FISH DIVISION Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Transcription

1 INFORMATION REPORTS NUMBER FISH DIVISION Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Status and Biology of Columbia River White Sturgeon (aka What We Know About Columbia River White Sturgeon and How We Know It.)

2 Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and services on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability. If you believe that you have been discriminated against as described above in any program, activity, or facility, or if you desire further information, please contact ADA Coordinator, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 346 Cherry Drive NE, Salem, OR, This material will be furnished in alternate format for people with disabilities if needed. Please call to request

3 Status and Biology of Columbia River White Sturgeon (aka What We Know About Columbia River White Sturgeon and How We Know It.) Ruth A Farr and Tucker A Jones Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife May 214

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5 Contents INTRODUCTION... 1 SAMPLING... 2 LIFE HISTORY AGE AND GROWTH Ageing Relative Weight Deformation and injury rates Parasites REPRODUCTION FOOD HABITS HABITAT Spawning habitat requirements Rearing habitat requirements Habitats POPULATION Mortality rates by age Genetic Diversity MANAGEMENT Harvest history and regulation changes Angler Survey Tribal Commercial Fishery Trawl and Haul PUBLICATIONS resulting from conducted research... 1 LITERATURE CITED Appendix A Setline Gear and Techniques Used to Monitor White Sturgeon Populations in the Lower Columbia River Appendix B Sturgeon Database documentation Appendix C Methods of Aging White Sturgeon Using Pectoral Fin Spines Appendix D Methods for Sampling and Estimating Stage of Maturity of Gonads from White Sturgeon Appendix E Conversion Factors... 14

6 INTRODUCTION In July 1986, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) started funding a cooperative study by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which later became the U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS), Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to determine the status and habitat requirements of white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus populations in the Columbia River downstream from Priest Rapids Dam. The scope of work, funding sources, and cooperating agencies have changed over time, and this report covers work done or directed by ODFW, Columbia River Investigations over the last 25 years; work by cooperating agencies is referenced. While this report includes data through 21, white sturgeon research by ODFW and cooperators continues and annual reports and data in formats similar to those contained within this report will become available as soon as they are published. Columbia River white sturgeon are 1 of 8 species of sturgeons found in North America (Bemis and Kynard 1997). White sturgeon are the largest freshwater fish in North America (Page and Burr 1991), able to reach lengths of 6 m (Scott and Crossman 1973) and weights of 8 kg (Hart 1973). They have a cartilaginous skeleton, a persistent notochord, and lack scales (Scott and Crossman 1973). White sturgeon skin has patches of small denticles and five rows of dermic bone called scutes (Scott and Crossman 1973). White sturgeon scute counts are: (11 14 dorsal, lateral and 9 12 ventral scutes) (Scott and Crossman 1973; Moyle 1976; North et al. 22). White sturgeon can be found in marine and estuarine environments from northern Baja, Mexico to the Aleutian Islands in Alaska (Eschmeyer et al. 1983; Rosales-Casian and Ruz-Cruz 25). They can be found in freshwater rivers along the Pacific Coast between Monterrey, California and Alaska (Scott and Crossman 1973; Page and Burr 1991). Successful reproduction appears to be limited to the Sacramento-San Joaquin, Columbia, and Fraser river systems (Hanson et al. 1992). White sturgeon inhabit the mainstem Columbia River and major tributaries up to Mica Dam (river kilometer (Rkm) 1,549) (UCWSRI 22). Construction and operation of the Federal Columbia River hydropower system (FCRPS) have affected the productivity of white sturgeon populations and artificially created a series of restricted reservoirs and river segments. Our work to document the status, habitat requirements, and to provide managers with population estimates was conducted in the mainstem Columbia River (Figure 1) to Priest Rapids Dam (Rkm ) and two tributaries, the Willamette River (Rkm 43) and the Snake River (Rkm 16 and ) (Figure 1). Data collected is used by managing agencies to address mitigation actions and to assist in setting harvest guidelines for sport and commercial fisheries. Commercial fishing in the Columbia River is regulated by the Columbia River Compact (Woods 28) and is managed by zone. Commercial Fishing Zones 1-5 are downstream of Bonneville Dam and are a non-tribal commercial fishery. Commercial Fishing Zone 6 (hereafter referred to 1

7 as Zone 6), which includes Bonneville, The Dalles and John Day reservoirs, is tribal commercial and tribal subsistence fisheries. Sport fishing in the Columbia River is regulated by Joint State Hearings and is managed by separate guidelines for areas downstream of Bonneville Dam and each reservoir upstream of Bonneville Dam to McNary Dam. Figure 1. Areas of the Columbia and Snake Rivers in Oregon sampled for white sturgeon SAMPLING A history of when and where and how we conducted sampling: ODFW, Gear Specifications A variety of gears have been used to sample white sturgeon in the Columbia River. Table 1 provides a complete catalogue of where and when gears have been used during the course of our work. We began employing our most used gears, setlines and gillnets, in Both setline and 2

8 gillnet methods have evolved over time. In 1987 we used 183-m setlines that were made up of.6-cm diameter nylon rope equipped with 4 gangions approximately 1-m long made of 56-kg test brailed nylon. Each line had one size of hook that ranged from 1/ to 16/ (a complete and current configuration of our setline gear can be found in Appendix A). Experimental gillnets were 46-m long by 5-m deep. The multifilament net consisted of alternating 8-m panels of 5 cm, 8 cm, and 11-cm bar mesh. Leadlines outweighed the float line along the length of the net. The following major modifications were made to our standardized sampling gear: In 1988 we modified the setlines to include 12/, 14/, and 16/ hooks for each line, 13 hooks of each of two sizes and 14 of the remaining size which was randomly chosen. In 199 we modified the experimental gillnet to 46-m long by 2.4-m deep. The nylon net consisted of alternating 8-m panels of 3.2-cm, 4.4-cm, and 5.1-cm bar mesh. In 1997 we added a standard gillnet of 91.4-m long by 3.7-m deep. The multifilament net consisted of alternating 15.2-m panels of 4.5-cm and 5.1-cm bar mesh. In 1998 we modified the standard gillnet to 91.4-m long by 3.7 m-deep with 5.1-cm bar mesh. ODFW, Columbia River, Upstream of Bonneville Dam We have sampled with hook and lines, setlines, and gillnets in Bonneville, The Dalles, John Day, and McNary reservoirs (Figure 1). In addition, ODFW accompanied US Army Corps of Engineers staff to inspect de-watered draft tubes at The Dalles and John Day dams for stranded white sturgeon. We have experimented with a variety of gears to catch white sturgeon and over the years have refined our setline methods (Appendix A) and large-mesh gillnet methods for sampling sub-adult and adult white sturgeon, and small-mesh gillnets for sampling age- and juvenile white sturgeon (Table 1). Setlines encounter a wide size range of white sturgeon (Figures 6-1) with low mortality (.4%), bycatch (.9%) and bycatch mortality (2%). Small-mesh (2.5 cm bar) gillnets are efficient for capture of age- sturgeon (Figures 11-15) with low mortality (2 %); bycatch mortality is substantial (57 %). Large-mesh gillnets (Figures 16 18) are used during the winter and have a low immediate white sturgeon mortality rate (.5%); bycatch (2%) and bycatch mortality rates (17 %) are intermediate. Experimental gillnets (Figures 19 21), m consisting of six, equal-length, alternating panels of 3.2 cm, 4.4 cm, and 5.1 cm bar were used in the past to supplement setline catches. Experimental gillnets had a sturgeon mortality rate of.3% and a bycatch mortality rate of 15%. A variety of morphometric measurements have been recorded during the course of our research, including: fork length (FL), total length (TL), weight, head length, snout length, pectoral girth, and pelvic girth (Table 2). Biological samples taken include: leading pectoral fin spine section (ageing), gonad sample (gender determination and maturity stage), blood (cortisol and sex steroids), and pectoral fin tip tissue (DNA). Fish have been marked with different combinations of tattoos, barbel clips, oxytetracycline (bone mark for ageing), scute removal, spaghetti tags, anchor tags, radio tags, acoustic tags, and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags (Table 2). 3

9 Bonneville Reservoir has been sampled nine separate times between The Dalles Reservoir was sampled 1 separate times from John Day Reservoir was sampled 9 separate times from McNary Reservoir was sampled three times, in 1993, 1995, and 211. (Table 1). 4

10 Table 1. Gear by agency and location Artificial spawning substrate - USGS Below Bonneville Bonneville X The Dalles X John Day McNary X X Hell's Canyon Artificial spawning substrate - NMFS Below Bonneville X X X X X X X Bonneville The Dalles John Day McNary Hell's Canyon Artificial spawning substrate - ODFW (Willamette) Below Bonneville X X Bonneville The Dalles John Day McNary Hell's Canyon Beach seine (5-m variable mesh) - NMFS Below Bonneville X Bonneville The Dalles John Day McNary Hell's Canyon Beam bottom trawl (3.-m wide) - USGS Below Bonneville Bonneville X X X X The Dalles X X X X X John Day X X X McNary X X Hell's Canyon 5

11 Table 1 (continued). Gear by agency and location Beam bottom trawl (3.-m wide) - NMFS Below Bonneville X X Bonneville The Dalles John Day McNary Hell's Canyon Commercial fisheries sampling - WDFW Below Bonneville X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Bonneville X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X The Dalles X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X John Day X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X McNary Hell's Canyon Draft tube inspection - ODFW Below Bonneville Bonneville The Dalles X John Day McNary Hell's Canyon Epibenthic sled (5-cm mouth) - NMFS Below Bonneville X Bonneville The Dalles John Day McNary Hell's Canyon Gillnet - experimental (91.4-m x 3.7-m) (4.5-cm and 5.1-cm bar panels) - ODFW Below Bonneville Bonneville The Dalles X X John Day X X McNary Hell's Canyon 6

12 Table 1 (continued). Gear by agency and location Gillnet - experimental (46-m x 5-m) (5-cm, 8-cm, and 11-cm bar panels) -ODFW Below Bonneville Bonneville X X The Dalles X X X John Day X X McNary X Hell's Canyon Gillnet - large mesh (commercial gear) - CRITFC Below Bonneville Bonneville X X X X The Dalles X X X X X John Day X X X X X McNary Hell's Canyon Gillnet - large mesh (commercial gear) - ODFW Below Bonneville X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Bonneville The Dalles John Day McNary Hell's Canyon Gillnet - large mesh (commercial gear) - WDFW Below Bonneville X X X X X X Bonneville The Dalles John Day McNary Hell's Canyon Gillnet - small mesh (2.5-cm bar) - ODFW Below Bonneville X X X X X X X Bonneville X X X X X X The Dalles X X X X X X X X X X X X X John Day X X X X X X X X X X X X X McNary X X X X X X X X X X X X X Hell's Canyon 7

13 Table 1 (continued). Gear by agency and location High-rise trawl (4.4-m m wide) - USGS Below Bonneville Bonneville X X X X X X X X X X X X X The Dalles X X X X X X X X X X X John Day X X X X X X X X X McNary X X X Hell's Canyon High-rise trawl (4.4-m m wide) - NMFS Below Bonneville X X X X X X Bonneville The Dalles John Day McNary Hell's Canyon High-rise trawl (4.4-m m wide) - ODFW Below Bonneville X X X Bonneville The Dalles John Day McNary Hell's Canyon Hook and line - ODFW Below Bonneville Bonneville The Dalles X John Day McNary Hell's Canyon Larval net - round (.5-m diameter) - USGS Below Bonneville Bonneville The Dalles X John Day McNary Hell's Canyon 8

14 Table 1 (continued). Gear by agency and location Larval net - round (.5-m diameter) - NMFS Below Bonneville X Bonneville The Dalles John Day McNary Hell's Canyon Larval net - d-ring (.8-m wide at base) - USGS Below Bonneville Bonneville X X X X X X The Dalles X X X X X X John Day X X X X McNary X X Hell's Canyon Larval net - d-ring (.8-m wide at base) - NMFS Below Bonneville X X X X X X X Bonneville The Dalles John Day McNary Hell's Canyon Larval net - d-ring (.8-m wide at base) - ODFW (Willamette) Below Bonneville X Bonneville The Dalles John Day McNary Hell's Canyon Modified semi-ballon shrimp trawl (4.9-m headrope length) - NMFS Below Bonneville X Bonneville The Dalles John Day McNary Hell's Canyon 9

15 Table 1 (continued). Gear by agency and location Semi-ballon shrimp trawl (7.9-m headrope length) - NMFS Below Bonneville X X X X X X X X X X Bonneville The Dalles John Day McNary Hell's Canyon Plumb-staff beam trawl (3.1-m wide) - NMFS Below Bonneville X Bonneville The Dalles John Day McNary Hell's Canyon Semi-ballon shrimp trawl (4.9-m headrope length) - NMFS Below Bonneville X X X X X Bonneville The Dalles John Day McNary Hell's Canyon Setline (183-m, 4 hooks) - USGS Below Bonneville Bonneville The Dalles X X John Day McNary X X Hell's Canyon Setline (183-m, 4 hooks) - ODFW Below Bonneville X X Bonneville X X X X X X X X X The Dalles X X X X X X X X X X X John Day X X X X X X X X McNary X X X Hell's Canyon X 1

16 Table 1 (continued). Gear by agency and location Setline (183-m, 4 hooks) - WDFW Below Bonneville X X Bonneville The Dalles John Day McNary X X X Hell's Canyon Sport creel - WDFW Below Bonneville Bonneville X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X The Dalles X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X John Day X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X McNary X Hell's Canyon 11

17 Table 2. Data collected by year and location Fork length Below Bonneville X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Bonneville X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X The Dalles X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X John Day X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X McNary X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Hell's Canyon X Total length Below Bonneville X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Bonneville X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X The Dalles X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X John Day X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X McNary X X X X X X X X X X X X X Hell's Canyon Pectoral girth Below Bonneville X Bonneville X X X X X The Dalles X X John Day X X X X X McNary Hell's Canyon Head length Below Bonneville Bonneville X X The Dalles X X John Day McNary X Hell's Canyon Snout length Below Bonneville Bonneville X X The Dalles X X John Day McNary X Hell's Canyon X X 12

18 Table 2 (continued). Data collected by year and location Below Bonneville X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Bonneville X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X The Dalles X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X John Day X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X McNary X X X X X X X X X X X X Hell's Canyon X Spaghetti tag(s) Below Bonneville X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Bonneville X X X X X The Dalles X X X X X X X John Day X X X X McNary X X Hell's Canyon X Monel tag Below Bonneville X X X X Bonneville X X The Dalles X X John Day X X McNary Hell's Canyon PIT Tag Below Bonneville X X X X X X X X X X X X Bonneville X X X X X X X X X The Dalles X X X X X X X X X John Day X X X X X X X X McNary X X X X X X X X X Hell's Canyon Peterson/Carlin disk tag Below Bonneville Bonneville X X X The Dalles X X John Day X X McNary X Hell's Canyon 13

19 Table 2 (continued). Data collected by year and location Anchor tag Below Bonneville Bonneville X The Dalles X John Day McNary X X Hell's Canyon Radio tag Below Bonneville X Bonneville X The Dalles X X X X John Day McNary Hell's Canyon Acoustic tag Below Bonneville Bonneville The Dalles X X X John Day McNary X X X Hell's Canyon Barbel clip Below Bonneville Bonneville The Dalles X X John Day McNary Hell's Canyon Tattoo Below Bonneville Bonneville The Dalles John Day McNary Hell's Canyon X 14

20 Table 2 (continued). Data collected by year and location Oxytetracycline Below Bonneville X X X Bonneville X X X X X X The Dalles X X X X X X John Day X X X X McNary X X Hell's Canyon Scute removal Below Bonneville X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Bonneville X X X X X X X X X X X X The Dalles X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X John Day X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X McNary X X X X X X X X X X X Hell's Canyon X Pectoral fin ageing Below Bonneville X X X X X X X X X X X X Bonneville X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X The Dalles X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X John Day X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X McNary X X X X X X X X X X X X X Hell's Canyon X Gonad stage/sex Below Bonneville X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Bonneville X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X The Dalles X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X John Day X X X X X X X X X X X X McNary X X X X X X Hell's Canyon X Stomach content Below Bonneville X Bonneville X X X The Dalles X X X X John Day McNary Hell's Canyon 15

21 Table 2 (continued). Data collected by year and location Blood (sex steroid and calcium) Below Bonneville X X X X X X X Bonneville X X X X X X The Dalles X X X X X X John Day X X X X X X X McNary X Hell's Canyon DNA (blood/tissue) Below Bonneville X X X X X X X Bonneville X X X X X X X X The Dalles X X X X X X X X John Day X X X X X X X X McNary X X X X X X Hell's Canyon Spawned egg Below Bonneville X X X X X X X X X Bonneville X X X X X X The Dalles X X X X X X John Day X X X X McNary X X X Hell's Canyon Larvae age Below Bonneville X X X X X X X Bonneville X X X X X X The Dalles X X X X X X John Day X X X X McNary X X Hell's Canyon Deformity Characterization Below Bonneville Bonneville The Dalles X John Day McNary Hell's Canyon 16

22 Table 2 (continued). Data collected by year and location Toxin Sample Below Bonneville Bonneville X The Dalles X X John Day McNary Hell's Canyon Cortisol Below Bonneville Bonneville The Dalles John Day McNary Hell's Canyon X X 17

23 ODFW, Columbia River, Downstream of Bonneville Dam ODFW sampled with trawls, setlines and small-mesh gillnets, and commercial fishery gillnets in the un-impounded Columbia and Willamette rivers downstream of Bonneville Dam and Willamette Falls (Figure 1, Table 1). Morphometric data recorded included fork length and weight. Biological data samples taken included; leading pectoral fin spine sections (ageing), free embryos (reproduction), and pectoral fin tip tissue (DNA). Fish were marked with different combinations of scute removals, oxytetracycline (bone mark for ageing), spaghetti tags, and PIT tags (Table 2). The lower Columbia and Willamette rivers have been sampled six times from ODFW, Snake River, Hells Canyon Reservoir and Oxbow Reservoir ODFW sampled with setlines in Hell s Canyon Reservoir and Oxbow Reservoir (Figure 1, Table 1). Morphometric measurements recorded included fork length and weight. Biological samples taken included leading pectoral fin spine section (ageing) and gonad sample (gender determination and maturity stage). Fish were marked with scute removals and spaghetti tags (Table 2). Hell s Canyon Reservoir was sampled in Oxbow Reservoir was sampled in Cooperators Cooperators, Columbia River, Upstream of Bonneville Dam The WDFW has sampled with D-ring larval nets and setlines, as well as sampling the commercial fishery and conducting an angler creel survey in Bonneville, The Dalles, John Day, and McNary reservoirs (Figure 1, Table 1). The USGS sampled with round larval nets, D-ring larval nets, setlines, high-rise bottom trawls, beam bottom trawls and artificial spawning substrates (Figure 1, Table 1). NMFS sampled with D-ring larval nets in Bonneville Reservoir, and CRITFC sampled with large mesh gillnets in Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day reservoirs (Figures 1, Table 1). Morphometric data recorded included: fork length, total length, and weight (Table 2). Biological samples taken included: leading pectoral spine fin section (ageing), gonad sample (gender determination and maturity stage), pectoral fin tip tissue (DNA), stomach content samples, and free embryos and larvae (Table 2). 18

24 Cooperators, Columbia River, Downstream of Bonneville Dam In the lower Columbia River NMFS sampled with round larval nets, D-ring larval nets, trawls, beach seines and benthic sleds (Figure 1, Table 1), and WDFW sampled with d-ring larval nets, large mesh gillnets, and commercial fishery sampling (Figure 1, Table 1). Morphometric data recorded included: fork length, total length, and weight (Table 2). Biological samples taken included free embryos and larvae (Table 2). Where to find the data Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife white sturgeon data is maintained by Columbia River Investigations program, 1733 SE Evelyn Street, Clackamas, Oregon Our data is stored electronically in a Structured Query Language (SQL) database housed on ODFW servers. Database documentation is provided in Appendix B. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife white sturgeon data is maintained by Region 5 Fish Program, 218 Grand Boulevard, Vancouver, Washington, Washington maintains white sturgeon tagging data for downstream of Bonneville Dam in a database named Caviar. U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division data is maintained by Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory, Cook, Washington, National Marine Fisheries Service data is maintained by Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Coastal Zone and Estuarine Studies Division, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, Washington, Columbia Inter-Tribal Fish Commission data is maintained at 729 NE Oregon Street, Suite 2, Portland, Oregon, LIFE HISTORY Fish from the order Acipenseriformes (sturgeon and paddlefish) are generally regarded as highly modified descendants of fish that lived during the Permian and Triassic. Recognizable sturgeon fossils date to the Upper Cretaceous, about 2 million years ago (Helfmman, et al.1997, Bemis et al. 1997). Sturgeon, in general, exhibits several life history forms, including: anadromy spawning in fresh water, spending non-reproductive periods in marine environment, amphidromy bi-directional, non-reproductive migration between fresh and salt water, and potadromy all feeding and reproductive migrations within a freshwater river system. Facultative potadromy, which happens when dams prohibit anadromous or amphidromous life history strategies, describes white sturgeon in impounded reaches of the Columbia River (Bemis and Kynard 1997). 19

25 White sturgeon are broadcast spawners, releasing their eggs and milt into the water column over boulder and cobble substrates where fertilization occurs (Hanson et al. 1992; Parsley et al. 1993). White sturgeon generally spawn in the spring when the water temperatures are between 1 and 18º C (Hanson et al. 1992; Parsley et al. 1993) and turbidities are high (Perrin et al. 23). White sturgeon spawn near the river bottom, in areas where water velocities range between.5 and 2.5 m/s (Parsley et al. 1993; Parsley and Beckman 1994) and there is high hydraulic complexity (Perrin et al. 23). Average spawning depths can exceed 6 m and water velocities near the bottom average 1.4 m/s (Parsley et al 1993). In the Columbia River most freshly spawned embryos are found on cobble or boulder substrate and at depths of 4 27 m (Parsley et al. 1993). Optimal incubation temperature for white sturgeon embryos is 14º C (Wang et al. 1985), and incubation generally lasts 7 to 14 days (Wang et al. 1985; Conte et al. 1988) depending on water temperature. Embryos begin at fertilization and end at hatch. Free swimming embryos begin at hatch and end when white sturgeon begin exogenous feeding. The larval stage begins at exogenous feeding and ends when all fins and organs are fully developed. Contradictory information exists on the transition from one early life history stage to another in white sturgeon. One hypothesis states that newly hatched white sturgeon exhibit three phases between hatch and metamorphosis, each lasting approximately six days (Brannon et al. 1986). The first phase, dispersal, occurs immediately after hatching when free swimming embryos swim up into the water column (Brannon et al. 1987; Conte et al. 1988). They have been collected at depths of 4 58 m and over a variety of substrates (Parsley et al. 1993). After dispersal, free swimming embryos sink to the bottom and burrow themselves in gravel during their hiding phase (Conte et al. 1988). White sturgeon larvae begin active feeding approximately 12 days after initial dispersal into the water column (Buddington and Christofferson 1985; Conte et al. 1988). The larvae complete their metamorphosis in approximately 2 days (Buddington and Christofferson 1985). Emerging evidence suggests that the timing and behavior during these transitions may differ by geographic region. Canadian researchers have found that white sturgeon may actually exhibit a hatch-hide type response (McAdam et al. 28). That is to say, the early life history sequence is hatch, hiding by free swimming embryos without a dispersal phase, followed by active external feeding. Dispersal, or drift, may occur between hatching and hiding, if suitable hiding spots are not encountered at the time of hatch (McAdam et al. 28). Drift likely occurs later at the initiation of active feeding, to allow larvae to move to areas with sufficient food resources. Drift at hatch may be indicative of poor habitat conditions, whereas active external feeding drift may simply be a means of moving to areas where food is locally abundant (S. McAdam, British Columbia Ministry of Environment, personal communication). In the Sacramento River white sturgeon appear to exhibit a two-step dispersal pattern (Kynard and Parker 25). A weak dispersal behavior lasting only a few hours to a few days was noted in newly hatched free swimming embryos, followed by hiding and active external feeding through larval stages and a longer, stronger dispersal post-metamorphosis (Kynard and Parker 25). Beyond the larval stage, age- begins after metamorphosis is complete and ends, arbitrarily, on 31 December of their first year of life. White sturgeon are considered juveniles from age-1 until 2

26 they are physiologically able to enter estuarine and marine environments. This size is approximately 96 cm FL according to McEnroe and Cech However, sampling occurring in San Francisco Bay, CA has encountered white sturgeon under 9 cm TL in their annual white sturgeon adult population surveys conducted in Suisun and San Pablo Bays (Israel et al, 29). Data collected by ODFW found white sturgeon ranging in size from cm FL between Rkms The salinity gradient of the Columbia River extends to about Rkm 45 (Simenstad et. al 211). Sub-adults begin when white sturgeon are physiologically able to enter estuarine and marine environments and end at sexual maturity (approximately 125 cm FL in males and 165 cm FL in females; Bajkov 1949; Scott and Crossman 1973; Hanson et al. 1992; IPC 25). When white sturgeon become sexually mature they are adults (Figure 2). 21

27 AGE AND GROWTH Ageing We have assigned ages to 5,644 white sturgeon measuring cm FL, from the Columbia and Snake rivers. Age estimates have ranged from to 14. The ages are grouped by area: downstream of Priest Rapids Dam (Figure1; Table 3), downstream of Bonneville Dam (Figure 1; Table 4), Bonneville Reservoir (Figure1; Table 5), The Dalles Reservoir (Figure1; Table 6), John Day Reservoir (Figure 1; Table 7) Zone 6 (Table 8), McNary Reservoir (Figure 1; Table 9), and Hells Canyon Reservoir (Figure 1; Table1). White sturgeon were aged by reading sections of leading pectoral fin spines. We removed a section of the leading pectoral fin spine from live fish by making two cuts with a hacksaw blade or coping saw through the leading spine; the first cut was about 5 mm distal from the point of articulation and the second was about 1 mm distal from the first. From dead fish, we removed the entire leading fin spine. Among recaptured white sturgeon, we removed fin spine samples only from fish previously injected with oxytetracycline (OTC). We air-dried the fin spine samples and cut them into several thin (.3-.6-mm) transverse sections. The sections were mounted on glass microscope slides using Crystalbond 59. Fin spine sections were examined with a dissecting microscope (15-4x magnification) and transmitted light. We counted translucent zones in the sample as annuli. We observed that single translucent zones in the anterior portion of a sample often split into several zones in the lobes, a pattern we refer to as banding; banding occurred in fish of all ages. Each translucent zone of a banding pattern was counted as an annulus. Because it was difficult to determine if the edge was translucent or opaque, translucent zones on the outer edge of a sample were not counted. Instead, we assumed all fish sampled before July 1 would form a translucent zone in that calendar year and grouped them with the appropriate cohort. Accuracy of aging was estimated with reference to OTC marks in sections from fish recaptured at known intervals after injection. The OTC marks on fin spine samples were located with reflected ultraviolet light (Rien and Beamesderfer 1994). We found that ages were underestimated from counts of translucent zones formed after injection with OTC, especially for slow-growing and large fish, and concluded that age estimates are neither precise nor accurate (Rien and Beamesderfer 1994). A fact that is particularly relevant when making interpretations of length frequencies and relative year-class strengths. We have incorporated the knowledge that we are likely underestimating the ages of sturgeon when we using age based information in fishery management decisions. Average age at length varies as growth in individual fish is highly variable. Because of this variability, and unlike some other fish species, it is not possible to accurately predict age of white sturgeon based on the length of the fish (Tables 3 1). Average age at length also varies by area (Figure 3). In the Columbia River, white sturgeon exhibit rapid growth during the first growing season. After the first year, annual growth rates decreases until fish reach approximately 6 85-cm FL 22

28 (ODFW unpublished data). Annual growth rate increases again and is followed by a decrease in annual growth rate for fish larger than approximately cm FL (Figure 4; ODFW unpublished data). Figure 2. Depiction of the white sturgeon life cycle. Because of the variability in length at age of white sturgeon we have investigated other approaches to estimating annual growth, including using individually identifiable marks such as PIT tags. Some of the benefits of using PIT tags on long-lived fish are the high retention rates over time and the accuracy of identifying individual fish. As the number of white sturgeon PIT 23

29 tagged increases along with long-term multiple recaptures, we are getting a more accurate picture of individual growth rates and patterns over time. Using actual measured growth from PIT tagged individuals has given us a more accurate picture of sturgeon growth than is suggested from standard growth equations. As is found in other longlived fish species, growth rates vary over time. Understanding the actual growth patterns in white sturgeon increases the accuracy of population modeling predictions thereby increasing the effectiveness of fisheries management activities. Relative Weight We use a relative weight index (W r ) to compare condition of white sturgeon of different lengths (Table 11 and 12). An index value of 1 represents a physical condition comparable to the 75 th percentile condition of all white sturgeon populations along the Pacific coast of North America (Beamesderfer 1993). This represents a better-than-average condition, based on the notion that producing an average condition is not generally a management goal. Relative weights have varied by time, both within and among reservoirs. The overall mean relative weight of white sturgeon in Bonneville Reservoir has increased between 1999 and 29 (Table 11). Reasons for these observed increases in condition, coupled with an increase in abundance, are at this time unknown (Table 16). The overall mean relative weight of white sturgeon in John Day Reservoir has been above average for sturgeon populations in general and has remained fairly static around 1 since 1996 (Table 11). Reasons for this are likely due to a population that is under capacity and not food limited. The overall mean relative weight of white sturgeon in The Dalles Reservoir has decreased somewhat since 1997 (Table 11). Although reasons for this apparent decline are unknown, the average condition of these fish still compares favorably to all North American white sturgeon populations (Beamesderfer 1993). 24

30 Table 3. Age-length frequency distribution for white sturgeon collected in the Columbia River from the mouth to Priest Rapids Dam Fork length interval (cm) Mean Age Length STD N

31 Table 3. (continued) Age-length frequency distribution for white sturgeon collected in the Columbia River from the mouth to Priest Rapids Dam Fork length interval (cm) Mean Age Length STD N

32 Table 3. (continued) Age-length frequency distribution for white sturgeon collected in the Columbia River from the mouth to Priest Rapids Dam Fork length interval (cm) Mean Age Length STD N Total

33 Table 4. Age-length frequency distribution for white sturgeon collected in the Columbia River from the mouth to Bonneville Dam Fork length interval (cm) Mean Age Length STD N Total

34 Table 5. Age-length frequency distribution for white sturgeon collected in the Columbia River, Bonneville Reservoir Fork length interval (cm) Mean Age Length STD N

35 Table 5. (continued) Age-length frequency distribution for white sturgeon collected in the Columbia River, Bonneville Reservoir Fork length interval (cm) Mean Age Length STD N

36 Table 5. (continued) Age-length frequency distribution for white sturgeon collected in the Columbia River, Bonneville Reservoir Fork length interval (cm) Mean Age Length STD N Total

37 Table 6. Age-length frequency distribution for white sturgeon collected in the Columbia River, The Dalles Reservoir Fork length interval (cm) Mean Age Length STD N

38 Table 6. (continued) Age-length frequency distribution for white sturgeon collected in the Columbia River, The Dalles Reservoir Fork length interval (cm) Mean Age Length STD N Total

39 Table 7. Age-length frequency distribution for white sturgeon collected in the Columbia River, John Day Reservoir Fork length interval (cm) Mean Age Length STD N

40 Table 7. (continued) Age-length frequency distribution for white sturgeon collected in the Columbia River, John Day Reservoir Fork length interval (cm) Mean Age Length STD N

41 Table 7. (continued) Age-length frequency distribution for white sturgeon collected in the Columbia River, John Day Reservoir Fork length interval (cm) Mean Age Length STD N Total

42 Table 8. Age-length frequency distribution for white sturgeon collected in the Columbia River, Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day reservoirs combined (Zone 6) Fork length interval (cm) Mean Age Length STD N

43 Table 8 (continued). Age-length frequency distribution for white sturgeon collected in the Columbia River, Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day reservoirs combined (Zone 6) Fork length interval (cm) Mean Age Length STD N

44 Table 8 (continued). Age-length frequency distribution for white sturgeon collected in the Columbia River, Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day reservoirs combined (Zone 6) Fork length interval (cm) Mean Age Length STD N Total

45 Table 9. Age-length frequency distribution for white sturgeon collected in the Columbia River, McNary Reservoir Fork length interval (cm) Mean Age Length STD N

46 Table 9 (continued). Age-length frequency distribution for white sturgeon collected in the Columbia River, McNary Reservoir Fork length interval (cm) Mean Age Length STD N Total

47 Table 1. Age-length frequency distribution for white sturgeon collected in the Snake River, Hells Canyon Reservoir Fork length interval (cm) Mean Age Length STD N Total

48 12 1 Below Bonneville Dam Bonneville Reservoir 8 Age The Dalles Reservoir John Day Reservoir 8 Age McNary Reservoir Age Mean Length Figure 3. Mean age-at-length of white sturgeon collected downstream of Priest Rapids Dam, Columbia River,

49 Annual Growth Increment (cm/yr) A The Dalles, AGI's (thru 28) B John Day, AGI's (thru 21) C Bonneville, AGI's (thru 29) A B C Fork Length (cm) Figure 4. Annual growth increments for Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day reservoirs based on recaptures of PIT tagged individual fish. 44

50 Table 11. Mean relative weight of white sturgeon in three reservoirs, Columbia River. Reservoir Bonneville The Dalles John Day Year Fork Length (cm) All Table 12. Mean relative weight of white sturgeon downstream Bonneville Dam, Columbia River. Year Fork Length (cm) All

51 Deformation and injury rates In 1997 we examined 1,459 white sturgeon in The Dalles Reservoir and 383 white sturgeon in the Columbia River estuary for deformities and injuries. We found that 11.7% of the reservoir fish and 8.1% of the estuary fish we observed had one or more abnormalities. These were categorized as misshaped fins, abnormal barbels, eroded nares, atypical skin coloration, total or partial fin loss, asymmetrical snout, eye(s) malformed or missing, skeletal deformities and other. Abnormalities in the other category included incomplete opercles, fused pelvic fins, additional rows of lateral scutes and tumorous growths (Burner and Rien 22). Parasites From 1987 through 1997, NMFS examined sturgeon > 174 mm fork length for the presence of the nematode parasite Cystoopsis acipenseri (Table 13). The parasite is contained in blister-like cysts located just under the skin of affected fish. The parasite does not appear to kill the host (McCabe 1993). Table 13. Frequencies of occurrence and length ranges of captured juvenile white sturgeon infested with Cystoopsis acipenseri in the lower Columbia River, Year Total No. Examined No. Infected (%) Length range (mm Fk) , (14%) , (8%) , (1%) (3%) (8%) (17%) (6%) (22%) (23%) REPRODUCTION Maturity in white sturgeon is more an artifact of size than age (Conte et al. 1988), and both can vary widely (IPC 25). In the lower Columbia River, male white sturgeon may reach sexual maturity at around 125 cm and 12 years of age (Hanson et al. 1992). Females mature later, often taking 15 to 35 years and maturing around 165 cm (Bajkov 1949; Scott and Crossman 1973; Hanson et al. 1992; IPC 25). Gender ratios in Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day reservoirs average 52% female and 48% male based on observation of gonadal tissue (Table14). Once reaching maturity white sturgeon may spawn several times over the course of their life (Scott and Crossman 1973; Bemis and Kynard 1997; Webb and Kappenman 28). Reproductive periodicity in the Columbia River downstream of Bonneville Dam appears to be a 2 to 5+ year cycle in females and the estimated maximum fraction of females spawning annually is 1-33% (Webb and Kappenman 28). Reproductive periodicity has not been determined for white sturgeon in Bonneville, The Dalles, 46

52 and John Day reservoirs though limited data has been collected (Table 15). We found females in all stages of maturation in all of the months that we sampled (Figure 5). 47

53 Table 14. Percent of gender assigned white sturgeon in three reservoirs, Columbia River from Unknown reservoir fish were commercial fish that couldn t be assigned to a specific reservoir. Gender Assigned Male Female Year n Length range (FL cm) n Length range (FL cm) n Length range (FL cm) , (54%) (46%) Bonneville (5%) (5%) The Dalles (54%) (46%) John Day (57%) (43%) Unknown (55%) (45%) (53%) (47%) Bonneville (51%) (49%) The Dalles (53%) (47%) John Day (6%) (4%) Unknown (5%) (5%) (48%) (52%) Bonneville (41%) (59%) The Dalles (54%) (46%) 9-23 John Day (67%) (33%) Unknown (4%) (6%) (49%) (51%) Bonneville (47%) (53%) The Dalles (53%) (47%) John Day (47%) (53%) Unknown (73%) (27%) (5%) (5%) Bonneville (45%) (55%) The Dalles (67%) (33%) John Day (39%) (61%)

54 Table 14 (continued). Percent of gender assigned white sturgeon in three reservoirs, Columbia River from Unknown reservoir fish were commercial fish that couldn t be assigned to a specific reservoir. Gender Assigned Male Female Year n Length range (FL cm) n Length range (FL cm) n Length range (FL cm) (1%) Bonneville (1%) 151 The Dalles (1%) (61%) (42%) Below Bonneville (5%) (5%) Bonneville (67%) (33%) 143 The Dalles (5%) (5%) McNary (64%) (36%) (57%) (43%) Bonneville (52%) (48%) The Dalles (62%) (38%) (62%) (38%) McNary (63%) (38%) Bonneville (5%) (5%) The Dalles (1%) 156 John Day (65%) (35%) McNary (5%) (5%) (6%) (4%) Below Bonneville (1%) 123 Bonneville (1%) The Dalles (61% (39%) John Day (63%) (37%) McNary (1%)

55 Table 14 (continued). Percent of gender assigned white sturgeon in three reservoirs, Columbia River from Unknown reservoir fish were commercial fish that couldn t be assigned to a specific reservoir. Gender Assigned Male Female Year n Length range (FL cm) n Length range (FL cm) n Length range (FL cm) (51%) (49%) Bonneville (2%) (8%) The Dalles (54%) (46%) John Day (47%) (53%) (54%) (46%) Bonneville (8%) (92%) The Dalles (54%) (46%) John Day (1%) (48%) (52%) Bonneville (25%) (75%) The Dalles (51%) (49%) John Day (37%) (63%) (51%) (49%) Bonneville (39%) (61%) The Dalles (53%) (47%) John Day (52%) (48%) (28%) (72%) Bonneville (28%) (72%) (1%) 119 The Dalles (1%) 119 Total 5, ,661 (52% ,493 (48%

56 Table 15. Gonad development stage of female white sturgeon collected between Bonneville and Priest Rapids dams, Columbia River, by fork length interval, Reservoir Developmental stage a Expected spawning year b Fork length Year of Year after >one year (cm) Total capture capture post-capture Bonneville > Total % (3%) 84 (1%) 734 (87%) The Dalles > Total % (2%) 6 (9%) 578 (89%) John Day > Total % (2%) 21 (11%) 167 (87%) 51

57 Table 15 (continued). Gonad development stage of female white sturgeon collected between Bonneville and Priest Rapids dams, Columbia River, by fork length interval, Reservoir Developmental stage a Expected spawning year b Fork length Year of Year after >one year (cm) Total capture capture post-capture McNary Reservoir and Hanford Reach c > Total % (7%) 12 (4%) 16 (53%) Unknown Reservoir > Total % (9%) 6 (1%) 47 (81%) a b c 1=Early vitellogenic, 2=Late vitellogenic, 3=Ripe, 4=Spent (post-spawn), 5=Previtellogenic with attritic oocytes, and 6=Pre-vitellogenic. Fish in stage 3 were expected to spawn in the year they were captured; fish in stages 1 and 2 were expected to spawn the year after they were captured; and fish in stages 4, 5, and 6 were not expected to spawn until two or more years after capture. White sturgeon <11 cm fork length were not available for examination due to the legalsize slot limit for the recreational fishery in this area and period. Fish cm fork length were unlikely to be sampled since commercial fisheries did not occur in this area and the recreational fishery was only sampled in

58 Figure 5. Mean egg diameter of pre-vitellogenic (yellow), early and late vitellogenic (brown), and ripe (black) female white sturgeon collected from the Columbia River between Bonneville Dam and McNary Dam, Sampling for white sturgeon eggs and larvae was conducted from White Sturgeon eggs and larvae were encountered downstream and upstream of Bonneville dam. Eggs and larvae were collected in 6 of 6 sampling years downstream of Bonneville Dam, 5 of 5 years in Bonneville Reservoir, 5 of 5 years in The Dalles Reservoir, 3 of 3 years in John Day Reservoir, and 3 of 3 years in McNary Reservoir. Sampling for age- white sturgeon has been conducted annually from 1987 to 21. Age- white sturgeon were encountered both downstream and upstream of Bonneville dam. Age- sturgeon were collected in 15 of 15 sampling years downstream of Bonneville Dam, 18 of 21 53

59 years in Bonneville Reservoir, 15 of 19 years in The Dalles Reservoir, 6 of 17 years in John Day Reservoir and 9 of 15 years in McNary Reservoir (Table 1). FOOD HABITS From 1987 through 199 a total of 435 juvenile and age- white sturgeon stomachs were examined for contents (Table16). In 1987 stomach contents were collected from The Dalles Reservoir by gastric lavage and emetics. Both were successful in at least partial recovery of contents, however, gastric lavage caused damage to the juvenile white sturgeon. In 1988 wholestomach contents were examined from below Bonneville Dam. In 1989 stomach contents were collected from Bonneville and The Dalles reservoirs by an emetic and then sacrifice to observe the success of the stomach evacuation. In addition whole-stomach contents were collected from below Bonneville. In 199 whole-stomach contents were collected from Bonneville and The Dalles reservoirs. 54

60 Table 16. Stomach contents of juvenile and age- white sturgeon collected in the Columbia River from Year Juvenile 292 Juvenile 29 Juvenile 72 Age- Prey 24 Age- Crustaceans a X X X X Amphipods b X X X X Decapods c X Copepods X Hexapods d X X X Nematodes e X X Platyhelminthes f X Mollusca g X X X Chordata h X X Fish eggs i X a Includes Lithoglyphys spp, Neomysis spp., cladocera b Includes Anisoqammarus spp., Corophium spp, Ramelloqammarus spp., gammarids c Includes Pacificatus spp. d Includes ephemeroptera, trichoptera, hemiptera, heleidae, chironomidae e Includes Neanthes spp., oliochaeta f Includes turbellaria g Includes Fluminicola spp., hydrobiidae, Corbicula spp h Includes unidentified fish i Includes eulachon HABITAT Spawning habitat requirements White sturgeon spawning habitat is influenced by water velocity and water temperature. Spawning takes place when the water temperature is 1 18 o C and water column velocities are greater than.8 m/s over cobble and boulder substrates. Spring and early summer freshets and river morphology provide the velocity and turbidity to promote spawning and protect eggs and larvae from predation (Parsley et al and McCabe and Tracy 1994). 55

61 Rearing habitat requirements Age- white sturgeon in the lower Columbia River prefer deep (9 57 m), low velocity areas, where substrate particle sizes are small (Parsley et al. 1993). Parsley et al. (1993) noted that more than 99% of juvenile white sturgeon > 15 cm were encountered over sand, and that they appeared to prefer the main river channel. In riverine environments, white sturgeon seem to prefer free flowing stretches (Bajkov 1951; Haynes et al. 1979), though they are also known to inhabit more lentic habitats as well (Haynes et al. 1979). In the Columbia River downstream of Bonneville Dam, immature white sturgeon have been observed migrating upstream in the fall and downstream in the spring (Bajkov 1951; Parsley et al. 28). This pattern was also noted for white sturgeon inhabiting free flowing stretches of the Hanford Reach (Rkm ) located further upstream in the Columbia River (Haynes et al. 1979). Habitats Columbia River The Columbia River downstream of Bonneville Dam stretches 234 km from the ocean to Bonneville Dam (Rkm 234), and has a surface area of 61,148 ha. The lower river has an extensive nonvegetated littoral zone; this zone, which encompasses 55% of the total area of the lower river, is less than 4 m deep. The lower river has a predominantly sand substrate (Parsley and Beckman 1994). John Day, The Dalles, and Bonneville reservoirs are a series of run-of-the-river impoundments operated for hydroelectric power generation, navigation, and flood control on the main-stem Columbia River (Figure 1). In all three reservoirs, littoral zones are limited, hydrologic retention times are short (average, 1-5 d), and current is measurable most of the year. Bonneville Reservoir (Rkm ), Columbia River, was formed in 1938 with the completion of Bonneville Dam. It is 75-km long and is 7,632 ha in surface area at full pool (Parsley and Beckman 1994). Bonneville Reservoir is shallow (average depth, 6.7 m) and has a mostly sand substrate, which supports large beds of rooted aquatic macrophytes during summer (Parsley and Beckman 1994; Beamesderfer et al. 1995). The Dalles Reservoir (Rkm ), Columbia River, was formed in 1957 with the completion of The Dalles Dam. It is 39-km long and is 3,639 ha in surface area at full pool (Parsley and Beckman 1994). It is the smallest and the most riverine of the Columbia River impoundments bordering Oregon, with cobble, gravel, and sand substrates distributed throughout most of its length. Nine percent of the reservoir is less than 4 m deep (Parsley and Beckman 1994; Beamesderfer et al. 1995). John Day Reservoir (Rkm ), Columbia River, was formed in 1967 with the completion of John Day Dam. It is 122-km long and 19,781 ha in surface area at full pool (Parsley and Beckman 1994). It is the largest and most diverse of the three lower river reservoirs. This reservoir grades from a riverine upper third with gravel and cobble substrate to a shallow 56

62 transition zone with sand substrate to a more lentic lower section with steep cliff and boulder sides. Twenty-five percent of the reservoir is less than 5 m deep (Parsley and Beckman 1994; Beamesderfer et al. 1995). McNary Reservoir (Rkm ), Columbia River, was formed in 1953 with the completion of McNary Dam. It is 13-km long and 11,635 ha in surface area at full pool (Parsley And Beckman 1994). The Hanford Reach, the longest free-flowing section of the Columbia River upstream of Bonneville Dam, has substrates that range from large cobble to fine sand (Geist et al. 26). Sonar surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy showed the amount of fine sediment decreased from 9% at McNary Dam to 51% travelling upstream to Port Kelly. Substrate at the Port of Kennewick is composed of 4% gravel, 82% sand, 9% silt and 5% clay (Pinza et al. 1992). At the Port of Burbank no samples were collected as the bottom was bedrock (USACE 1993). Snake River Hells Canyon Reservoir (Rkm ), Snake River, was formed in 1967 with the completion of Hells Canyon Dam. It is 42-km long and 1, ha in surface area at full pool with a maximum depth of 75 m. The reservoir has been classified as meso-eutrophic. Reservoir shorelines are generally steep, and substrates consist primarily of basalt outcrops and talus slopes. The average hydraulic retention time for Hells Canyon Reservoir is 4 days (Myers and Foster 23). Oxbow Reservoir (Rkm ) Snake River, was formed in 1961 with the completion of Oxbow Dam. It is 2-km long and 459 ha in surface area at full pool. It is relatively narrow with a mean width of 242 m and shallow, with a mean depth of 15 m. Its maximum depth is approximately 25 m. The reservoir is surrounded by moderate to steep topography (2 to 75% slopes). The reservoir has been classified as meso-eutrophic. From the tailrace of Brownlee Dam to the mouth of Wildhorse Creek (1.6 km downstream) is a swift, narrow channel. Shorelines are primarily basalt outcrops and talus, except where small tributaries have created alluvial fans. The average hydraulic retention time for Oxbow Reservoir is 1.4 days (Myers and Foster 23). POPULATION Population estimates have fluctuated through time (Table 17). Fluctuations in abundance have been influenced by natural and fishing mortality, immigration and emigration, and annual reproductive success. Differences in CPUE (Tables 18 22) illustrate changes in the relative density of the white sturgeon population through time. 57

63 Table 17. Abundance estimates for Zone 6 reservoirs and the Hanford Reach of McNary Reservoir, inch total length Number of fish by total length interval (inches) Number Year N (95% CI) Sum ha a Hanford Reach and McNary Reservoir ,234 (3,782-9,86) 9 2,7 3,4 1,25 8,25.7 Bonneville Reservoir ,4 (27,5-45,4) 32,9 16,7 1, , ,2 (24,8-66,) 31,3 18,3 1, , ,4 b 82,4 41,8 3, , , b 84,5 33, 1, , ,3 b 159, 45, , ,713 b 223,955 16,86 3, ,6 334, The Dalles Reservoir ,6 (15,7-33,6) 7,8 11, 6,1 1,8 1, 27, , (7,3-11,) 4,2 4,3 1, , ,7 (7,5-14,) 5,8 5,7 8 <5 3 12, , (26,2-42,) 82,9 13,5 5,9 1,2 8 14, ,7 (37,-56,3) 9,6 1,2 1, , ,41 b 55,6 74,8 1, , John Day Reservoir 199 3,9 (2,3-6,1) 16,6 1, , ,1 (23,8-3,8) 5,8 19,7 4, , ,6 b 14,9 12,8 1, , , b 3,2 11,5 1, , ,2 b 17,834 21,793 1, , ,635 b 4,472 29,11 3, ,449 4, a Hanford Reach and McNary Reservoir = 11,635 hectare; Bonneville Reservoir = 7,632 hectare; The Dalles Reservoir = 3,639 hectare; John Day Reservoir = 19,781 hectare. b Confidence intervals for these estimates are not provided because they are derived from expansion, not directly calculated from mark-recapture data. 58

64 Table 18. Effort (sets), catch, and catch per unit effort (CPUE, in italics) by year for gears set downstream of Bonneville Dam, Columbia River. Setlines Young of Year Gillnet Year Sets Catch CPUE Sets Catch CPUE Table 19. Effort (sets), catch, and catch per unit effort (CPUE, in italics) by year for gears set in Bonneville Reservoir, Columbia River. Commercial Gillnet Experimental Gillnet Setline Young of Year Gillnet Year Sets Catch CPUE Sets Catch CPUE Sets Catch CPUE Sets Catch CPUE

65 Table 2. Effort (sets), catch, and catch per unit effort (CPUE, in italics) by year for gears set in The Dalles Reservoir, Columbia River. Commercial Gillnet Experimental Gillnet Setline Young of Year Gillnet Year Sets Catch CPUE Sets Catch CPUE Sets Catch CPUE Sets Catch CPUE

66 Table 21. Effort (sets), catch, and catch per unit effort (CPUE, in italics) by year for gears set in John Day Reservoir, Columbia River. Commercial Gillnet Experimental Gillnet Setline Young of Year Gillnet Year Sets Catch CPUE Sets Catch CPUE Sets Catch CPUE Sets Catch CPUE Table 22. Effort (sets), catch, and catch per unit effort (CPUE, in italics) by year for gears set in McNary Reservoir, Columbia River. Experimental Gillnet Setline Young of Year Gillnet Year Sets Catch CPUE Sets Catch CPUE Sets Catch CPUE

67 Number of White Sturgeon N=1,23 Mean Fk length = 75. cm 21 N=1,928 Mean Fk length = 8.6 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 6. Setline catches by year in the Columbia River downstream of Bonneville Dam. Sampling conducted between July and September. Shaded area represents the sport harvest slot limits for that year. 62

68 N=484 Mean Fk length = 84.8 cm 1 5 Number of White Sturgeon N=3,385 Mean Fk length = 77.5 cm 1991 N=1.752 Mean Fk length = 77.5 cm 1993 N=29 Mean Fk length = 1.9 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 7. Setline catches by year in Bonneville Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between April and September. Shaded area represents the sport harvest slot limits for that year. 63

69 N=861 Mean Fk length = 87.8 cm Number of White Sturgeon N=7,376 Mean Fk length = 77. cm N=6,643 Mean Fk length = 73.2 cm 2 26 N=5,324 Mean Fk length = 67. cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 7 (continued). Setline catches by year in Bonneville Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between April and September. Shaded area represents the sport harvest slot limits for that year. Please note the harvestable size slot is variable by year. 64

70 Number of White Sturgeon 2 29 N=4,76 Mean Fk length = 75.1 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 7 (continued). Setline catches by year in Bonneville Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between April and September. Shaded area represents the sport harvest slot limits for that year. 65

71 N=823 Mean Fk Length = 98.7 cm Number of White Sturgeon N=1,585 Mean Fk length = 95.7 cm 1989 N=231 Mean Fk length = 79.3 cm N=56 Mean Fk length = 82.8 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 8. Setline catches by year in The Dalles Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between April and September. Shaded area represents the sport harvest slot limits for that year. Please note the harvestable size slot is variable by year. 66

72 N=54 Mean Fk Length = 13.6 cm Number of White Sturgeon N=861 Mean Fk length = 87.3 cm 1997 N=4,57 Mean Fk length = 88.3 cm 22 N=5,623 Mean Fk length = 68.7 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 8 (continued). Setline catches by year in The Dalles Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between April and September. Shaded area represents the sport harvest slot limits for that year. Please note the harvestable size slot is variable by year. 67

73 2 Number of White Sturgeon N=3,95 Mean Fk length = 7. cm 28 N=4,13 Mean Fk length = 85.4 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 8 (continued). Setline catches by year in The Dalles Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between April and September. Shaded area represents the sport harvest slot limits for that year. Please note the harvestable size slot is variable by year. 68

74 N=33 Mean Fk Length = 84.7 cm Number of White Sturgeon N=621 Mean Fk length = 85.4 cm 1991 N=152 Mean Fk length = 75.4 cm N=3,185 Mean Fk length = 96.6 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 9. Setline catches by year in John Day Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between April and September. Shaded area represents the sport harvest slot limits for that year. Please note the harvestable size slot is variable by year. 69

75 N=5,579 Mean Fk Length = 84.7 cm 1 5 Number of White Sturgeon N=3,484 Mean Fk length = 8. cm 27 N=2,213 Mean Fk length = 88.8 cm 21 N=2,149 Mean Fk length = 14.9 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 9 (continued). Setline catches by year in John Day Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between April and September. Shaded area represents the harvest catch slot limits for that year. Please note the harvestable size slot is variable by year. 7

76 1 Number of White Sturgeon N=168 Mean Fk length = 17.3 cm 1995 N=82 Mean Fk length = 114. cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 1. Setline catches by year in in McNary Reservoir, Columbia and lower Snake Rivers. Sampling conducted between April and September. Shaded area represents the sport catch slot limits for that year. Please note the harvestable size slot is variable by year. 71

77 N=329 Mean Fk length = 34.6 cm Number of White Sturgeon N=328 Mean Fk length = 32.2 cm 26 N=316 Mean Fk length = 29.6 cm N=185 Mean Fk length = 3.9 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 11. Small-mesh gillnet catches by year in the Columbia River downstream of Bonneville Dam. Sampling conducted between September and December. 72

78 Number of White Sturgeon N=67 Mean Fk Length = 25. cm 21 N=64 Mean Fk Length = 36.5 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 11 (continued). Small-mesh gillnet catches by year in the Columbia River downstream of Bonneville Dam. Sampling conducted between September and December. 73

79 N=524 Mean Fk Length = 41.5 cm Number of White Sturgeon N=5297 Mean Fk Length = 47.8 cm 28 N = 461 Mean Fk Length = 42.5 cm N=325 Mean Fk Length 47.6 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 12. Small-mesh gillnet catches by year in Bonneville Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between September and December. 74

80 Number of White Sturgeon N= 253 Mean Fk Length = Fork Length (cm) Figure 12 (continued). Small-mesh gillnet catches by year in Bonneville Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between September and December. 75

81 N=219 Mean Fk Length = 4.1 cm Number of White Sturgeon N=832 Mean Fk Length = 41.1 cm 1999 N = 686 Mean Fk Length = 32.3 cm 2 N=143 Mean Fk Length 44.2 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 13. Small-mesh gillnet catches by year in The Dalles Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between September and December. 76

82 N=247 Mean Fk Length = 57.3 cm Number of White Sturgeon N=66 Mean Fk Length = 47. cm 23 N = 59 Mean Fk Length = 56.9 cm N=62 Mean Fk Length 59.1 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 13 (continued). Small-mesh gillnet catches by year in The Dalles Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between September and December. 77

83 N=3 Mean Fk Length = 6.6 cm Number of White Sturgeon N=13 Mean Fk Length = 33.5 cm 27 N = 75 Mean Fk Length = 51.3 cm N=62 Mean Fk Length 39.8 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 13 (continued). Small-mesh gillnet catches by year in The Dalles Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between September and December. 78

84 Number of White Sturgeon N=9 Mean Fk Length = 3.7 cm 21 N=123 Mean Fk Length = 36.2 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 13 (continued). Small-mesh gillnet catches by year in The Dalles Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between September and December. 79

85 N=16 Mean Fk Length = 42.1 cm Number of White Sturgeon N=144 Mean Fk Length = 47.8 cm 1999 N = 82 Mean Fk Length = 4.7 cm N=63 Mean Fk Length 54.5 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 14. Small-mesh gillnet catches by year in John Day Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between September and December. 8

86 N=39 Mean Fk Length = 6.9 cm Number of White Sturgeon N=13 Mean Fk Length = 6. cm 23 N = 12 Mean Fk Length = 64.3 cm N=27 Mean Fk Length 64.2 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 14 (continued). Small-mesh gillnet catches by year in John Day Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between September and December. 81

87 N=18 Mean Fk Length = 64.5 cm Number of White Sturgeon N=19 Mean Fk Length = 63. cm 27 N = 13 Mean Fk Length = 65.6 cm N=8 Mean Fk Length 75.6 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 14 (continued). Small-mesh gillnet catches by year in John Day Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between September and December. 82

88 Number of White Sturgeon N=1 Mean Fk Length = 48.4 cm 21 N=22 Mean Fk Length = 47.5 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 14 (continued). Small-mesh gillnet catches by year in John Day Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between September and December. 83

89 N=22 Mean Fk Length = 49.8 cm Number of White Sturgeon N=15 Mean Fk Length = 57.3 cm 21 N=5 Mean Fk Length = 63.2 cm N=1 Mean Fk Length 65.cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 15. Small-mesh gillnet catches by year in McNary Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between September and December. 84

90 N=3 Mean Fk Length = 57. cm 2 1 Number of White Sturgeon N=2 Mean Fk Length = 58.9 cm 26 N=5 Mean Fk Length 29. cm 27 N=4 Mean Fk Length 36.5 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 15 (continued). Small-mesh gillnet catches by year in McNary Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between September and December. 85

91 N=7 Mean Fk Length = 41.8 cm 3 2 Number of White Sturgeon N=4 Mean Fk Length = 51.4 cm 21 N=2 Mean Fk Length = 62. cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 15 (continued). Small-mesh gillnet catches by year in McNary Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between September and December. 86

92 N=3,535 Mean Fk length = 85.8 cm Number of White Sturgeon N=2,997 Mean Fk length = 87.5 cm 26 N=3,851 Mean Fk length = 73.8 cm 29 N=3,739 Mean Fk length = 78.4 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 16. Large-mesh gillnet catches by year in Bonneville Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between December and March. Shaded area represents the sport harvest slot limits for that year. Please note the harvestable size slot is variable by year. 87

93 N=3,762 Mean Fk length = 69.9 cm Number of White Sturgeon N=3,63 Mean Fk length = 97.6 cm 25 N=3,356 Mean Fk length = 78. cm 28 N=4,372 Mean Fk length = 85.7 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 17. Large-mesh gillnet catches by year in The Dalles Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between December and March. Shaded area represents the sport harvest slot limits for that year. Please note the harvestable size slot is variable by year. 88

94 N=1,215 Mean Fk length = 96. cm Number of White Sturgeon N=3,11 Mean Fk Length = 97. cm 24 N=2,842 Mean Fk length = 89.9 cm N=4,236 Mean Fk length = 86.1 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 18. Large-mesh gillnet catches by year in John Day Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between December and March. Shaded area represents the sport harvest slot limits for that year. Please note the harvestable size slot is variable by year. 89

95 Number of White Sturgeon N=3,852 Mean Fk length = 97.3 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 18 (continued). Large-mesh gillnet catches by year in John Day Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between December and March. Shaded area represents the harvest catch slot limits for that year. Please note the harvestable size slot is variable by year. 9

96 Number of White Sturgeon N=23 Mean Fk length = 44.7 cm 1994 N=135 Mean Fk length = 46. cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 19. Experimental gillnet catches by year in Bonneville Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between December and March. Shaded area represents the sport harvest slot limits for that year. Please note the harvestable size slot is variable by year. 91

97 N=182 Mean Fk Length = 62.9 cm Number of White Sturgeon N=58 Mean Fk length = 55.1 cm 1994 N=22 Mean Fk length = 7.8 cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 2. Experimental gillnet catches by year in The Dalles Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between December and March. Shaded area represents the sport harvest slot limits for that year. Please note the harvestable size slot is variable by year. 92

98 Number of White Sturgeon N=236 Mean Fk length = 51.4 cm 1996 N=7 Mean Fk length =86.5cm Fork Length (cm) Figure 21. Experimental gillnet catches by year in John Day Reservoir, Columbia River. Sampling conducted between December and March. Shaded area represents the sport harvest slot limits for that year. Please note the harvestable size slot is variable by year. Mortality rates by age Mortality rates were originally based on catch curves and have been modified over the years based on capture-recapture information. We moved from strictly using catch curves to a two-tier rate based on age. In the two-tier system we assigned a mortality rate of.787 for fish 1-3 yearsold based on catch curves (Beamesderfer et al. 1995) and a mortality rate for sturgeon 4+ yearsold of.937 based on our maximum likelihood estimate of survival from PIT tag recoveries in Bonneville Reservoir from (ODFW, unpublished data). This estimate for 4+ white sturgeon is similar to mortality rates calculated for the upper Columbia and Kootenai River white sturgeon population segments (Golder Associates Ltd 27; Justice et al. 28). 93

99 Genetic Diversity White sturgeon are believed to be octoploid -- an organism with eight complete sets of homologous chromosomes based on the number (~5) of chromosomes they possess (Blacklidge and Bidwell 1993; Ludwig et al. 21; Rodzen and May 22). However, this is not wholly the case, as inheritance appears to be locus specific. Rodzen and May (22) noted that locus depending, ploidy levels in white sturgeon range from disomy, two copies of a chromosome, to at least octosomy, eight copies of a chromosome. Although they are closely related, there appear to be small, significant genetic differences among white sturgeon populations from the Sacramento, Columbia and Fraser river systems (Bartley et al. 1985, Brown et al. 1992, Anders and Powell 22; Drauch-Scheier 211). White sturgeon are capable of long distance migrations through both fresh and salt water, but evidence to support high levels of contemporary gene flow is limited. This conclusion is consistent with recaptures of marked white sturgeon that indicate movement between river systems is uncommon (Chadwick 1959; Galbreath 1985; DeVore and Grimes 1993; Watts 26; Welch et al. 26). MANAGEMENT Harvest history and regulation changes The Columbia River downstream of Bonneville Dam is co-managed by Oregon and Washington; upstream of Bonneville Dam the four treaty tribes, Nez Perce, Umatilla, Warm Springs, and Yakama are also co-managers. Seasons and quotas for commercial harvest are set by the Columbia River Compact with guidance from the Joint State Accord that is negotiated approximately every 3 years and the Sturgeon Management Task Force. The Compact is made up of agency directors, or their delegates, acting on behalf of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. In addition, the Columbia River treaty tribes participate through the Sturgeon Management Task Force and US v Oregon. The Compact provides authority to adopt seasons and rules for Columbia River commercial fisheries as follows: All laws and regulations now existing, or which may be necessary for regulating, protecting, or preserving fish in the waters of the Columbia River, over which the States of Oregon and Washington have concurrent jurisdiction, or any other waters within either of said states, which would affect the concurrent jurisdiction, shall be made, changed, altered and amended in whole or in part, only with the mutual consent and approbation of both states (Oregon Rev. Stat. 57.1). Recreational fisheries are established during Joint State Hearings by ODFW and WDFW. These hearings are functionally similar to the Compact hearings; however, since the Compact is only empowered to enact commercial fishing actions they are treated as separate events. Functionally, Compact hearings and Joint State Hearings often act on similar issues, and therefore often occur at the same time. 94

100 Population estimates and trends are supplied to managers who set seasons and quotas that provide for enough survival through the harvest slot to increase the population of adults into the spawning portion of the population. Over the years the management of the lower Columbia River downstream of Bonneville Dam and the reservoirs upstream of it have changed with more restrictive slot limits (Figures 6-1 and 16-21), reduced harvest quotas (Table 24) and fishing sanctuaries to protect spawning adults. Angler Survey Angler survey methodology was established by WDFW in 1995 to sample in The Dalles Reservoir for mark recovery, biological profiling data, and information regarding catch and effort for sport harvest (James et al. 1997). As detailed in James et al. (1997; 22) and Langness et al. (22), sport harvest was derived from estimates of total angler effort obtained through angler counts and catch rates determined from angler interviews. Samplers interviewed anglers at bank fishing sites and boat ramps to determine angler type and catch per hour of effort for each species in the catch with a goal of sampling about twenty percent of the harvest. Samplers collected data from both incomplete and complete angler trips. Interview data collected included: angling method (bank or boat), target species, hours fished, number of anglers in the party, fishing location, state of residence, species, number of fish caught, number released, total length of all retained fish, and mark sample data for white sturgeon, Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp., and walleye sander vitreus. Catch was sampled for fork and total lengths, weights, sex, age, and maturity. Tribal Commercial Fishery The tribal commercial fishery occurs in the area between Bonneville and McNary Dams. Numbers of white sturgeon landed in the commercial fisheries is estimated from poundage reported on fish receiving tickets for each gear type and reservoir. These estimates do not include white sturgeon harvested during treaty subsistence fisheries. White sturgeon landed in the tribal commercial fisheries are sampled at buying stations by WDFW and ODFW personnel. The same mark recovery and biological data collected from the recreational harvest are collected on a random sample of fish landed in tribal commercial fisheries. Pounds of white sturgeon landed are converted to number of fish by applying an average weight per fish obtained during biological sampling by field crews. Average weights are calculated by statistical week and applied to the total poundage for each week. If the sample size is less than 3 for the week, data from successive weeks are combined until a sample size of at least 3 is obtained. This approach to derive numbers landed is considered more realistic than just taking numbers from the commercial landing tickets (sales are in pounds and therefore carefully recorded, whereas numbers on the tickets are often just estimated during large deliveries). 95

101 In 1988, Washington required that fish tickets report the catch location according to specific reservoir. Oregon buyers were not required to separate tribal landings by reservoir on their fish tickets until Therefore fish landed at Oregon buying stations prior to 1989 were recorded as reservoir unknown. Trawl and Haul In 1993 we proposed activities that would address the feasibility of mitigating lost recruitment and habitat connectivity in the impounded reaches upstream of Bonneville Dam by transplanting naturally produced white sturgeon from areas of stable recruitment within the lower Columbia River to impounded reaches thereby directly increasing white sturgeon biomass in the impounded reaches. This would improve the status of impounded white sturgeon populations by contributing individuals that would eventually recruit to the spawning population. The first year, the objectives were to estimate catch rate, and evaluate handling procedures and short-term mortality associated with capture, processing (measuring length and weight, removing scutes, PIT tagging, and injecting with oxytetracycline), and transportation of juvenile and sub-adult white sturgeon. Trawling efforts occurred primarily in the navigation channel of the Columbia River between Rkm 29 and 212. This area was selected because it was the nearest site to The Dalles Reservoir with previously documented high catch rates of sub-adult white sturgeon. Two different trawl types and vessels were used for fish collection. The NMFS deployed a 7.9- m (head rope length) semi-balloon shrimp trawl from a 12.2-m research vessel. The USGS operated a 7.3-m research vessel and fished a 6.2-m high-rise shrimp trawl with and without a cod-end liner. The number and duration of tows conducted each day varied with catch rate and transport goal. NMFS conducted tows while traveling upstream and downstream; USGS only made upstream tows. In 1993 most fish were processed onboard a 7.5-m ODFW research vessel anchored at rkm 21 and released on-site. In 1994 we processed fish onboard a contracted 9.1-m vessel and the ODFW research vessel. In 1995 we processed fish onboard a contracted 7.3 x 21.9-m barge propelled by a 15.2-m tugboat. The barge was equipped with six 52-L plastic totes for holding fish. Each tote received a minimum of 37.8 L/minute of pumped fresh river water. We measured fork length (cm) and weight (.1 kg) of most white sturgeon captured in 1993 and from transported fish in 1994 and 1995 (Table 23). We selected white sturgeon 35-8 cm for processing and transport in 1993 and 1994 (fish outside this length interval were released at the capture site). In 1995 we selected white sturgeon 3-92 cm for processing and transport. Each transported fish received a PIT tag. No transported sturgeon were PIT tagged after In 1994 we transported fish from the capture site to The Dalles Reservoir by boat. We contracted with a private firm that provided a 9.1-m vessel and operator to complete this task. After 1994 we transported all white sturgeon in either a 9,462-L or 13,247-L fish transport truck. The same barge used as the floating platform for fish processing served to ferry these vehicles between the fishing area and a boat ramp where they were driven off the barge. 96

102 Some advantages of Trawl and Haul include instant augmentation of several year classes, immediacy and flexibility of the action, and increases to upstream gene flow which maintains genetic diversity. However, this requires a robust donor population, and due to decreased catches the program was discontinued after 25. Table 23. Numbers and distribution of transported juvenile and sub-adult white sturgeon by year. Transport was not conducted in 1996 and The Dalles John Day Year Reservoir (n) Reservoir (n) Total ,838 2, ,611 5, ,257 5,534 8, ,171 4, ,163 4,19 5, ,257 5,195 6, ,177 5, ,951 2, Total 15,154 27,147 42,31 97

103 Table 24. Harvest history and regulation changes for Zone 6, Columbia River (Table provided by WDFW). 23-Aug-11 Area/Fishery Guideline Guideline Catch Guide-line 1998 Catch 1999 Catch 2 Catch Guide-line Catch Guide-line Catch Catch Bonneville Pool Sport 1,35 1,353 1,52 1,463 1,52 1,626 1, ,262 1,52 1,426 1,52 1,56 Treaty Commercial 1,25 1,5 1,3 1,852 1,3 1,462 1,28 1,165 1,3 1,287 1,3 472 Total 2,6 2,358 2,82 3,315 2,82 3,88 2,516 2,427 2,82 2,713 2,82 2,32 Treaty Subsistence Abundance estimate 11, The Dalles Pool Sport Treaty Commercial ,-1,2 1,18 1,51 1,342 1,1 1,215 1,1 1,152 Total ,8 1,965 1,745 2,151 1,8 1,892 1,8 2,3 Treaty Subsistence Abundance estimate 8,1 5,93 John Day Pool Sport Treaty Commercial ,16 1,26 1,16 1, , Total ,72 1,724 1,72 1,693 1,182 1,222 1,72 1, Treaty Subsistence Abundance estimate 4,5 1,32 Zone 6 Total Sport 1,55 1,463 2,28 2,15 2,68-2,88 3,76 2,352 2,55 2,78 2,42 2,385 2,625 Treaty Commercial 1,65 1,595 2,86 3,61 3,46-3,66 3,67 3,91 3,295 3,56 3,257 2,735 1,95 Total 3,2 3,58 5,14 5,715 6,34 6,746 5,443 5,8 6,34 5,659 5,12 4,575 Treaty Subsistence Sport closure dates Bonneville Pool 1-Apr 5-Apr 2-Apr 17-Apr 8-Apr 13-Aug 5-Aug - 27 Sep The Dalles Pool 1-May 5-May 8-Jun 12-Jun 19-Jun 9-Apr 13-Jul John Day Pool 1-May 2-Sep 23-Nov no closure no closure 24-Aug Commercial open periods 3 Bonneville Pool 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/16 G 4/1-5/31 SL 1/1-1/31 SL 2/3-3/21 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/2-3/14 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/2 G 4/1-4/5 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/18 G 3/2-6/1 SL The Dalles Pool John Day Pool 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/16 G 4/1-5/31 SL 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/16 G 4/1-5/1 SL 1/1-1/31 SL 2/3-3/21 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/3-3/21 G 4/7-6/23 SL 1/1-1/31 SL 2/2-3/14 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/2-3/14 G 3/23-6/3 SL 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/2 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/2 G 4/1-7/31 SL 1/11-12/31 SL 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/18 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/18 G 3/2-7/31 SL 8/8-8/2 SL 1/2-12/31 SL 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/14 G 6/1-8/18 SL 1/1-12/31 SL 11/14-11/2 G 11/23-11/3 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/14 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/14 G 6/1-8/18 SL 1/1-12/31 SL 11/14-11/2 G 11/23-12/7 G Size limits (in.) Total Total Total Total Total length length length length length BP Sport BP Commercial TD & JD Sport TD & JD Comm Preliminary. 2 Contained preliminary estimates on earlier versions of this table. They have been updated to match final numbers presented in BPA sturgeon project annnual reports. 3 SL = setline; G = gillnet Zone 6 Sturgeon Harvest 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/21 6/1-8/17 SL 1/1-12/15 SL 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/21 G 6/1-8/17 SL 1/1-1/26 SL 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/21 G 98

104 Table 24 (continued). Harvest history and regulation changes for Zone 6, Columbia River Guidelines and Harvest Guide-line Catch Guide-line 24 Catch 25 Catch Guide-line 26 Catch 27 Catch 28 Catch Guide-line Catch Guide-line Catch 1 1,7 1, ,4 1, , ,4 1,729 2,9 1,921 1,1 1,316 1,146 1, ,585 1,1 1,69 2,8 3, ,24 6, , 862 1, 1,231 1,3 1,258 1,3 1,55 1, ,3 1,78 1,3 1, , ,94 1, ,265 2,175 1,265 1,611 1, ,39 1,134 1,165 1, 1,865 1,946 2,435 1,441 1,635 1,748 1,741 1, ,124 1,592 1,735 1,618 2,735 3,247 4,7 3,616 2,9 3,359 2,847 2,25 1,824 2,163 2,726 2,9 2,618 4,6 5, Jul 21-Jun 28-Jul 26-Jun 11-Jun 24-Jul 3-Jul 12-Jul 28-Jun 25-Jun 8-Apr 29-Mar 15-Mar 12-Jul 11-Jul 1-Jul 11-Jun 26-Mar 6-Jun 19-Apr 13-Apr 21-Feb 6-May 1-Mar 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/21 G 6/9-7/11 SL 7/22-8/23 SL 1/13-12/31 SL 12/1-12/14 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/21 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/21 G 6/9-7/11 SL 7/22-8/23 SL 1/13-12/31 SL 1/1-1/31 SL 2/2-3/1 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/2-3/1 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/2-3/21 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/16 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/19 G 1/12-12/31 SL 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/16 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/21 G 7/31-8/15 SL 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/21 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/21 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/21 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/9 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/21 G 8/1-8/18 SL 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-2/29 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/3 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/1-3/1 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/2-2/13 G 1/1-1/31 SL 2/2-3/6 G 8/3-8/15 SL 1/1-1/31 SL 2/2-3/6 G 1/1-1/31 SL?????? G 1/1-1/31 SL?????? G 1/1-1/31 SL?????? G Total Total length length Total length Total length Total length Fork length Fork length

105 PUBLICATIONS resulting from conducted research The work conducted by the ODFW and cooperators on white sturgeon in the Columbia Basin has led to or contributed to at least 29 reports, 29 peer-reviewed articles and 2 doctoral dissertations. Anders, P. J., and M. S. Powell. 22. Population structure and mtdna diversity in North American white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus): An empirical expansive gene flow model. Chapter 3 (pages ) In: Anders, P. J. 22. Conservation Biology of White Sturgeon. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Idaho, Aquaculture Research Institute, Center for Salmonid and Freshwater Species at Risk. Moscow, ID. 221 pp. Beamesderfer, R. C A standard weight equation for white sturgeon. California Fish and Game 79(2):63-69, Beamesderfer, R. C. P. and R. A. Farr Alternatives for the protection and restoration of sturgeons and their habitat. Proceedings of the International Conference on Sturgeon Biodiversity and Conservation, New York, Beamesderfer, R. C. P. and A. A. Nigro Status and habitat requirements of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia River downstream from McNary Dam Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. Beamesderfer, R. C. P. and A. A. Nigro Volume I. Status and habitat requirements of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia River downstream from McNary Dam. Final Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. Beamesderfer, R. C. P. and A. A. Nigro Volume II. Status and habitat requirements of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia River downstream from McNary Dam. Final Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. Beamesderfer, R. C. P., T. A. Rien, and A. A. Nigro Differences in the dynamics and potential production of impounded and unimpounded white sturgeon populations in the lower Columbia River. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 124: , Beiningen, K. T Effects of mitigative measures on productivity of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia River downstream from McNary Dam, and status and habitat requirements of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia and Snake Rivers upstream from McNary Dam Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. Beiningen, K. T Effects of mitigative measures on productivity of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia River downstream from McNary Dam, and determine status and habitat requirements of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia and Snake Rivers upstream from McNary Dam Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. 1

106 Brown, L. C., A. T. Beckenbach and M. J. Smith Influence of Pleistocene glaciations and human intervention upon mitochondrial DNA diversity in white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) populations. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 49: , Burner, L. C. and T. A. Rien. 22. Incidence of white sturgeon deformities in two reaches of the Columbia River. California Fish and Game 88(2):57-67, 22. Chapman, C. G. and M. H. Weaver. 26. Sturgeon population characteristics in Oregon. Annual Progress Report by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Project Number F-178-R-6. Chapman, C. G. and J. C. Kern. 25. Sturgeon population characteristics in Oregon. Annual Progress Report by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Project Number F-178-R-5. Chapman, C. G., and T. A. Jones. 21. First documented spawning of white sturgeon in the lower Willamette River, Oregon. Northwest Science 84: DeVore, J. D., B. W. James, C. A. Tracy and D. A. Hale Dynamics and potential of white sturgeon in the unimpounded lower Columbia River. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 124: , Drauch, A, T. Famula, and B. May. 29. Final Project Report - Examination of Temporal Trends in Genetic Diversity and Reproductive Success of White Sturgeon in the Lower Columbia River. Prepared for the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife by U.C. Davis Genomic Variation Laboratory. Elliot, C. G. and R. C. Beamesderfer Comparison of efficiency and selectivity of three gears used to sample white sturgeon in a Columbia River reservoir. California Fish And Game 76(3):174-18, 199. Feist, G. W., M. A. H. Webb, D. T. Gundersen, E. P. Foster, C. B. Schreck, A. G. Maule, and M. S. Fitzpatrick. 25. Evidence of detrimental effects of environmental contaminants on growth and reproductive physiology of white sturgeon in impounded areas of the Columbia River. Environmental Health Perspectives 113(12): , 25. Correction, Environmental Health Perspectives 114(2):A9, 26. Foster, E. P., M. S. Fitzpatrick, G. W. Feist, C. B. Schreck, and J. Yates. 21. Gonad organochlorine concentrations and plasma steroid levels in white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) from the Columbia River. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 76: , 21a. 11

107 Foster, E. P., M. S. Fitzpatrick, G. W. Feist, C. B. Schreck, J. Yates, J. M. Spitsbergen, and J. R. Heidel. 21. Plasma androgen correlation, EROD induction, reduced condition factor, and the occurrence of organochlorine pollutants in reproductively immature white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) from the Columbia River, USA. Archive of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 41(2): , 21. Galbreath, J. L Status, life history, and management of Columbia River white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus. Pages in F. P. Binkowski and S. I. Doroshov, editors. North American sturgeons. Dr. W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands. Jones, T. A. 29. Sturgeon population characteristics in Oregon. Annual Progress Report by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Project Number F-178-R-9. Jones, T. A. 21. Sturgeon population characteristics in Oregon. Annual Progress Report by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Project Number F-178-R-1. Mallette, C. 28. White sturgeon mitigation and restoration in the Columbia and Snake Rivers upstream from Bonneville Dam. 26 Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. Mallette, C. 29. White sturgeon mitigation and restoration in the Columbia and Snake Rivers upstream from Bonneville Dam. 27 Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. Mallette, C. 21. White sturgeon mitigation and restoration in the Columbia and Snake Rivers upstream from Bonneville Dam. 28 Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. McCabe Jr., G. T Prevalence of the parasite Cystoopsis acipenseri (Nematoda) in juvenile white sturgeons in the lower Columbia River. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health 5: , McCabe Jr., G. T and L. G. Beckman Use of an artificial substrate to collect white sturgeon eggs. California Fish and Game 76(4):248-25, 199. McCabe Jr., G. T, R. L. Emmett, and S. A. Hinton Feeding ecology of juvenile white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) in the lower Columbia River. Northwest Science 67:17-18, McCabe Jr., G. T. and C. A. Tracy Spawning and early life history of white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus, in the lower Columbia River. Fishery Bulletin 92:76-772,

108 Miller, A. I. and L. G. Beckman First record of predation on white sturgeon eggs by sympatric fishes. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 125:338-34, Miller, A. I., T. D. Counihan, M. J. Parsley, and L. G. Beckman Columbia River Basin white sturgeon. Pages in E. T. LaRoe, editor. Our living resources: a report to the nation on the distribution, abundance, and health of U.S. plants, animals, and ecosystems. U. S. Department of the Interior, National Biological Service, Washington D. C. Muir, W. D. and G. T. McCabe Jr. 2. Diet of first-feeding larval and young-of-the-year white sturgeon in the lower Columbia River. Northwest Science 74(1): 25-33, 2. Nigro, A. A Status and habitat requirements of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia River downstream from McNary Dam Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. Nigro, A. A Status and habitat requirements of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia River downstream from McNary Dam Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. Nigro, A. A Status and habitat requirements of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia River downstream from McNary Dam. 199 Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. Nigro, A. A Status and habitat requirements of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia River downstream from McNary Dam Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. North, J. A., R. C. Beamesderfer and T. A. Rien Distribution and movement of white sturgeon in three lower Columbia River reservoirs. Northwest Science Volume 67, Number 2, North, J. A., R. A. Farr and P. Vescei. 22. A comparison of meristic and morphometric characters of green sturgeon Acipenser medirostris. Journal of Applied Icthyology 18: Parsley, M. J., and L. G. Beckman White sturgeon spawning and rearing habitat in the lower Columbia River. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 14: , Parsley, M. J., L. G. Beckman and G. T. McCabe, Jr Spawning and rearing habitat use by white sturgeons in the Columbia River downstream from McNary Dam. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 122: ,

109 Rieman, B. E. and R. C. Beamesderfer White sturgeon in the lower Columbia River: Is the stock overexploited? North American Journal of Fisheries Management 1: , 199. Rien, T. A. 25. White sturgeon mitigation and restoration in the Columbia and Snake Rivers upstream from Bonneville Dam. 23 Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. Rien, T. A. 26. White sturgeon mitigation and restoration in the Columbia and Snake Rivers upstream from Bonneville Dam. 24 Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. Rien, T. A. 27. White sturgeon mitigation and restoration in the Columbia and Snake Rivers upstream from Bonneville Dam. 25 Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. Rein, T. A. and R. C. Beamesderfer Accuracy and precision of white sturgeon age estimates from pectoral fin rays. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 123: Rein, T. A., R. C. Beamesderfer and C. A. Foster Retention, recognition, and effects on survival of several tags and marks for white sturgeon. California Fish and Game 8(4):161-17, Rien, T. A. and K. T. Beiningen Effects of mitigative measures on productivity of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia River downstream from McNary Dam, and determine status and habitat requirements of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia and Snake Rivers upstream from McNary Dam Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. Rein, T. A. and J. A. North. 22. White sturgeon transplants within the Columbia River. American Fisheries Society Symposium 28: , 22. Ward, D. L Effects of mitigative measures on productivity of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia River downstream from McNary Dam, and determine status and habitat requirements of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia and Snake Rivers upstream from McNary Dam Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. Ward, D. L Effects of mitigative measures on productivity of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia River downstream from McNary Dam, and determine status and habitat requirements of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia and Snake Rivers upstream from McNary Dam Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. 14

110 Ward, D. L. 2. White sturgeon mitigation and restoration in the Columbia and Snake Rivers upstream from Bonneville Dam Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. Ward, D. L. 21. White sturgeon mitigation and restoration in the Columbia and Snake Rivers upstream from Bonneville Dam Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. Ward, D. L. 22. White sturgeon mitigation and restoration in the Columbia and Snake Rivers upstream from Bonneville Dam. 2 Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. Ward, D. L. 22. White sturgeon mitigation and restoration in the Columbia and Snake Rivers upstream from Bonneville Dam. 21 Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. Ward, D. L. 23. White sturgeon mitigation and restoration in the Columbia and Snake Rivers upstream from Bonneville Dam. 22 Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. Warren, J. J. and L. G. Beckman Fishway use by white sturgeon on the Columbia River. Washington Sea Grant, Columbia River Series WSG-AS-93-2 Webb, M. A. H, and S. I. Doroshov. 211 Importance of environmental endocrinology in fisheries management and aquaculture of sturgeons. General and Comparative Endocrinology 17: , 211. Webb, M. A. H, G. W. Feist, E. P. Foster, C. B. Schreck, and M. S. Fitzpatrick. 22. Potential classification of sex and stage of gonadal maturity of wild white sturgeon using blood plasma indicators. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 131: , 22. Webb M. A. H., G. W. Feist, M. S. Fitzpatrick, E. P. Foster, C. B. Schreck, M. Plumlee, C. Wong and D. T. Gundersen. 26. Mercury Concentrations in Gonad, Liver, and Muscle of White Sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus in the Lower Columbia River. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Volume 5, Number 3, ,

111 LITERATURE CITED Anders, P. J., and M. S. Powell. 22. Population structure and mitochondrial DNA diversity of North American white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus): An empirical expansive gene flow model. Chapter 3 in P. J. Anders. Conservation biology of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus). Doctoral dissertation. University of Idaho, Moscow. Bajkov, A. D A preliminary report on the Columbia River sturgeon. Fisheries Commission of Oregon. Research Briefs 2:1-8. Portland, Oregon. Bajkov, A. D Migration of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) in the Columbia River. Fish Commission of Oregon, Department of Research 3:8-21. Portland, Oregon Bartley, D. M., G. A. E. Gall, and B. Bentley Preliminary description of the genetic structure of white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus, in the Pacific Northwest. Pages in F. P. Binkowski and S. I. Doroshov, editors. North American sturgeons. Dr. W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands. Beamesderfer, R. C A standard weight equation for white sturgeon. California Fish and Game 79(2):63-69, Beamesderfer, R. C. P., T. A. Rien, and A. A. Nigro Differences in the dynamics and potential production of impounded and unimpounded white sturgeon populations in the lower Columbia River. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 124: , Bemis, W. E., and B. Kynard Sturgeon rivers: an introduction to acipenserform biogeography and life history. Environmental Biology of Fishes 48: Bemis, W. E., E. K. Findeis, and L. Grand An overview of Acipenseriformes. Environmental Biology of Fishes 48: Blacklidge, K. H., and C. A. Bidwell Three ploidy levels indicated by genome quantification in Acipenseriformes of North America. The Journal of Heredity 84: Brannon, E., A. Setter, M. Miller, S. Brewer, G. Winans, F. Utter, L. Carpenter, and W. Hershberger Columbia River white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) population genetics and early life history. Bonneville Power Administration, Contract DE-AI79-84BO18952, Project Portland, Oregon. Brannon, E., A. Setter, M. Miller, S. Brewer, G. Winans, F. Utter, L. Carpenter, and W. Hershberger Columbia River white sturgeon genetics and early life history population segregation and juvenile feeding behavior. Bonneville Power Administration, Contract DE-AI79-84BP18952, Project Portland, Oregon. 16

112 Brown, J. R., A. T. Beckenbach, and M. J. Smith Influence of Pleistocene glaciations and human intervention upon mitochondrial DNA diversity in white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) populations. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 49: Buddington, R. K. and J. P. Christofferson Digestive and feeding characteristics of the chondrosteans. Pages in F. P. Binkowski and S. I. Doroshov, editors. North American sturgeons. Dr. W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands. Burner, L. C. and T. A. Rien. 22. Incidence of white sturgeon deformities in two reaches of the Columbia River. California Fish and Game 88(2):57-67, 22. Chadwick, H. K California sturgeon tagging studies. California Fish and Game 45: Conte, F. S., S. I. Doroshov, P. B. Lutes, and E. M. Strange Hatchery manual for the white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus with application to other North American Acipenseridae. Cooperative Extension, University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Publication Davis, California. DeVore, J. D. and J. G. Grimes Migration and distribution of white sturgeon in the Columbia River downstream from Bonneville Dam and adjacent marine areas. In R. C. Beamesderfer and A. A. Nigro, editors. Volume I, Status and habitat requirements of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia River downstream of McNary Dam. Final report. U. S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. Contract DE-AI79-86BP Eschmeyer, W. N. and E. S. Herald A Field Guide to Pacific Coast Fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 336pp. Fish Passage Center (FPC) Flow and spill query for Snake and Columbia River sites. Galbreath, J. L Status, life history, and management of Columbia River white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus. Pages in F. P. Binkowski and S. I. Doroshov, editors. North American sturgeons. Dr. W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands. Geist, D. R., E. V. Arntzen, Y. Chien, T. P. Hanrahan, C. J. Murray, W. A. Perkins, M. C. Richmond, and Y. Xie. 26. Spawning Habitat Studies of Hanford Reach Fall Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Final Report Prepared for U.S. Department of Energy Bonneville Power Administration Division of Fish and Wildlife Portland, Oregon Project No Contract No Golder Associates Ltd. 27. Upper Columbia River juvenile white sturgeon monitoring: Phase 5 investigations, November 26. Report prepared for BC Hydro, Revelstoke, B.C. Golder Report No D:64 p. +6 app. 17

113 Hanson, D. L., T. G. Cochnauer, J. D. DeVore, H. E. Forner, T. T. Kisanuki, D. W. Kohlhorst, P. Lumley, G. McCabe, A. A. Nigro, S. Parker, D. Swarts, and A. Van Vooren White sturgeon management framework plan. Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, Portland, Orgeon. Hart, J. L Pacific fishes of Canada. Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Bulletin 18:82. Haynes, J. M., R. H. Gray, and J. C. Montgomery Seasonal movements of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) in the mid-columbia River. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 17: Helfman G., B. Collette, and D. Facey The Diversity of Fishes. Blackwell Publishing, Malden Massachusetts, 527pp. Idaho Power Company (IPC). 25. Snake River white sturgeon conservation plan. IPC, Boise, Idaho. 24 p., plus appendices. Israel, J., A. Drauch, and M. Gingras. 29. Life History Conceptual Model for White Sturgeon. Report to Bay Delta Ecosystem Restoration and Improvement Program. James, B. W., D. A. Hale and J. D. DeVore Effects of mitigative measures on productivity of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia River downstream from McNary Dam, and determine status and habitat requirements of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia and Snake Rivers upstream from McNary Dam Report B. In T. A. Rien and K. T. Beiningen, editors. Effects of mitigative measures on productivity of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia River downstream from McNary Dam, and determine status and habitat requirements of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia and Snake Rivers upstream from McNary Dam Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. James, B. W., D. R. Gilliland, B. J. Cady and J. D. DeVore. 22. White sturgeon mitigation and restoration in the Columbia and Snake Rivers upstream from Bonneville Dam. In D. L. Ward, editor. White sturgeon mitigation and restoration in the Columbia and Snake Rivers upstream from Bonneville Dam Report B. 2 Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. Justice, C., B. J. Pyper, R. C. P. Beamesderfer, V. L. Paragamian, P. J. Rust, M. D. Neufeld, and S. C. Ireland. 28. Evidence of density- and size-dependent mortality in hatcheryreared juvenile white sturgeon in the Kootenai River. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 29 Vol. 66 No. 5 pp Kynard, B. and E. Parker. 25. Ontogenetic behavior and dispersal of Sacramento River white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus, with a note on body color. Environmental Biology of Fishes 74:

114 Langness, O. P, D. R. Gilliland, B. J. Cady, B. W. James and J. D. DeVore. 22. White sturgeon mitigation and restoration in the Columbia and Snake Rivers upstream from Bonneville Dam. In D. L. Ward, editor. White sturgeon mitigation and restoration in the Columbia and Snake Rivers upstream from Bonneville Dam Report B. 21 Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. Ludwig, A., N. M. Belfiore, C. Pitra, V. Svirsky, and I. Jenneckens. 21. Genome Duplication Events and Functional Reduction of Ploidy Levels in Sturgeon (Acipenser, Huso and Scaphirhynchus). Genetics 158: McAdam, S., C. Williamson, J. Vasquez. 28. A conceptual model of white sturgeon recruitment failure in the Nechako River, Canada, based on hydraulic modeling and biological investigations. 7th International Symposium on Ecohydraulics, Jan 12-16, 28, Concepcion, Chile McCabe Jr., G. T Prevalence of the parasite Cystoopsis acipenseri (Nematoda) in juvenile white sturgeons in the lower Columbia River. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health 5: , McCabe Jr., G. T. and C. A. Tracy Spawning and early life history of white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus, in the lower Columbia River. Fishery Bulletin 92:76-772, McEnroe, M., and J. J. Cech Jr Osmoregulation in juvenile and adult white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus. Environmental Biology of Fishes 14:23-3 Moyle, P. B Inland fishes of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles, London. Myers, R. and A. Foster. 23. Benthic macroinvertebrates of Hells Canyon. Idaho Power Company Technical Report Appendix E Hells Canyon Complex FERC No North, J. A, R. A. Farr, and P. Vescei. 22. A comparison of meristic and morphometric characters of green sturgeon Acipenser medirostris. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 18: Page, L. M. and B. M. Burr A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p. Parsley, M. J. and L. G. Beckman White sturgeon spawning and rearing habitat in the lower Columbia River. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 14: Parsley, M. J., L. G. Beckman and G. T. McCabe, Jr Spawning and rearing habitat use by white sturgeons in the Columbia River downstream from McNary Dam. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 122:

115 Parsley, M. P., N. D. Popoff, B. K. van der Leeuw, and C. D. Wright. 28. Seasonal and diel movements of white sturgeon in the lower Columbia River. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 137: Perrin, C. J., L. L. Rempel, and M. L. Rosenau. 23. White sturgeon spawning habitat in an unregulated river: Fraser River, Canada. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 132: Pinza M. R., J. Q. Word, E. S. Barrows, H. L. Mayhew, and D. R. Clark Snake and Columbia River Sediment Sampling Project. PNL-8479, Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, Washington. Rein, T. A. and R. C. Beamesderfer Accuracy and precision of white sturgeon age estimates from pectoral fin rays. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 123: Rodzen, J. A., and B. May. 22. Inheritance of microsatellite loci in the white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus). Genome 45: Rosales-Casian, J. A., and R. Ruz-Cruz. 25. Record of a white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus, from Bahia de Todos Santos, Baja California, Mexico, found at the Ensenada sea food market. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Science 14: Simenstad, C. A., J. L. Burke, J. E. O Connor, C. Cannon, D. W. Heatwole, M. F. Ramirez, I. R. Waite, T. D. Counihan, and K. L. Jones Columbia River Estuary Ecosystem Classification Concept and Application: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report , 54 p. Scott, W. B., and E. J. Crossman Freshwater fishes of Canada. Fisheries Research Board of Canada Bulletin 184. Upper Columbia River White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative (UCWSRI). 22. Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Plan and Technical Appendices. Plan and technical appendices prepared for the UCWSRI. Prepared by S.P. Cramer & Associates, Sandy, Ore. 9 p. +17 p. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Annual fish passage report. Portland and Walla Walla District, Portland, Oregon. Wang, Y. L., F. P. Binkowski, and S. I. Doroshov Effect of temperature on early development of white and lake sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus and A. fulvescens. Pages 43-5 in F. P. Binkowski and S. I. Doroshov, editors. North American sturgeons. Dr. W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands. Watts, J. 26. The 26 lower Columbia River and Buoy 1 recreational fisheries report. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Clackamas, Oregon. 11

116 Webb, M. A. H. and K. M. Kappenman. 28. Report E. Determine spawning interval of white sturgeon in the Columbia River. Pages 89 to 99 in C. Mallette, editor. White sturgeon mitigation and restoration in the Columbia and Snake rivers upstream from Bonneville Dam. Annual Progress Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon Welch, D. W., S. Turo, and S. D. Batten. 26. Large-scale marine and freshwater movements of white sturgeon. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 135: Woods, F. 28. The Columbia River compact. Washington Attorney General s Office, Olympia, Washington. 14p. 111

117 Appendix A Setline Gear and Techniques Used to Monitor White Sturgeon Populations in the Lower Columbia River 112

118 This document was prepared to address numerous requests for information on our setlines and is intended to provide enough detail to allow others to replicate our gear and to assist in procuring gear components. While specific vendors, manufacturers, and brands of components are referenced this should not be construed as an endorsement of those over other vendors or products. Since 1987, we have used setlines as our primary means of capturing sub-adult and adult white sturgeon in the Columbia River. Based on a comparison of setlines, gill nets and angling (Elliott and Beamesderfer 199) we chose setlines as they provide the greatest catch rates, represent the widest range of fish sizes, select almost exclusively for sturgeon, and seldom harm a fish. In a typical 8-1 hour day we can fish 8 12 lines depending on catch rates. As refinements and innovations in the commercial fisheries and fisheries research have led to gear improvements, we have incorporated those changes that simplify deployment or increase catch rates. GEAR DESCRIPTION Our typical setline (see figure below not to scale) consists of a 6-ft mainline (C), anchored on the upstream-end with a rocker anchor (E) and the downstream-end with a pyramid anchor (B). Forty baited hooks (D) of three sizes are clipped to the mainline. A floatline and float are attached to the upstream-end (F) anchor and a floatline and float (A) are attached to the downstream-end anchor; the downstream float may have a trailer buoy to facilitate location and retrieval of the set. 113

119 Mainline The mainline consists of 6 ft. of 1/4-in soft-to-medium lay twisted strand rope marked approximately every 15 ft. with brightly colored yarn or vinyl woven through the rope or paint to mark hook set placement (A) and eyes (B) spliced into both ends. The mainlines are stored in plastic, 5-gal garbage cans drilled for drainage. Several lines (5-6) are stored in each can by paying them individually into the can and connecting the lines together end-to-end with snap hooks or carabiners. Hooks Sets Hook sets contain 4 hooks of three sizes that are attached to the mainline about every 15 ft. with a longline snap. These are assembled in the following manner. A 5-in stainless steel or galvanized longline snap (A) is attached to a 6/ 5 lb. swivel (C) with a large (~3 to the lb.) stainless steel hog ring (B). A in length of no. 42 or no. 72 gangion line (D) is tied to the swivel with a bowline knot and a 2 3 in loop is tied into the loose end, again with a bowline knot. The looped end is threaded though the eye of either a 12/, 14/, or 16/ circle hook (E) and then the hook is passed through the eye of the loop. This enables the easy replacement of the hook at a later time. Thirteen hooks of two of the sizes and 14 hooks of the third size (randomly chosen) are bundled together and stored with the hooks in a heavy-duty plastic bag. These bundles of hooks are stored in 1-gal buckets. The 1-gal buckets are stored in a plastic tote. Anchors We use a variety of anchors depending on water velocity. The anchors weigh 3 45 lbs. each. We use rocker-type anchors (A) on the up-stream end with a 3-lb lead pyramid-type anchor (B) on the down-stream end. The rockers hold better in fast water and if they do break loose in current or from a large fish the pyramid at the downstream end will walk with the current and keep tangles to a minimum. In the tidally influenced river downstream of Bonneville Dam we may use two rocker-type anchors. 114

120 Floatline We use 25, 5, 75, and 1-ft lengths of 1/4-in soft to medium lay twisted strand rope with a loop spiced into the ends, and marked on both ends with stripe patterns to indicate length. The floatlines are connected end-to-end with snap hooks and stored in 5-gal buckets by length. The buckets are drilled to provide drainage. Floats Snap Hooks and Carabiners We primarily use Polyform brand low drag (LD) type (B) floats. We may occasionally us Polyform brand A2 type (A) floats with a Polyform A trailer buoy (C) on the downstream buoy to assist with retrieval. In higher velocities the lower buoy is occasionally pulled down low in the water and the trailer will float freely on the surface. We individually number the buoys and record the numbers when the lines are set. This helps identify the set if a different crew pulls the lines. We use 4-in snap hooks (A) between floatlines for storage and to attach floats to the floatline. We use 4-in locking type carabiners (B) to attach the mainline and floatline to the anchor as twisting of the rope will cause non-locking types to separate and lose the anchor and/or the float line. Bait Each line is baited entirely with pickled squid. We use this bait after a bait comparison with Pacific lamprey and salted American shad showed pickled squid had the highest catch per unit effort (Appendix A Table 1). Lines may need to be re-baited daily depending on bait retention. At a minimum, lines are re-baited every-other day. 115

121 Appendix A Table 1. Mean catch of white sturgeon (all lengths) per setline day by month in John Day Reservoir, April through September, 199 and 1996; (North et al. 1996) Month Year Bait Type # Sets Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep All 199 Pacific Lamprey Pacific Lamprey Salted American shad Pickled squid a a Pickled squid was not used until July 1996 BOAT SETUP We use a 25-foot aluminum skiff that has a Vickers hydraulic pump runs from a power take off on the inboard engine. We also use a 26-foot aluminum hull with the Vickers hydraulic pump run off of a 4-stroke, 8 HP Honda engine. We use Hydro-slave pot haulers (A) (hydraulically operated hoist) mounted on davits (B) attached to the gunwale and floor of the boats. The davits have a series of holes (C) to attach a snatch block (D) to. Placement of the snatch block is dependent on comfortable reaching length. We use the hydraulics to pull in the gear. Sometimes the crew will pull the line in by hand and just use the hydraulics for retrieving the anchors. TECHNIQUE Setlines are typically deployed parallel to flow and/or wind to facilitate retrieval but can be angled. Generally we start deploying at the upstream end. Depth of the set is determined with a fathometer and float lines of the appropriate length are selected. We generally try to keep the float line length at least 15feet longer than the depth. If we are setting in high velocity water we will use a float line that is about twice the water depth. An anchor, float line, and float are attached to the end of the mainline with a locking carabiner. The float is tossed away from the boat and the anchor is lowered overboard using the mainline. One person pays out the mainline while another person attaches the pre-baited hook sets at marks on the mainline every 15 feet. When the first anchor reaches bottom, the third crewmember (the boat driver) backs the boat in the direction of the current or the wind. The pace is matched to the line setters to keep the line straight, but to avoid dragging the anchor. The second anchor, float line, and buoy (with a trailer buoy clipped on) are attached to the opposite end of the mainline with a locking carabiner and lowered to the bottom. The boat driver (data recorder) records start time when the second buoy is tossed. 116