NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NWFSC-128 Identifying Historical Populations of Steelhead within the Puget Sound Distinct Population Segment March 2015 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Northwest Fisheries Science Center NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NWFSC Series The Northwest Fisheries Science Center of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service uses the NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NWFSC series to issue scientific and technical publications. Manuscripts have been peer reviewed and edited. Documents published in this series can be cited in the scientific and technical literature. The Northwest Fisheries Science Center’s NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NWFSC series continues the NMFS- F/NWC series established in 1970 by the Northwest and Alaska Fisheries Science Center, which subsequently was divided into the Northwest Fisheries Science Center and the Alaska Fisheries Science Center. The latter center uses the NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-AFSC series. Reference throughout this document to trade names does not imply endorsement by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Reference this document as follows: Myers, J.M., J.J. Hard, E.J. Connor, R.A. Hayman, R.G. Kope, G. Lucchetti, A.R. Marshall, G.R. Pess, and B.E. Thompson. 2015. Identifying historical populations of steelhead within the Puget Sound distinct population segment. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS- NWFSC-128. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NWFSC-128 Identifying Historical Populations of Steelhead within the Puget Sound Distinct Population Segment James M. Myers, Jeffrey J. Hard, Edward J. Connor,1 Robert A. Hayman,2 Robert G. Kope, Gino Lucchetti,3 Anne R. Marshall,4 George R. Pess, and Bradley E. Thompson5 Northwest Fisheries Science Center 2725 Montlake Boulevard East Seattle, Washington 98112 1Seattle City Light 700 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3300 Seattle, Washington 98124 2Skagit River System Cooperative 11426 Moorage Way La Conner, Washington 98257 3King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks 201 South Jackson Street, Suite 600 Seattle, Washington 98104 4Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 600 Capitol Way North Olympia, Washington 98501 5U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Washington Fish and Wildlife Office 510 Desmond Drive Southeast, Suite 102 Lacey, Washington 98503 March 2015 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Most NOAA Technical Memorandums NMFS-NWFSC are available at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center Web site, http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov Copies are also available from the National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, VA 22161 Phone orders: 1-800-553-6847 E-mail orders: [email protected] ii Table of Contents List of Figures ........................................................................................................................... v List of Tables ........................................................................................................................... vii Dedication ................................................................................................................................ix Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................xi Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................... xiii List of Abbreviations.................................................................................................................xv Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 Definition of a Population ....................................................................................................... 1 Structure above the Population Level .................................................................................... 2 Structure below the Population Level .................................................................................... 2 Conceptual Approach to Identifying Populations......................................................................... 3 Migration Rates ................................................................................................................. 4 Genetic Attributes .............................................................................................................. 5 Geography ........................................................................................................................ 6 Patterns of Life History and Phenotypic Characteristics............................................................ 7 Population Dynamics .......................................................................................................... 7 Environmental and Habitat Characteristics ............................................................................. 8 Identifying Historical Populations of Salmonids ............................................................................10 Criteria for Identifying the Distribution of Historical Populations .................................................10 Tier 1 Criteria ...................................................................................................................10 Tier 2 Criteria ...................................................................................................................11 Sustainability and Independence ..........................................................................................12 Ecological Information.......................................................................................................16 Bio logical Data .................................................................................................................18 Population Boundaries for Fish and Habitat...............................................................................21 Historical Documentation .......................................................................................................21 Taxonomic Descriptions and Observations ............................................................................21 Historical Abundance.........................................................................................................23 Puget Sound Steelhead Life History .........................................................................................31 Winter-Run Steelhead ........................................................................................................37 iii Summer-Run Steelhead ......................................................................................................37 Juvenile Life History .........................................................................................................40 Ocean Migration ...............................................................................................................41 Genetics ..............................................................................................................................41 Previous Studies................................................................................................................41 Recent Studies ..................................................................................................................44 Major Population Groups .......................................................................................................46 Major Population Grouping Determinations for Other DPSs and ESUs ......................................46 Puget Sound Steelhead MPG Determinations.........................................................................47 Historical Demographically Independent Populations .....................................................................52 Northern Cascades (South Salish Sea) MPG..............................................................................52 Overview .........................................................................................................................52 Proposed DIPs within the MPG (1 through 16) ......................................................................54 Central and South Puget Sound MPG .......................................................................................66 Overview .........................................................................................................................66 Proposed DIPs within the MPG (17 through 24).....................................................................67 Hood Canal and Strait of Juan de Fuca MPG .............................................................................73 Overview .........................................................................................................................73 Proposed DIPs within the MPG (25 through 32).....................................................................74 Puget Sound Steelhead DPS Population Considerations ..............................................................80 References ...............................................................................................................................81 Appendix A: Comparison of Populations and Management Units .....................................................93 Appendix B: Genetic Analysis of Steelhead from Puget Sound ........................................................95