Monitoring Challenges for VSP Parameters in the Oregon Portion of the Lower Columbia River

1. Monitoring Challenges for VSP Parameters in the Oregon Portion of the Lower Columbia River Jamie Anthony Monitoring Coordinator

2. Overview • Caveats • VSP Indicators • General Monitoring Constraints • Species Summaries • Current VSP Monitoring • Monitoring Challenges • Monitoring Needs/Refinement

3. Caveats • VSP Metrics • Coarse-Scale Overview • LCR Plan, Appendix J • Rawding, D. and J. Rodgers (2013) PNAMP Integrated Monitoring Status and Trends (IMST) Demonstration Project.

4. Status and Trend of VSP Indicators • Abundance/Productivity • Metric = Abundance of naturally-produced spawners • Spatial Structure • Metric = % occupied habitat • Diversity • Metrics = Effective population size, interbreeding with hatchery fish, anthropogenic mortality, life history traits, habitat diversity

5. Monitoring Constraints • Technical/Physical Feasibility • Relative Economic Feasibility • Moving target • Monitoring Refinement • Response to technical/physical feasibility • Response to fluctuating funding

6. Chum • Oregon’s Columbia River Chum Salmon Recovery Strategy • LCR Plan, Appendix I • Long-term monitoring will evolve over time • Current monitoring addresses research needs • Baseline data • Reintroduction

7. CohoCurrent VSP Monitoring • GRTS-based Spawning Surveys (2002) • GRTS-based Juvenile Surveys (2006) • Index of Density/Trend • Fixed Sites (Adults) • Fixed Sites (Juv.) • LCM Sites • JOM Traps • Index Surveys • Long-term times series • Often targeting ChF

8. CohoMonitoring Challenges • Low Populations/Highly Dispersed • Precision • Carcass recovery • Broad Spawning Distribution • Large sampling frame • Challenging sampling environment • Protracted spawning season • Turbidity

9. CohoMonitoring Needs • Current Metrics: • Abundance, diversity (pHOS), spatial structure (occupancy), HQH • Needs: • Continued evaluation of precision, bias, and sample size • Verify critical assumptions • Survey life, observer efficiency

10. ChinookCurrent VSP Monitoring • GRTS-Based Spawner Surveys (2009) • GRTS-based Juvenile Surveys (2006) • Index of Density/Occupancy • Primarily coho & steelhead • Redd Surveys • ChS • Fixed Sites (Adults) • Fixed Sites (Juveniles) • JOM Traps (Limited application for ChF) • Index Surveys • Long-term time series

11. ChinookMonitoring Challenges • Low Populations in Some Basins • Precision/Bias • Physical Constraints • Mainstem spawning habitat • Precision/Bias • Critical Assumptions • Survey life, observer efficiency • Differentiating Runs

12. ChinookMonitoring Needs • Current Metrics: • ChS: Abundance, Diversity • ChF: None • ChLF: None • Needs: • Evaluate precision, bias, and sample size • Verify critical assumptions • Methods for differentiating ChF, ChLF, and ChS • Non-visual methods needed in some areas

13. SteelheadCurrent VSP Monitoring • GRTS-Based Redd Surveys (2012) • GRTS-Based Juvenile Surveys (2006) • Fixed Sites (Adults) • Fixed Sites (Juveniles) • Index Surveys

14. SteelheadMonitoring Challenges • Broad spawning distribution • large sample frame • Brief residence on spawning grounds • Elusive & easily frightened • Low carcass recoveries • Protracted spawning season (StW = up to 6 mo.) • Intensive • Turbidity

15. SteelheadMonitoring Needs • Current Metrics: • StW & StS: Abundance, Diversity • Fixed Site Counts • Needs: • Verify critical assumptions • Evaluate precision/bias • Non-visual methods needed in some areas

16. Emerging Methods/Technology Environmental DNA Survey Life Tag, Shardlow et al. 2007 DIDSON Sonar, Sound Metrics