chum and coho salmon spawning distribution and abundance in the susitna river, alaska pete cleary...
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Chum and Coho Salmon
Spawning Distribution and Abundance in the Susitna River, Alaska
Pete ClearyAlaska Department of Fish and Game
Division of Sport Fish1800 Glenn HighwayPalmer, Alaska 99645
1. Overview of the Susitna River chum and coho salmon distribution and abundance
- reasons for the study- methods
2. Results 20103. Some data from 2011.
OUTLINE
Talkeetna
Anchorage
Wasilla Palmer
Yentna
River
Susitna
River
Alaska R
ange
Talkeetna
Mountains
Cantwell
Cook Inlet
Chugach
Mountains
Parks H
ighway
Glenn Highway
Flathorn Camp
Susitna River
Yentna River
Fish Wheels
1
4
2
~30 miles to Anchorage
3
~18 miles to Cook Inlet
Tracking Station
MainstemCamp
12
Fish Wheels
Susitna R.
Anchorage
Palmer
Flathorn
Aerial Survey area
Yentna R.
Skwentna R.
Talkeetna R.
Chulitna RSusitna R.
Wasilla
Results…..
Chum Salmon:• Utilize more “mainstem” and “side slough”
areas. 2010 – 65% in either Yentna, Susitna, or Skwentna mainstem.
Coho Salmon:1.Utilize a wide variety of drainage morphologies
throughout the entire watershed.
CONCLUSIONS:
FUTURE:
Distribution and Abundance estimation for coho salmon will continue through 2014.
Distribution of Chinook Salmon will continue through 2014 (2012 first year)
Abundance estimates
Little information on Susitna coho and chum salmon stocks
Contribute to Cook Inlet fisheries
Conservation and allocation issue
Proposed hydroelectric dam – upper Susitna River
Flathorn Camp
Susitna River
Yentna River
Fish Wheels
1
4
2
~30 miles to Anchorage
3
~18 miles to Cook Inlet
Tracking Station
MainstemCamp
12
Fish Wheels
Objectives• Tag chum and coho salmon with dart tags• Deploy esophageal radio tags in chum and
coho • Generate abundance estimates for chum and
coho stocks
Methods
• Capture and recapture using fish wheels
• Four wheels used for deployment
• Four fish wheels upstream – (Yentna and Mainstem Susitna River)
17
18
Sampling
Tags deployed:
Coho – 6,993
Chum – 4,598
19
Results
Yenta River
Total Catch:
Coho - 6,134
Chum - 6,191
Tags Recovered:
Coho - 176
Chum - 158
20
Mainstem:
Total Catch
Coho - 643
Chum – 1,291
21
Tags recovered
Coho - 15
Chum - 23
22
Abundance Estimates - Chum
Entire Susitna Watershed: 357,000 95% CI: 285,000 – 476,000)
Yentna River: 202,000 95% CI: 110,000 – 292,000)
Mainstem Susitna River:155,000 95% CI: 103,000 – 272,000)
Mainstem Susitna River: 60,000 (95% CI: 29,000 – 127,000)
Yentna River 136,000 (95% CI: 99,000 – 206,000)
Abundance estimates - Coho
Entire Susitna Watershed: 196,000 (95% CI: 153,000 – 283,000)
Mainstem Yentna
Deployment (Flathorn)
20112010 20112010
Total CatchCoho – 647Chum – 1,291
Total CatchCoho - 2,801Chum - 34,743
Total CatchCoho - 6,134Chum - 6,191
Total CatchCoho – 6,336Chum – 16,406
Tags deployedCoho – 6,933Chum – 4,598
Tags deployedCoho – 6,661Chum – 37,805
2010 2011
Coho – 15Chum – 23
Tag Recoveries
Coho - 46 Chum - 713
Tag Recoveries Tag Recoveries Tag Recoveries
Coho - 174 Chum - 159
Coho - 281 Chum - 478
Thank you
Acknowledgments
Rick Merizon Alaska Department of Fish and GameDivision of Wildlife Conservation(Formerly of the Division of Sport Fish)
Richard Yanusz Alaska Department of Fish and Game,Division of Sport Fish
Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund
Nick LogelinAlaska Department of Fish and GameDivision of Sport Fish
Dave WestermanAlaska Department of Fish and GameDivision of Commercial Fisheries