Effects of Transportation and Other Factors on Survival Estimates of Juvenile Salmonids in the Unimpounded Lower Columbia River

Abstract

We estimated the survival of juvenile salmonids out-migrating through the lower Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean. We tested the null hypotheses that no association exists between survival and transportation type (including barge transportation and in-river migration with no transportation), release date, river flow, mean body weight, and tag type. During 2002-2004 and fall Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha and steelhead O. mykiss were implanted with uniquely coded radio or acoustic transmitter tags and released during the early, middle, and late out-migration periods. A series of receiver lines were used to detect these fish and estimate survival. Estimated survival varied considerably with transportation type and release date for fall Chinook salmon and steelhead, but the results were dependent upon year. Estimated survival between the lowermost dam (Bonneville Dam) and the upper estuary (river kilometer 46) was relatively high for SS Chinook salmon and steelhead, whereas estimates for fall Chinook salmon were comparatively low. This order of high to low survival for SS Chinook salmon, steelhead, and fall Chinook salmon corresponds with the chronology of out-migration timing and waning river flows. After accounting for a number of factors, estimated survival between Bonneville Dam and the upper-estuary site did not differ significantly between steelhead that were barged and those that migrated in-river during 2002 and 2003. Conversely, estimated survival to the upper-estuary site was quite low for barged fall Chinook salmon in comparison with fish migrating in-river during the middle and late release dates in 2003. Hypotheses for the low survival of barged fall Chinook salmon are presented and discussed.

Surgically Implanted JSATS Micro-Acoustic Transmitters Effects on Juvenile Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Tag Expulsion and Survival, 2010

“…Within rivers and basins, telemetry has proven to be an essential tool for assessing fish survival and movement patterns (Jepsen et al 1998;Skalski 1998;Plumb et al 2006). In the Columbia River, scientists have identified acoustic telemetry as being an essential technology for observing the behavior and estimating the survival of juvenile salmonids passing through the side channels and the main stem FCRPS (Faber et al 2001;McComas et al 2005;Ploskey et al 2007;Ploskey et al 2008;Clemens et al 2009). Hydroelectric dams provide various routes of passage where mortality becomes pathway-specific depending on the physical properties of the technical installation (Coutant and Whitney 2000;Muir et al 2001;Skalski et al 2002;Weiland et al 2009).…”

Documentation of a Linked-Population Viability Model to Evaluate Recovery Options for Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon

“…We take our estimate of SE from Muir et al (2006), who estimated migration survival of spring Chinook smolts in six years (1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002) . A later study of survival in the Columbia River below Bonneville indicated that survival was quite variable (Clemens et al 2009). Sub-yearlings arrive in the estuary during spring and summer, after which we apply ocean survival, S OC,0 from summer to fall.…”

Performance assessment of bi-directional knotless tissue-closure devices in juvenile Chinook salmon surgically implanted with acoustic transmitters

“…Acoustic telemetry has become a commonly used tool for monitoring migratory patterns, habitat preferences and survival of fish [1][2][3]. Telemetry studies utilize an array of cabled and autonomous receivers to detect acoustic signals emitted by acoustic transmitters for tracking the location of fish in the river [1][2][3].…”

“…Telemetry studies utilize an array of cabled and autonomous receivers to detect acoustic signals emitted by acoustic transmitters for tracking the location of fish in the river [1][2][3]. These acoustic transmitters are implanted, either externally or internally, on the species of interest.…”