By: River Poze & Kyle Tibbett

1. Salmon & Sturgeon in Willapa Bay By: River Poze & Kyle Tibbett Results Table: Overview: Over the course of this project, We explored a multitude of actors in Willapa Bay and the impacts they have on salmon and green sturgeon populations. These actors included burrowing shrimp, weather, eel grass, and human actions and interventions. We first conducted background research on each actor to determine how they may impact water quality and habitat conditions for the fish. Next we found data on past fish and organism populations and attempted to find a correlation between the two. We also reviewed major historical events in Willapa Bay driven by both humans and nature and attempted to correlate these events with historical fish populations as well. By completing this research, we had hoped to answer the following questions: "How do different natural and non-natural actors and processes impact trout, salmon, and green sturgeon populations in Willapa Bay?"; and "Which actors and processes have the largest impact on these fish populations?" We concluded that although some correlations seem to appear, it is difficult to separate and quantify the impacts that a certain actor may have on salmon or green sturgeon because it is important to recognize that Willapa Bay is a very complex ecosystem that is made up of a multitude of interrelated parts. Background Information: • Burrowing Shrimp inhibit seagrass growth • Seagrass growth harms aquaculture production • Burrowing Shrimp harm aquaculture production • Carbaryl injected into the bay by humans eradicates Burrowing Shrimp, expidates seagrass growth • Green Sturgeon prey on Burrowing Shrimp • Seagrass acts as critical habitat for juvenile salmon • Harvest laws implemented in Washington state can either benefit or harm Green Sturgeon and Salmon Populations • Other manmade projects (i.e. Dams, logging, etc) can can benefit or harm Green Sturgeon and Salmon Populations • Significant weather events also have the potential to harm fish populations • Note that Mean Temperature is recorded in degrees farenheit during October of every year, and Mean Precipitation is recorded in inches durng October of every year. • In 1974, fishing seasons were reduced for non-treaty fishermen. • Spartina also reduced in large amounts from 2004-2008. • Also important to look at periods of change in fish population estimates that coencide with changes in precipitation and temperature.