Juvenile Chinook Migration in the Juvenile Chinook Migration in the Duwamish RiverDuwamish River

Tom Nelson, King CountyGreg Ruggerone, NRCHwa Kim, King CountyRuth Schaefer, King County

Introduction:Introduction:WRIA 9 Juvenile Salmonid WRIA 9 Juvenile Salmonid Survival Studies (JSSS) ObjectiveSurvival Studies (JSSS) Objective

to fill the WRIA Technical Committee to fill the WRIA Technical Committee identified data gap in the Lower Green identified data gap in the Lower Green River and Duwamish River and Duwamish used for WRIA recovery efforts (i.e., used for WRIA recovery efforts (i.e., rehabilitation sites) and for the rehabilitation sites) and for the immediate protection of juvenile immediate protection of juvenile Chinook (project timing, etc.) Chinook (project timing, etc.) Today we focus on the DuwamishToday we focus on the Duwamish

Introduction:Introduction:BackgroundBackground

Only 2% of the original 3.5 kmOnly 2% of the original 3.5 km2 2 of historic Duwamish River of historic Duwamish River mudflats exist today.mudflats exist today.Prior Studies: Prior Studies: WDFW Report (Bostick 1955), Metro Report (Matsuda 1968), WDFW Report (Bostick 1955), Metro Report (Matsuda 1968), Port (Weitkamp 1980, 1982) USF&W (Meyer 1981), MIT Port (Weitkamp 1980, 1982) USF&W (Meyer 1981), MIT (Warner and Fritz 1995). These studies show Chinook juvenile (Warner and Fritz 1995). These studies show Chinook juvenile migration occurring from Aprilmigration occurring from April--August, with peak in May. August, with peak in May. Average residence time in the Duwamish is about two weeks.Average residence time in the Duwamish is about two weeks.1999 ESA listing, emphasis for wild Chinook recovery1999 ESA listing, emphasis for wild Chinook recoveryGreen River Hatchery releases about 3 million juveniles/year. IGreen River Hatchery releases about 3 million juveniles/year. In n 2000 a program to adipose clip or all hatchery Chinook begins.2000 a program to adipose clip or all hatchery Chinook begins.

TodayToday’’s Questions for the s Questions for the DuwamishDuwamish

How long do Chinook they stay in the How long do Chinook they stay in the Duwamish?Duwamish?Are there any preferred habitats?Are there any preferred habitats?What do they eat while migrating What do they eat while migrating through the Duwamish?through the Duwamish?How is this information useful to the How is this information useful to the Chinook recovery and other protection Chinook recovery and other protection efforts?efforts?

Methods: ApproachMethods: Approach

Separate the system into five habitat reaches. Separate the system into five habitat reaches. (1) Free flowing Green River (1) Free flowing Green River RM 34.5RM 34.5--13 13 (2) Upper Duwamish River (2) Upper Duwamish River RM 13RM 13--6.5 6.5 (3) Upper Duwamish estuary (3) Upper Duwamish estuary RM 6.5RM 6.5--5.5 5.5 (4) Lower Duwamish estuary (4) Lower Duwamish estuary RM 6.5RM 6.5--0.00.0(5) Elliott Bay nearshore(5) Elliott Bay nearshoreEstablished a series of sampling sites near the reach Established a series of sampling sites near the reach endpoints endpoints Monitor the size of fish, relative abundance and Monitor the size of fish, relative abundance and speed of migration through the reaches to assess speed of migration through the reaches to assess habitat use and wild/hatchery fish interactions.habitat use and wild/hatchery fish interactions.

Methods: Fish CollectionGreen RiverSoos Creek @ RM 1 Green River, Kent @ RM 18

Kellogg Island, Duwamish River @RM 1

168 days of trapping

River Seine in Green River @ river mile 13

Methods: Fish Collection

PSP Seine in Duwamish River @ river PSP Seine in Duwamish River @ river mile 5.5 (Turning Basin)mile 5.5 (Turning Basin)

1,150 Seine Sets

Methods: Count & Measure

Over 60,000 subyearling Chinook captured,

Over 7,500 measured

Methods: other monitoring toolsMethods: other monitoring tools

V6 acoustic tagV6 acoustic tag

Spray applied Spray applied fluorescent pigmentfluorescent pigment

PIT PIT (passive (passive integrated integrated transponder)transponder)

Adipose fin clip Adipose fin clip (WDFW program (WDFW program initiated in 2000)initiated in 2000)

Coded Wire Tag Coded Wire Tag (cwt)(cwt)

MarksMarksTagsTags

Coded Wire Tag (CWT)Coded Wire Tag (CWT)

Magnified numeric CWT

CWT injectionCWT

adipose clip

Method: Biological Samples Method: Biological Samples (about 300 each)(about 300 each)

Chemical analysis Chemical analysis (PCB)(PCB)

Whole bodyWhole body

Diet analysisDiet analysisStomach ContentStomach Content

Age at entry into Age at entry into estuary, growthestuary, growth

OtolithsOtoliths

Age, hatchery/wild Age, hatchery/wild determinationdetermination

Scales Scales

OtolithOtolith

Slides from USGS

TZFresh Water

Findings: Findings: Extent of Wild Residence time in the Extent of Wild Residence time in the

DuwamishDuwamish

Chinook fry, one year Chinook fry, one year old and two year old old and two year old sized fish were found in sized fish were found in January. The early fry January. The early fry were found in both were found in both 2002 and 2003. 2002 and 2003. Wild Chinook were Wild Chinook were found in the Duwamish found in the Duwamish into September.into September.

fry

fingerling

yearling

Findings: Wild Chinook were found to have an Findings: Wild Chinook were found to have an early (Februaryearly (February--March) peak in the Duwamish March) peak in the Duwamish

followed by the fingerling peak in May.followed by the fingerling peak in May.

80

0Feb 1 March 1 May 1 July 1

Trimaran Duwamish River Mile 6.5, 2003

Wild 0+ Chinook Mean Catch per Seine

?

Hatchery Fish TimingHatchery Fish Timing

Wild 0+ Chinook Mean Catch per Seine

Hatchery 0+ Chinook Mean Catch per Seine

Trimaran Duwamish River Mile 6.5, 2003

0

100

May 10 June 22

Hatchery fingerling release

Place holder for PS hatchery Place holder for PS hatchery map.map.

“School’s Out”

Findings: Where the Chinook were found.Findings: Where the Chinook were found.

Lower Green River

Transition Zone

Kellogg Island

Elliott Bay

Feb June2003

Late Feb May July

Transition Zone Defined:Transition Zone Defined:

Physical AttributesPhysical AttributesFresh initially meets salt waterFresh initially meets salt waterand produces a salinity gradientand produces a salinity gradientLow velocitiesLow velocitiesShallow water & mudflatsShallow water & mudflats

Ecological AttributesEcological AttributesArea for juvenile salmon to Area for juvenile salmon to physiologically prepare for physiologically prepare for salt watersalt waterLess fish predatorsLess fish predatorsLess energy expenditureLess energy expenditureFood production Food production

Where it is: about RM 5.5Where it is: about RM 5.5--6.56.5

Trimaran (Site 1)

RM 6.5

Turning Basin RM 5.5

Parking lot

Grass field

Why is Transition Zone is at the Turning Basin ?

Slide courtesy of Fred Goetz, ACOE

Upstream end of dredged channel

Is the transition zone big enough?Is the transition zone big enough?Figure of theFigure of the change in daily size of wild Chinook in Duwamish as change in daily size of wild Chinook in Duwamish as related to Hatchery Chinook Captured.related to Hatchery Chinook Captured.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2-Feb

16-F

eb2-M

ar16

-Mar

30-M

ar13

-Apr

27-A

pr11

-May

25-M

ay8-J

un22

-Jun

6-Jul

20-Ju

l

Date

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

Size

incr

ease

/ da

y (m

m)

CPUE Daily size increase

Num

ber o

f Fis

h

Findings: What they EatFindings: What they Eat

Wild and hatchery fish are opportunistic Wild and hatchery fish are opportunistic feeders and consume a wide variety of feeders and consume a wide variety of benthic, epibenthic and pelagic benthic, epibenthic and pelagic invertebrates. invertebrates. Overall the three most important prey Overall the three most important prey items were Chironomids, Corophium items were Chironomids, Corophium and Daphnia. and Daphnia.

King County Juvenile Chinook Diet 2003

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Natural Natural Hatchery Natural Hatchery Natural Hatchery Naturaln=27 n=48 n=29 n=61 n=69 n=74 n=14 n=5

0 empty 0 0 0 1 4 0 040-198mm 45-85 64-118 45-107 71-105 68-101 89-122 96-112mean 71.6 63.9 81.9 76.2 84.2 81.3 102.4 102.8

% G

ravi

met

ric C

ompo

sitio

n

Fish and fish matter

Hyperiidea

Daphnia sp

Chironomidae adult

Chironomidae larva-pupaother Insecta

Corophium sp

other Gammaridea

other Crustacea

Cirripedia and exuvia

Polychaeta

Bivalve siphon

other

March April May June July

Chironomids: emergent Chironomids: emergent freshwater marsh midgefreshwater marsh midge

larvae

pupa

adult

Corophium: estuarine amphipodCorophium: estuarine amphipod

Daphnia: freshwater planktonicDaphnia: freshwater planktonic

Clam Siphons and PolychaetesClam Siphons and Polychaetes

Macoma sp.

Platynereis bicanaliculata

siphons

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

Tota

l PC

Bs

(ug/

g) w

w

Issaquah Hatchery

Green River May

Duwamish May

Duwamish May

MayAlki/Seacrest

E June Green

E Jun Duwamish

L June Green

L June Duwamish

June Duwamish

L June Alki/Seacrest

Juvenile Chinook

Wild Hatchery LDW

Chart prepared by Doug Houck, King County

Green-Duwamish River Juvenile Chinook Total PCB concentration from King County Lab (red and blue bars) and Lower Duwamish Waterway Working Group (yellow bars) in 2003.

NOEC= 70 ug/g

February May June July

Green River

Duwamish

Elliott Bay and Duwamish

King County Juvenile Chinook Diet by River Mile and Month 2003

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

April May March April May April May June May Junen=11 5 18 16 3 13 28 40 20 32

0 empty 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 048-68mm 58-68 45-198 45-83 68-84 54-80 62-93 70-98 45-92 70-105mean 56.2 63.6 84.1 63.0 75.3 67.0 77.1 84.2 72.1 84.8

% G

ravi

met

ric C

ompo

sitio

n

Fish and fishmatterHyperiidea

Daphnia sp

ChironomidaeadultChironomidaelarva-pupaother Insecta

Corophium sp

otherGammarideaother Crustacea

Cirripedia andexuviaPolychaeta

Bivalve siphon

other

RM4 RM13RM7RM5

Summary: Importance of Information to Summary: Importance of Information to Chinook Recovery and ProtectionChinook Recovery and Protection

Residence Time ExpansionResidence Time ExpansionWild Chinook are now known to enter the Duwamish in January Wild Chinook are now known to enter the Duwamish in January and exit in August. Two migration peaks occur and are and exit in August. Two migration peaks occur and are representative of two life history types of Chinook. The fry perepresentative of two life history types of Chinook. The fry peak ak in late February to early March and the fingerlings peak in latein late February to early March and the fingerlings peak in lateMay. Maintaining varied life history types are important to May. Maintaining varied life history types are important to maintain a resilient and viable population.maintain a resilient and viable population.

Recommendations:Recommendations:1.1. avoid direct impact from projects (i.e. dredging) by avoid direct impact from projects (i.e. dredging) by

providing appropriate work windows.providing appropriate work windows.2.2. Chemical uptake (i.e., CSO discharges, non point, Chemical uptake (i.e., CSO discharges, non point,

contaminated sediments) by juveniles may be of more contaminated sediments) by juveniles may be of more concern than previously thought due to the expanded concern than previously thought due to the expanded residence time. Find sources of pollution and clean it up. residence time. Find sources of pollution and clean it up.

Summary: Importance of Information to Summary: Importance of Information to Chinook Recovery and ProtectionChinook Recovery and Protection

Transition Zone is a WRIA PriorityTransition Zone is a WRIA PriorityIdentifies a discrete habitat, the Transition Zone Identifies a discrete habitat, the Transition Zone (about Duwamish River Mile 4.5 to 6.5) that is very (about Duwamish River Mile 4.5 to 6.5) that is very important for Chinook survival.important for Chinook survival.Recommendations:Recommendations:1. restore mudflat habitat by excavating out old fill.1. restore mudflat habitat by excavating out old fill.2. Move the dredging location downstream and 2. Move the dredging location downstream and allow as much of existing Turning Basin to refill allow as much of existing Turning Basin to refill with clean sediment as is reasonable.with clean sediment as is reasonable.3. Limit the hatchery salmon competition with wild 3. Limit the hatchery salmon competition with wild Chinook by implementing new hatchery practices Chinook by implementing new hatchery practices and schedules for release.and schedules for release.

WhatWhat’’s Nexts NextOtoliths could answer Otoliths could answer questions about Chinook questions about Chinook duration and growth in the duration and growth in the Duwamish. Funds are Duwamish. Funds are currently being sought for currently being sought for analyzing 2003 and 2005 analyzing 2003 and 2005 collections.collections.This could result in This could result in information leading to information leading to answers regarding early fry answers regarding early fry survival, hatchery origin, life survival, hatchery origin, life history types, as well as history types, as well as more precise residency and more precise residency and growth estimates.growth estimates.

Project SupportProject SupportKing County DNRKing County DNRKing Conservation District Grant (100K)King Conservation District Grant (100K)Port of Seattle (Taylor Associates)Port of Seattle (Taylor Associates)City of SeattleCity of SeattleWDFW (Hatchery and Research Divisions)WDFW (Hatchery and Research Divisions)US Army Corps of Engineers, Fred GoetzUS Army Corps of Engineers, Fred GoetzCity of KentCity of KentNMFSNMFSWashington Conservation CrewsWashington Conservation CrewsKurt Fresh NOAAKurt Fresh NOAADoris Small WDFWDoris Small WDFWMike Wilson WDFW Soos Creek HatcheryMike Wilson WDFW Soos Creek HatcheryPete Topping, WDFWPete Topping, WDFW

Abel Abel EckhardtEckhardtMelissa BolesMelissa BolesJim LissaJim LissaJim Brennan, Jim Brennan, Hans BergeHans BergeJennifer Jennifer VanderhoffVanderhoff, KC, KCJim Shannon, Taylor AssociatesJim Shannon, Taylor AssociatesVolunteers: Nancy GleasonVolunteers: Nancy GleasonUW WET Lab, Jeff Cordell, UW WET Lab, Jeff Cordell, VasiliaVasilia StamatiouStamatiou, Alex Von , Alex Von SaunderSaunder, , DanieleDaniele PotterPotterDoug Houck WTDDoug Houck WTDNancy MusgroveNancy Musgrove

Findings: Findings: Wild Chinook Fry Migration Speed to Wild Chinook Fry Migration Speed to

the Duwamishthe Duwamish

Through Through flourescentflourescentpigment marking and pigment marking and recapture, wild fry were recapture, wild fry were shown to migrate to shown to migrate to estuary from Soos estuary from Soos Creek (RM 33) as fast Creek (RM 33) as fast within the first 24 within the first 24 hours, the majority hours, the majority were captured within were captured within first 48 hours.first 48 hours.

..

Findings: Findings: Wild Chinook Fingerling Migration Wild Chinook Fingerling Migration

Speed to the DuwamishSpeed to the Duwamish

In 2003, Wild In 2003, Wild fingerlings from the fingerlings from the Middle Green were Middle Green were assumed to migrate assumed to migrate quickly (within one quickly (within one week) to the Duwamish week) to the Duwamish by observing closely by observing closely related peak catches at related peak catches at RM 34.5, 18 and 6.5.RM 34.5, 18 and 6.5.

Methods: Sites

Diet Findings for Today Diet Findings for Today (migration and CSO)(migration and CSO)

King County Juvenile Chinook Diet by River Mile 2003

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Alki Seaview RM2 RM4 RM5 RM7 RM13n=27 n=55 n=59 n=16 n=37 n=81 n=52

2 empty 2 1 0 0 0 071-107mm 65-122 40-107 48-68 45-198 54-98 45-105mean 89.1 89.0 72.2 58.5 74.2 79.0 79.9

% G

ravi

met

ric C

ompo

sitio

n

Fish and fish matte

Hyperiidea

Daphnia sp

Chironomidae adul

Chironomidae larva

other Insecta

Corophium sp

other Gammaridea

other Crustacea

Cirripedia and exuv

Polychaeta

Bivalve siphon

other

Summary: Importance of Information to Summary: Importance of Information to Chinook Recovery and ProtectionChinook Recovery and Protection

Coded wire tag recovery analysis shows the Chinook Coded wire tag recovery analysis shows the Chinook move abruptly out of the natal estuary and rapidly move abruptly out of the natal estuary and rapidly throughout the Puget Sound Nearshore (Schoolthroughout the Puget Sound Nearshore (School’’s s Out Affect) in midOut Affect) in mid--June. This information should lead June. This information should lead recovery resources towards the best possible projects recovery resources towards the best possible projects on a Puget Soundon a Puget Sound--wide basis. The best nearshore wide basis. The best nearshore project for Duwamish River/ WRIA 9 fish may lie in project for Duwamish River/ WRIA 9 fish may lie in another WRIA.another WRIA.