Jeremy Cram1, Christian Torgersen2, Ryan Klett1,

George Pess3, Andrew Dittman3, Darran May3

1. University of Washington, School of Forest Resources, Seattle, WA 98195 USA2. U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Cascadia Field Station, University of Washington, College of Forest Resources, Seattle, WA 98195 USA3. NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, Washington 98112, USA

Salmon spawning site selection relative to habitat conditions near

acclimation facilities

Hypothetical spawning distribution

Distance upstream (km)

Den

sity

(ca

rcas

ses/

km)

EastonClark Flat

Research Questions How do habitat conditions compare among

acclimation areas? If a fish spawns away from its acclimation

area, is it due to habitat differences?

Hatchery supplementation

Clark Flat

Jack Creek

Easton

Roza Dam

Channel type (1,2,3) Unit type (PO,GP,GR, RI) Channel width Depth Substrate Cover Wood Fish abundance GIS derived factors

125 m

97 km Yakima 31 km Teanaway11 km Cle Elum20 km side channel

Summary

flow

Extensive survey September 2007

Surveys conducted by Yakama Nation and NOAA Fisheries GPS location Origin (CWT) Gender Age class Length

125 m

flow 2007 Redds

Carcass and redd surveys (2004 – 2008)

Habitat gradients Pools

Vegetative cover

Tributary effects

Gravel

Multiple channels

Distance upstream (km – Yakima River)

Den

sity

(%

or

len

gth

/km

)

Distance upstream (km)

0 20 40 60 80 100

Den

sity

(re

dd

s/km

)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2007 Redds

Narrow and shallow Deep and wide

Up

stre

amD

ow

nst

ream

Easton

Clark Flat

Jack Creek

PC1(22 %)

PC

2(1

9 %

)TeanawayCle ElumYakima

How does habitat affect spawning site selection?

Environmental conditions vary throughout the system

Keefer et al. (2008) showed that spring Chinook “wander” before spawning

CCA1(10 %)

CC

A2

(5 %

)

Easton

Clark Flat

Jack CreekWild

DischargeJune - November

0

50

100

150

200

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Dis

char

ge

(CF

S)

0

100

200

300

400

500

Easton

Teanaway

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 20090

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

Wild

Hatchery

Spring Chinook supplementation

www.ykfp.orgYear

Nu

mb

er o

f ri

ver

spaw

ner

s

Conclusions Habitat conditions differ near hatchery

acclimation facilities Gravel, multiple channels, cover, and

depth are positively associated with spawning site selection

Existing and future acclimation sites may be more effective if habitat conditions receive more attention

Acknowledgments Logistics and GIS: Darran May, Hiroo

Imaki, Ethan Welty, John Vaccaro, Patricia Haggerty, NetMap

Fieldwork: Tanya Cram, James Chu, Ethan Welty

Housing and support: Everyone at the Cle Elum supplementation and research facility

Funding: NOAA BiOP, The Water Center

Photography: Ethan Welty Aerial photos: NAIP – Allyson Jason

Why does this matter? Hatcheries are controversial and

expensive Each adult fish costs $14 - $530 (WA

Ecology 2002) Create jobs and fishing opportunity Genetic and ecological risks to wild fish Integrated practices rely on habitat,

which may be fully utilized by wild fish

Distance upstream (km)

Den

sity

(ca

rcas

ses/

km)

Female carcasses 2007

HatcheryWild

Clark Flat

EastonHatchery

Cle Elum River

Teanaway River

Clark Flat

Easton

Hatchery

Cle Elum River

Teanaway River

Den

sit

y

(red

ds/k

m)

Distance upstream (km)

Redds 2007

What we know about homing

Capable of precise navigation at multiple spatial scales Open ocean to freshwater Within freshwater system Site of incubation

Homing confers an evolutionary advantage, just as migration does Allows for local adaptation Improves likelihood of successful reproduction Evident in many species – mountain whitefish,

northern pikeminnow, largescale suckers

Why do salmon stray?

Evolutionary mechanism to avoid disturbance Mt. St. Helens Flooding

Colonize newly accessible habitats Glacier Bay, AK Upper Cedar River, WA

Find better spawning habitat?

8 km

EastonClark Flat