14 Chum Salmon 15 Sockeye Salmon 16 Coho Salmon 17 Salmon Age-Sex-Length Composition 18 Chinook Salmon 18 Chum Salmon 19 Coho Salmon 20 Mark-Recapture Tag Recovery 20 Chum Salmon 20 Coho Salmon 21 Climatological and Hydrological Monitoring 21 RECOMMENDAnONS 22 LITERATURE CITED 24 TABLES 27 FIGURES 39 APPENDIX 52 IV LIST OF TABLES I. Actual daily and estimated totals ofchinook, sockeye, chum and coho salmon at the Kogrukluk River weir, 2002 28 2. Age and sex ofchinook salmon at the Kogrukluk River weir based on escapement samples collected with a fish trap, 2002 .30 3. Mean length (mm) ofchinook salmon at the Kogrukluk River weir based on escapement san1ples collected with a fish trap, 2002 .31 4. Age and sex ofchum salmon at the Kogrukluk River weir based on escapement samples collected with a fish trap, 2002 .32 5. Mean length (mm) ofchum salmon at the Kogrukluk River weir based on escapement samples collected with a fish trap, 2002 .33 6. Age and sex ofcoho salmon at the Kogrukluk River weir based on escapement samples collected with a fish trap, 2002 .35 7. Mean length (mm) ofcoho salmon at the Kogrukluk River weir based on escapement samples collected with a fish trap, 2002 .36 8. Historic salmon escapements for selected tributaries ofthe Kuskokwim River. .37 9. Daily mortality counts for chinook, sockeye, and chum salmon at the Kogrukluk River weir, 2002 .38 v LIST OF FIGURES I. Kuskokwim Area salmon management districts and escapement monitoring projects 40 2. Schematic ofthe Kogrukluk River weir and camp site 41 3. Mean length by date, age and sex for trap caught chum salmon at the Kogrukluk River weir, 2002 .42 4. Historical chinook and chum salmon escapement with sustainable escapement goals (SEGs) at the Kogrukluk River weir 43 5. CumuLative upstream passage (%) and downstream carcass passage (%) by species at the Kogrukluk River weir, 2002 .44 6. Chum salmon captured at Kalskag and Aniak, by date, compared to chum almon recovered at the Kogrukluk River weir, by date tagged, 2002 45 7. Historical sockeye and coho salmon escapement with sustainable escapement goals (SEGs) at the Kogrukluk River weir .46 8. Observed and recaptured tagged chum salmon compared to daily and cumulative percent passage at the Kogrukluk River, 2002 47 9. Observed and recaptured tagged coho salmon compared to daily and cumulative percent passage at the Kogrukluk River, 2002 48 10. Coho salmon captured at Kalskag and Aniak, by date, compared to coho salmon recovered at the Kogrukluk River weir, by date tagged, 2002 .49 II. Daily chinook, chum, sockeye and coho salmon passage at the Kogrukl uk River weir relative to water level, 2002 50 12. Daily chinook, chum and coho passage at the Kogrukluk River weir relative to daily water temperature, 2002 51 vi LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix Page APPENDIX A: INFORMATIONAL SUMMARY FROM RECOVERED TAGGED SALMON 52 A.I. Information summary for recovered tagged churn salmon recovered at the Kogrukluk River weir, 2002 53 A.2. Information summary for recovered tagged coho salmon recovered at the Kogrukluk River weir, 2002 55 APPENDIX B: CLIMATE INFORMATION FOR THE KOGRUKLUK RIVER WEIR 60 B. Daily climate data collected at the Kogrukluk River weir, 2002 61 APPENDIX C: HISTORICAL SALMON PASSAGE AT THE KOGRUKLUK RIVER WEIR 65 C.l. Factor table for historical salmon escapement estimates, Kogrukluk River 1976-2002 66 C.2. Historical chinook salmon passage at the Kogrukluk River weir. 67 C.3. Historical churn salmon passage at the Kogrukluk River weir. 73 CA. Historical sockeye salmon passage at the Kogrukluk River weir 79 C.5. Historical coho salmon passage at the Kogrukluk River weir. 85 VII ABSTRACT The Holitna River is a major sub-basin ofthe Kuskokwim River drainage and is perhaps the largest salmon-producing tributary of the drainage. In 1976, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game established a weir on the Kogrukluk River, the main branch of the Holitna River. The weir site is located approximately 750 km from the mouth of the Kuskokwim River. In 2002, the weir was operational from 26 June to 24 September. Estimated total annual chinook salmon escapement of 10, I04 fish, was above the established sustainable escapement goal (SEG) of 10,000 fish. Total annual chum salmon escapement of 51,570 fish was above the established SEG of 30,000 fish. Total annual sockeye salmon escapement of 4,050 fish was below the recent 10-year average of about 9,000 fish. Total aJU1ual coho salmon escapement of 14,517 fish was below the established SEG of25,000 fish. The age, sex and length (ASL) composition ofthe total annual chinook, chum and coho salmon escapements were estimated and carcass washout rate and timing by species was monitored. Variability in stream hydrological and meteorological conditions was recorded for potential environmental effects on salmon production and timing. The crew collected information in association with three mark-and-recapture projects, one operated on the lower Holitna River and two projects conducted on the mainstem Kuskokwin1 Rivers. KEY WORDS: Holitna River, Kuskokwim River, weir, chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, chum salmon, coho salmon, recapture Vlll INTRODUCTION Holitna River sub-basin is possibly the largest salmon-producing tributary of the Kuskokwim River drainage. Salmon escapements in the Holitna River have been documented since 1961 (Schneiderhan 1983, Burkey 1994), when the first aerial survey was conducted. Importance of the Holitna River as a salmon producer and the necessity to closely monitor salmon escapement motivated the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) to establish a weir on the Kogrukluk River, a tributary ofthe Holitna River, in 1976 (Baxter 1976; Figure I).