Chum and Coho Salmon

Spawning Distribution and Abundance in the Susitna River, Alaska

Pete ClearyAlaska Department of Fish and Game

Division of Sport Fish1800 Glenn HighwayPalmer, Alaska 99645

peter.cleary@alaska.gov

1. Overview of the Susitna River chum and coho salmon distribution and abundance

- reasons for the study- methods

2. Results 20103. Some data from 2011.

OUTLINE

Talkeetna

Anchorage

Wasilla Palmer

Yentna

River

Susitna

River

Alaska R

ange

Talkeetna

Mountains

Cantwell

Cook Inlet

Chugach

Mountains

Parks H

ighway

Glenn Highway

Flathorn Camp

Susitna River

Yentna River

Fish Wheels

1

4

2

~30 miles to Anchorage

3

~18 miles to Cook Inlet

Tracking Station

MainstemCamp

12

Fish Wheels

Susitna R.

Anchorage

Palmer

Flathorn

Aerial Survey area

Yentna R.

Skwentna R.

Talkeetna R.

Chulitna RSusitna R.

Wasilla

Results…..

Chum Salmon:• Utilize more “mainstem” and “side slough”

areas. 2010 – 65% in either Yentna, Susitna, or Skwentna mainstem.

Coho Salmon:1.Utilize a wide variety of drainage morphologies

throughout the entire watershed.

CONCLUSIONS:

FUTURE:

Distribution and Abundance estimation for coho salmon will continue through 2014.

Distribution of Chinook Salmon will continue through 2014 (2012 first year)

Abundance estimates

Little information on Susitna coho and chum salmon stocks

Contribute to Cook Inlet fisheries

Conservation and allocation issue

Proposed hydroelectric dam – upper Susitna River

Flathorn Camp

Susitna River

Yentna River

Fish Wheels

1

4

2

~30 miles to Anchorage

3

~18 miles to Cook Inlet

Tracking Station

MainstemCamp

12

Fish Wheels

Objectives• Tag chum and coho salmon with dart tags• Deploy esophageal radio tags in chum and

coho • Generate abundance estimates for chum and

coho stocks

Methods

• Capture and recapture using fish wheels

• Four wheels used for deployment

• Four fish wheels upstream – (Yentna and Mainstem Susitna River)

17

18

Sampling

Tags deployed:

Coho – 6,993

Chum – 4,598

19

Results

Yenta River

Total Catch:

Coho - 6,134

Chum - 6,191

Tags Recovered:

Coho - 176

Chum - 158

20

Mainstem:

Total Catch

Coho - 643

Chum – 1,291

21

Tags recovered

Coho - 15

Chum - 23

22

Abundance Estimates - Chum

Entire Susitna Watershed: 357,000 95% CI: 285,000 – 476,000)

Yentna River: 202,000 95% CI: 110,000 – 292,000)

Mainstem Susitna River:155,000 95% CI: 103,000 – 272,000)

Mainstem Susitna River: 60,000 (95% CI: 29,000 – 127,000)

Yentna River 136,000 (95% CI: 99,000 – 206,000)

Abundance estimates - Coho

Entire Susitna Watershed: 196,000 (95% CI: 153,000 – 283,000)

Mainstem Yentna

Deployment (Flathorn)

20112010 20112010

Total CatchCoho – 647Chum – 1,291

Total CatchCoho - 2,801Chum - 34,743

Total CatchCoho - 6,134Chum - 6,191

Total CatchCoho – 6,336Chum – 16,406

Tags deployedCoho – 6,933Chum – 4,598

Tags deployedCoho – 6,661Chum – 37,805

2010 2011

Coho – 15Chum – 23

Tag Recoveries

Coho - 46 Chum - 713

Tag Recoveries Tag Recoveries Tag Recoveries

Coho - 174 Chum - 159

Coho - 281 Chum - 478

Thank you

Acknowledgments

Rick Merizon Alaska Department of Fish and GameDivision of Wildlife Conservation(Formerly of the Division of Sport Fish)

Richard Yanusz Alaska Department of Fish and Game,Division of Sport Fish

Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund

Nick LogelinAlaska Department of Fish and GameDivision of Sport Fish

Dave WestermanAlaska Department of Fish and GameDivision of Commercial Fisheries