FY 2019 Skokomish River Salmon and Steelhead Stock Assessments

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

Project ID	19-SKOK-02
Recovery Domains	Puget Sound
Start Date	07/01/2022
End Date	06/30/2023
Year	2019
Status	Completed
Last Edited	02/27/2024

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Description

Funding provided support for a steelhead biologist and finfish technician. Staff conducted spawning ground surveys (including visual, redd and carcass counts) and collect biological data for adult Chinook, coho, chum & pink salmon and steelhead in the Skokomish River system. While this project is geared at collecting data the information will ultimately be used to develop adult escapement estimates, determine hatchery versus wild interaction, and quantify age structure. Surveys will also complement standardized index area surveys to provide improved understanding of spawning abundance and distribution of steelhead as part of the NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center-directed supplementation study in the Hood Canal region. Juvenile salmonid surveys were also be conducted to estimate smolt production of Chinook, coho, chum and steelhead. A screw trap will be operated in the South Fork to monitor Chinook, coho, and chum salmon and steelhead smolt outmigration timing and abundance and to estimate juvenile survival rates. Additional steelhead work includes snorkel surveys and hook & line sampling to provide biometric, genetic, age and life history data.

Project Benefit

This project will provide long-term abundance, distribution, and survival data for salmon species. This information is vital for proper harvest management, recovery planning, and habitat management and research projects.

Conditions of a permit issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to the City of Tacoma to operate the Cushman Hydroelectric Project include the construction of hatcheries, introduction of new salmon stocks, and the return of normative flows to the river. This emphasizes the need to sustain monitoring all reaches of the river to determine the effectiveness of the changes.

Continued Skokomish Tribal participation is key to the success of the Hood Canal Steelhead Supplementation Study. This study, the first of its kind in Puget Sound, will generate new information on the structure of steelhead populations in the Hood Canal region, and assess the effectiveness of innovative hatchery supplementation methods utilizing naturally spawned production to enhance natural populations of steelhead and maintain genetic diversity.

Accomplishments

Metric

Completed

Originally
Proposed

Research and Monitoring

Stream Miles Monitored

35.00

Source

Funds

PCSRF

$83,379

Report Total:

$83,379

Worksites

46526616

Worksite Identifier: 46526616
Start Date:
End Date:

Area Description

No Area Description data was found for this worksite.

Location Information

Basin: Puget Sound (171100)
Subbasin: Skokomish (17110017)
Watershed: Skokomish River-Frontal Hood Canal (1711001702)
Subwatershed: Skokomish River-Frontal Hood Canal (171100170204)

State: Washington
Recovery Domain: Puget Sound
Latitude: 47.326111
Longitude: -123.151944

ESU

Puget Sound Chinook Salmon ESU
Puget Sound Steelhead DPS
Puget Sound/Strait of Georgia Chum Salmon ESU
Odd-year
Puget Sound/Strait of Georgia Coho Salmon ESU

Map

Photos

Metrics

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

. . E.0.a RM&E Funding 83,379.00
. . E.0.b
Complement habitat restoration project
. . E.0.c
Project identified in a plan or watershed assessment.
. . E.0.d.1 Number of Cooperating Organizations 5

. . E.0.d.2

Name Of Cooperating Organizations.
The Washington State Department of Wildlife, the US Forest Service and NOAA, in addition to non-governmental groups such as the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group and Tacoma Power.

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

Skokomish Tribe. 2022 & 2023. Semi-annual progress reports submitted to the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC). NWIFC, 6730 Martin Way E., Olympia, WA 98516.
. . E.1 MonitoringY (Y/N)
- . . . . E.1.a Monitoring funding 83,379.00
- . . . . E.1.b.1 Stream Miles Monitored 35.00
- . . . . E.1.b.2 Acres of Watershed Area Monitored .0
- . . . . E.1.b.3 Square miles of water monitored (Square miles)
- . . . . E.1.c.1 Adult salmonid population monitoringY (Y/N)
  - . . . . . . E.1.c.1.a # miles (to nearest 0.01 mile) monitored for adult salmonids 35.00
- . . . . E.1.c.2 Salmonid smolt or fry monitoringY (Y/N)
  - . . . . . . E.1.c.2.a # miles (to nearest 0.01 mile) monitored for Salmonid smolt or fry 35.00
- . . . . E.1.c.4 Redd countsY (Y/N)
  - . . . . . . E.1.c.4.a # miles (to nearest 0.01 mile) monitored for redds 35.00
- . . . . E.1.c.5 Carcass countsY (Y/N)
  - . . . . . . E.1.c.5.a # miles (to nearest 0.01 mile) monitored for Carcasses 35.00
  - . . . . E.1.d
    Name Of Comprehensive Monitoring Strategy/Program