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Susitna‐Watana Hydroelectric Project Document
ARLIS Uniform Cover Page
Title:
Salmon escapement study, Study plan Section 9.7, errata to Study
Completion Report (November 9, 2015) SuWa 289
Author(s) – Personal:
Author(s) – Corporate:
R2 Resource Consultants
AEA‐identified category, if specified:
February 23, 2016; Study Completion Report errata
AEA‐identified series, if specified:
Series (ARLIS‐assigned report number):
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project document number 289
Existing numbers on document:
Published by:
[Anchorage : Alaska Energy Authority, 2016]
Date published:
February 2016
Published for:
Alaska Energy Authority
Date or date range of report:
Volume and/or Part numbers:
Study plan Section 9.7
Final or Draft status, as indicated:
Document type:
Errata
Pagination:
13 pages
Related work(s):
Salmon escapement study, Study plan Section 9.7, Study
Completion Report.
Pages added/changed by ARLIS:
Notes:
The Study Plan to which this errata corrects is dated October 2015, but it was filed with the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on November 9, 2015; thus the November date in
reference to Study Plan appears in the title of this errata document.
All reports in the Susitna‐Watana Hydroelectric Project Document series include an ARLIS‐
produced cover page and an ARLIS‐assigned number for uniformity and citability. All reports
are posted online at http://www.arlis.org/resources/susitna‐watana/
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project
(FERC No. 14241)
Salmon Escapement Study
Study Plan Section 9.7
Errata to
Study Completion Report (November 9, 2015)
Prepared for
Alaska Energy Authority
Prepared by
R2 Resource Consultants
February 2016
STUDY COMPLETION REPORT ERRATA SALMON ESCAPEMENT STUDY (9.7)
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority
FERC Project No. 14241 Page 1 February 2016
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION (AND ERRATA) TO NOVEMBER 9, 2015
STUDY COMPLETION REPORT
1. INTRODUCTION
During ongoing quality control of AEA data bases, AEA noted inconsistencies in numbers of
fish and tag detections and an inconsistency in one of the aerial survey counts between the 2014
Study Completion Report (SCR) and the Study 9.7 QC3 data base. Revisions were made as
described in this errata to accurately reflect the data that was collected and to correct the
presentation of the data in the SCR filed November 9, 2015. The nature of these errors was such
that they were errors only in presentation of the data in the 2014 report. The tagging numbers
within the QC3 data set have been confirmed as accurate; thus, these revisions should have no
material effect on the analysis of radio-tagged salmon that is presented in the SCR.
4.1 Objective 1: Capture, radio-tag, and track adults of five species
of Pacific salmon in the Middle and Upper Susitna River in
proportion to their abundance. Capture and tag Chinook, Coho,
and Pink salmon in the Lower Susitna and Yentna rivers.
4.1.3. Tagging Goals
Recent (2012 and 2013) and historical (1981–1985) fishwheel catches, effectiveness, and salmon
run timing guided tag application rates over the season.
As stated in RSP Section 9.7.4.1, the goal for Chinook Salmon in the Lower River was to radio-
tag 300 fish per fishwheel; numbers tagged were 257 salmon from the west bank fishwheel, and
270 from the east bank fishwheel (Table A-1; Figure A-6). The goal for gillnetting was 100
Chinook Salmon, and 129 salmon were actually radio-tagged. For Coho Salmon at the Lower
River site, the goal was to radio-tag 300 fish per fishwheel; numbers tagged were 337 Coho
Salmon from the west bank fishwheel, and 303 fish from the east bank fishwheel (Table A-1;
Figure A-6). The difference between the goals and actual radio-tagging was the result of re-
apportioning radio tags in season according to catches. The number of Pink Salmon tagged was
SCR Reference Description
Sections 4.1.3 (p. 6); 5.1
(p. 30); 5.1.1.1 (p. 31);
5.1.1.2 (p. 30); Table
5.1.1 (p.94); Appendix
A, Tables A-1 and A-2
(Appendix A, p. 1)
The numbers of radio tagged salmon in 2013 and 2014 were
revised after submission of the SCR. Revised text appears in bold
for SCR Sections 4.1.3; 5.1; 5.1.1.1; 5.1.1.2; and accompanying
Tables F-1, and Appendix A Tables A-1 and A-2 are provided
below.
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FERC Project No. 14241 Page 2 February 2016
similar to the tagging goal of 100 fish per fishwheel, with 107 radio-tagged from the west bank
fishwheel, and 92 from the east bank fishwheel (Table A-1; Figure A-6).
The radio-tagging goals for the Yentna River (RM 6) fishwheels were 100 fish per fishwheel;
numbers tagged were 95 salmon from the north bank fishwheel, and 95 from the south bank
fishwheel (Table A-2; Figure A-7). The goal for gillnetting was 100 Chinook Salmon; and 105
salmon were radio-tagged. Occasionally low catches in both fishwheels led to re-apportioning
the radio tags in-season.
5.1. Objective 1: Capture, radio-tag, and track adults of five species
of Pacific Salmon in the Middle and Upper Susitna River in
proportion to their abundance. Capture and tag Chinook, Coho,
and Pink salmon in the Lower Susitna and Yentna rivers.
A total of 9,661 adult salmon of five species were radio-tagged during this three-year study.
Table 5.1-1 presents the number of tags implanted and tagged fish tracked for each species in
each year of the study. While the tagged species were consistent each year in the Middle River,
they varied each year in the Lower River (Table 5.1-1) in order to assist ADF&G with fulfilling
statewide objectives regarding escapement to the Susitna River Basin.
The size of fish radio-tagged ranged from 28 cm (11.0 in) to 110 cm (43.3 in.) mid-eye to tail
fork length (METF). Since fishwheels were the primary capture method and have the potential
for biased catch based on size, several analyses for size-selective capture and tagging were
conducted. When size-selective capture was detected adjustments were made as detailed below.
During each study year, tracking began with the first tags implanted in the Lower River and
continued through October or November. Detailed results related to fish capture, tagging, and
tracking in 2014 are presented below and in Appendices A, B, and C.
5.1.1. Fish Capture and Fish Tagging
5.1.1.1. Lower River
In the Lower River, 2,048 Chinook Salmon (1,471 large, 577 small) were caught and 656 large
Chinook Salmon were radio-tagged (Table A-1; Figure A-6, Figure A-9). The peak of Chinook
Salmon catch in the fishwheels occurred on May 29 (111 fish) and CPUE for an individual
fishwheel peaked at 5.6 Chinook Salmon per hour (west bank). Daily radio-tag deployment in
the Lower River peaked at 39 Chinook Salmon on June 5. Seventy-seven percent (129) of large
Chinook Salmon captured using gillnets in the Lower River were radio-tagged. Large Chinook
Salmon captured in the Lower River averaged 67.6 cm [26.6 in] METF and small Chinook
Salmon averaged 39.1 cm [15.4 in] METF (Table A-4).
A total of 1,513 Coho Salmon were captured in the Lower River in 2014, of which 640 were
radio-tagged at the fishwheels. The peak catch occurred on August 3 (128 fish) and CPUE for an
individual fishwheel peaked at 7.0 fish per hour (west bank). The daily number of radio tags
deployed peaked on July 28 (71 tags).
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Pink Salmon were the most abundant species captured in the Lower River (13,934 fish). Daily
fishwheel catches peaked on July 20 (2,050 fish) and CPUE peaked at 130 fish per hour (west
bank). A total of 199 Pink Salmon were radio-tagged, and the most tags deployed on a single
day was 16 (July 24). Similar to Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon catches were consistently higher in
the west bank fishwheel relative to the east bank fishwheel.
A total of 6,577 Chum and 853 Sockeye salmon were also captured in the Lower River in 2014.
5.1.1.2. Yentna River
Of the 3,025 Chinook Salmon (1,357 large, 1,668 small) captured at Yentna RM 6, the majority
(87 percent) were captured in fishwheels and the remainder (13 percent) in gillnets (Table A-2).
Daily catch peaked at 275 fish on June 4. The magnitude and timing of the peak CPUE for
Chinook Salmon was very similar for the north and south bank fishwheels (Figure A-10). The
average length of large Chinook Salmon captured at Yentna RM 6 (66.9 cm [26.3 in] was similar
to that of fish captured in the Lower River, while small Chinook Salmon at Yentna RM 6
averaged 34.9 cm (13.7 in) METF, which was 4.3 cm (1.7 in) less than at the Lower River. A
total of 190 large Chinook Salmon were radio-tagged at the Yentna RM 6 fishwheels (Table A-2;
Figure A-7), which was 7.3 percent of the total fishwheel catch. In the gillnetting at Yentna RM
6, 105 large Chinook Salmon were radio-tagged, which was 27 percent of the gillnet catch.
Radio-tag deployment for Chinook Salmon at Yentna RM 6 peaked at 24 tags on June 2.
Of the 2,305 adult Chinook Salmon (1,375 large, 930 small) captured at Yentna RM 18, the
majority (95 percent) were captured in fishwheels, and the remaining 5 percent in gillnets (Table
A-2). Daily catch peaked at 171 fish on June 5. The magnitude and timing of the peak CPUE
for Chinook Salmon was very similar for the north and south bank fishwheels (Figure A-10). At
Yentna RM 18, large and small Chinook Salmon averaged 66.8 cm (22.3 in) and 37.0 cm (14.6
in) METF, respectively (Table A-4).
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Table 5.1-1. Number of adult salmon radio-tagged in the Susitna River Basin from 2012 to 2014, by species, fish size, and tagging location.
Species (and Fish Size)
Tagging Location 2012 2013 2014 Total (All Years)
Chinook Salmon
largea
Lower Susitna 442 689 656 1,787
Yentna River - 693 295 988
Middle Susitna 352 536 590 1,478
smalla Middle Susitna - 67 32 99
Total 794 1,985 1,573 4,352
Chum Salmon
Lower Susitna 400 - - 400
Middle Susitna 279 201 200 680
Total 679 201 200 1,080
Coho Salmon
Lower Susitna 399 596 640 1,635
Middle Susitna 184 242 230 656
Total 583 838 870 2,291
Pink Salmon
Lower Susitna 401 200 199 800
Middle Susitna 230 200 201 631
Total 631 400 400 1,431
Sockeye Salmon
Lower Susitna 100 - - 100
Middle Susitna 70 137 200 407
Total 170 137 200 507
Total (All Species)
Lower Susitna 1,742 1,485 1,495 4,722
Yentna River - 693 295 988
Middle Susitna 1,115 1,383 1,453 3,951
Total (All Locations) 2,857 3,561 3,243 9,661
a METF (mid-eye tail fork length), ≥50 cm for large Chinook Salmon; METF <50 cm for small Chinook Salmon
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Table A-1. Number of salmon caught and radio-tagged at two fishwheel sites and from gillnets in the Lower Susitna River, PRM 33.4–34.2, 2014.
Species Caught1 /
Tagged
Fishwheel Radio Tag
Target West Bank East Bank Gillnet Total
Chinook Salmon Caught 921 959 168 2,048
Tagged2 700 257 270 129 656
Chum Salmon Caught - 2,295 4,282 0 6,577
Coho Salmon Caught 910 603 0 1,513
Tagged 600 337 303 - 640
Pink Salmon Caught 10,063 3,871 0 13,934
Tagged 200 107 92 - 199
Sockeye Salmon Caught - 396 453 4 853
Total (All Species) Caught 14,585 10,168 172 24,925
Tagged 701 665 129 1,495
1 Total caught incudes all adult salmon regardless of size, as well as all recaptured fish
2 Adult fish measuring 50 cm METF (mid-eye tail fork length) or greater
Table A-2. Number of Chinook Salmon caught and radio-tagged at fishwheel sites and in gillnets in the Yentna River (RM 6 and RM 18), 2014.
Location Caught1
/ Tagged
Radio Tag
Target
Fishwheel Gillnet Total South North
Yentna River (RM 6) Caught 1,213 1,413 399 3,025
Tagged2 300 95 95 105 295
Yentna River (RM 18) Caught - East West 1,440 743 122 2,305
1 Total caught incudes all adult salmon regardless of size, as well as all recaptured fish
2 Adult fish measuring 50 cm METF (mid-eye tail fork length) or greater
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SCR Reference Description
Table 5.3-1 (p. 101) The numbers of radio tagged salmon in 2014 were revised after submission of the SCR.
Revised Table 5.3-1 is provided below.
Table 5.3-1. Number of salmon radio-tagged in the Lower and Middle Susitna River Segments, and the number of radio-tagged salmon that were
detected at or above the Gateway Station, above each impediment, and above the proposed dam site, 2014.
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SCR Reference Description
Table 5.3-5 (p. 108-109) Peak counts and dates for aerial surveys for Chinook Salmon in 2012 and 2013 were
revised after submission of the SCR. Revised Table 5.3-3 is provided below.
Table 5.3-5. Aerial Chinook Salmon spawning escapement surveys. Number of flights, and date and magnitude of peak counts per stream and survey
year. The number of radio-tagged Chinook Salmon that were classified to each stream (see Table 5.2-1) is included for 2012-2014.
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SCR Reference Description
Section 5.3.1(p. 53); Table F-1
(Appendix F, p.1)
The dates for first live and last live for Chinook Salmon that moved above impediment 3 in
2013 and 2014 were revised after submission of the SCR. Revised Table F-1 is provided
below with clarifying footnotes.
Table F-1. Summary of migration and spawning behavior for radio-tagged Chinook Salmon after they passed Impediment 3, 2012–2014.
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SCR Reference Description
Appendix F: Figure F-3
(Appendix F – p. 4),
Figure F-5 (Appendix F
– Page 6), Figure F-14
(Appendix F – P. 15),
Figure F-15 (Appendix
F – P. 16)
Tracking history maps for some individuals did not present all
detection data in the tracking database and/or misrepresented
locations that were subsequently removed during spatial review
and database quality assurance/quality control. Revised Figures F-
3, F-5, F-14, and F-15 are provided below.
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Figure F-1. Tracking history of a radio-tagged Chinook Salmon (tag #27) that was detected above Impediment 3, 2012.
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Figure F-2. Tracking history of a radio-tagged Chinook Salmon (tag #94) that was detected above Impediment 3, 2012.
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Figure F-3. Tracking history of a radio-tagged Chinook Salmon (tag #5019) that was detected above Impediment 3, 2012.
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Figure F-4. Tracking history of a radio-tagged Chinook Salmon (tag #241) that was detected above Impediment 3, 2013.