330 likes | 444 Vues
COLUMBIA BASIN KELTS: ABUNDANCE, DOWNSTREAM PASSAGE, AND REPEAT SPAWNING. Introduction. Part I: Life After Spawning Kelt Identification Kelt Abundance and Population Structure Kelt Migration Travel Rates Dam Passage In-river Survival. Introduction cont.
E N D
COLUMBIA BASIN KELTS: ABUNDANCE, DOWNSTREAM PASSAGE, AND REPEAT SPAWNING
Introduction Part I: Life After Spawning • Kelt Identification • Kelt Abundance and Population Structure • Kelt Migration • Travel Rates • Dam Passage • In-river Survival
Introduction cont. Part II: Iteroparity and Management • Repeat Spawning Rates • Restoration Options/Strategies • Research and Management Needs
Iteroparity in the Pacific Northwest Several anadromous, iteroparous salmonid species (e.g., steelhead, sea-run cutthroats, dolly varden, arctic char, and inconnu (sheefish).
Steelhead Repeat Spawning • Up to four repeat spawning events possible • Consecutive and skip-spawners present • Female dominated life history • High repeat spawning variation (1% to 75%, X=10%) - Differences in run types (winter vs. summer) - Geographic differences (Coast vs. Inland) - Annual differences
Repeat Spawning: Columbia Basin Columbia River: ranges from < 1% to 17%
Kelts: The Forgotten Life History Kelts: • Post-spawned salmonid capable of iteroparity • Inherent life history trait • Limited by environmental (natural and anthropogenic) and biological constraints Benefits of protection: • Recognition of life history diversity • “Best of the Best” • Female dominated runs • Preserve plasticity
Kelt Identification • Geographic and temporal over-lap of maturation types • Visual methods est. between 2-25% kelt abundance • Need for rapid, accurate, and non-invasive method - morphology - Steroids - Ultrasound • Ultrasound is the superior method
Kelt Abundance * RSW installed at LGR
Kelt Population Structure cont.. Hatchery Versus Wild Kelt Run Timing
Kelt Population Structure Cont. Female versus Male Run Timing Female Kelt Run LGR = 84% McN = 87%* JDD = 86%* * Excludes unknowns
Kelt Population Structure Cont.. Good Poor
Kelt Population Structure Cont.. Dark Bright
Kelt Migration: Columbia Basin Roy Beaty
Kelt Migration: Radio-telemetry 1.5 Grams
Kelt Migration: Travel Rates • Travel times were positively associated with river discharge • Significantly faster in 02 (normal year) relative to 01 (drought). • Travel times were significantly faster in free-flow reach
Kelt Migration: Dam Passage Kelt Migration: Passage
Kelt Migration: Dam Passage Bonneville Dam (B2) Forebay Residence Time B2 Kcfs 2004 = ~105 2002 = ~109 % exited 2004 (N=235) 2002 (N=50)
Cumulative travel time (hrs) Contact Attrition Contact history Dam tailrace (R km) Kelt Migration: Survival (2001) 264 658 656 600 610 601 348 150 -43% -13% -62% -16% -22% -37% -35% -34% 3% 4% 10% 12% 15% 24% 37% 64% I-205 (184) BON TDA JDA MCN ICH LMN LGS LGR (696)
Kelt Migration: Survival *good and fair kelts only…poor condition kelts rarely survive outmigration a Wertheimer and Evans (2005)
Kelt Repeat Spawning Rates John Day = 6.2% (140/2,265) McNary = 5.3% (32/603) Lower Granite 0.9% (54/5,885) 3 62 8 The Dalles 112 222 John Day
Kelt Restoration Options/Strategies: Hydro-system configuration & operation Transportation Kelt Reconditioning
Kelt Restoration Options/Strategies • Spill is an efficient passage option for kelts • Surface oriented bypass structures (e.g., sluiceways) are effective ways to pass kelts. • Increased flows result in increased travel rates and higher survival. • Removable Spillway Weirs
Kelt Restoration Strategies Transportation Snake River (LGR 02): Trans = 2.5% (19/751) In-river = 0.8% (8/1,066) Columbia River (JDD 02): Trans = 11.9% (34/286) In-river = 10.1% (25/247) *values are minimum and returning fish are predominately female
Kelt Restoration Options/Strategies Reconditioning • Kelt ID and capture • Feeding and treatment • Maturation appraisal • Release for natural spawning • Short and Long-term
Reconditioning Results a Evans et al. (2001) ; b Hatch et al. (2003); c Fast (pers. comm.)
Yakima R. Steelhead Escapementwith Reconditioning 2.4% 7.3% 14.4% Date provide by Dave Fast (YN) Percentage increase in escapement due to reconditioning.
Research and Management Needs • Collected baseline data on Upper Columbia River kelts; abundance, survival, dam passage, and iteroparity rates * Action Agencies = NOAA Fisheries and PUDs • Establish a reconditioning program for Lower Snake River kelts *Action Agencies = NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Army Corps, and BPA • Include kelts and repeat spawners in both regional and local recovery plans; including fish outside of the Columbia River Basin.
Summary • Kelts are abundant, good condition, predominately female, and wild. • If available, passage is predominately via spillway or alternative surface oriented routes. • Out-migration success is negatively correlated with passage distance and positively correlated with water conditions. • Iteroparity increases down river, skip-spawning rates decrease. • Several kelt management options exist (e.g., hydro system configuration/operation, transportation, and reconditioning). • Kelts should be a component of regional steelhead recovery efforts.