Progress Report

Effects of Water Temperature Exposure on Spawning Success and Developing Gametes of

Migrating Anadromous Fish - 2004

Study Code: ADS-00-05

by

Ryan Mann and Chris Peery Fish Ecology Research Laboratory, ICFWRU

University of Idaho Moscow, ID 83844-1141

to

Walla Walla District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Walla Walla, WA

August 2005

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Abstract

Examinations into the effects of high sub-lethal water temperature exposures on the reproductive success of migrating anadromous fish were preformed. Investigations included analysis of migration success and the subsequent embryo viability of steelhead and fall Chinook salmon. Radio telemetry methods were used to study migration patterns related to temperature, while viability tests were completed at Lyons Ferry, Nez Perce, and Dworshak Hatcheries.

One hundred steelhead and one hundred Chinook salmon were tagged at Ice Harbor Dam

from July 2 to September 30, 2004. We recovered 88 of 200 external and 45 of 108 internal temperature tags released. Included in these, we recovered both the external and internal temperature tags from 15 steelhead and 15 Chinook salmon. Comparisons between these showed that internal body temperature tracked external water temperature closely. Chinook salmon were exposed to temperatures as high as 23.6°C, and had total migration temperature exposures as high as 19.2 degree days above 20°C and 60.0 degree days above 18°C. Steelhead experienced temperatures maximum temperatures of 24°C and had total migration temperature exposures as high as 15.7 degree days above 20°C and 48.8 degree days above 18°C. Migration temperature exposures were highly correlated with release date and the temperature at Ice Harbor Dam at the time of passage.

Embryo mortality was tracked for thirty Fall Chinook, and ranged from 1.11% to

19.84%, though one brood exhibited losses over 99% due to soft shell disease. Total embryo mortality was tracked for six steelhead, and ranged from 5.67% to 81.21% with steelhead generally having higher losses than fall Chinook. Embryo mortality data in relation to temperature exposures were analyzed for 13 Chinook salmon. The five fish with the highest temperature exposures above 20°C exhibited five of the six highest embryo mortalities at the eye up stage and the button up stage. A similar, but weaker, relationship was observed when temperature exposures were calculated using an 18°C threshold.

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Introduction

The demand for irrigation water, commercial navigation, and electricity has resulted in

the construction of multiple dams on northwest American rivers in the last century. In the

Columbia River watershed, of the Pacific Northwest, USA, salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) must

pass up to nine major dams to reach natal spawning areas of Washington or Idaho. Although

number of returning numbers have increased from historic lows during the early 1990’s,

populations have trended downward over the last 150 years, resulting in the listing of many

Columbia River salmon and steelhead stocks under the Endangered Species Act (NRC 1996,

McClure et al. 2003). One concern is how modified flows and temperature conditions within the

system may impact salmon migrants. During this study, we have been documenting temperature

exposures and investigating the effects of variable water temperatures on the reproductive

success of migrating adult Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) and steelhead (O. mykiss).

Temperature exposure can be defined as the thermal regime that individual adults and

their gametes experience during upstream migration. An understanding of temperature exposure

for during fish migration can be achieved by evaluating at least two components: the average

temperature experienced and estimates of thermal units experienced above a physiologically

important threshold (e.g. degree-days above 18˚C). This report focuses on these two estimates of

temperature exposure and future analyses will also examine other measures of exposure, such as

the maximum temperature and variability in temperatures experienced.

Background

Impoundments decrease flow velocities and increase water residence times in dammed

river systems. Longer residence times and the larger surface area within reservoirs result in

earlier warming in the spring, increased temperatures during summer months, and later cooling

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in the fall. As a result, the average summer temperatures of the Columbia and Snake rivers

warm sooner, reach higher maximum and remain warm later into the fall compared to pre-dam

periods (Quinn and Adams 1996; Quinn et al. 1997). During the summer and early fall it is not

uncommon for the temperature to rise above levels thought to be physiologically stressful for

migrating adult salmonids (~18-20°C; Peery et al. 2003, Richter and Kolmes 2005). Little is

known about how the altered thermal regime affects migrating adult anadromous fish or their

developing gametes.

Previous studies on factors influencing egg quality of fish have focused primarily on

conditions experienced by eggs following spawning. Few studies have been conducted to

document the effects of warm water exposure to adult fish have on gamete development and

little is known of these effects on salmonids. During summer and early autumn, temperature is

arguably the most significant environment factor involved with anadromous fishes’ migration

due to its impact on normal physiological, metabolic, and behavioral processes. The goal of this

project is to study the effects of warm water temperatures on movement and overall spawning

success of adult salmon and steelhead returning to the Snake River.

We used radio telemetry to collect data for analyses of movement behavior for adult

salmon and steelhead migrating through the lower Snake River and to spawning areas. Two

hundred fish were outfitted with radio transmitters and temperature recorders in 2004 to

document their movement behavior and temperature exposures. Additionally, we have made an

examination of the quality of salmon and steelhead eggs and fry of tagged fish that return to

hatcheries on the Snake and Clearwater rivers to determine if the viability of developing gametes

is related to temperatures adults were exposed to during migration. Other potential factors that

will be explored using the 2004 dataset include differences in migration and spawning success

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for natural and hatchery (fin-clipped) fish. Finally, I have made temperature profiles for the

migrating fish from recaptured temperature recorders that represent the full thermal regime

experienced. We are currently determining if it will be possible to use PIT-tag and water quality

monitoring data at dams to accurately infer temperature exposure without the use of temperature

loggers on fish.

Study Objectives: 1) Assess relationship between sub-lethal high temperatures and movement behavior and time of

passage for adult Chinook salmon and steelhead migrants. 2) Assess relationship between sub-lethal temperature exposures for adult Chinook salmon and

steelhead during upriver migration and the quality of their gametes, embryos and fry. 3) Assess the relationship between temperature and migration success (escapement) for natural

or hatchery Chinook salmon and steelhead.

Methods Fish Collection

For this study, adult Chinook salmon and steelhead were tagged throughout summer 2004

using a trap in the south-shore fish ladder of Ice Harbor Dam, river kilometer (rkm) 16. This is

the first dam that migrating adult fish encounter on the Snake River. Picket screens near the top

of the ladder guided fish through the main trap channel opening, which was approximately one

meter by 1.5 meters. Once a desired fish entered the main channel, the front and back gates were

closed using pneumatic rams, which were controlled by a trap operator within a waterproof

floating booth. The booth has viewing windows that provided a visual of the fish in the main

channel and fish in the side transition area (See Figure 1). Trapped fish were diverted using a

series of doors to a separate holding cage. Fish were held in the holding cage door to await

transport. When the desired number of fish had been collected, a crane was used to lift the

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holding pen out of fishway and over a fish tank trailer. The holding pen contains a solid bottom

that retains water. This kept collected fish submerged at all times during the transfer. The fish

were released into the aerated transport tank on a trailer using a canvas sleeve in the bottom of

the holding pen (tied closed prior to fish trapping). The fish were then moved to the tagging site

located at the juvenile fish facility in the transport tank.

Tagging

At the tagging site, fish were moved using rubber nets to an anesthetic tank (20 ppm

clove oil). Once sedated, fish were moved to a smaller tagging tank. The fork length of the fish

was taken and all fish were inspected for clips, marks, injuries and the overall condition of the

fish was recorded. Fish were scanned for Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags and one was

administered by injection into the ceolom of the fish if none were present. Depending on the size

of the fish, a data storage tag (DST) (90mm by 20mm, 34g in air), 7-volt (80mm by 16mm

diameter, 29g in air), or 3-volt (43mm by 14mm diameter, 11g in air) transmitter tag was

inserted intra-gastrically. An external temperature recorder was also sutured at the base of the

dorsal fin to record external water temperature. If the fish was determined to be of hatchery

origin, based on clips and/or the presence of coded wire tags (CWT), the fish received a unique

operculum punch to assist with identification at the hatchery, and to aid in other studies

concerned with coded-wire tagged fish.

After tagging, each fish was moved to a recovery tank. Once the fish was determined to

be fully recovered from anesthesia, the fish was diverted into the juvenile bypass flume which

transported it to the tailrace of Ice Harbor Dam.

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Telemetry Monitoring

Dams on the lower Snake River have been outfitted with radio receivers that record when

fish with transmitters move through the tailraces and in and near collection channels and fish

ladders. Receivers with aerial antennas were also located at locations in reservoirs and at mouths

of major tributaries in the Snake River. Data was downloaded from these receivers to portable

computers and transferred to the main database housed in Seattle, Washington. Information on

fish movements was also collected by tracking areas between and upstream from fixed receiver

sites using a truck-mounted receiver and aerial antenna. Information obtained from those

tracking and additional boat tracking will help to determine the behavior of the fish in the

vicinity of Ice Harbor Dam and in the upstream reservoirs and to determine which fish

successfully reached spawning areas. Mobile tracking information will also allow an evaluation

of the effectiveness of this new release method.

Evaluation of Gamete Quality

Effects of temperature exposure was related to gamete quality by tracking egg batches

from fish that were spawned at regional hatcheries in the Snake and Clearwater rivers. Weights

and lengths of each adult that returned to the hatchery were used to estimate age class. Indexes

of gamete quality were fecundity and fertilization success. Embryo quality was determined from

percent survival at the eye-up, hatching, and button-up stages, and the number of abnormal

embryos per female. We chose to use randomly selected males in one-to-one spawning because

several studies have found greater maternal than paternal influence on egg and embryo quality

(e.g. Nagler et al. 2000, Saillant et al 2001). Water temperature exposures were estimated by

calculating the number of degree days a fish was exposed to a threshold temperature. We chose

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the threshold of 20°C because this is the upper incipient lethal temperature (UILT) for salmon.

The UILT is the water temperature at which theoretically half of the population would survive

with permanent exposure (Houston 1982). The UILT is also the upper limit of tolerance and the

lower limit of the zone of resistance for a fish (Jobling 1981) and appears to be a cutoff for

preferred temperature of migrating adult Chinook salmon and steelhead (Coutant 1977; Cherry et

al. 1977). In these preliminary analyses, temperature exposures were calculated from the

external temperature recorders by averaging all the temperature records for a single day. If the

daily averages were greater than 20°C, 20 was subtracted from them and the total represented the

temperature exposure measured in degree days above 20°C. These estimates probably

systematically underestimate the true degree day exposures because exposures above 20˚C

occurring on days with mean temperatures below the 20˚C threshold were not included.

Because other authors suggest significant physiological effects at lower temperatures (e.g.,

Richter and Kolmes 2005), we also performed analyses assuming an 18˚C temperature threshold.

Two methods were used by participating hatcheries to determine fecundity for a given

female. At Lyons Ferry Hatchery, fecundity was determined by massing out 100 live eggs and

extrapolating this mass to the weight of the entire egg batch. All of the dead and/or abnormal

eggs were counted and removed before massing all live eggs. This number was then added back

in to determine total fecundity. An equation was used to remove the water weight in the

calculation. At Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery and Dworshak Hatchery the eggs were processed

through a “Van Galen Fish Egg Sorter”, which automatically removes the dead eggs and

individually counts the number of embryos.

At “eye-up” stage, the embryos could be clearly seen through the vitelline envelope of

the egg, and the shell was hard enough to safely handle the eggs at this stage. Eying success was

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determined by shocking the eggs after attaining 580 temperature units, which corresponded to

approximately 27 days for Chinook salmon and 15 days for steelhead. Eggs that turned white

following shocking were counted as mortalities and removed from incubation trays. This

number was subtracted from the fecundity, or total number of eggs, and then divided by the

fecundity to determine eying success (ES) as;

% ES = (F-Ed)/F

where F represents the fecundity, and Ed represents dead eggs.

Abnormal formations of embryos were identified and removed throughout the life stages

of the embryos. Abnormal eggs were collected from the egg batches at the eye-up stage.

Abnormalities during the eyed stage included unusually high numbers of unfertilized eggs, live

embryos that were haploid, and embryos with eye numbers other than two. Most abnormalities

presented themselves at the button-up stage and included twisted fry, Siamese twins, and fry with

malformed tails or mouths.

Finally, hatching success, the percentage of eggs that reach the fry stage, was determined

by examining egg trays just prior to the alevins being removed to the rearing ponds. According

to Dworshak practices with steelhead, embryos are normally transferred from trays to upwelling

incubators before hatching. For this project, however, all the embryos were raised in the

incubation trays until button-up. General observations of the timing of life stages including

eyeing, hatching, and swim-up were also recorded for each batch of embryos.

Migration Success

Migration histories of individual tagged fish are currently being determined from records

at fixed receivers in tributaries, tracking of fish in tributaries, and recaptures at hatcheries and

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carcasses located during spawning ground surveys. These histories will be used to determine

escapement to tributaries and hatcheries. Migration success will be related to tag data, migration

progression, and temperature exposures as determined from internal and external temperature

recorders.

Temperature Profiles

Previously, studies to assess temperature exposures of migrating fish have relied on

temperature recorded along specific intervals of the rivers (e.g. Torgersen et al. 1999). These

measures may not reflect actual temperatures to which fish are exposed, as in the case of the dam

scroll case measurements (McCullough 1999). By using temperature recorders mounted on and

in fish, we have been able to determine real temperatures that fish were exposed to while

migrating and their concurrent body temperatures. External temperature recorders recorded at

intervals of 60 minutes for Chinook salmon, and 80 minutes for steelhead. By increasing the

interval time for steelhead we were able to achieve a longer sample period to correspond with the

longer migration interval for steelhead. The DST tag, placed gastrically, recorded the internal

temperatures of individual fish at 30 second intervals. Figures 2 and 3 are example temperature

profiles from individual fish. Comparisons between the data received from the external

temperature recorder and the internal DST tags revealed that body temperature closely tracks

external temperature (e.g. Figure 4).

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Preliminary Results

Summary of Tagging

We tagged 100 adult Chinook salmon and 100 steelhead from 2 July to 30 September

2004 (Figure 5). Every fish received an external temperature recorder and a gastric radio

transmitter tag. Of the two hundred fish tagged, 108 fish (70 Chinook and 38 steelhead) received

dual radio transmitter and internal data storage tags (DST) that recorded internal temperature, 89

(29 Chinook and 60 steelhead) received either a 3- or 7-volt radio transmitter, and 3 (1 Chinook

and 2 steelhead) received dual radio transmitter and acoustic map tags. All fish recovered fully

from the tagging process and appeared in good health when released to the tailrace of Ice Harbor

Dam.

As of 15 July 2005, we have recovered either internal or external temperature tags from

103 of the 200 fish tagged. The recovery of the external tags during the peak of the summer was

limited because the Lower Granite Dam adult fish trap was not operated at water temperatures

above 72˚ F. A total of 88 external temperature tags were recovered and successfully

downloaded, 35 from Chinook salmon, and 53 from steelhead. Forty five internal DSTs were

recovered (24 Chinook salmon and 21 steelhead). We have both the internal and external

temperature data for 15 Chinook and 15 steelhead. Comparisons between these are important for

determining the lag time between ambient temperature and internal body temperature and the

accuracy of the readings.

Temperature Data

External temperature tags were recovered primarily at the adult fish trap at Lower Granite

Dam. In addition, tags were turned in by fishermen, and from hatcheries and diversion weirs.

10

Although 88 recorders were successfully downloaded, our overall recovery rate was 95 of 200

(47.5%) temperature tags released; useful data from seven tags could not be retrieved. Two tags

appeared to be turned on correctly, yet they shut off after only recording one data point and five

tags reported errors and could not be successfully downloaded. The manufacturer attributed this

malfunction to incorrect connection inside the logger. The manufacturer estimates a failure rate

of about three percent in the temperature recorders, but we our failure rate was approximately

twice that.

A wide range of temperature exposures were observed for both species, from 0 to 19.1

degree days above 20°C and from 0 to 63.0 degree days above 18°C (Table 1 and 2). These

temperature exposures were highly dependent on the run timing (Figure 6 and 7). No fish

released after 9 September was exposed to daily average temperatures of 20°C or higher.

Degree-day calculations were repeated for Chinook salmon using 18°C as a baseline temperature

indicating the onset of physiological stress (e.g. Richter and Kolmes 2005). These results are also

summarized in Table 1.

Of the 88 external temperature tags successfully downloaded, it was determined that 81

of these fish continued migrating up the Snake River after their release at Ice Harbor Dam. The

other seven were either detected in the Columbia River using telemetry records or PIT

detections, or were recovered dead. Temperature exposures for the 81 successfully downloaded

Snake River run fish were graphed compared to the release date of these fish (Figure 6). Water

temperatures of the Ice Harbor tailrace and forebay peaked in early August, 2004 and peak

temperatures coincided with peak degree-day exposures. Unfortunately, the fewest data points

were collected during the warmest temperatures because the Lower Granite Dam adult fish trap

was shut down at high temperatures. Temperature exposures were also compared to the first PIT

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tag detection at Ice Harbor Dam rather than release date (Figure 7). This represents the re-

ascension of Ice Harbor Dam after being tagged, and reveals a similar pattern to that obtained

when using release date. The re-ascension method may more accurately represent a radio-tagged

fishes’ temperature exposure because it takes into account time spent below Ice Harbor Dam. By

matching a regression curve to these data sets, temperature exposures can be approximated for

the other fish that were released at Ice Harbor without recovery of the temperature tag using

either release dates or PIT records (compare Figures 6 and 7).

Because temperature exposures in degree days matched water temperatures at Ice Harbor

we examined the relationship between degree-day exposures and water temperature at Ice Harbor

Dam on the day of passage after tagging (Figure 8). As suggested, temperature exposures appear

to be related to the temperature at Ice Harbor Dam. The only fish that do not fit this trend are

Chinook salmon that spent more than two weeks and the steelhead that spent more than three

weeks in the system below Ice Harbor Dam before re-ascending after tagging (Figure 8).

We are currently working on a system for analyzing the data received from DST tags to

more accurately calculate degree-days over shorter time intervals. Results from preliminary

analysis suggest that the internal DST records follow those of the external temperature tags

within the hour (Figure 4), suggesting that the external temperature recorders can be used as a

measure of internal temperature exposure. The temperature data from the DST tags will be

incorporated into future analyses of run timing, escapement, and embryo viability.

Hatchery Work

May 31, 2005 concluded the first field season for this project. Embryo viability data

were collected from Lyons Ferry Fish Hatchery, Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery, and Dworshak

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National Fish Hatchery. Sampling on Snake River fall Chinook salmon occurred from 20

October 2004, the first day of spawning, to 8 February 2005, the day at which all the fry had

absorbed their yolk sacs. During this time, the embryos of 30 female adult Chinook salmon were

tracked. Fifteen of these fish were tagged at Ice Harbor Dam, nine were tagged at Bonneville

Dam, and six were PIT-tagged fish that are being used as a supplement to this study. Twenty six

fish were spawned at Lyons Ferry Hatchery, and four were spawned at Nez Perce Hatchery.

There was a large variation in the mortality among egg batches of individual Chinook

salmon with one egg batch exhibited over 99 percent mortality. This egg batch had a condition

known as soft shell disease. The vitelline envelopes of embryos with soft shell disease are

extremely soft and brittle even at the eye-up stage when embryos are normally safe to handle.

This makes the embryos susceptible to breaking or death from physical disruption, and

potentially more susceptible to premature hatching (Barnes et al. 2003). The cause of this

disease is as of yet not understood. Disregarding this batch, there was still high variation in

mortalities, ranging between about 1 to 20 % (Table 3). Only six of the thirty batches monitored

had greater losses after eye-up stage than before.

Spawning for steelhead began on 8 February 2005 at Dworshak National Fish Hatchery.

Only six adult female steelhead were spawned during the spawning season for this project.

Because Dworshak receives a large number of steelhead and the ladder at the hatchery was only

open for short periods, many radio-tagged steelhead may not have been sampled. Finally, we did

not have the advantage of transporting fish from Lower Granite Dam as we did with the fall

Chinook salmon.

Five of the six steelhead spawned were tagged at Ice Harbor Dam. One fish was tagged

at Lower Granite as part of another study. This fish was trapped at the weir in Kooskia, ID, and

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transported to the hatchery for spawning. In general, mortality was greater in steelhead than

Chinook salmon in both stages of development analyzed. Mortality results are summarized in

Table 4.

Embryo mortality was compared to the temperature exposure of the adult Chinook in the

Snake River (Figure 9 and 10). Five fish with the highest temperature exposures, calculated as

degree days above 20°C, had five of the six highest mortalities for both stages of embryo

development. The relationship was not as defined when looking at degree days over 18°C. This

suggests that temperatures above 20°C may have more effect on developing gametes during

migration. The fish with the highest embryo mortalities (19.84%) had only minor exposer to

daily temperatures averaging over 18°C.

Temperature exposures received from DST tags and approximated from PIT tag

detections will be used to add to the analysis of embryo viability as a dependent variable of

temperature exposure. Once all of the available temperature exposures are calculated, ANCOVA

models will be used to explore other cofactors affecting embryo viability such as female size.

We are currently coding and analyzing the radio telemetry records from last summer and fall.

Once this is done, the telemetry data will be integrated with the temperature data to assess

whether temperature exposure had an effect on final migration position and overall escapement

success (Objectives 1 and 3).

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Figure 1: Sketch showing top view of the fish trap located at the top of the Ice Harbor Dam south-shore fishway. A is the collection area for fish waiting to enter the trap. B is the main channel area. Desired fish are trapped in this area by closing the gate upstream and downstream of the fish using switches in the operating booth. The fish can then be either released to the exit area E to continue migrating upstream or diverted to the transition area C if the fish is going to be tagged. Desired fish are held within the cage area D to await transportation to the tagging area.

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25-168 Temperature Profile

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Figure 2: Temperature profile downloaded from external recorder on an adult steelhead released relatively late in the year and recaptured at Lower Granite Dam. Each hash mark along the x-axis represents one day at approximately noon. Temperatures start on the release date and the recapture point is the right extreme on the graph. Because this fish migrated later in the season, it was not exposed to temperatures above 20 degrees in the Snake River. Daily fluctuations in temperature can be seen in the graph, especially immediately following release at Ice Harbor Dam.

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25-107 Temperature Profile

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Figure 3: Temperature profile downloaded from an external recorder on a Chinook salmon released just after peak water temperature and recaptured at Lower Granite Dam. Each hash mark along the x-axis represents one day at approximately noon. Temperatures start on the release date and the recapture point is the right extreme on the graph.

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External and Internal Temperature Comparison

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Figure 4: Comparisons between temperatures measured on external (ETEMP) and internal recorders. The light blue line (MAXTEMP) is the maximum internal temperature recorded by the DST tag for an hour. The yellow line (MINTEMP) is the minimum internal temperature recorded for an hour. Pink line is the average of the temperature recordings (AVTEMP) for a given hour.

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Tagging Effort

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Figure 5: Timing of tagging effort and water temperatures at Ice Harbor Dam, 2004. Each cross represents one fish tagged on the date indicated. Tagging operations at Ice Harbor Dam were stopped on occasions due to high water temperatures, visible as gaps during the middle of the tagging season.

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Table 1: Tagged Snake River Chinook salmon with recovered temperature data. Listed are the channel and code of the radio tag administered, the date of release, and the temperature exposure measured in degree days above 20°C and 18°C, and median and maximum temperature for their migration. Fish with comparatively low median temperatures (ex. 25-133, 25-106) spent more than half their migration in the cold water outflow from Lyons Ferry Hatchery (~11°C). Channel 25 Code 123 excludes a median and maximum temperature because this fish was found on a spawning carcass survey, and the time of death could not be determined. Chan Code Release

Date Degree Days Above 20°C

Degree Days Above 18°C

Median Temps

Max Temp

25 123 7/2/2004 1.144444444 10.81944444 19 167 7/6/2004 1.583333333 10.99583333 20.5 21.4 25 103 7/7/2004 0.833333333 9.25000000 20.1 20.9 25 204 7/8/2004 1.546153846 10.17115385 20.4 21 25 167 7/12/2004 6.635576923 18.46057692 21.1 23.6 25 117 7/15/2004 3.899038462 46.11896600 18.8 22.5 25 108 7/19/2004 15.62386364 62.09469697 19.5 22.9 25 136 8/5/2004 19.18083333 63.03916667 19.9 23.5 25 107 8/18/2004 11.86111111 36.01111111 20.3 22.5 20 60 8/25/2004 4.150757576 32.05492424 19.4 21.9 20 67 8/25/2004 2.616666667 18.03750000 19.8 21.4 20 61 8/26/2004 3.060606061 21.13143939 20 21.1 20 55 8/26/2004 6.944166667 30.74000000 20.4 21.6 20 54 8/26/2004 6.0225 25.49333333 20.6 22.1 25 105 8/26/2004 2.636666667 17.36583333 18.35 21.5 20 91 8/30/2004 1.6775 22.14000000 18.8 21 20 95 8/30/2004 3.865833333 24.21886364 19.9 21.4 25 150 8/30/2004 1.555555556 11.55138889 19.8 21.1 25 210 8/30/2004 0.493055556 8.47638889 19.4 21 20 86 8/31/2004 1.539772727 16.67310606 18.9 21.3 20 81 8/31/2004 1.034722222 7.03055556 19.5 21 20 59 9/1/2004 0.591666667 15.56250000 19.4 20.6 20 77 9/1/2004 0.962121212 25.49962121 19.1 20.8 25 106 9/1/2004 0.966666667 12.30416667 11.1 21 25 206 9/1/2004 2.770833333 19.79166667 17.3 21.3 25 176 9/2/2004 0.645454545 25.94962121 18.4 20.8 25 183 9/7/2004 0 11.14166667 10.5 20.4 25 133 9/9/2004 0 6.64112319 18.4 20 25 162 9/16/2004 0 0.31250000 17.4 18.5 25 155 9/21/2004 0 0.00000000 17.4 18.5 25 144 9/21/2004 0 0.07692308 17.8 18.6 24 65 9/28/2004 0 0.01666667 17.4 18.8

20

Table 2: Tagged Snake River steelhead with recovered temperature data. Listed are the channel and code of the radio tag administered, the date of release, and the temperature exposure measured in degree days above 20°C and 18°C, and median and maximum temperature for their migration. Fish with comparatively low median temperatures (ex. 25-163, 25-146, 20-033) spent more than half their migration in the cold water outflow from Lyons Ferry Hatchery (~11°C) or were recaptured in the winter. Chan Code Release Date Degree Days

Above 20°C Degree Days Above 18°C

Median Temps

Max Temp

19 174 7/2/2004 1.779166667 17.9791667 19.8 21.5 25 203 7/8/2004 4.944444444 23.0666667 13.3 22.8 19 172 7/14/2004 7.014285714 24.8698413 20.9 22.9 25 157 7/15/2004 9.555555556 32.8333333 14.4 23.1 19 163 7/20/2004 6.266666667 20.1000000 10.5 22.1 19 200 8/3/2004 15.72222222 48.7722222 20.1 24 19 207 8/18/2004 7.176984127 25.9492064 19.5 22 19 211 8/26/2004 5.138888889 20.7263889 20.5 21.5 25 175 8/30/2004 0.351587302 18.3238095 18.1 20.5 20 89 8/31/2004 0.696031746 9.6849206 19.1 20.8 25 104 8/31/2004 3.138888889 22.9333333 18.5 21.1 20 87 8/31/2004 1.396031746 8.2273449 18.3 21.5 20 78 9/1/2004 1.747222222 14.1152778 19.5 21.3 19 212 9/1/2004 1.494444444 12.2388889 19.3 21 25 160 9/2/2004 0.125 11.0416667 19.1 20.3 25 202 9/2/2004 0.777777778 21.4722222 18.6 21 25 147 9/2/2004 1.32 10.9088889 19.3 20.6 25 158 9/2/2004 0.3125 15.0847222 19.3 20.4 25 166 9/7/2004 0.3 16.1000000 18.9 20.6 25 146 9/8/2004 0 6.6000000 12.4 20.1 25 195 9/8/2004 0.505555556 13.5111111 19.5 20.5 25 194 9/8/2004 0 3.9666667 18.1 19.9 25 132 9/8/2004 0.433333333 10.1555556 18.5 20.6 25 139 9/9/2004 0.727777778 14.7222222 18.8 20.5 25 110 9/9/2004 0.255555556 10.3277778 19.6 20.4 20 108 9/9/2004 0 5.6777778 18.3 20.1 25 141 9/9/2004 0 6.7555556 18.4 20.4 25 130 9/13/2004 0 6.2011111 17.9 19.5 20 70 9/13/2004 0 3.6488889 17.95 19.5 25 134 9/14/2004 0 2.4444444 17.9 19.4 20 110 9/14/2004 0 3.0388889 17.9 19.4 25 192 9/15/2004 0 1.4833333 17.4 19 20 71 9/15/2004 0 0.7877778 17.5 18.8 25 201 9/16/2004 0 2.0766667 17.6 18.9 20 33 9/16/2004 0 0.0000000 8.45 18.1 20 66 9/17/2004 0 0.7444444 17.6 19.1 25 152 9/17/2004 0 0.9722222 17.8 18.5 25 153 9/21/2004 0 0.1700000 17.6 18.6 20 83 9/21/2004 0 0.1255556 17.6 18.6

21

25 156 9/22/2004 0 0.4955556 17.6 18.5 20 53 9/22/2004 0 0.0000000 17.5 18.8 25 171 9/23/2004 0 0.0000000 17.5 18.5 20 101 9/23/2004 0 1.5100000 18 19.4 24 66 9/23/2004 0 0.0000000 17.6 18.5 25 168 9/28/2004 0 1.4222222 17 19 20 105 9/28/2004 0 0.2166667 16.9 18.6 20 40 9/29/2004 0 0.0400000 17.3 18.6 20 76 9/30/2004 0 0.7833333 17.6 18.8 20 73 9/30/2004 0 0.0000000 16.8 18

______________________________________________________________________________

22

Release Dates Exposure Calibration Curve

0

5

10

15

20

25

6/22/2004 7/12/2004 8/1/2004 8/21/2004 9/10/2004 9/30/2004 10/20/2004

Release Date

Deg

ree

Day

s A

bove

20°

C

20

20.5

21

21.5

22

22.5

23

Wat

er T

empe

ratu

re (°

C)

SteelheadChinookIH Tailrace TempIH Forebay Temp

Figure 6: Relationship between release date and temperature exposures for all recaptured fish. Ice Harbor Dam tailrace and forebay water temperatures are graphed for reference.

23

IH PIT Tag Detections Temperature Exposure Curve

0

5

10

15

20

25

6/22/2004 7/12/2004 8/1/2004 8/21/2004 9/10/2004 9/30/2004 10/20/2004

Ice Harbor Detection Dates

Deg

ree

Day

s A

bove

20°

C

20

20.5

21

21.5

22

22.5

23

IH W

ater

Tem

pera

ture

(°C

)

ChinookSteelheadIH Tailrace TempsIH Forebay Temps

Figure 7: Relationship between Ice Harbor PIT-detection date and temperature exposures determined from external temperature recorders. PIT records are the first detection after returning to Ice Harbor Dam following tagging and release to the tailrace. Tagging began on July 2, 2004.

24

IH Tailrace Temp At Time of Re-ascension

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Degree Days Above 18°C

Wat

er T

empe

ratu

re (°

C)

Chinook

Steelhead

Figure 8: Relationship between temperature exposure and the tailrace water temperature at Ice Harbor at the time of first PIT tag detection. The three Chinook salmon indicated by the circle are those fish that spent more than two weeks below Ice Harbor Dam before re-ascending it post-tagging. The three steelhead within the circle spent three weeks or more before re-ascending Ice Harbor Dam.

25

Table 3: Fall Chinook salmon embryo mortality. The six fish without channel and codes were the supplemental PIT tagged fish. Hatchery Chan Code Egg Batch

ID Fecundity % Mortality

To Eye Up % Mortality

To Button Up Lyons Ferry 19 181 1030 3356.8 99.05 99.08 Lyons Ferry 25 206 2013 3554.0 2.50 3.43 Lyons Ferry 25 106 2095 3205.5 0.50 1.71 Lyons Ferry 25 150 2137 4395.0 8.33 8.99 Lyons Ferry 20 60 2145 5880.3 2.98 3.84 Lyons Ferry 25 162 3007 3399.6 19.50 19.84 Lyons Ferry 25 176 3028 4746.8 0.76 1.38 Lyons Ferry 17 199 3046 3968.2 1.16 1.86 Lyons Ferry 24 65 3051 4306.0 1.35 2.45 Lyons Ferry 25 127 3129 2947.6 1.39 1.92 Lyons Ferry 3 134 3210 2639.3 3.79 4.74 Lyons Ferry - - 3338 2512.0 6.73 8.35 Lyons Ferry 25 133 4095 3547.2 1.13 1.44 Lyons Ferry 25 180 4245 3820.1 1.88 2.16 Lyons Ferry 25 144 4378 3147.5 2.03 2.66 Lyons Ferry 19 128 4427 2947.8 0.51 1.11 Lyons Ferry - - 4099 3548.4 1.58 3.17 Lyons Ferry - - 4074 3745.3 2.11 3.26 Lyons Ferry - - 4435 3535.9 1.44 2.88 Lyons Ferry 3 71 5071 4186.4 1.41 1.67 Lyons Ferry 19 179 5078 3210.7 1.25 4.46 Lyons Ferry 12 117 5079 3523.2 3.92 6.50 Lyons Ferry 25 155 5087 3023.7 1.49 2.76 Lyons Ferry 3 15 5166 3173.6 0.88 2.09 Lyons Ferry - - 5104 2722.6 1.98 2.75 Lyons Ferry - - 5109 4035.0 2.45 5.72 Nez Perce 20 86 3002 5406.0 0.85 1.48 Nez Perce 23 34 3035 4580.0 15.90 19.19 Nez Perce 20 55 4036 3823.0 5.26 5.86 Nez Perce 25 105 5031 4034.0 5.35 8.30

26

Table 4: Steelhead embryo mortality. Hatchery Chan Code Egg Batch

ID Fecundity % Mortality

To Eye Up % Mortality

To Button Up Dworshak 25 110 3001 7268 4.33 5.67 Dworshak 17 53 6001 5328 80.86 81.21 Dworshak 20 110 6002 5464 33.80 47.35 Dworshak 20 83 7001 6742 3.29 7.00 Dworshak 24 40 9001 5660 30.62 32.28 Dworshak 25 119 11001 5703 22.22 31.88

Temperature Exposure vs. Viability

0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Degree Days Above 20°C

Perc

ent M

orta

lity

Mortality to Eye UpMortality to Button Up

Figure 9: Percent mortality at the eye-up and button-up stages for fall Chinook salmon related to temperature exposure in degree days above 20°C. This graph only includes those fish that were spawned and we recovered external temperature recorders from (13 total). One egg batch with 99% mortality was excluded because the adult was tagged at the Bonneville Dam and had no external temperature recorder.

27

18°C+ Temperature Exposure vs. Viability

0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Degree Days Above 18°C

Perc

ent M

orta

lity

Mortality to Eye UpMortality to Button Up

Figure 10: Relationship between percent mortality at the eye-up and button-up stages and temperature exposure in degree days above 18°C for fall Chinook salmon. This graph only includes those fish that were spawned and from which we recovered external temperature recorders (13 total). This data set excludes the brood with 99% mortality because the adult was tagged at the Bonneville Dam and had no external temperature recorder.

28

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Coutant, C.C. 1977. Compilation of temperature preference data. Journal of Fisheries Research

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Richter, A. and S.A. Kolmes (2005). Maximum temperature limits for Chinook, Coho, and chum salmon, and steelhead trout in the Pacific Northwest. Reviews in Fisheries Science 13(1): 23-49.

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