puyallup tribe salmon, trout and char report 2002-03 4puyalluppuytosouth

8/14/2019 Puyallup Tribe Salmon, Trout and Char report 2002-03 4PuyallupPuytoSouth

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PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIESPUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIESPUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES 88 200220022002 --- 200320032003 ANNUAL SALMON, STEELHEAD AND CHAR REPORT ANNUAL SALMON, STEELHEAD AND CHAR REPORT ANNUAL SALMON, STEELHEAD AND CHAR REPORT

PUYALLUP RIVERPUYALLUP RIVER

DESCRIPTION The lowest section of the

Puyallup River, from theconfluence with the WhiteRiver at RM 10.7 toCommencement bay isconfined by levees and thehabitat lacks complexity.

The small amount of suitable gravel present isoften compacted and offerslittle spawning opportunity.Steelhead have beenobserved spawning justupstream from the WhiteRiver confluence; the lowestdocumented spawning of any species in the river.

From the White River tothe confluence with the

Carbon River at RM 17.4and upstream to about RM23 just above the town of Orting, the river is stilltightly confined by levees on

both sides with the expected lack of channel complexity. This reach is similar to the lower Puyallup but doessupport sporadic spawning by chum, chinook andsteelhead during their respective seasons.

River miles surveyed : 10.5 to 45.7

Dates surveyed: NOT SURVEYED IN 2002 Species surveyed: Chinook, Coho, Pink, Chum, Steelhead

10.0021

Puyallup River looking down-stream near the town of McMil-lin. This tightly confined chan-nel is typical of the lower river.


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PUYALLUP RIVER CHINOOK SEASON COMPARISONS(1993 - 2002)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

YEAR SURVEYED

N U M B E R O B S E R V E D

LIVE

DEAD

REDD

The condition of the Puyallup River through most of the summer, fall, and early winterprevented any surveys for chinook or coho.

THE 2000THROUGH 2002SEASONS WEREUNSERVAYABLE

DUE TO POORWATER CONDI-

TIONS


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2003 PUYALLUP RIVER STEELHEAD COUNTS

PUYALLUP RIVER STEELHEAD SEASON COMPARISONS(1995 - 2003)

3

0

44

12

52

19

2

8

13

75

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

SEASON SURVEYED


LIVE

REDDS

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

3/18/03 3/27/03 4/3/03 4/14/03 4/28/03 5/20/03DATE SURVEYED


LIVE

DEAD

REDDS


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PUYALLUP RIVER: ELECTRONPUYALLUP RIVER: ELECTRONFISH LADDER TRAPFISH LADDER TRAP

DESCRIPTIONWith the completion of the Electron

fish ladder (R.M. 41.7) in the fall of 2000,anadromous fish passage was restored forthe first time since 1904. There areapproximately 26+ miles of usable habitat

above the diversion and surveys areconducted occasionally in response to thePuyallup Tribes live surplus hauls eachfall. Naturally returning steelhead andchinook were observed above thediversion soon after the ladderscompletion.

A passive fish trap was constructed

and installed in the summer of 2002. Thealuminum trap was placed in the lower endof the fish ladder (cell 7), and is lifted by a 2ton electric winch powered by a dieselgenerator. It is necessary to raise the trapto access the fish that have entered. The

inside of the trap can be accessed throughremovable side and top panels. The trap hadlimited success in 2002 due to low flows,sediment build-up in the trap and ladder cell,possible trap avoidance by migrating fish andoccasional high flows which went over thetrap. No steelhead were captured in 2003.

River Mile: 41.7Species sampled: Chinook, Coho, Steelhead

10.0021

Installation of the Electron fish ladder trap inthe summer of 2002. The green box houses thediesel generator that powers the electric winchused to move the trap.

Electron ladder trap shown in the raised po-sition.

Electron ladder, trap and diversion.


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RANGER CREEKRANGER CREEK River miles surveyed : 0.0 to 0.4Dates surveyed : NOT SURVEYED IN 2002 Species surveyed : Chinook, Coho, Char

AccessMile 0.1: The Carbon River road inMount Rainier National Park crossesRanger below the Ipsut creek campground.

DESCRIPTIONRanger creek is a small left

bank tributary of the upper CarbonRiver. It flows entirely within Mt.Rainier National Park. The lower0.4 miles are very low gradient withseveral deep pools and small but

plentiful gravel throughout thereach. Above this the gradient

increases significantly. The fall of 2000 was the first year any salmon spawningsurveys were conducted and none wereobserved. Several redds were observedearly in the spawning season but theirsmall size and timing matched the bulltrout spawning documented in otherheadwater tributaries in the watershed.

10.0530

Ranger creek looking upstream from the conflu-ence with the Carbon River .

The lower 0.4 miles are very low gradient withseveral deep pools and small but plentifulgravel throughout the reach.


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2002/2003 RODY CREEK CHUM COUNTS

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

11/25/02 12/4/02 12/13/02 1/2/03 1/22/03DATE SURVEYED


LIVE

DEAD


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RUSHINGWATERRUSHINGWATERCREEKCREEK

River miles surveyed : 0.0 to 1.0Dates surveyed : 9/17/02 to 11/14/02Species surveyed : Chinook, Coho

DESCRIPTIONRushingwater creek is a left bank

tributary entering the Mowich riverapproximately 0.6 miles up from its mouth.

The upper reach of the creek is mostlycomprised of pools and glides, with fine andmedium sized substrate. Abundant in-

stream woody debris and moderate to densecanopy cover extends through most of thisreach. Adult surplus coho have been planted

in the upper reach of Rushingwatersince 1997.

The lower reach (1.0 mile) of thecreek consist of a more complex riffle -pool complex. The substrate isconsiderably larger, consisting of largegravel, cobble and boulders. Adultsurplus chinook have been planted atRM 0.5 over the last five years. Anacclimation pond used for rearing

juvenile coho is also located just off themain channel.

10.0625

Upper reach of Rushingwater creek. This is thelocation of adult surplus coho plants from Voightscreek hatchery.

Acclimation pond located on the lowerreach of Rushingwater creek.

Newly planted coho inRushingwater pond.Coho are planted in theupper Puyallup acclima-tion ponds in late win-ter, and released in thespring.


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RUSHINGWATER CREEK ADULT CHINOOK PLANTS(2001 - 2002)

5 0

1 1 9

1 6 9

2 3 7

3 7 1

5 0

1 0 6

1 7 0

3 1 2

1 7 7

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 YEAR PLANTED

N U M B E R O F F I S H P L A N T E D

MALE COHO

FEMALE COHO

146

75

125

75

0

50

100

150

200

250

2001 2002 YEAR PLANTED

N U M B E R O F C H I N O O K P L A N T E D

MALE CHINOOK

FEMALE CHINOOK

RUSHINGWATER CREEK ADULT COHO PLANTS(1997 - 2002)


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RUSHINGWATER CREEK ACCLIMATION PONDCOHO AND CHINOOK PLANTS

(1999 - 2003)

1 4 9

, 9 7 0

1 0 1

, 4 0 0

1 0 0

, 3 5 0

1 0 0

, 4 0 0

1 0 4

, 5 0 0

3 8

, 0 9 3

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 YEAR PLANTED

N U M B

E R O F F I S H P L A N T E D

COHO

CHINOOK


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SALMON CREEKSALMON CREEK

River miles surveyed : 0.4 to 0.5Dates surveyed : 10/21/02 to 1/21/03Species surveyed : Coho, Chum

AccessMile 0.3: 4309 East Valley Highwaycrosses Salmon creek. Salmon creek isalso referred to as Strawberry creek.Check-in with Sumner RV (253)863-5644before surveys are conducted .

DESCRIPTION The surveyed reach of Salmon creek consists of a straightened, incised channel

running alongside a pasture. The riparian vegetation of reed canary grass provideslittle in the way of shade or LWDinputs. The substrate is primarilyfine sediment with small amounts of gravel. There is little spawninghabitat in Salmon creek and manyof the salmon observed in this reachare likely to be ascending to thespring fed tributary, Salmontributary, entering Salmon creek

just upstream at RM 0.5.

10.0035

Salmon creek looking downstream above East ValleyHighway.


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2002 SALMON CREEK COHO COUNTS

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

10/21/02 10/30/02 11/7/02 11/25/02 12/3/02DATE SURVEYED


LIVE

DEAD

REDDS


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2002/2003 SALMON CREEK CHUM COUNTS

SALMON CREEK SEASON COMPARISONS(1991 - 2002)

5 1

2 0

2 5

9 3

1 3 8

4 9

2 7

7 0

2 8

1

8 2

4 7

1 8

3 1

4 4

7 8

6 1

1 7

1 2 1

4

2 2

4 4

2 3

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

SEASON SURVEYED


LIVE

DEAD

0

5

10

15

20

25

11/7/02 11/25/02 12/3/02 12/20/02 1/21/03DATE SURVEYED


LIVE

DEAD


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SALMONSALMONTRIBUTARYTRIBUTARY

River miles surveyed : 0.0 to 0.1Dates surveyed : 10/21/02 to 1/21/03Species surveyed : Coho, Chum

AccessMile 0.3: 4309 East Valley Highwaycrosses Salmon creek. Salmon Tributaryenters Salmon creek 0.1 miles upstream of the bridge. Check-in with Sumner RV(253)863-5644 before surveys areconducted.

DESCRIPTIONSalmon Tributary is a short run, spring-fed

stream entering Salmon (Strawberry) creek. Itcontains approximately 0.1 miles of moderategradient channel with excellent gravel before thegradient increases and inhibits further upstreamaccess. Its consistent flows support a large run

of chum salmon for a stream of this size, along

with a few coho. The chum returnfor the past two seasons has beenexceptional. There were noblockage problems like the smalldebris jam which occurred in the2000 - 2001 season which

prevented all but a few chum from accessing the creek.

10.0036

Salmon Tributary late in the chum run.

Chum salmon working its way up salmon tributary.


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2002 SALMON TRIBUTARY COHO COUNTS

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

10/21/02 10/30/02 11/7/02 12/3/02DATE SURVEYED


LIVE

DEAD

REDDS


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2002/2003 SALMON TRIBUTARY CHUM COUNTS

SALMON TRIBUTARY CHUM SEASON COMPARISONS(1993 - 2002)

1 4 2

3 6 3

2 5 5

8 9

1 3 0

4 8 1

5 0

4

4 5 6

2 4 2

8 3

1 2 5

1 8

2

8 9 9

6

3 8 5

6 8

1 5

4 2 0

3 9 6

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002SEASON SURVEYED


LIVE

DEAD

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

11/7/02 11/25/02 12/3/02 12/20/02 1/21/03DATE SURVEYED


LIVE

DEAD


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SILVER SPRINGSSILVER SPRINGSCREEKCREEK

River miles surveyed : 0.0 to 0.3Dates surveyed : 9/4/02 to 9/25/02Species surveyed : Chinook, Coho,

Char

Access The stream runs parallel to the Whiteriver between it and the Silver Springscampground on Hwy. 410 below the

Crystal Mountain Road. You can walkupstream on Silver creek to the highwayafter looking at Silver Springs.

DESCRIPTION This is a spring fed tributary to

lower Silver creek. It flows through alow gradient pool riffle channel withmoderate amounts of in-stream woodydebris. The riparian vegetationconsists of large conifers with many

hardwoods near its confluence withSilver creek. There is excellent gravelthroughout the reach although it is

often obscured by fine sand. The creekruns directly though the Silver Springscampground.

Of special note is the documentation of Bull trout spawning in September shortlybefore the coho appear. Chinook wereobserved for the first time spawning in2001, yet no chinook were observed in2002.

The lower reach of Silver Springs creek. TheWhite river overtook the lower 200 feet of thecreek in late 2002. This was the site wherechinook spawned in 2001.

10.0332A

Char can be observed spawning during the firsthalf of September in the upper White river tribu-taries.


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20/23


2002 SILVER SPRINGS CHAR COUNTS

Collecting scale and DNA samples fromspring chinook in Silver Springs (2001).

Coho in Silver Springs Creek.

0

1

2

3

4

5

9/4/02 9/11/02 9/16/02 9/25/02 10/4/02DATE SURVEYED


LIVE

DEAD

REDDS


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SOUTH PRAIRIE CREEKSOUTH PRAIRIE CREEK

DESCRIPTION From RM 0.0 to RM 12.6 the stream is pool-riffle in character with many deep

pools and a few higher gradient cascades. Spawning gravel is excellent and plentifulthroughout this lower reach. Above this the stream is higher gradient and ismoderately to extremely confined within a deep canyon. Migration is blocked atapproximately R.M. 15.0 by a large bedrock cascade Spawning gravel becomesscarce in this upper reach and many heavily scoured bedrock sections exist.

Chinook spawning occurs primarily in the lower 8 miles while Coho showincreased usage in the middle and upper sections of the anadromous reach. Chumutilize the lower 3 miles heavily but have been observed well above the lower Burnettbridge at R.M. 8.0. Steelhead utilize the entire stream.

River miles surveyed : 0.0 to 8.0

Dates surveyed: 8/19/02 to 6/19/03Species surveyed: Chinook, Coho, Pink, Chum, Steelhead

10.0429

South Prairie Creek: Wilkeson Creek: -


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below the falls with reduced usagein the canyon reach below thefalls.

The riparian zone changesdramatically over the 15 miles of anadromous stream. The uppercanyon reach flows through acommercial forest and streamsidevegetation consists of secondgrowth fir and alder. Buffer widthsalong recent harvest areas aregenerally wider than the stateregulated minimum due to steep,potentially unstable slopes alongthe canyon. From there to R. M.6.0 the riparian zone is relativelyintact, consisting of mature

hardwoods with some fir.Occasional residentialdevelopment exists along this reach. Below this to the confluence there exists manydiked reaches and streamside residential development is common. Much of the lower6 miles flows through active agricultural land. Alder and cottonwood are the mostcommon streamside tree species .

AccessMile 8.0: Follow Hwy 162 to Lower Burnett Rd. Turn right and follow to bridge.Mile 5.8: Hwy 162 bridge near fire station at outskirts of South Prairie. Hwy 162crosses South Prairie creek 3 more times downstream, providing excellent footaccess.Mile 0.0: Take Hwy 162 to Carbon River bridge. Follow dike downstream to SouthPrairie Creek mouth.

Pink salmon in South Prairie creek 2001.

Conducting chum salmon surveys on South Prairiecreek.


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2002 SOUTH PRAIRIE CREEK CHINOOK COUNTS

SOUTH PRAIRIE CREEK CHINOOK SEASON COMPARISONS(1998 - 2002)

838

928

536

692

505

377

573

127

326

244

388

503

81

251

360

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

SEASON SURVEYED


LIVE

DEAD

REDDS

2002 South Prairie creek chinook graph was generated using survey data collected by WDFW.

0

50

100

150

200

250

8/30/02 '9/6/02 9/13/02 9/20/02 9/27/02 10/8/02 10/18/02 10/28/02DATE SURVEYED


LIVE

DEAD

REDD

puyallup tribe salmon, trout and char report 2002-03 4puyalluppuytosouth

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