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Spatial variation of juvenile Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) survival in a modified California river

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Abstract

Spatial variation in habitat structure is a well-recognized characteristic of lotic ecosystems. The resulting patchwork mosaic provides opportunities for growth and survival as well as mortality risks for fish migrating through these systems. Dam construction within a watershed has numerous downstream tail water effects that alter creation and evolution of habitat features used by anadromous fishes that spawn and rear in these reaches. California Central Valley Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp) are largely restricted to areas below impassable dams and these populations are undergoing widespread declines. High mortality of juvenile salmon in these reaches is thought to be a limitation to recovery. We conducted a radio telemetry study to evaluate spatial variation in juvenile Chinook Salmon (O. tschawytscha) survival and survival-environment relationships in three reaches of a Central Valley tail water. Additionally, we used mobile surveys to identify the location of last known detections to elucidate areas of disproportionate mortality. Our results indicated variation in flow and salmon size had greater explanatory power than year effects. However, relationships between flow, salmon size and survival were reach-specific indicating drivers of survival are spatially heterogeneous. Significant clumping of last known detections in the two lower reaches of the river suggests that mortality may be more frequent in these locations. Our results suggest that there is substantial spatial variation in migration mortality and both environmental conditions (flow) and salmon characteristics (size) have a strong influence on observed mortality. This information should be used to target actions that can support Chinook Salmon recovery.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Anadromous Fish Restoration Program (USFWS AFRP) for funding this project (Grant #81332BG003). J. Wikert (USFWS AFRP) provided valuable feedback on project design and analysis and assistance in the field. Landowners J. Adrian, G. and E. teVelde, P. Van Konynenburg, and L. and L. Muir provided river access to set up fixed receiver stations on their properties. California Department of Fish and Wildlife, especially the Merced River and Mokelumne River hatcheries, provided the juvenile Chinook Salmon used in this study. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the USFWS AFRP contributed radio telemetry receivers. East Bay Municipal Utility District provided a Lotek receiver and drift boat. M. Gard (USFWS) provided bed elevation survey points. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provided the laboratory facility for the tag effects and retention study, and S. Sogard, Megan Sabal, and K. McElroy assisted with the study. S. Hayes (NOAA) provided input on the study design and Kai Ross provided valuable support with the spatial analysis. Numerous agency personnel, private entities, and Cramer Fish Sciences staff, especially C. Watry, assisted with radio telemetry tagging and mobile tracking.

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  1. Cramer Fish Sciences, 13300 New Airport Road Suite 103, Auburn, CA, USA

    Steven C. Zeug, Kirsten Sellheim, Jenny Melgo & Joseph E. Merz

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Zeug, S.C., Sellheim, K., Melgo, J. et al. Spatial variation of juvenile Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) survival in a modified California river. Environ Biol Fish 103, 465–479 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-019-00919-x

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