COHO SALMON: LIFE IN THE WATERSHED Coho salmon have been Oregon attempt to recover the most important variety Oregon coho according to of salmon caught com- a plan developed by state mercially in Oregon. Until agencies, working with lo- recently, coho were also the cal groups. The goal of the most common variety in Oregon Plan is not merely most coastal streams. Based to prevent the extinction of on records from salmon coho salmon in the coastal canneries, coho in Oregon region, but to restore salmon north of Cape Blanco (near populations. Port Orford) numbered Efforts to restore salmon about 1.25 million adults must focus on improving annually 100 years ago. the fish’s habitat in the During recent years, the watersheds it lives in, along annual production of wild with addressing other fac- coastal coho in Oregon tors of its decline, such as has been dramatically less, harvest and hatchery effects around 50,000 to 80,000 on the species. fish—a 90 percent decline. Coastal residents have Given this decline, the a critical role to play in National Marine Fisheries improving fish habitat in Service (NMFS) consid- watersheds. Improving ered listing two groups of watersheds can not only coastal coho in Oregon as help prevent the extinction threatened under the Federal of species, but also provide Endangered Species Act. benefits to individuals and In April 1997 the agency communities in terms of decided to list a population enhanced water quality and of coho that spans the Ore- quantity. gon-California border, from This publication is Cape Blanco south to Punta designed to help readers Gorda. Meanwhile NMFS understand the fundamental- placed the population north ly important how, when, and of Cape Blanco to the Co- where coho salmon live in lumbia River on a “candi- watersheds and what people date list” and agreed to let can do to help. The Oregon coast’s most important producers of wild coho salmon are the Nehalem, Nestucca, Siletz, Alsea, Siuslaw, Umpqua, Coos, Coquille, and Rogue Rivers; Tillamook Bay tributaries; and Silt- coos, Tahkenitch, and Tenmile Lakes (on the central coast). © 1999 by Oregon Sea Grant, Oregon State University This publication may be photocopied or reprinted in its entirety for noncommercial purposes. A watershed is the land stream habitats for coho area onto which rain or salmon. It’s a fact: we all We Live in Watersheds . snow falls and is stored live in a watershed—not and from which this wa- only people, but the salmon ter drains over time. The and other animal and plant drainage occurs through species, too. a river to a single point, No single picture can such as a lake or the ocean. convey the understanding The boundaries of a water- that a stream is an ev- shed are the ridgelines that er-changing ecosystem that separate it from neighboring reflects the condition of the watersheds. watershed around it. The From the ridgetops to the stream and riparian (stream- water body, the watershed side) areas are especially drains all land areas. These dynamic, shaped by such areas are connected. We disturbances as fire and know that actions and con- windthrow, channel erosion, sequences are connected in peak flows, floods, and de- a watershed: what happens bris flows. Such natural dis- upslope and upstream even- turbances are a normal part tually comes down. of a stream’s existence and Functioning watersheds help create the conditions are important to us and to and habitats that salmon and fish. We’ve come to depend other species have adapted on them for timber, for to over evolutionary time. suitable land for farming However, human activities and grazing, and for drink- that modify the watershed ing and irrigation water. and stream channel can The land areas that people exaggerate the effects of manage provide large wood, natural disturbances, with boulders, gravel, shade, detrimental results. and food that build healthy life history 1 Adult coho migrate into freshwater in the fall to spawn, usually to the stream they themselves were born in. Spawners are typically three years old and weigh 4 to 12 pounds. Spawning usually occurs from mid-November through Febru- ary. Females create nests in the gravel, called “redds,” where they deposit their eggs. The gravel needs to be clean and range in size from a pea to an orange. Coho prefer to spawn and rear in small, relatively flat streams. 2 The eggs hatch in about 35 to 50 days. Juveniles emerge as “fry” in the spring and spend one summer and one winter in freshwater. Because they are small, they seek wetlands, off-channel ponds, and slackwater areas in pools to survive swift currents during the winter. Cool water is required for rearing (53–58°F is preferred; 68°F is maximum). Habitat complexity, primarily in the form of large and small wood, is an important element of productive coho salmon streams. and coho Live in Watersheds Illustration © 1999 by Barbara B. Gleason 3 In the spring, about a year after their emergence, juveniles 4 Coho remaining at sea over the second winter feed vora- migrate to the ocean as silvery “smolts.” ciously during the next spring and summer. Smolts are four to five inches long and can survive in salt- Adults grow to about 23 to 33 inches in length. water. The smolts grow rapidly in the ocean. In the fall, coho that escape predators, fishers, and natural Little is known about where coho from Oregon coastal calamities return to their home streams or neighboring streams migrate. streams. After the first summer in the ocean, a small proportion of After spawning, coho die and, if left to decay in the the males become sexually mature and return to spawn as rivers, contribute nutrients to support the next generation of “jacks.” coho. More about Salmon Field Guide to the Pacific Salmon. Robert Steelquist. Seattle: Sasquatch Books, 1992. 64 pages. Partial pro- ceeds from the guide’s sale ($5.95) go to the Adopt-A- Stream Foundation. Pacific Salmon Life Histo- Illustration © 1999 by Barbara B. Gleason ries. C. Groot and L. Mar- golis, editors. Vancouver, Adult coho are distinguished from other Pacific salmon by the presence of small, black spots on B.C.: University of British their backs and the upper lobe of their tails. Columbia Press, 1991. 608 pages. The standard ref- package for watershed . erence work, available in Practices Notes Series awareness. Available from Oregon Organizations, larger libraries. Department of Forestry, Institutions, Oregon Department of Fish Forest Practices Section, & Wildlife publications are more about 2600 State Street, Salem, and Programs available from the depart- Watersheds OR 97310. Free. To order, You can obtain additional ment’s Information Services call 503-945-7470. information about salmon office: 2501 SW First Ave., A Watershed Assessment and watersheds by directly . F. D. Euphrat The Return of the Salm- Portland, OR 97207; 503- Primer contacting organizations, 872-5264, ext. 5366. All and B. P. Warkentin. U.S. on—Restoring the Fish to Rivers and Watersheds. institutions, and programs. A listed below, except Stream Environmental Protection Thirty-minute video pro- sampling is presented below. Scene curriculum, are free: Agency, 1994. 270 pages. Available from USEPA, duced by Oregon Sea Grant. Oregon’s Migratory Fish Sea Grant Communications, Adopt-A-Stream Foundation Species. Leaflet. Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, EXA-124, Seattle, A402 Kerr Administration, 600 128th St. SE Oregon’s Threatened and WA 98101, or call 206- Oregon State University, Everett, WA 98208 Endangered Species. Leaf- 553-1200. (Document EPA Corvallis, OR 97331. $30. 425-316-8592 let. 910/B-94-005.) Free (if in To order, call 1-800-375- Fish Restoration and 9360. Stream Care. A Salmon/ stock). Enhancement Program Trout Enhancement Pro- The Streamkeeper’s Field Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Healing the Watershed PO Box 59 gram (STEP) publication. workbook series. Includes A Guide: Watershed Invento- ry and Stream Monitoring Portland, OR 97207 ODFW “Backgrounders”: Guide to the Restoration of 503-872-5252, ext. 5429 Watersheds and Native Fish Methods. Thomas Murdoch, • Coho Salmon in the Pacific Northwest and Martha Cheo, and Kate For the Sake of the Salmon A Citizen’s Guide to Fund- O’Laughlin. Adopt-A- 319 SW Washington Ste. 706 • Oregon’s Coastal Salmon Stream Foundation, 600 and Trout ing Watershed and Wild Portland, OR 97204 Salmon Recovery Programs. 128th St. SE, Everett, WA 503-223-8511 • Oregon’s Wild Fish Man- The Pacific Rivers Council, 98208. 310 pages. $29.95 + Fax 503-223-8544 agement Policy Inc. Available from Pacific shipping. To order, call 425- www.4sos.org/ 316-8592. • Instream Water Rights Rivers Council, P.O. Box Oregon Sea Grant: 10798, Eugene OR 97440. Extension Sea Grant Program • Fish Screening $15 per book. To order, call Hatfield Marine Science Center • The Stream Scene: Wa- 541-345-0119. 2030 S. Marine Science Dr. tersheds, Wildlife and A Guide to Placing Large Newport, OR 97365 People. 500 pages. Call Wood in Streams and Forest 541-867-0368 for price. A curriculum seagrant.orst.edu © 1999 by Oregon Sea Grant, Oregon State University This publication may be photocopied or reprinted in its entirety for noncommercial purposes. Oregon State University Extension Service Publication Orders Extension & Station Communications OSU 422 Kerr Administration Corvallis, OR 97331-2119 541-737-2513 eesc.orst.edu Partners for Wildlife Program US Fish & Wildlife Service 2600 SE 98th Avenue Juvenile coho are identified by long, narrow, widely spaced “parr” marks and the long leading edge of the anal fin (on the fish’s rear underside). Suite 100 Portland, OR 97266 503-231-6179 coho in decline The number of spawning salmon per stream mile has fallen dramatically since the 1960s.