COASTAL SALMON SPAWNING SURVEY PROCEDURES MANUAL

Transcription

1 COASTAL SALMON SPAWNING SURVEY PROCEDURES MANUAL 2003 COASTAL SALMONID INVENTORY PROJECT OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

2 Table of Contents OREGON COASTAL SALMONID INVENTORY PROJECT...1 COASTAL CHINOOK RESEARCH AND MONITORING PROJECT...2 THE OREGON PLAN FOR SALMON AND WATERSHEDS...3 MAP OF THE OREGON COAST SHOWING MAJOR RIVER BASINS, LOCATIONS OF SPAWNER SURVEY CREWS, FISHERY MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS...4 SALMON SPAWNING SURVEYOR ID LIST...6 SUPPLY LIST FOR SPAWNING SURVEYORS...9 SURVEY DESCRIPTION LISTS, DESCRIPTION CHANGES, AND MAPS...10 SURVEY DESCRIPTION LIST (EXAMPLE)...12 DESCRIPTION CHANGE FORM...13 EXAMPLE OF RANDOM SURVEY SITE MAP...16 LANDOWNER CONTACTS...17 FISH IDENTIFICATION...21 FIN NOMENCLATURE OF SALMON...22 SPAWNING SURVEY FIELD FORMS SPAWNING SURVEY FORM...31 BIOLOGICAL SAMPLING FORM...37 BIOLOGICAL SAMPLING FORM INSTRUCTIONS...38 CWT AND FIN-MARK RECOVERIES...43 SCALE SAMPLING...45 SCALE SAMPLING PROCEDURES...47 i

3 DNA SAMPLING...48 COHO SALMON SPAWNING SURVEY EVALUATION FORM...50 DESCRIPTION OF COHO SALMON SPAWNING GRAVEL...51 GENERAL SURVEY INSTRUCTIONS...53 FIRST WEEK PRIORITIES...54 DEALING WITH SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES...55 CELL PHONES...56 PUBLIC RELATIONS AND SAFETY...57 STATE VEHICLE USE...58 PERSONNEL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES...59 LIST OF NORTH COAST DISTRICT SURVEYS...65 LIST OF TILLAMOOK COAST DISTRICT SURVEYS...70 LIST OF MID-COAST DISTRICT SURVEYS...73 LIST OF UMPQUA COAST DISTRICT SURVEYS...81 LIST OF COOS-COQUILLE DISTRICT SURVEYS...86 LIST OF SOUTH COAST DISTRICT SURVEYS...92 LIST OF UPPER ROGUE DISTRICT SURVEYS...93 LIST OF LOWER COLUMBIA SURVEYS...96 ii

4 OREGON COASTAL SALMONID INVENTORY PROJECT The Oregon Coastal Salmonid Inventory Project is the branch of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife with the primary task of monitoring the status of naturally produced coastal salmonid stocks. Stock status is monitored through spawning surveys conducted throughout coastal watersheds. Spawning fish surveys are conducted in cooperation with district management biologists located in four different watershed management districts. Project generated data is used by State and Federal fishery managers in the management of Oregon's salmon resource. These data are also integral in assessing progress in the Oregon Plan. Project Objectives Four species of salmonids are monitored through spawning surveys. Primary objectives of this monitoring for each of these species are as follows: Coho Salmon Estimate population size of natural spawners. Historical abundance trends. Evaluation of straying and natural spawning by hatchery fish. Integrated EMAP assessment: spawners-habitat-juveniles. Evaluation of compliance with the ODFW Native Fish Conservation Policy. Monitoring Threatened and Endangered stocks. Development and assessment of fishery harvest regulations. Mapping of the spatial distribution of spawners. Chinook Salmon Escapement indicator stock for Pacific Salmon (US-Canada) Treaty monitoring. Formulation of ocean fishery regulation-south coast stocks. Historical abundance trends. Life history analysis. Evaluation of compliance with the ODFW Native Fish Conservation Policy. Development of monitoring methods. Chum Salmon Historical abundance trends. Development of monitoring for additional coastal stocks. Evaluation of compliance with the ODFW Native Fish Conservation Policy. Steelhead Development of monitoring methods. Second year of coast-wide monitoring winter-spring Additional project information is available on our web site at: 1

5 Coastal Chinook Research and Monitoring Project The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is continuing a multi-year study designed to develop methods that provide reliable estimates of fall chinook spawner escapements for Oregon coastal streams. Funding for this study was obtained through the US letter of Agreement and is administered by the Chinook Technical Committee (CTC) of the Pacific Salmon Commission. The CTC is responsible for evaluating the rebuilding process of naturally spawning chinook stocks covered by the Pacific Salmon Treaty and is comprised of scientists from the Northwest and Canada. This project is in direct response to requirements set forth by recent amendments to the Pacific Salmon Treaty and the adaptation of an aggregate abundance-based management (AABM) scheme for mixed stock fisheries. This management strategy provides a means for sharing conservation responsibility of far-north migrating stocks originating from Oregon watersheds and subsequently intercepted in commercial fisheries off Canada and Southeast Alaska. The AABM model requires precise escapements estimates for selected indicator basins. These basins are assumed to represent the ocean distributions exhibited by coastal Oregon chinook salmon stocks as well as their genetic diversity. There are basically two objectives to achieve during the spawning season. The first is an accurate and precise escapement estimate in each of the indicator basins selected. The second objective is to develop an unbiased survey design that best correlates with actual spawner abundance. The goal this project is to provide a yearly escapement estimates and to identify a survey design that can be used to estimate spawner abundance for coastal streams, in the future. By using indicator stocks to calibrate the survey methodology, the survey-based estimates can be adjusted to yearly variations in climate, run strength and regional effects. The Nehalem, Umpqua, Coquille, and Siuslaw River Basins have been selected as escapement indicator basins. Mark-recapture studies will be conducted to obtain an estimate of fall chinook populations in each of these River Basins. Various survey methods will be used to provide an estimate of spawner abundance in the tributary and mainstem spawning habitats. These include a random survey design where data is collected on live fish as well as carcasses and carcass mark-recapture in mainstem habitat. Surveyors in these basins will follow the same survey protocol used elsewhere with the addition of recognizing and recording the existence of operculum punches. Chinook will be captured using entanglement nets, seines or weirs in the tidewater (freshwater) areas. Once captured, these fish will be marked by having holes punched through their operculums. Marks will be stratified by Julian week and identified by the side of fish and area of operculum punched. The second capture event will consist of recovering chinook on the spawning grounds. All fish will be sampled for length, scales and sex, and checked for marks. Careful attention should be directed towards identifying operculum marks. Carcasses may fungus up or the punch may skin over making it difficult to see the mark. The gill cover may erode into punch, changing the round hole to a crescent shape mark. Any remnant of an opercle punch will be recorded as a marked fish. Each fish will be sampled once and the tail removed. Surveyors will use both foot and boat surveys to locate carcasses. 2

6 The Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds The Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds (Oregon Plan) represents a unique foundation Oregon s coordinated approach to recover Salmonid populations and restore watersheds to healthy conditions, and to address the issues and requirements of the federal Clean Water and Endangered Species acts. The Oregon Plan is designed to function within the state s regulatory requirements, social realities, and funding constraints. Four legs support the foundation of the Oregon Plan: action by government agencies, including a regulatory baseline; voluntary action; monitoring; and science oversight. Action by government agencies, including enforcement of a regulatory baseline, is the first leg of the Oregon Plan. State and Federal agencies have committed to accomplish work that will complement work on private lands, helping sustain and restore healthy watersheds, improve water quality, and recover native salmonids across the landscape. Voluntary action is the second leg of The Oregon Plan. Although more than half of Oregon is publicly owned, the distribution of public and private lands in Oregon, plus the life cycle requirements of federally listed salmonid species, combine to make water quality and watershed health on private lands crucial to meeting requirements of federal Clean Water and Endangered Species acts. This is where voluntary action by Oregonians fits. Private landowners individuals and industries rural and urban landowners, businesses, and citizens are filling critical gaps by conducting restoration work essential to watershed health, clean water, and recovery of listed fish species. Much of this work is coordinated through local Watershed Councils. Monitoring is the third leg of the Oregon Plan. The goal of the monitoring effort is to document the current condition of Oregon s key watershed health parameters, track changes over time, and determine if restoration efforts are actually effective. The spawning surveys that you will be conducting are a key component of this monitoring activity. Science oversight is the final leg of the Oregon Plan. This leg provides a science foundation that includes independent evaluation of: (1) Oregon Plan actions, (2) monitoring, and (3) management programs. The science foundation also includes a commitment to conduct needed research. 3

7 Map of the Oregon coast showing major river basins, locations of spawner survey crews, Fishery Management Districts and Watershed Management Districts. 4

8 COASTAL SALMON SPAWNING SURVEY INFORMATION FLOW COASTAL DISTRICTS SCALE PROJECT Lisa Borgerson Kanani Bowden DATA ENTRY Ann Kreager Lanoah Babcock Management Biologists Coastal Chinook Project Life Cycle Monitoring Project 50 Spawning Surveyors CREW CHIEFS Pat Burns Dave Stewart Tom Satterthwaite Bob Buckman CWT PROCESSING LAB Bill Murry CWT DATABASE MANAGEMENT John Leppink PUBLIC FISH DIVISION COASTAL SALMONID INVENTORY PROJECT Steve Jacobs Gary Susac Briana Sounhein Eric Brown OUTSIDE AGENCIES OCEAN FISHERIES MANAGEMENT OREGON PLAN 5

9 SALMON SPAWNING SURVEYOR ID LIST CREW LOCATION ID NUMBER SURVEYOR CLACKAMAS 90 Jennifer Kauffman 91 Casey Myers 92 Ryan Hornish 93 Catherine Gewecke SAUVIES ISLAND 94 Bill (Wilt) Chamberlain 95 Tyler Tappenbeck ASTORIA 96 Tiffany Hughes 97 Matt Cutlip SEASIDE 110 Marjorie Blake 111 Heidi Vogel JEWEL 112 Jon Olsen 113 Alex Neerman 114 Cathy Lee 115 Andrew Berger NEHALEM 119 Tim Dalton HATCHERY 120 Ben Walczak 121 Trevor Diemer 122 Andrea Johnson TILLAMOOK 20 Michael Sinnott 21 Matthew Wells 22 Barbra Geren 23 Jeff Johnson CORVALLIS 00 Steve Jacobs 01 Dave Stewart, North Crew Chief 02 Briana Sounhen 03 Gary Susac 04 Eric Brown, Columbia Crew Chief 05 Edward Hughes 06 April Waters 08 Pat Burns, South Crew Chief NEWPORT 30 Bob Buckman 31 Lawerence Gangle III 32 Kevin Kemper 33 Bret Hopkins 34 Bill Ratliff 35 Tony Stein 36 John Spangler 37 Lincoln SWDC Surveyors 38 Watershed Council Surveyors 39 Steve Johnson and crew 6

10 SALMON SPAWNING SURVEYOR ID LIST (continued) CREW LOCATION ID NUMBER SURVEYOR EUGENE 40 Michael Scheu 41 Lisa Rasmusan 42 John Elliot (Spanky) 007 Joshua Edwards (Snack bar) MAPELTON 45 Holly Truemper 46 Jon Kluck REEDSPORT 50 James Fangman 51 Amber Steed ROSEBURG 55 Kevin Saylor 56 Amy Price 57 Heather Wise 58 Summer Phelps 59 Ron Constable 54 Ben Hart 52 District Staff COOS BAY 60 Lisa Biggs 61 Paul Bubrick 62 Brian Peterson 63 Phil Simpson 65 Justin Gerding 66 Chelsey Girt 67 Bruce Miller s Crew 68 Industry Surveyors 69 Watershed Council GOLD BEACH 70 Nathaniel Davis 71 Lucas Lawerence 72 Broodstock Crew 73 Elk River Crew 74 All Volunteers GRANTS PASS 80 Kasey Sirkin 81 Celeste Cole 86 Tom Satterthwaite Supervisory Fishery Biologist CENTRAL POINT 82 Monty Larson 83 Denise Sterejc 84 Matt Hutchinson 85 Steve Healy 7

11 CHINOOK PROGRAM SALMON SPAWNING SURVEYOR ID LIST (continued) NEHALEM 301 Todd Boswell 302 Mark Koehmstedt 303 Katie Voelkie 304 Ethan Guzman 305 Scott Kirby 306 Jon Grigoraitis 307 Angelita Rodriguez 319 Shari Pool 327 Amber Winslow SALMON RIVER 308 Ben Soeby 309 Victor Vrell SIUSLAW 310 Sandy Kennedy 311 Chris McCafferty 312 Brian Meiering 313 Jeremiah Bernier 314 David Lidley 316 Megan Larsson COQUILLE 318 Leo Grandmontagne 320 Kayleen Abel 420 Matt Johnson 321 Dell Willis 315 Matthew Goehring AT LARGE 324 Brian Riggers (D.Bowie) 325 Hal Weeks 323 Chris Stephens 322 Tracy Holton 317 Other MISCELLANOUS BLM 100 All Surveyors FOREST SERVICE 200 All Surveyors 8

12 SUPPLY LIST FOR SPAWNING SURVEYORS Forms: 1. Salmon Spawning Survey Form Landowner Contact Forms. 3. Description Change Form. 4. Biological Sampling Form with Snout ID Tabs. 5. Spawning Survey Evaluation Form. 6. List of Survey Location Descriptions. 7. Report of Operations Form. Equipment: 1. Chest waders, with belt. 2. Wading shoes (felt soles or corkers are recommended) and neoprene booties. 3. Polarized sunglasses. 4. Raincoat. 5. Hat. 6. Orange field vest. 7. Pencils and Sharpies. 8. Spawning Fish Survey Field Notebook. 9. Measuring tape (in millimeters). 10. Forceps for scale collection. 11. Scale envelopes. 12. DNA sample tray and scissors for DNA sampling 13. Knife with sheath. 14. Snout / Fin-mark ID Labels. 15. Snout bags. 16. Hand-held tally counter. 17. Wading staff with gaff. 18. Signs for marking boundaries of surveys. 19. C. B. Radio (as needed). 20. Life Jacket (For River Surveys, as needed). 21. Spawning Survey Procedures Manual. 22. GPS unit (as needed). 23. Site maps (as needed). 24. Cell Phone (as needed). 9

13 SURVEY DESCRIPTION LISTS, DESCRIPTION CHANGES, AND MAPS You will receive a list of descriptions for surveys in your area (see example, page 12). These descriptions provide detailed directions to the survey site, the name of the stream to be surveyed, the basin and subbasin that contain it, and geographic data such as the Township Range and Section of the start point, and the UTM coordinates for the start and end points. All of these data can help you find the start and end points of the site you need to survey. Check signs carefully to make sure that you are in the right place, and to make sure that the signs are correct. Sometimes Reach ID's and/or segment numbers change and signs need to be updated. If you think that this is the case, and you are confident that you are in the right place, then correct the sign. Some of the surveys you will be walking have not been visited in some time (up to 12 years). If signs are missing, first check to make sure that you have correctly identified the start and/or end point. Then check the landowner comments to see if someone has asked us not to post signs. UTM COORDINATE SYSTEM This is an easy to use coordinate system, based on a projection of the earth as a flat surface. The earth is divided into 60 zones. All of western Oregon falls within Zone 10. Within each zone there are two coordinates that define a point: a northing (x) and an easting (y). The northing coordinate indicates the distance in meters from the southern boundary of Zone 10 (the values increase as you move north). The easting coordinate indicates the distance from the western boundary of Zone 10 (the values increase as you move east). These coordinates correspond to distances, in meters, inside the zone boundary. Most maps will have the UTM grid printed on them, some of the older maps may only have ticks, and thus the grid must be constructed. In the margins of the map, next to the grid lines are the coordinates for the boundaries of the 1000-meter grid. The two larger digits are called the principal digits and are always in ten thousands and thousands of meters. If you find an error in the description you will need to complete a Description Change Form for that survey (page 13). Fill out the form completely. When writing the description, be detailed and precise. Proper grammar and legibility are also important. After reading the descriptions to your surveys you'll get an idea of what makes a good description. You will also be provided with a map showing all the surveys in your area. Additional materials may be available if you cannot find a site using the description and the map. Summer surveyors fill out a Survey Site Verification Form when they set up a new survey (pages 11-13). Surveys set up since 1996 usually have a 1:24,000 topographic map with the start and end points marked. In addition, the verification form may have specific comments on landmarks or landowners that might help you locate the start and/or end points of the survey. MISSING UTM'S You will need to acquire UTM's for all surveys where they are missing, and for surveys that were last surveyed prior to The crew chiefs will be rotating GPS units through the crews to establish missing UTM's. Write new or corrected UTM s on the Spawner Survey Form (page 31), crossing out incorrect or outdated UTM s on this form where applicable. 10

14 INSTRUCTIONS FOR GPS UNITS Turn the unit on by pressing the button with the red light bulb. You will get a screen that says "Acquiring EPE" showing the relative positions of all satellites the unit can detect, the relative strength of each signal, and a battery gauge. The black outline around each satellite will disappear as the unit obtains a lock on it. If you have trouble getting a strong enough signal, try moving to a clear area - out from under tree cover and as far away from hills as possible. Holding the unit high in the air sometimes helps. When the unit gets a lock on enough satellites it will switch to another screen that shows a compass on the top. The UTM coordinates are shown on the lower left-hand corner of this screen (10T=Easting coordinate, UTM=Northing coordinate). The "Page" button will scroll through several different screens. The settings should be correct, but if you need to change them, go to the "Main Menu" screen. Use the large pad in the middle to scroll up or down until "System Menu" is highlighted. Press "Enter". The "System" setup will allow you to change the screen contrast. Use the large pad to scroll to the setting you wish to change and press "Enter". Use the scroll key to change the setting and then press "Enter" again to save your settings. If the unit refuses to lock satellites, check these settings. Press page to go back to the "Main Menu" screen. The settings for "Navigation" should be set to: POSN: UTM/UPS DATUM: NAD27 CONUS CDI SCALE: ±0.25 UNITS: STATUTE HEADING: Auto Mag E018 To get an accurate UTM reading, stand in desired location, wait for satellites to lock in, and then push the mark button. In this new screen, use the large center pad to scroll down to average and then press enter. Either hold still or put the unit on the ground until the FOM number at the bottom left stabilizes (about one minute). Once the FOM has stabilized, write the UTM s shown near the center of the screen down. To turn the unit off, hold down the button with the red light bulb for about 3 seconds. ******Be sure to carry extra batteries****** 11

15 SURVEY DESCRIPTION LIST (example) REACH SEG- BASIN SUBBASIN SURVEY LOCATION ( T,R,S; DESCRIPTION ID MENT DOWNSTREAM UTMs; UPSTREAM UTMs) COOS RIVER MAIN STEM WILSON CR T26S R12W 29 FROM COOS BAY, GO SOUTH ON HWY 101 TO A SIGN THAT SAYS SUMNER/GOLF COURSE. TURN LEFT AT THE DIAMOND WOOD PRODUCTS MILL AND GO 4.6 MILES TO THE BUSHNELLS HOUSE (4640- BROWN). PARK AND WALK ALONG THE BUSHNELLS PASTURE FENCELINE TO WILSON CR (NO SIGN POSTED). SURVEY FROM HERE UPSTREAM 1.0 MILES TO CARDWELL CREEK ON THE LEFT (SIGN ON WILLOW ON LEFT). EXIT VIA ROAD ON LEFT. ***NOTE: BRING MACHETE AND DO NOT GO DOWNSTREAM OF THE FENCELINE ON THE BUSHNELLS PROPERTY; THE MESSERLES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CREEK DENIED ACCESS COOS RIVER MAIN STEM PANTHER CR T26S R12W 33 FROM TOWN OF SUMNER DRIVE SOUTHEAST ON COOS BAY WAGON RD. 1.3 MILES TO PULLOUT ON RIGHT ACROSS ROAD FROM A GREEN GATED GRAVEL ROAD. PARK AND ENTER WILSON CR. FROM THE SOUTH END OF THE PULLOUT. WALK UPSTREAM 50M TO MOUTH OF PANTHER CR. LEFT (START SIGN TREE LEFT). FROM MOUTH SURVEY UPSTREAM.32 MILES TO END POINT 50 M ABOVE END SIGN (END SIGN ON DOWN LOG CENTER.) EXIT VIA SURVEY COOS RIVER MAIN STEM WILSON CR T26S R12W 33 FROM SUMNER, DRIVE EAST 1.4 MILES AND PARK AT PANTHER CR CROSSING. WALK DOWN TO THE MOUTH OF PANTHER CR. SURVEY WILSON CR FROM THE CONFLUENCE WITH PANTHER CR (SIGN ON ALDER ON THE LEFT) UPSTREAM 0.49 MILES TO A TRIBUTARY ON THE LEFT JUST PAST A ROAD CROSSING (SIGN ON TREE ON LEFT). EXIT VIA THE ROAD ON THE LEFT COOS RIVER MAIN STEM WILSON CR, T27S R12W 04 FROM THE TOWN OF SUMNER AT THE SUMNER STORE, DRIVE EAST 1.85 TRIB D MILES TO A DRIVEWAY ON THE RIGHT. WILSON CREEK, TRIB D IS 10 METERS UPSTREAM OF THE DRIVEWAY. SURVEY TRIB D FROM THE MOUTH (SIGN ON MAPLE ON LEFT) UPSTREAM 0.53 MILES TO TWO EQUAL SIZE TRIBS (SIGN ON AN ALDER ON THE LEFT). EXIT VIA SURVEY. ***NOTE: WINTER SURVEYORS SHOULD DETERMINE IF COHO COULD GO ABOVE THE ENDPOINT IN EITHER BRANCH COOS RIVER MAIN STEM WILSON CR T26S R12W 33 PARK AT LAST DRIVEWAY UPSTREAM ON SUMNER-FAIRVIEW RD. (FROM SUMNER) WHERE THE ROAD CROSSES PANTHER CR. ACCESS WILSON CR, 5 METERS FROM THE ROAD, AND SURVEY FROM THE CONFLUENCE WITH PANTHER CR (SIGN ON TREE ON LEFT) UPSTREAM 0.48 MILES TO A JUNCTION OF THREE TRIBUTARIES FEEDING WILSON CR (SIGN POSTED ON NEAREST TREE, 50 METERS DOWNSTREAM FROM ENDPOINT). EXIT VIA SURVEY AREA. 12

16 SPAWNING SURVEY DESCRIPTION CHANGE FORM DATE SURVEYOR ID DISTRICT BASIN SUBBASIN REACH. SEGMENT MAP COORDINATES: (at downstream end of survey segment) TOWNSHIP T RANGE R SECTION (Change UTM S on the Spawner Survey Form) DESCRIPTION: (Print legibly, use complete sentences, and observe standard rules of grammar. Include as much detail as necessary so that your description will enable future surveyors to locate exactly the same stream segment. Try to avoid using landmarks and names that are likely to change over time.) (use reverse to continue). Check one of the following boxes Description changed during: coho season (Oct January) steelhead season (Jan May) 13

17 Example of Random Survey Verification Form Example of Random Survey Verification Form (Page1) 11 14

18 Example of Random Survey Verification Form (Page 2) 15

19 Example of Random Survey Site Map 16

20 Landowner Contacts You must contact landowners for permission before conducting surveys that are located on private land. Do not trespass on property where permission has not been granted. You will be given pre-printed LANDOWNER CONTACT FORMS (page 18) for all surveys. The data on these forms is our best knowledge about the landowners on the survey, but it is not infallible. People buy, sell and subdivide land, and there may be new landowners that are not on your sheet, or old landowners that no longer live on the survey that need to be removed. Make the corrections and highlight them on the landowner form and they will be updated in our database. Also get the Tax lot information if it is not provided and easily obtained. Landowners that gave permission during survey verifications this summer do not need to be contacted again unless there are specific instructions to do so in the landowner comments or the survey description. Check the most recent OK date - if it is later than April of this year you do not need to make another contact. In addition, most of the large corporate landowners have already been contacted. Again, Check the OK dates. If the list does not indicate that a corporate landowner has been contacted, obtain permission before conducting the survey. Make sure to check the "Comments" section for any special instructions (like where to get keys and if they need to be notified when you are surveying). When you contact landowners, introduce yourself in a professional manner and identify your organization. Explain your reason for being there, and be clear on your intent, methods, and the frequency of your visits. Verify the information that we have for them, making sure that the names, address, and phone number are all correct. If this information is incorrect, record the correct information on the landowner contact form. Inform landowners that surveys will be conducted through mid January, and in some cases through May to accommodate Steelhead spawning surveys. Accommodate any special request, (Example: owner requests that surveyors not park in driveway) and write them down! You can t have too much information. Make sure to record the date you contacted the landowners. Also add any extra landowners to the list and cross off any that did not need to be contacted. An information pamphlet discussing the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds is also available for the landowner s information (Page 19-20). This pamphlet gives an overview of the goals of the Oregon Plan and also explains the adult, juvenile, and habitat projects of ODFW and the stream health-biotic index project of DEQ. Be sure to check the box next to the Adult Salmon Spawning Surveys section of the pamphlet. Record your contacts with landowners on the Landowner Contact Form (page 18). Once a landowner has given permission, fill in the date under "New OK date". If a landowner denies permission, note this under "Comments" and do not trespass on their property. You may need to drop a survey if this occurs - consult your crew chief. If a landowner requests data, be sure to enter this under "Data Requested". Write in any additional landowners that don't appear on the form, along with as much contact data as you can obtain (address, phone, etc.). Edit any landowner information that is incorrect. When you have obtained all the necessary permissions, write your surveyor ID in the "Contacts Complete" box. Complete this part of the form even when there are no landowner contacts that need to be made (for example, if the survey falls entirely on public land). 17

21 Example REPEAT SURVEY LANDOWNER CONTACT FORM DISTRICT NORTH COAST BASIN NECANICUM RIVER SUBBASIN MAIN STEM REACH ID Year(s) Surveyed 92,94,98 SEGMENT 1 DATE VERIFIED 7/20/92 SURVEY NAME BEERMAN CR COMMENTS LANDOWNERS GAVE PERMISSION. LANDOWNER AT 106 BEERMAN CR NEEDS TO BE CONTACTED (HOUSE JUST BEFORE FIRST BRIDGE ON BEERMAN CR RD). LANDOWNER AT 619 BEERMAN CR RDNEEDS TO BE CONTACTED, MR KNISPEL ( ). MAY BE OTHER LANDOWNERS AS WELL. NAME ADDRESS PHONE DATE OK GRANTE D NEW OK DATE DATA REQUESTE D LOT # COMMENTS KNISPEL KNOX JOHNSON TEPAL 619 BEERMAN CR RD 106 BEERMAN CR RD (RIVER MOUTH) SEASIDE BEERMAN CR RD, SEASIDE, OR /23/98 No 3.11: /23/98 No 10/23/98 No 10/23/98 Yes WELLS 459 BEERMAN CR RD 10/23/98 No 3.11: 1004 DEGANDIS BEERMAN CR RD 10/23/98 No PRIVT JACK PITMANS ANDREW PITTARD 601 BEERMAN CR RD 657 BEERMAN CR RD 945 BEERMAN RD. SEASIDE, OR /23/98 No 10/23/98 No 202 NOT AN OWNER IN SURVEY AREA 18

22 Stream Name: Site Number: Field Crew: Agency: Local Phone: Supervisor: Phone: Comments: Sampling Record Example of sample sites in the Mid-Coast Streams are randomly selected for sampling using a computer program. Landowner names and addresses are not used in reports or data summaries. If you would like a copy of the report summary for your area, we will gladly supply it without charge. What is the Oregon Plan? The Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds is a broad-based effort of citizens, local watershed groups, the State of Oregon, and federal agencies to restore healthy salmon populations and their watersheds. The most important part of the Plan is the idea that people working together, with the support of state and local government, can do more to help fish than could be accomplished by a strict regulatory approach. The Plan has been in effect for about three years. Hundreds of projects designed to improve stream habitat and watershed conditions have been completed. Support for watershed groups, SWCD s, and landowners has brought people together to develop stream restoration plans tailored to the needs of the local community. For more information: Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds Program Office (503) x821 Monitoring Program: (541) x226 Internet Address: 19 Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds Stream Monitoring The Oregon Plan Monitoring Program is designed to assess the current status of fish populations and their habitat and to document the effectiveness of restoration and enhancement programs. Streams in your area have been randomly selected to census salmon populations, conduct habitat surveys, and assess overall stream health. Sampling is coordinated using an unbiased statistical survey plan. Specially trained field crews conduct the various sampling tasks described in this pamphlet. Monitoring Program Activities

23 These Oregon Plan Monitoring Projects are designed to work together to give us basic information on salmon populations and conditions across large geographic areas. Activities that we would like to conduct on the stream or streams on your property are marked in the checkbox by the name of each project. HAdult Salmon Spawning Surveys Counts of spawning adult salmon are a key indicator of abundance. A team of one or two surveyors will visit each potential site once during the summer to mark the Contacts: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Steve Jacobs (541) x261 Briana Sounhein (541) x227 HJuvenile Salmon Population Census Divers will snorkel pool habitats to count juvenile salmon. Over time, these counts help us understand trends in the abundance and distribution of juvenile salmonids. At some of the sites, more HStream Habitat Assessment Stream habitat surveys are conducted from June through September in one-half mile long sections of stream. Each section takes about a day to survey. Surveyors will collect information on channel size, flow, substrate composition, large wood, habitat complexity, and riparian characteristics. boundaries of the survey and collect data on stream size, availability of spawning gravel, and possible barriers to fishpassage. Each survey covers about one mile of stream. Starting with the fall spawning migration, and continuing through early winter, crews will visit each site about once a week to count the salmon. precise population estimates will be made for juvenile coho, cutthroat, and steelhead. Survey sites will vary in length. Field crews will spend about one day at each site over the summer sampling period. Contact: ODFW Kevin Leader - Mid and North Coast (541) x263 Tom Satterthwaite Rogue and South Coast (541) Contact: ODFW Kim Jones (541) x260 HStream Health Biotic Index Measurement Measurements of aquatic insects, aquatic plants, water quality, fish communities, and habitat are combined to create and integrated assessment of stream condition. The length of stream sampled ranges from about one-quarter to one-half a mile. Crews spend a day at each site. Contact: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Rick Hafele (503)

24 FISH IDENTIFICATION You will be expected to identify the species of live fish and the species and gender of carcasses encountered in the field. To accomplish this you will use a number of characteristics including size, run timing, geographic location, coloration, body morphology, markings, and behavior. It is prudent to use as many characteristics as possible when designating species and gender. Chinook appear earliest in the fall, and are generally much larger than Coho (adult length cm, jacks <51). They tend to spawn in bigger water, and are typically darker than Coho with bronze to black coloration. Some Chinook (especially large males) are quite red, but never anterior to the dorsal fin. You can distinguish reddish Chinook from Coho by their size. They have large irregular spots on their backs and both lobes of their tails, and their tail rays are smooth. Chinook can often be distinguished by the white 'skunk-line' of fin rot on their backs. The gums at the base of their teeth are black. Coho appear later than Chinook - generally beginning in late October to early November. They tend to spawn in smaller streams and are smaller fish (adult length rarely exceeds 75cm, jacks <43 cm). They are dull to bright red with greenish backs, and can often be distinguished by the white spot on the operculum behind their eyes. Occasionally you may see a Coho that still has its bright silver ocean coloration. They tend to be deeper in the body, making them look football-shaped. They have small round spots on their backs and the upper lobe of their tails. The gums at the base of their teeth are white, but the rest of the jaw is dark. They tend to be more shy than chinook and are easily startled. Chum appear almost exclusively in the northern part of the coast. They don't travel far inriver, and tend to spawn in low gradient streams within a few miles of the ocean. They can be distinguished by the distinctive striated bars on their sides. They have very small speckles on their backs. Other key characteristics include their large eyes and lack of spotting on the tail. Steelhead appear in the winter and early spring. They are more elongated (torpedoshaped) than salmon, and have a broader caudal peduncle and a square tail (salmon tails are more lobed or forked). They are gray-blue on their backs and silvery-white on their lower halves. They have completely white mouths, small spots on their tails, and are very shy. In order to observe them you must move quietly and stealthily. Females tend to have a more extensively eroded tail fin from digging the redd - - both lobes are eroded evenly. Males have a more pronounced kype and are generally larger overall. The lower lobe of a male's tail is usually more eroded than the upper lobe. If you are unsure of the gender of a carcass, you can cut open its belly to examine its gonads. 21

25 FIN NOMENCLATURE OF SALMON Key Area MEPS Length Axillary Appendage Schematic of a salmon identifying fin names, location of Key Area for scale sampling and location of start and end points for measuring MEPS (mid-eye to posterior scale) lengths. 22

26 CHINOOK (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) The chinook, a favorite of sport fisherman, is the largest of British Columbia's five salmon species. The world record is kg. The chinook is a powerfully built fish. While still feeding in salt water, the chinook has a dark back, with a greenish blue sheen. As it approaches fresh water to spawn, its color darkens and it develops a reddish hue around the fins and belly. The teeth of adult spawning males become enlarged and the snout develops into a hook. The major runs of chinook salmon are in the larger rivers of British Columbia, with the Fraser being one of the most important. A large number of runs are also found in the Canadian portion of the Yukon River. Chinook are frequently dubbed "spring" salmon, because they return to some rivers earlier than the other four species of Pacific salmon. In the Fraser and Columbia rivers, the early run starts in April and continues into May. There may also be a summer run in June and July and another in August and September. Some river systems have more than one stock of chinook, sometimes with the stocks migrating in spring, summer and fall. Fish in the early runs usually go farthest upstream, with those in later migrations spawning closer to salt water. While the majority of chinook salmon head for sea a few months after they emerge from the gravel, some remain in their home stream for one or two years. Chinook returning to spawn vary greatly in age - from two to eight years. In southern areas, three, four and five-year-old chinook are most common, while farther north, five, six and seven-year-olds are more abundant. In the Yukon River, a northern stream, almost all chinook spend their first year in fresh water. Here the females usually return to spawn as six or seven-year-old fish and the males a year younger. In the sea, chinook feed on large zooplankton, herring, sand lance and many other fish, ranging widely in the ocean and growing rapidly during their last year in salt water. Those spawning after three or four summers of feeding at sea weight from 6.75 to 25 kg. Smaller two or threeyear-old male fish returning to spawn are called jacks. 23

27 CHUM (Oncorhynchus keta) Chum salmon are attractive fish. In salt water they are metallic blue and silver, with occasional black speckling on the back. They are the latest of the five salmon species to enter the southern streams and rivers to spawn, usually in late autumn and in some instances in late winter. In northern rivers, however, they arrive on the spawning beds as early as July. Chums are widely dispersed along the Pacific coast from northern California up to the Aleutian Islands, in the Bering Sea and the Mackenzie River, inhabiting more than 875 rivers and streams in British Columbia alone. Although they usually spawn close to tidal waters, in some cases they migrate up larger rivers such as the Yukon where they travel more than 3,200 kilometers to Teslin Lake. Those spawned in shorter coastal streams move directly to the sea, sometimes requiring only a day or two for their journey downstream. In the larger river systems, however, the young fry may stay in fresh water for several months while making their way to the ocean. They remain in coastal waters until mid or late summer before going farther offshore. Their growth during this part of their migration is rapid. The young are green-backed, silvery fish with faint parr markings. While some have been known to weigh 15 kilograms, chum salmon average 3.5 to 4.5 kg, and can measure more that 100 cm at maturity. They are harvested primarily on their return to their spawning streams. As they near fresh water on the return to their home streams, their flesh quality and visual appeal deteriorate rapidly. Mature fish show reddish or dark bars across the sides and some have blotches of gray or black as well. The males also develop a sharply hooked nose and large, dog-like teeth (hence the common name "dog salmon") which are used to display and protect their territory during spawning. Because their flesh is pale and low in fat content, chum salmon are not considered prime fish for canning. As a result, they are usually marketed fresh, frozen or smoked, although some canning does take place. 24

28 COHO (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Coho are swift, active fish. These salmon are found in most B.C. coastal streams and in many streams from California to Alaska, but their major territory lies between Cook Inlet, halfway up the Alaska coast, to the Columbia River (which borders the states of Washington and Oregon). When mature in the late fall, they weight up to 14 kg, although their average weight is between 2.7 and 5.4 kg. Next to pinks, they probably have the most consistent life history of west coast salmon. Juvenile coho are highly adaptable and can have varied life histories. Most stay from one to two years in coastal streams before emigrating seaward as smolts. But other fry are equally at home in lakes or in coastal estuaries. During early stages of growth, they have distinct parr markings (dark, vertical bars along each side), greenish brown backs, and a white leading edge on the anal fin and an orange tint on all but the dorsal fin. As they develop into smolts, their parr marks gradually fade and their backs become green with dark spots. While a number, known as jacks, return to spawn after less than one year at sea, the majority spend two growing seasons in salt water before returning to their home stream to spawn. While most coho tend to remain close to the coast, they have been found as far as 1,600 km from shore. Like the pink salmon, they prefer relatively warm water, often moving south in the fall and winter months. Their first ocean year is spent feeding on sand lance, herring, insects, copepods, amphipods, crab larvae and euphausids. In the second year at sea, their growth rate increases due to heavy feeding on squid, herring, sand lance and large zooplankton, taking their weight from an average 1.3 kg in March to 5.4 kg in the fall and winter when they return to their home streams to spawn. As adults, coho have silvery sides and a metallic blue back with irregular black spots. Spawning males in fresh water may exhibit bright red on their sides, bright green on their back and head, with darker coloration on their belly. They also develop a marked hooked jaw with sharp teeth. Females change colour and develop hooked snouts, but the alteration is less spectacular. 25

29 STEELHEAD (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Steelhead trout take habitat in tidal waters of estuaries and near shore. Adults prey on squid, euphausiids, amphipods and fishes; young eat insects, copepods, amphipods and other crustaceans and young fishes (e.g. sand lance, eulachon, herring). Steelhead predators are a variety of fish, birds and marine mammals. Steelhead trout spawn in larger streams and rivers; localized and extensive Pacific Ocean feeding migrations. Mature adults enter rivers and larger streams year round, but generally concentrated as winter (November to May) and summer (May to October) runs. Steelhead may spawn more than once (3-40% of population). Eggs laid in gravel redds prepared by female in tributary stream or inlet/outlet of nursery lake from January to June. Eggs hatch in 4-7 weeks and fry emerge from gravel from mid-june to mid-august. Juveniles rear in freshwater for 2-4 years prior to migrating to sea as smolts from April to June. Only remain in estuary for a short period of time before moving offshore. Adults usually complete extensive feeding migrations in the Pacific Ocean before returning to spawn after 2-3 summers (range 1-4) in the ocean. Adults live to 6-8 years and may reach 1140 mm or 19 kg. Spawning Comparison: 26

30 Fall Chinook: note irregular spots on back Female, Male and Jack Coho Male, Female and Jack Chinook carcasses Female and Male Chum carcasses 27

31 SALMON IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION: 28

32 SALMON IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION: 29

33 SPAWNING SURVEY FIELD FORMS There are four forms used for recording spawning survey data. They are: 1. Spawning Fish Survey Field book (used in field) Spawner Survey Form (stays in office) 3. Biological Sampling Form 2003 (used in field) 4. Survey Evaluation Form (stays in office) The function and directions for use of each of these forms is as follows: Spawning Survey Field Book Pocket-sized books with 40 forms per book. Used for recording survey conditions, tallying fish and redd counts and recording comments (see below). Data are transcribed to 2003 SPAWNER SURVEY FORM at end of each day. Completed forms are kept at your workstation and turned in to Corvallis at end of season. SPAWNING SURVEY FIELD BOOK: EXAMPLE Survey: Date: W: F: V: Fish Activity: CH CO CM Live Dead unmk Mk Unk. Jack Male Fem Jack Unk PHA PHJ Redds (Use reverse side for comments and gravel counts) 30

34 REACH ID: SEGMENT: 1 INFLUNCE CODE: CH CO CU DISTRICT: 1 North Coast BASIN: 5 Nehalem River SUBBASIN: 1 Mainstem LOCATION: 2003 SPAWNER SURVEY FORM SURVEY: Wrong Way Creek START COORD: 07N05W20 0.5MILES UTM COORDINATES: UP-E UP-N DOWN-E DOWN-N SURVEY TYPE AND TARGET SPECIES: RANDOM COHO From Mist (intersection of Highway 202 and Highway 47) drive west on Highway miles to Fishawk Road on the right. Turn right and drive 5.8 miles to a left turn up a hill at Longview Fibre Co gate. (Contact Tom for key). Drive 0.3 miles to a fork. Take right fork. Go 0.2 miles to another fork. Take left fork. Drive 1.2 miles keeping right at 2 left turns to a bridge over North Fork Fishawk Creek. Park here and walk up the North Fork 100 meters to Wrong Way Creek on the right. Start sign for Steelhead Survey on alder on the right at mouth. Walk upstream 0.7 miles to where Wrong Way Creek Forks. Start sign is on an alder on the right. Survey up right fork 0.5 miles to large log jam. End sign is on an alder on the right. Exit via survey. NOTE** This survey begins at Trib A. The start sign at the mouth of Wrong Way is for a supplemental survey and should be ignored fall surveyors should check for habitat above current endpoint early in season and consult crew chief about possibly extending survey upstream. Date mm/dd Surv eyor ID Survey Conditions W F V CHINOOK COHO CHUM R Live Fish E Activity Comments D Live Dead Live Dead Live Dead CH CO CM C1 C2 D S A J M F J U UnMA MkA UnKA J M F J U PHA PHJ A M F U S T L HD Send copies of this sheet to the Corvallis Research office on the 1st and 15th of every month. Return original datasheet to Corvallis at the end of the season.

35 2003 SPAWNER SURVEY FORM This data form is used to record tallied counts and activities of spawning salmon and other associated aspects of the survey. Forms are kept in the office and data are transcribed to this form daily. Copies of forms are sent to Corvallis Research Lab at the midpoint (around the 15 th ) and end (around the 30 th ) of each month for data entry. Original forms are sent to Corvallis at end of season. Remember to highlight any changes on both originals and copies Header NOTE: Survey location, survey description, survey type and target species are preprinted on forms for all established surveys. All fields in the header will need to be filled in for new survey areas. Reach ID and Segment: Used to uniquely identify each survey area. Supplied by Corvallis CSIP. District (still using old system when districts actually made sense): 1 - North Coast 2 - Tillamook 3 - Lincoln 4 - Siuslaw 5 - Umpqua 6 - Coos/Coquille/Tenmile 7 - Lower Rogue/South Coast 8 - Upper Rogue 20 - Columbia River Management 21 - Lower Willamette BASIN, SUBBASIN (preprinted on form) Major basin and sub basin where survey area is located as defined by Corvallis CSIP. UTM COORDINATES: (preprinted on form) UTM coordinates for downstream and upstream boundaries of survey segment. Check to see if the coordinates are correct whenever possible. If incorrect, update directly onto spawner survey form and highlight. Make sure to use the Averaging function on your GPS unit when obtaining coordinates. START COORD: (preprinted on form) Township, Range and Segment at downstream boundary of survey segment. 31

36 LOCATION: (preprinted on form) Survey description. Check and revise if necessary. Pay close attention to any instructions for landowner notification/compliance and routes for exiting survey segment. TARGET SPECIES (preprinted on form) Species that is the focus of the survey: 1 - Fall Chinook 2 - Coho 3 - Chum 4 - Steelhead 5 - Summer Chinook SURVEY TYPE (preprinted on form) Pertains to TARGET SPECIES: 1 - Standard index survey 2 - Supplemental survey 3 - Spot-check 4 - Random 5 - Lake (coho only, Tenmile, Siltcoos and Tahkenitch Lakes) 6 - Volunteer 7 - (NWHF) National Wildlife Heritage Foundation 8 - BLM INFLUENCE OF HATCHERY PRACTICES (Listed Below in Priority Order) Pertains to TARGET SPECIES, adult (age 3) coho, and adult and jack chinook (age 2-6). Only ONE INFLUENCE per survey is assigned. If more than one influence applies, assign only the highest priority influence. Completed with help of crew leader or district biologist. - WILD (Priority I, Highest Priority): No fed or unfed (fry) hatchery salmon released within 10 miles of survey segment within the prior 2 years ( ) for Coho or 5 prior years ( ) for Chinook. All Chum surveys are classified as wild. Influence Code 1. - FED FISH (Priority II): Fed hatchery salmon (smolts or pre-smolts) released within 10 miles of survey segment within the prior year (2002) for Coho or during the 5 prior years ( ) for Chinook. Influence Code 2. - BROOD STOCK (Priority III): Adults of target species removed within 10 miles of survey segment during year when survey is conducted. Influence Code 4. - UNFED FISH (Priority IV, Lowest Priority): Unfed hatchery salmon (fry) released within 10 miles of survey segment two years ago (2001) for Coho or during the 5 prior years ( ) for Chinook. Influence Code 3. 32

37 DATE Body Date of the survey: Enter the month and day the survey took place (e.g. 01/22). SURVEYOR ID Surveyor ID number Used to identify the person conducting the survey. If a survey is divided between surveyors, the surveyor filling out the survey form should use his/her ID number. Also make sure when splitting the survey to get ALL of the information from your partner and write it on your survey form. W (WEATHER) F (FLOW) Describe the weather as: C - Clear O - Overcast F - Foggy R - Rain S - Snow P - Partly Cloudy Describe the stream flow as: V (VISIBILITY) L - Low or Dry stream does not cover all of the streambed M - Moderate stream covers nearly all or all of the streambed H - High stream width approaches or reaches active channel width and stream height approaches bankful F - Flooding stream is out of its banks Describe stream visibility as: 1 - Can see bottom of riffles and pools 2 - Can see bottom of riffles 3 - Cannot see bottom of riffles or pools LIVE FISH ACTIVITY Live fish activity of each species observed must be recorded. 13 Most fish spawned out 14 Most fish holding in pools (prior to spawning) 15 Most fish migrating through survey area 16 Most fish actively spawning (as demonstrated by courtship behavior, excavation of redds, competition for mates, and guarding of redds) 33

38 COMMENTS Use comment codes from the following list. There is room for two comments per survey. Prioritize comments on the Salmon Spawning Survey Form according to the priority of the categories listed below. If further comments would be useful, record the date and comment code on the reverse side of the Spawning Survey Evaluation Form. COMMENT CODES Marks and Tags (Priority I, Highest Priority) *This category must be represented in the comment section when appropriate* 50 Adipose (CWT) fish observed 51 Adipose (CWT) fish observed, snout recovered 52 Live tagged fish observed 53 Dead tagged fish observed 54 Dead tagged fish observed, tag recovered 55 Fin clipped (other than adipose fin) fish observed 56 Snout wand used Redds (Priority I, Highest Priority) 71 Number of redds estimated because of high density Area Surveyed (Priority II Mid Priority) 01 Includes tributary to index (Used when fish are encountered in tributary of parent survey. See page 57 for details) 02 Holes not surveyed (Used when water is too high to survey holes) 03 Survey boundary description change Factors Affecting Fish Abundance (Priority II, Mid Priority) 40 Poaching 41 Predation / Scavenging 42 Stream low 43 Stream dry 44 Instream habitat improvement in or near index section 45 Habitat damage in or near survey section 46 Passage barriers below survey area 47 No survey conducted due to drought conditions Viewing Conditions (Priority II, Mid Priority) 20 Dark (pertains to the light source, not the water clarity) 21 Dark in pools (pertains to water quality, often tannins) 22 High glare 23 Partly frozen 24 Not surveyable (stream too high and/or turbid, counts will be disqualified) 34