Response for project 200300600: Effect Monitor Chinook R Est R
Comment on proposed FY 2006 budget
The budget of $80,000 is sufficient to complete project tasks.
Accomplishments since the last review
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Project staff operated and maintained two rotary screw traps to monitor migration timing and magnitude. Morphometric data was collected from all salmonids and those > 60mm were PIT tagged. | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Beach seining sites within the restoration project area were established and sampled at a predetermined annual schedule. Morphometric data was collected and fish > 60mm were PIT tagged. | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Two water quality datasondes (YSI) were deployed to complement two installed by OHSU. Data collected included salinity, temperature, pressure, and dissolved oxygen - at 15 minute intervals. | |
| Mark/Tag Animals | For each year (2) of the project all hatchery reared fall Chinook salmon and coho salmon received adipose fin clips in order to distinguish between natural origin and hatchery origin fish in field sampling work. | |
| Submit/Acquire Data | All PIT tag data was uploaded to PTAGIS. Project staff also assisted USFWS staff in the installation and maintenancd of PIT tag antenna sites in the Chinook River. |
The goal of this project is to monitor and evaluate changes in selected habitat attributes, salmonid populations, and estuary habitat use by juvenile salmonids before and after implementation of the Chinook River estuary restoration project. The two years of sampling described in the document - and the third planned for 2005-06 will represent pre-treatment baseline.
FY 2006 goals and anticipated accomplishments
| Produce Status Report | Quarterly status reports will be submitted to Pisces. | |
| Produce/Submit Scientific Findings Report | A final scientific findings report will be produced that contains information to meet the project goals and objectives. | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Two rotary screw migrant traps will be operated and maintained to determine juvenile migration timing and magnitude. All juvenile salmon with fork length > 60mm will receive a PIT tag. | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Juvenile salmon will be captured in a primary tidal channel near the mouth of the Chinook River using a double-winged fyke net. The trap will be deployed twice monthly Apr-Sep and Jan-Mar. | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | A representative subsample of juvenile salmon stomach contents will be sampled (using gastric lavage) from all trapping methods. Frequency will be once per month for 10 months. | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | One waterquality datasonde (YSI) will be deployed in the lower Chinook River to compliment two maintained by OHSU. Parameters measured will include salinity, temperature, pressure, and dissolved oxygen. | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Species composition and abundance of terrestrial insects will be determined using invertebrate fallout traps in surrounding wetland habitats. Benthic invertebrates will be measured by collecting core samples. | |
| Mark/Tag Animals | All hatchery reared fall Chinook salmon and coho salmon will receive an adipose fin clip. All fall Chinook salmon not receiving a PIT tag will be codedwire tagged. | |
| Manage/Maintain Database | Trapping data will be stored and maintained using systems in place from previous study years. All PIT tag data will be uploaded to PTAGIS. Water quality data will be managed using YSI software and MS Access. |
The goal of this project is to monitor and evaluate changes in selected habitat attributes, salmonid populations, and estuary habitat use by juvenile salmonids before and after implementation of the Chinook River estuary restoration project. Specific objectives include: 1) Determine relative abundance and length of residence of both hatchery reared and naturally produced juvenile salmonids in the Chinook River estuary prior to restoration actions; 2) Determine prey utilization by juvenile salmon in the lower Chinook River and estuary prior to restoration actions; 3) Determine prey resource availability in the lower Chinook River and estuary prior to restoration actions; 4) Characterize water quality conditions and tiday dynamics in the lower Chinook River and estuary prior to restoration actions.
Subbasin planning
How is this project consistent with subbasin plans?
This project is intended to monitor the success of the Chinook River estuary restoration project - an action that is consistent with, and specifically mentioned in the Estuary Tributaries Subbasin plan. Section 1.1 Key Priorities includes the following applicable priorities: 1) Restore Passage at Tide Gates, Culverts and Other Artificial Barriers and 2) Restore Lower River Estuary, Floodplain, and Riparian Habitats. The work is also related to priority 6 Hatchery Priorities are Consistent with Conservation Objectives as it provides monitoring of the reproductive success of newly established chum salmon runs in the Chinook River - an effort utilizing artificial production. The monitoring project is consistent with Section 7 (Monitoring and Research) of the Lower Columbia Province Plan - specifically Section 7.6 Action Effectiveness Monitoring. In addition Section 7.8.3 describes specific research needs in the estuary - those that are applicable include 2) Implement selected restoration projects as experiments, so that we can learn as we go; 3) Implement pre and post-restoration project monitoring programs, to increase learning; 5) Make more use of ongoing PIT tagging and other tagging and marking studies and data to determine origin and estuarine habitat use patterns of different stocks; 11) Understand salmonid estuarine ecology, including food web dynmaics; and 13) Understand juvenile and adult migration patterns.
How do goals match subbasin plan priorities?
See response above.
Other comments
CREST is now the contractor on this project. Sea Resources staff will complete project tasks with CREST support.