Research, Monitoring & Evaluation of Salmonid Escapement, Spawning, and Harvest Projections in Quillayute Basin

The project scope entails 1) Redd surveys for summer and fall Chinook, coho, and steelhead in all tributaries of the Quillayute Basin: Dickey, Sol Duc, Calawah, and Bogachiel; 2) Adult sockeye monitoring in Lake Pleasant; and 3) Harvest monitoring of the gillnet catch at the river mouth including sampling for coded wire tags and other marks, collecting scales on Chinook and steelhead to establish ages, assessing fish health, and collecting other biological information.



Adult surveys occur in pre-selected index streams (except sockeye in Lake Pleasant). Supplemental streams are added on a rotational basis. Staff progress through the river systems to survey adult escapement according to known return times. (See attached schedule.) The crew access areas by helicopter, walking, bicycle, drift boats, rafts, ATV or truck. Sockeye redds are counted in streams but because sockeye mass-spawn, actual fish are counted in the lake

While salmon runs in the Quillayute are still non-ESA listed, certain stocks are in decline and there is a continued need to monitor the basin to understand status through stock assessment. This project will provide the necessary information for tribal harvest manager to develop escapement and subsequent productivity estimates for all salmonids that are of vital importance to the tribe. These estimates are used to develop adult forecasts, which are essential in developing annual fishing plans. A key aspect of these plans is an attempt to allow for a meaningful exercise of treaty fishing rights, while still allowing adequate escapement to promote the continued existence of populations being actively managed.