pacific coast salmon: stillaguamish tribe natural resources

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Stillaguamish Tribe Department of Natural Resources

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This presentation is given to the Snohomish County Beach Watcher Training Class every year. It covers salmon life cycle, cultural and social benefits of salmon, salmon habitat and stewardship.

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Page 1: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Stillaguamish Tribe Department of Natural Resources

Page 2: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Co-managing the Fisheries

Natural history and cultural significance

Life cycle – redds to estuary

Fish identification with live hatchery fish

Life cycle – to the sea and back

Life history requirements

Status of local stocks

Challenges and solutions

What We Will Cover

Page 3: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

The Stillaguamish Tribe

Page 4: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Salmon evolved about 40 million years ago

following the end of the Cretaceous Period.

(Fish had been around since 400 million years ago.)

Raven 1986

Page 5: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Over the next 20 million years, global cooling shifted

productivity from fresh water to the oceans, and increased

food availability.

Pacific salmon ( ) separated from Atlantic salmon ( )

20 million years ago. Speciation occurred with emergence of different

types of water systems: lakes, rivers, small streams, etc.

Page 6: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

For example: the

By Stanton Fink (left) and Ray Troll (right)

Extinct by the Pleistocene 2Million Years ago

Page 7: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Why care about salmon?

Page 8: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Food

Page 9: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

CEREMONY

Page 10: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Sense of Place

Page 11: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Jobs

Page 12: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Food for wildlife

Watershed nutrients

Quinn 2005 (ecosystem services)

Page 13: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

How are salmon different from 99% of

other fish?

Page 14: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Anadromous & Semelparous

Migratory fish that live mostly

at sea and breed in fresh water.

And breed once in their

lifetime.

Page 15: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

The Salmon

lifecycle

Emergence Alevin

Fry

Parr

Smolt

Adult

Page 16: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Eggs and alevin

need cold,

oxygenated water in

the gravel.

Time to hatching

depends on

temperature & oxygen.

In general,

.

At 5°C 87 – 120 days,

depending on species.

At 10°C, 60 – 80 days.

Quinn 2005

Average eggs laid 2000 – 4000, largely depending on size.

Page 17: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Alevins with yolk

sacs in the gravel,

this is a very

sensitive stage.

Alevins tend to

burrow through

spaces between

gravel and orient

themselves

upstream.

Page 18: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Emerging Chinook fry

(in the Stillaguamish River, this happens in

about four to five months – so Feb to

March)

Survival rates

Eggs to hatching: pink 11%, Coho 25%, Chinook 38%

Egg to migrant Chinook survival based on Stillaguamish smolt trap data

averages 10%.

Page 19: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

From alevin to fry – now what?

Page 20: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Pinks and chum

tend to head

straight to the

estuary.

Chinook will rear

upriver if suitable

habitat is available.

In Alaska, more

Chinook are

‘stream-type’.

Chinook spend

more time in

estuaries than pink

or chum (this can

mean Puget Sound

at large).

Quinn 2005

Page 21: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Coho tend to spend a

year in freshwater,

.

Trout may spend as

many as three years.

They feed on algae

and aquatic insects

found on stream

bottoms or in ponds.

As they grow they will

eat small fish.

They need places of refuge & well

oxygenated water. They can be territorial.

Quinn 2005

Page 22: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Chinook fry left and in the process of

smolting, right. (Quinn/Bell)

Ion regulation, color, thyroid hormones, shape. Fish

become silvery and elongated

Changes that Occur

Page 23: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Smolting

(Quinn/Bell)

Coho fry

Page 24: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Smoltification: (teenage fish)

Triggered by internal rhythms, size, day

length, temperature.

Page 25: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Let’s look at some live fish!

Page 26: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources
Page 28: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Back to the fish lifecycle..

Page 29: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Optimal Out-migrant Habitat

Eelgrass beds

Salt marsh

Pocket estuaries

Page 30: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Small pocket

estuaries form

behind small spits,

often with

freshwater inputs,

are good food

sources and

protection from

predators.

Page 31: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Our salmon travel to the

North Pacific Ocean.

(Salmon tagged at sea and recovered in N Am or Japan. Quinn 2005)

At sea, salmon tend to stay in near surface waters

and move toward surface at night (as does

zooplankton).

Page 32: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Populations from other

rivers converge.

Gain 90% of their body

weight, eating fish, squid,

crustaceans.

Orient by using magneto-reception,

ocean temperatures.

N

Life at Sea

Page 33: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Life at Sea

Marine survival estimates: 5% or less

Overall survival is less than 1% - but given appropriate habitat

this may be enough to sustain a population.

Page 34: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Life at Sea

Salmon get caught and

we like to eat them!

Page 35: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

The Return to the Estuary (pre-spawning)

Page 36: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Sockeye

Pollard et al 97

Chum Chinook

Different species spawn in different places

Page 37: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Different species spawn in different places

Page 38: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Life History

Requirements

Page 39: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Cold, clear gravel bottomed streams

surrounded by woods

Temperatures need to be below 8° Celsius or

46°F, water 30 – 60 cm deep, flowing 30 – 100

cm/second.

Page 40: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Nests or Redds made of gravel and rock

Page 41: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Buffers: Essential Healthy Salmon Habitat

Benefits

1. Water filtration &

transpiration

2. Insect habitat

3. Wood supply for

in-stream use

4. Shelter

5. Shade

6. Slows current at

banks

7. Predator

deterrent

Plus:

Carbon sink/oxygen

Wildlife habitat (birds, bees, mammals)

Page 42: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources
Page 43: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Fish Food

Page 44: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Sockeye

rear in lakes

eating

zooplankton

Left to right:

Daphnia,

Diaptomus,

Cyclops

Quinn 2005

Page 45: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

In the estuary Chinook eat

zooplankton and invertebrates, small

fish, larval crabs and as they grow eat

larger fish.

Neomysis

top &

Corophium

amphipods

Crab

zoeae top,

Crab

megalop

bottom

By Greg Jensen

Ctenophore

Page 46: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Threats facing salmon today and

efforts at recovery

Habitat loss and degradation

Over fishing

Pollution

Changing ocean conditions

Page 47: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Puget Sound Chinook were listed as threatened

under the endangered species act in 1999.

At least 34% of Puget Sound salmon stocks are

depressed, in critical condition, or already

extinct.

In CA, OR, ID, & WA, salmon are now extinct in 40% of the

rivers in which they historically spawned. 30 – 50% of

remaining stocks are in jeopardy.

Page 48: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Local Threatened Stock Status

Less than 7%

historic estimates

North Fork Chinook: 1060

South Fork 188

(Includes Skykomish and

Snoqualmie rivers)

Chinook (Sky and Sno)

Bull trout (NF Sky, SF Sky, Salmon Creek,

Troublesome Creek)

Page 49: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

1988-2012 Chinook Escapement

Page 50: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

1988-2012 Chum Escapement

Page 51: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

1988-2012 Coho Escapement

Page 52: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Local recovery efforts consist of groups focused

on habitat enhancement plus hatcheries.

• Stillaguamish Watershed Council

• Snohomish Salmon Forum

• Sound Salmon Solutions

• Local fish clubs and many more

• Stillaguamish Restoration hatchery

enhances spawning success and is not a

‘fish farm’

Page 53: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

In the Stillaguamish River Chinook harvest is not

permitted for the public or the Stillaguamish

Tribe.

In 2009, the Tribe had their first ceremonial take

of Chinook in over 20 years.

They caught two.

Limited hatchery Chinook harvest is permitted in the Snohomish

Basin.

Following: photos of Stillaguamish Hatchery operation

Page 54: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

‘Broodstocking’

Page 55: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Capture fish returning to spawn

Page 56: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Deliver to the hatchery

Page 57: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Ripen

Page 58: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Spawning The Stillaguamish Tribe restoration

hatchery releases tens of thousands

of Chinook fry each year, and

educates several hundred students.

Page 59: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Issues related to salmon decline

How you can help!

Page 60: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Over-fishing and

Poaching

Report suspicion

or evidence of

poaching to WA

Dept of Fish &

wildlife.

877-933-9847

Page 61: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Derelict Fishing Gear

2.6 million pounds in Puget Sound kill millions of animals each

year

Report all lost

gear to WA Dept.

of Fish and

wildlife.

800-477-6224

Report all spills

to the local port

authority.

Page 62: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Temperature

Availability

Pollution

Water Quality

Page 63: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Contributors to Poor Water Quality

Channelized

waterways with

hardened, eroded,

and/or defoliated

banks.

Page 64: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Or no banks at all!

Large scale urbanization

with non-existent

estuaries or natural

streams.

Page 65: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Excess sediment can come from bank erosion,

landslides.

Page 66: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Sediment can bury gravels, reducing available

spawning habitat.

Page 67: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Sediment smothers eggs and clogs fish gills.

Page 68: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Volunteer to help restore stream buffers

and instream conditions

Fence streams from livestock (good for our

water too!)

Report lost fishing gear

Restore salt marsh/estuary/nearshore

habitat

Restoration hatcheries

Practice good water quality behavior

Page 69: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Restoring stream buffers

Page 70: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Working

together as a

community to

rebuild

buffers and

keep

pollutants out

of water.

Page 71: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Replacing wood in streams and rivers.

Creates pools and slows water down,

Creates hiding places,

and attracts edible insects.

Page 72: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Vegetated side channels are excellent for Chinook and

Coho juveniles, but low in number due to bank hardening

2006 North Fork Stillaguamish project reopened this side channel.

Page 73: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Prevent salmon from returning to their

spawning grounds, or force juveniles

downstream prematurely.

Fish Barriers

Page 74: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Repair Culverts and Barriers

Page 75: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Restore Salt Marsh Habitat

Originally 4448 acres, 15% remains. Since

1968, 863 acres accreted, but it lacks the

diversity of original habitat.

Page 76: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Challenges for shoreline and near shore

restoration

Balancing the interests of:

Agriculture

Residential

Other wildlife such as waterfowl

Page 77: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Restore or protect near shore and

beach habitat

Shoreline 39% modified:

dike 15%

concrete 6%

rock 6%

wood 11%

Other <1%

Page 78: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Stewardship, education, vote, let your leaders know

you care, participate in local committees.

Page 79: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

QUESTIONS???

Page 80: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Thank-you!

Page 81: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Greek for hook-snout

Page 82: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Steelhead salmon and/or Rainbow Trout

The most diverse life history. Can spawn multiple times

(iteroparous), can reside entirely in freshwater or migrate to

sea. Spawn in spring rather than fall.

Page 83: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Cutthroat trout

Spring spawner, found on both sides of Rockies, can

be freshwater resident, iteroparous. Have adfluvial

(live in lakes, spawn in streams) and sea-run types.

Page 84: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Female chum and female coho at sea

Pink and sockeye females at sea

Page 85: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Chinook or king or

blackmouth salmon

The largest and least

common Pacific salmon.

Mature at 4 – 6 years.

Favored food of orcas.

Charles Wood in Quinn 2005

2011 Forecast

Stillaguamish: 665

Snohomish: 589211

Page 86: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Chum or dog salmon

Oncorhynchus keta

Third most abundant

species, mature at 3, 4,

or 5 years of age.

2011 Forecast

Stillaguamish :11,314

Snohomish: 9,572

Page 87: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Coho or silver or

blueback salmon

Oncorhynchus kisutch

Mature from 2- 4

years.

2011 Forecast

Stillaguamish: 66,600

Snohomish: 180,000

Page 88: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Sockeye or red salmon

Oncorhynchus nerka

Second most abundant

species, live mostly in

lakes when in freshwater.

Page 89: Pacific Coast Salmon: Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources

Pink or humpy salmon

Oncorhynchus gorbuscha

The smallest and most abundant

salmon. Mature at 2 years.

2011 Forecast

Stillaguamish: 657, 643

Snohomish: 1,332,388!!!

Get yer smokers ready!