Fish Disease Dynamics in the Klamath River 2013

Salmonid Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RM&E)

Project ID	Yurok-2012-1
Recovery Domains	N Central California Coast
Start Date	03/01/2013
End Date	08/31/2014
Year	2012
Status	Completed
Last Edited	01/14/2025

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Description

Project involved sampling substrate from the Klamath River via suction dredge technology and then sorting samples for the polychaete worm host of Ceratomyxa shasta which is a deadly parasite that affects salmon in the Klamath River. Samples were collected once per month and then submitted to Oregon State University for qPCR DNA testing to determine what percentage of the polychaete worms were positive for the presence of C shasta DNA. Samples have been collected, and DNA results are still being analyzed. All field work has been completed for this project.

Project Benefit

Understanding the life history and geographic distribution of important fish diseases in the Klamath River Basin, is a crucial first step toward devising management stratgies to reduce the impacts of these devastating diseases. Reduction of impacts of disease would fulfill many of the goals and objectives of the PCSRF including improving the status of ESA-listed coho salmon and ensuring the overall sustainability of naturally-spawning Pacific salmon and steelhead.

Objectives are to determine the fish disease dynamics, including possible causative and contributing factors, in the mainstem Klamath River over a 12 month period to help monitor the efficacy of management action to reduce the disease infectivity of salmonids the Klamath River.

Source

Funds

PCSRF

$35,000

Report Total:

$35,000

Worksites

2012-1

Worksite Identifier: 2012-1
Start Date:
End Date:

Area Description
Klamath Basin

Location Information

Basin: Northern California Coastal (180101)
Subbasin: Mad-Redwood (18010102)
Watershed: Redwood Creek
Subwatershed:

State: California
Recovery Domain: N Central California Coast
Latitude: 41.2821821555635
Longitude: -124.0429687499969

ESU

No ESU data was found for this worksite.

Map

Photos

Metrics

E.0 Salmonid Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RM&E)Y (Y/N)

. . E.0.a RM&E Funding 35,000.00
. . E.0.b
Complement habitat restoration project

None
. . E.0.c
Project identified in a plan or watershed assessment.

None
. . E.0.d.1 Number of Cooperating Organizations 1
. . E.0.d.2
Name Of Cooperating Organizations.

Karuk Tribe
. . E.0.e.1 Number of reports prepared 0
. . E.0.e.2
Name Of Report

None

. . E.2 ResearchY (Y/N)

. . . . E.2.a Research Funding 35,000.00

. . . . E.2.b.7 Investigating fish health and/or disease/parasitesY (Y/N)

. . . . . . E.2.b.7.a

Key issues addressed by fish health and/or disease/parasites research
Project will be used to develop a baseline of food resources available in the Klamath River prior to dam removal. Will also be used to identify periods when food resources may be limited, provide data for bioenergetic modeling of salmonid growth.