Recovery Efforts forUpper Willamette River Chinook and Steelhead

Rob Walton

Willamette Recovery Coordinator

NOAA Fisheries, Portland, OR

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Vision of Recovery

• Healthy ecosystem and economy• Partnerships are key• Scientific principles guide our efforts• Beyond delisting

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UWR steelhead:• Molalla Pudding• N. Santiam• S. Santiam• Calapooia

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UWR Chinook:• Clackamas• Molalla Pudding• N. Santiam• S. Santiam• Calapooia• McKenzie• Middle Fork

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Adults spawn, eggs

emerge

Rearing

MigrationGrowth to

adult in ocean

Adult upstream migration

Improve All Life Stages

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Challenges Adults spawn, eggs

emerge

Rearing

MigrationGrowth to

adult in ocean

Adult upstream migration

Blocked Passage

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Challenges Adults spawn, eggs

emerge

Rearing

MigrationGrowth to

adult in ocean

Adult upstream migration

Blocked Passage

Changed Temp

8

Challenges Adults spawn, eggs

emerge

Rearing

MigrationGrowth to

adult in ocean

Adult upstream migration

Blocked Passage

Changed Temp

Pre-spawning

Mortality

9

Challenges Adults spawn, eggs

emerge

Rearing

MigrationGrowth to

adult in ocean

Adult upstream migration

Blocked Passage

Blocked Passage

Changed Temp

Pre-spawning

Mortality

10

Challenges Adults spawn, eggs

emerge

Rearing

MigrationGrowth to

adult in ocean

Adult upstream migration

Blocked Passage

Changed TempBlocked Passage

Changed Temp

Pre-spawning

Mortality

11

Challenges Adults spawn, eggs

emerge

Rearing

MigrationGrowth to

adult in ocean

Adult upstream migrationPre-spawning

Mortality

Reduced Habitat

Complexity

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Challenges Adults spawn, eggs

emerge

Rearing

MigrationGrowth to

adult in ocean

Adult upstream migrationPre-spawning

Mortality

Reduced Habitat

Complexity

Water Quality

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Focusing Our Efforts

Partnerships to protect and increase:• Diversity of habitat types• Off-channel areas with food sources• Shallow water habitat with cover• Floodplain connectivity• Water quality improvements• Streamline restoration permitting

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Focusing Our Efforts

• Implement the Willamette Project Biological Opinion

• Other consultations• Coordinated research on critical

uncertainties• Continued hatchery and harvest reform

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Moving Forward

• Reduce pre-spawning mortality• Passage at dams• Improved rearing and migration• Prioritizing actions• Partnerships• Monitoring progress

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Contacts

Rob WaltonNOAA Fisheries rob.walton@noaa.gov 503-231-2285

Bernadette Graham-Hudson Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife 503-971-673 x1134 bernadette.n.graham-hudson@state.or.us