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COLUMBIA BASIN KELTS: ABUNDANCE, DOWNSTREAM PASSAGE, AND REPEAT SPAWNING

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.

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COLUMBIA BASIN KELTS: ABUNDANCE, DOWNSTREAM PASSAGE, AND REPEAT SPAWNING

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  1. COLUMBIA BASIN KELTS: ABUNDANCE, DOWNSTREAM PASSAGE, AND REPEAT SPAWNING

  2. Introduction Part I: Life After Spawning • Kelt Identification • Kelt Abundance and Population Structure • Kelt Migration • Travel Rates • Dam Passage • In-river Survival

  3. Introduction cont. Part II: Iteroparity and Management • Repeat Spawning Rates • Restoration Options/Strategies • Research and Management Needs

  4. Iteroparity in the Pacific Northwest Several anadromous, iteroparous salmonid species (e.g., steelhead, sea-run cutthroats, dolly varden, arctic char, and inconnu (sheefish).

  5. 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

  6. Repeat Spawning: Columbia Basin Columbia River: ranges from < 1% to 17%

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. Kelt Abundance * RSW installed at LGR

  10. Kelt Population Structure

  11. Kelt Population Structure cont.. Hatchery Versus Wild Kelt Run Timing

  12. Kelt Population Structure Cont. Female versus Male Run Timing Female Kelt Run LGR = 84% McN = 87%* JDD = 86%* * Excludes unknowns

  13. Kelt Population Structure Cont.. Good Poor

  14. Kelt Population Structure Cont.. Dark Bright

  15. Kelt Migration: Columbia Basin Roy Beaty

  16. Kelt Migration:  Radio-telemetry 1.5 Grams

  17. 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

  18. Kelt Migration: Dam Passage Kelt Migration: Passage

  19. Kelt Migration: B2CC Dam Passage

  20. Kelt Migration: Dam Passage Bonneville Dam (B2) Forebay Residence Time B2 Kcfs 2004 = ~105 2002 = ~109 % exited 2004 (N=235) 2002 (N=50)

  21. 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)

  22. Kelt Migration: Survival *good and fair kelts only…poor condition kelts rarely survive outmigration a Wertheimer and Evans (2005)

  23. Kelt Repeat Spawning Rates

  24. 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

  25. Kelt Repeat Spawning Rates

  26. Kelt Restoration Options/Strategies: Hydro-system configuration & operation Transportation Kelt Reconditioning

  27. 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

  28. 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

  29. Kelt Restoration Options/Strategies Reconditioning • Kelt ID and capture • Feeding and treatment • Maturation appraisal • Release for natural spawning • Short and Long-term

  30. Reconditioning Results a Evans et al. (2001) ; b Hatch et al. (2003); c Fast (pers. comm.)

  31. Yakima R. Steelhead Escapementwith Reconditioning 2.4% 7.3% 14.4% Date provide by Dave Fast (YN) Percentage increase in escapement due to reconditioning.

  32. 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.

  33. 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.

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