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  • Survival estimates for the passage of juvenile salmonids through Snake and Columbia River dams and reservoirs

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Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) Fish Ecology FE - Ecosystem Analysis; FE - Migrational Behavior

Information

Project
Reservoir Survival of juvenile salmonids through FCRPS
Title
Survival estimates for the passage of juvenile salmonids through Snake and Columbia River dams and reservoirs
Description
This long-term, BPA-funded study provides annual estimates of salmon smolt survival and travel time through the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS). Smolts are PIT-tagged at Lower Granite Dam, the uppermost dam in the Snake River, and combined with smolts tagged by other researchers in the basin to estimate survival and travel time. This project also operates the PIT tag trawl in the Columbia River estuary, which provides detection data necessary to estimate survival through the final reach to below Bonneville Dam. This information is used extensively by the NOAA West Coast Regional Office (WCRO) to evaluate where passage improvements are needed to improve survival and travel time through the FCRPS. The survival and travel time estimates are used to inform FCRPS Biological Opinions and to inform the Comprehensive Passage Model (COMPASS).

Research Themes

Recovery and rebuilding of marine and coastal species
The Pacific Northwest is home to several iconic endangered species, including Pacific salmon and killer whales, and several rockfish species. Mandates such as the Endangered Species Act, MagnusonStevens Act, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, grant NOAA Fisheries the authority to manage the recovery of depleted species and stocks. The NWFSC contributes to species recovery through research, monitoring and analysis, providing NOAA managers and regional stakeholders the tools and information they need to craft effective regulations and develop sustainable plans for recovery.

Research Foci

Characterize the population biology of species, and develop and improve methods for predicting the status of populations
To evaluate species status and recovery, it is necessary to understand key aspects of the population biology of the species in question. This includes basic information on abundance, age structure, recruitment, spatial distribution, life history and how the species interacts with its ecosystem. For some recovering species, including most overfished groundfish stocks, many ESA-listed Pacific salmon stocks, and high profile species such as Southern Resident killer whales, this basic information is often reasonably well understood. For other recovering species, such as Pacific eulachon and some ESA-listed rockfish species, even basic information (e.g. stock abundance) is unknown. Even for well-studied species, key information on survival rates for critical life stages and how the environment affects these vital rates is lacking. Without basic information on species dynamics, achieving other goals such as quantifying relationships between human activities and species recovery or even knowing if species recovery goals are being met will not be successful. The NWFSC, in partnership with regional stakeholders, including states, tribes and industry, is conducting research to collect and monitor critical demographic information for recovering species.
Develop methods to use physiological, biological and behavioral information to predict population-level processes
Understanding the biological processes occurring within organisms is a powerful way of understanding how environmental changes affect those organisms. Genetics, developmental, physiological and behavioral studies all provide important information for effective species recovery and rebuilding. Integrating this information into models is vital to predict how populations will respond to natural or human perturbations, and to assess the constraints to stock rebuilding efforts. For example, data on thermal tolerance and physiological responses to temperature can be used to explore changes caused by shifts in climate on reproductive behavior and productivity, viability, movement, habitat selection, and population dynamics. Similarly, data on contaminants that impact physiological processes (immune system, growth, development, reproduction, and general health) are critical in determining how these compounds affect population dynamics. Data on biological responses of organisms to ocean acidification are useful for understanding how acidification may affect individual development and survival. The NWFSC collects such information for several species that are of concern, targets of fisheries or otherwise important for overall ecosystem function. NWFSC scientists will continue to expand current efforts and develop methods to incorporate physiological, biological and behavioral data into population models in order to predict population-level processes from these individual level data.

Keywords

Chinook salmon
species of interest
Steelhead
Oncorhynchus mykiss
survival
Survival

Products

Associations among Fish Length, Dam Passage History, and Survival to Adulthood in Two At-Risk Species of Pacific Salmon
Faulkner, J.R., Bellerud, B.L., Widener, D.L. and Zabel, R.W. (2019), Associations among Fish Length, Dam Passage History, and Survival to Adulthood in Two At-Risk Species of Pacific Salmon. Trans Am Fish Soc, 148: 1069-1087. doi:10.1002/tafs.10200
Effects of the Columbia River Power System on Salmonid Populations
Williams, J. G., S. G. Smith, R. W. Zabel, W. D. Muir, M. D. Scheuerell, B. P. Sandford, D. M. Marsh, R. A. McNatt, S. Achord. 2005. Effects of the Federal Columbia River Power System on Salmonid Populations. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Tech. Memo., NMFS-NWFSC-63, 150 p. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/25/21_04142005_152601_effectstechmemo63final.pdf
Estimates for the Passage of Juvenile Salmonids Through Snake River Dams and Reservoirs, 1997
Hockersmith, E. E., S. G. Smith, W. D. Muir, B. P. Sandford, J. G. Williams. 1999. Survival Estimates for the Passage of Juvenile Salmonids Through Snake River Dams and Reservoirs, 1997. Report of the National Marine Fisheries Service to the Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/6671_11182016_110834_Hockersmith.et.al.1999-Spring-Surv-1997.pdf
Estimation of Smolt-to-Adult Return Percentages for Snake River Basin Anadromous Salmonids, 1990-1997.
Sandford, B. P., S. G. Smith. 2002. Estimation of Smolt-to-Adult Return Percentages for Snake River Basin Anadromous Salmonids, 1990-1997. National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, Washington, 32 p.
Factors associated with travel time and survival of migrant yearling chinook salmon and steelhead in the lower Snake River.
Smith, S. G., W. D. Muir, J. G. Williams, J. R. Skalski. 2002. Factors associated with travel time and survival of migrant yearling chinook salmon and steelhead in the lower Snake River. North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 22:385-405.
Survival Estimates for the Passage of Juvenile Salmonids Through Snake & Columbia River Dams & Reservoirs, 1998
Smith, S. G., W. D. Muir, S. Achord, E. E. Hockersmith, B. P. Sandford, J. G. Williams, J. R. Skalski. 2000. Survival Estimates for the Passage of Juvenile Salmonids Through Snake & Columbia River Dams & Reservoirs, 1998. Report to U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Division of Fish and Wildlife DOE/BP-10891-9, National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, Washington, 88 p. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/11/6543_07072010_151458_Smith.et.al.2000a-rev.pdf
Survival Estimates for the Passage of Juvenile Salmonids Through Snake River Dams and Reservoirs, 1996
Smith, S. G., W. D. Muir, E. E. Hockersmith, S. Achord, M. B. Eppard, T. E. Ruehle, J. G. Williams. 1998. Survival Estimates for the Passage of Juvenile Salmonids Through Snake River Dams and Reservoirs, 1996. Report by National Marine Fisheries Service to the U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Seattle, Washington, Contract DE-AI79-93BP10891, 223 p. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/6542_07072010_150924_Smith.et.al.1998.pdf
Survival Estimates for the Passage of Juvenile Salmonids Through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 1999
Smith, S. G., W. D. Muir, G. A. Axel, R. W. Zabel, J. G. Williams, J. R. Skalski. 2000. Survival Estimates for the Passage of Juvenile Salmonids Through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 1999. Report by National Marine Fisheries Service to the U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Seattle, Washington, Contract 1999AI17679, Project No. 1993-029-00, 77 p. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/6544_07072010_151942_Smith.et.al.2000b-rev.pdf
Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids Through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2000
Zabel, R. W., S. G. Smith, W. D. Muir, D. M. Marsh, J. G. Williams, J. R. Skalski. 2001. Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids Through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2000. Report by National Marine Fisheries Service to the U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Seattle, Washington, Contract DE-AI79-93BP10891, Project No. 93-29, 60 p. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/6546_07072010_155336_Zabel.et.al.2001-rev.pdf
Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids Through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2003
Smith, S. G., W. D. Muir, R. W. Zabel, D. M. Marsh, R. A. McNatt, J. G. Williams, J. R. Skalski. 2004. Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids Through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2003. Report by National Marine Fisheries Service to the U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Seattle, Washington, Contract DE-AI79-93BP10891, Project No. 199302900, 116 p. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/1266_07072010_152802_Smith.et.al.2004-rev.pdf
Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2005
Smith, S. G., W. D. Muir, D. M. Marsh, J. G. Williams, J. R. Skalski. 2006. Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2005. Report by National Marine Fisheries Service to the U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Seattle, Washington, Contract 0004922, Project No. 199302900, 122 p. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/1267_07072010_153149_Smith.et.al.2006-rev.pdf
Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2007
Faulkner, J. R., S. G. Smith, W. D. Muir, D. M. Marsh, J. G. Williams. 2008. Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2007. Report by National Marine Fisheries Service to the U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Seattle, Washington, Contract 0004922, Project No. 199302900, 104 p. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/1196_03112014_172212_Faulkner.et.al.2008-rev.pdf
Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2008
Faulkner, J. R., S. G. Smith, W. D. Muir, D. M. Marsh, J. G. Williams. 2009. Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2008. Report by National Marine Fisheries Service to the U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Seattle, Washington, Contract 40735, Project No. 199302900, 110 p. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/1197_06292010_095522_Faulkner.et.al.2009-rev.pdf
Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2009
Faulkner, J. R., S. G. Smith, W. D. Muir, D. M. Marsh, J. G. Williams. 2010. Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2009. Report by National Marine Fisheries Service to the U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Seattle, Washington, Contract 40735, Project No. 199302900, 117 p. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/1198_06292010_095739_Faulkner.et.al.2010-rev.pdf
Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2010
Faulkner, J. R., S. G. Smith, W. D. Muir, D. M. Marsh, J. G. Williams. 2010. Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2010. Report by National Marine Fisheries Service to the U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Seattle, Washington, Contract 40735, Project No. 199302900, 100 p. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/7514_03052014_135917_Spring-Survival-2010.pdf
Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2011
Faulkner, J. R., S. G. Smith, W. D. Muir, D. M. Marsh, R. W. Zabel. 2012. Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2011. Report by National Marine Fisheries Service to the U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Seattle, Washington, Contract 40735, Project No. 199302900, 102 p. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/7526_03052014_134202_Spring%20Survival%202011.pdf
Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2012
Faulkner, J. R., S. G. Smith, D. M. Marsh, R. W. Zabel. 2013. Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2012. Report by National Marine Fisheries Service to the U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Seattle, Washington, Contract 40735, Project No. 199302900, 104 p. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/7527_03052014_134936_Spring%20Survival%202012.pdf
Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2013
Faulkner, J. R., S. G. Smith, D. L. Widener, D. M. Marsh, R. W. Zabel. 2014. Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2013. Report by National Marine Fisheries Service to the U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Seattle, Washington, Contract 40735, Project No. 199302900, 102 p.
Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2014
Faulkner, J. R., S. G. Smith, D. L. Widener, T. M. Marsh, R. W. Zabel. 2015. Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2014. Report by National Marine Fisheries Service to the U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Seattle, Washington, Contract 40735, Project No. 199302900, 107 p. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/8380_05132015_110147_Spring-Survival-2014.pdf
Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2015.
Faulkner, J. R., D. L. Widener, T. M. Marsh, S. G. Smith, R. W. Zabel. 2016. Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2015. Report by National Marine Fisheries Service to the U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Seattle, Washington, Contract 40735, Project No. 199302900, 111 p. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/8699_04272016_105156_Spring-Survival-2015.pdf
Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2016.
Faulkner, J. R., D. L. Widener, S. G. Smith, T. M. Marsh, R. W. Zabel. 2017. Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2016. Report by National Marine Fisheries Service to the U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Seattle, Washington, Contract 40735, Project No. 199302900, 115 p. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/9108_04282017_154932_Spring-Survival-2016.pdf
Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2017.
Widener, D.L., J. R. Faulkner, S. G. Smith, T. M. Marsh, R. W. Zabel. 2018. Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2017. Report by National Marine Fisheries Service to the U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Seattle, Washington, Contract 40735, Project No. 199302900, 119 p. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/9359_02262018_135356_Widener.et.al.2018-Spring-Survival-2017.pdf
Survival estimates for downstream migrant yearling juvenile salmonids through the Snake and Columbia River Hydropower System, 1966-1980 and 1993-1999.
Williams, J. G., S. G. Smith, W. D. Muir. 2001. Survival estimates for downstream migrant yearling juvenile salmonids through the Snake and Columbia River Hydropower System, 1966-1980 and 1993-1999. North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 21:310-317.
Survival estimates for the passage of juvenile chinook salmon through Snake River dams and reservoirs.
Iwamoto, R. N., W. D. Muir, B. P. Sandford, K. W. McIntyre, D. A. Frost, J. G. Williams, S. G. Smith, J. R. Skalski. 1994. Survival estimates for the passage of juvenile chinook salmon through Snake River dams and reservoirs. Report of the National Marine Fisheries Service to the Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/6675_10152010_102236_Iwamoto.et.al.1993-rev.pdf
Survival estimates for the passage of juvenile salmonids through Snake River Dams and Reservoirs, 1994
Muir, W. D., S. G. Smith, R. N. Iwamoto, D. J. Kamikawa, K. W. McIntyre, E. E. Hockersmith, B. P. Sandford, P. A. Ocker, T. E. Ruehle, J. G. Williams. 1995. Survival estimates for the passage of juvenile salmonids through Snake River Dams and Reservoirs, 1994. Report of the National Marine Fisheries Service to the Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/6773_08032011_120421_Muir.et.al.1995a-rev.pdf
Survival estimates for the passage of spring-migrating juvenile salmonids through Snake and Columbia River dams and reservoirs, 2001
Zabel, R. W., S. G. Smith, W. D. Muir, D. M. Marsh, J. G. Williams, J. R. Skalski. 2002. Survival estimates for the passage of spring-migrating juvenile salmonids through Snake and Columbia River dams and reservoirs, 2001. Annual Report to the Bonneville Power Administration, Portland OR, Contract DE-AI79-93BP10891, Project No. 93-29, 95 p. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/5604_03252014_130254_Zabel.et.al.2002-Surv-2001.pdf
Survival estimates for the passage of spring-migrating juvenile salmonids through Snake and Columbia River dams and reservoirs, 2002
Muir, W. D., S. G. Smith, R. W. Zabel, D. M. Marsh, J. G. Williams, J. R. Skalski. 2003. Survival estimates for the passage of spring-migrating juvenile salmonids through Snake and Columbia River dams and reservoirs, 2002. Report of the National Marine Fisheries Service to the Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/6540_07072010_085040_Muir.et.al.2003-rev.pdf
Survival estimates for the passage of spring-migrating juvenile salmonids through Snake and Columbia River dams and reservoirs, 2004
Smith, S. G., W. D. Muir, D. M. Marsh, J. G. Williams. 2005. Survival estimates for the passage of spring-migrating juvenile salmonids through Snake and Columbia River dams and reservoirs, 2004. Report by National Marine Fisheries Service to the Bonneville Power Administration, Contract 00004922, Project No. 199302900. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/967_05202009_132640_2004-Spring-Survival-Accessible.pdf
Survival estimates for the passage of spring-migrating juvenile salmonids through Snake and Columbia River dams and reservoirs, 2018
Widener, D. L., J. R. Faulkner, S. G. Smith, T. M. Marsh, R. W. Zabel. 2019. Survival estimates for the passage of spring migrating juvenile salmonids through Snake and Columbia River dams and reservoirs, 2018. Report of the National Marine Fisheries Service to the Bonneville Power Administration. Portland, Oregon. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/publications/scipubs/display_doctrack_allinfo.cfm?doctrackmetadataid=9634
Survival estimates for the passage of yearling chinook salmon and steelhead through Snake River Dams and Reservoirs, 1995
Muir, W. D., S. G. Smith, E. E. Hockersmith, S. Achord, R. F. Absolon, P. A. Ocker, M. B. Eppard, T. E. Ruehle, J. G. Williams, R. N. Iwamoto. 1996. Survival estimates for the passage of yearling chinook salmon and steelhead through Snake River Dams and Reservoirs, 1995. Report of the National Marine Fisheries Services to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla, Washington. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/6775_08032011_121633_Muir.et.al.1996rev.pdf
Use of passive integrated transponder tags to estimate survival of migrant juvenile salmonids in the Snake and Columbia rivers.
Skalski, J. R., S. G. Smith, R. N. Iwamoto, J. G. Williams, A. Hoffman. 1998. Use of passive integrated transponder tags to estimate survival of migrant juvenile salmonids in the Snake and Columbia rivers. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 55(6):1484-1493.
urvival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2006
Faulkner, J. R., S. G. Smith, W. D. Muir, D. M. Marsh, J. G. Williams. 2007. Survival Estimates for the Passage of Spring-Migrating Juvenile Salmonids through Snake and Columbia River Dams and Reservoirs, 2006. Report by National Marine Fisheries Service to the Division of Fish and Wildlife, Bonneville Power Administration, Seattle, Washington, Contract 00026472, Project No. 199302900, 103 p. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/1195_06292010_094851_Faulkner.et.al.2007-rev.pdf

Taxa

Genus Oncorhynchus
-
Order Salmoniformes
-
Species Oncorhynchus kisutch
Coho salmon, silver salmon
Species Oncorhynchus mykiss
rainbow trout, steelhead trout, syeelhead trout
Species Oncorhynchus nerka
kokanee, red salmon, sockeye salmon
Species Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Chinook salmon, king salmon, spring salmon

People

Amber Barenberg
Staff
Benjamin Sandford
Staff
Daniel Widener
External Collaborator
James Faulkner
Staff
Ron Marr
Staff
Ross Gleason
Staff
Steven Smith
Staff
Tiffani Marsh
Principal Investigator