Research Activities
and Results of 2004 |
To
determine the distribution and abundance of salmon juveniles
along the Salmon River, weekly
sampling was conducted using a bag seine at 9
sampling stations systematically
located
along the Salmon River. Within each of the 9 stations,
4 sample units were randomly selected based on visual assessment of
habitat type (pool, backwater, run, and riffle). At each of the
4 sampling
units the seine
was hauled over an area parallel to the
riverbank.
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| All
captured fish were identified and counted. Total length (mm)
and mass
(g) were recorded for the first 30 fish of each species.
All fish were returned
to their original habitats after processing. |
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Juvenile
abundance in 2004 was realtively high compared
to an index seining program began in 1997 by Johnson and
Bishop. A
total of 14,153 Chinook salmon juveniles were processed
during the
sampling
season in 2004 (Figure 12). Large numbers of juveniles were
captured early in the survey primarily in the upstream
and midstream
sections
of the river suggesting that most of the successful hatching
occurs between Ellis Cove-Salmon Wilderness (upstream-midstream)
as well as between Paper Hole-Staircase (midstream). The
largest capture in one seining effort was nearly 1100 fish
in an
area approximately 5 x 15 meters long .
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Figure
12. Total number of Chinook salmon captured at the 9 Salmon
River stations over time
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There was a major
flow event at the beginning of the third week of sampling causing
some reductions in numbers of
juveniles captured,however the most drastic overall reduction
occurred after the fourth week of sampling. Most of the Chinook
salmon
left the river by the end of June. |
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