Detection of PIT-tagged subyearling Chinook salmon at a Snake River dam: Implications for summer flow augmentation

North American Journal of Fisheries Management
By: , and 

Links

Abstract

Rearing subyearling chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (≥60 mm in fork length) were captured in the Snake River and tagged with passive integrated transponders to provide an index of their survival to Lower Granite Dam, the first of eight dams encountered by seaward migrants. Water was released from reservoirs upstream of Lower Granite Dam to augment summer flows and thereby increase subyearling chinook salmon survival. Mean summer flow and maximum summer water temperature in Lower Granite Reservoir were highly correlated (N = 4; r = −0.999). Acknowledging this correlation, we conducted two separate least-squares regressions using detection rate as the dependent variable. Detection rate at Lower Granite Dam was positively related to mean summer flow (N = 4; r 2 = 0.993; P = 0.003) and negatively related to maximum summer water temperature (N = 4; r 2 = 0.984; P = 0.008). Summer flow augmentation increased flow and decreased water temperature in Lower Granite Reservoir especially in low-flow years. Our results support summer flow augmentation as a beneficial interim recovery measure for enhancing survival of subyearling chinook salmon in the Snake River. Additional research should include replicate within-year releases of PIT-tagged subyearlings as well as studies of fish guidance efficiency.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Detection of PIT-tagged subyearling Chinook salmon at a Snake River dam: Implications for summer flow augmentation
Series title North American Journal of Fisheries Management
DOI 10.1577/1548-8675(1998)018<0530:DOPTSC>2.0.CO;2
Volume 18
Issue 3
Year Published 1998
Language English
Publisher American Fisheries Society
Contributing office(s) Western Fisheries Research Center
Description 7 p.
First page 530
Last page 536
Country United States
State Washington
Other Geospatial Lower Granite Dam, Snake River
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details