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DRAFT ADULT ANADROMOUS FISH INVESTIGATIONS MAY -OCTOBER 1984 SUMMARY by Bruce M.Barrett Frederick M.Thompson Susan N.Wick 1985 ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME SUSITNA HYDRO AQUATIC STUDIES REPORT NO.1 620 East 10th Avenue,Third Floor Anchorage,Alaska 99501 for Alaska Power Authority 334 W5th Avenue,Second Floor Anchorage,Alaska 99501 , Tk l~?..C;; .S~ A~ flo.2'¥l8d --- [}:{]&OO~&c @(ID&®©@SUSITNAJOINTVENTURE 711 H STREET ANCHORAGE,ALASKA 99501 TE L.(907)272 5585 ro~ \~\9~~ March 11.1985 4.3.1.6/4.3.1.2 -Arctic Environmental Information and Data Center 707 A Street Anchorage.Alaska 99501 CQrFIDErmAl:PRiVilEGED WORK PRODUCT PREPARED IN ANTICIPATION OF LlTIGATICN;RESTRICTED DISTRIBUTION ... Attention:Mr.Wi lliam J.wil son Principal Investigator Dear Mr.Wilson: Please return your comments to me by March 15.1985. r· (~fr I CJ Very truly yours. //n-t7~£ Larry Gilbertson Aquatic Group Leader 6) :\ ;A j as noted sdw Enc: Enclosed for your review and cOOIment is a draft copy of the summary of the Adult AnadrOOIous Fish Investigations report inadvertently OOIitted from the previous transmittal._,_~_"._"".",R_~_"'"'_.'_·'_~""-- Subject:Susitna Hydroelectric Project Review of ADF&G report on Adult Anadromous Fish Investigation -1984 i)- I 1 .... I- II- I- 423891/3 ARLIS Alaska Resources Library &Information Services Anchorage.Alaska .- - ן""' mmco ~ ooo LO LO ן""' M M TABLE OF CONTENTS Page SUMMARY ........•.............•..........•......••.•...•.....•....174 Chinook Salmon •......•...•.....•.••.••.••.•.........•••••....•••176 Sockeye Salmon ...•............•.••..•.•••.•...•.•.......•....•.•184 Fi rst Run ..••......••...••..•..•..•••...••.•....••.•.•...••..•184 Second Run .•...•.......•....•....•......•........•...•........186 Pink Salmon ..••••...••••.••..•.••..•.....•.••..•..•.••.•••.....•193 Chum Salmon ••...•.•.•••........•.....••..•.....•..•.•....•.•••••203 Coho Salmon ••••.•......••...••.....•....•••••....•••••••.....•••215 REFERENCES .•.•.•.....•••••.•...•••..••..•••..•..•.••••.•..•••.•••224 ---------------~----- Figure 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 LIST (IF FIGURES Susitna River sockeye,pink,chum and coho salmon escapements to the Yentna and Sunshine stations combined (VIS)in 1981-84 and to Flathorn Station in 198 4 , Minimum Susitna River chinook salmon escapements by station for 1982-84. Migrational timing of chinook salmon based on fishwheel catch per unit effort at Sunshine, Talkeetna and Curry stations in 1981-84. Migrational timing of first run sockeye salmon based on fishwheel catch per unit effort at Sunshine Station in 1982-84. Minimum Susitna River sockeye salmon escapements by station for 1981-84. Minimum 1981-84 Susitna River sockeye salmon escapements based on population estimates at Flathorn,Yentna and Sunshine stations. Migrational timing of second run sockeye salmon based on fishwheel catch per unit effort at selected stations in 1981-84. Minimum 1981-84 Susitna River pink salmon escapements based on populations estimates at Flathorn,Yentna and Sunshine stations. Minimum Susitna River pink salmon escapements by station for 1981-84. Migrational timing of pink salmon based on fishwheel catch per unit effort at selected stations in 1981-84, Minimum 1981-84 Susitna River chum salmon escapements based on population estimates at Flathorn,Yentna and Sunshine stations. Minimum Susitna River chum salmon escapements by station for 1981-84. Migrational timing of chum salmon based on fishwheel catch per unit effort at selected stations in 1981-84. ~----_...._-- Page 174 176 179 184 187 187 189 194 195 196 203 204 206 .' - Figure 79 80 81 LIST OF FIGUR~S (CON~.) Minimum 1981-84 Susitna River coho salmon escapements based on population estimates at Flathorn.Yentna and Sunshine stations. Minimum Susitna River coho salmon escapements by station for 1981-84. Migrational timing of coho salmon based on fishwheel catch per unit effort at selected stations in 1981-84. 215 216 218 - - Table 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 LIST OF TABLES Escapements by species and sampling locations for 1981-84. Migration rates of chinook salmon between sampling stations,based on fishwheel tag recoveries. Analysis of chinook salmon age data by percent from escapement samples collected at Sunshine,Talkeetna and Curry stations in 1981-84. Male to female chinook salmon ratios and average mean lengths from Sunshine,Talkeetna and Curry stations for 1981-84. Peak survey counts and percent distribution of chinook salmon in streams above RM 98.6 in 1981-84. Analysis of sockeye salmon age data by percent from escapement samples collected at Flathorn t Yentna t Sunshine,Talkeetna and Curry stations in 1981-84. Male to female sockeye salmon ratios and average mean lengths from Flathorn,Yentna, Sunshine t Talkeetna and Curry stations in 1981-84. Migration rates of sockeye salmon between sampling stations t based on fishwheel tag recoveries. Peak survey counts and percent distribution of second run sockeye salmon in sloughs above RM 98.6 in 1981-84. Migration rates of pink salmon between sampling stations,based on fishwheel tag recoveries. Male to female pink salmon ratios and average mean lengths from Flathorn,Yentna,Sunshine, Talkeetna and Curry stations in 1981-84. Peak survey counts and percent distribution of pink salmon in sloughs above RM 98.6 in 1981-84. ~ 177 180 182 182 183 185 186 190 192 199 199 200 Table 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 LIST OF TABLES (CaNT.) Peak survey counts and percent distribution of pink salmon in stream index reaches above RM 98.6 in 1981-84. Peak survey counts and percent distribution of pink salmon in streams above RM 98.6 in 1983 and 1984. Migration rates of chum salmon between sampling stations,based on fishwheel tag recoveries. Analysis of chum salmon age data by percent from escapement samples collected at Flathorn,Yentna,Sunshine,Talkeetna and Curry stations in 1981-84. Male to female chum salmon ratios and average mean lengths from Flathorn,Yentna,Sunshine, Talkeetna and Curry stations in 1981-84. Number of mainstem chum salmon spawning areas identified in the Susitna River middle reach in 1981-84 and the corresponding,highest fish counts. Peak survey counts and percent distribution of chum salmon in stream index reaches above RM 98.6 in 1981-84. Peak survey counts and percent distribution of chum salmon in streams above RM 98.6 in 1983 and 1984. Peak survey counts and percent distribution of chum salmon in sloughs above RM 98.6 in 1981-84. Migration rates of coho salmon between sampling stations,based on fishwheel tag recoveries. Analysis of coho salmon age data by percent from escapement samples collected at Flathorn,Yentna,Sunshine,Talkeetna and Curry stations in 1981-84. Male to female coho salmon ratios and average mean lengths from Flathorn,Yentna,Sunshine, Talkeetna and Curry stations in 1981-84. 201 202 207 208 207 211 212 213 214 219 220 221 .' - - Table 76 77 LIST OF TABLES (CONT.) Peak survey counts and percent distribution of coho salmon in stream index reaches above RM 98.6 in 1981-84. Peak survey counts and percent distribution of coho salmon in streams above RM 98.6 in 1983 and 1984. ------------- 223 223 SUMMARY The annual combined escapements of sockeye,pink,chum and coho salmon to Yentna and Sunshine stations has ranged between 0.6 and 2.6 million fish from 1981 to 1983 (Figure 66).Most of the between year variation has been due to pink escapements which have averaged 15 times higher in the even years (1982-84)than in the odd (1981-83)years.An influence 55 5,z:ss,500 Z.570,ZOO 1,693,800 ~~COHO SALMON DIIDJIID CHUM SALMON ~PINK SALMON IIIIIIIII SOCKEYE SALMON 0 .......-- 1.5 I 0 0.5 4.5 x 5.0 -3.5 oooo 4.0 oo - 1981 Y IS 1982 Y/S 1983 Y/S 1984 Y/S 1984 FLATHORN Figure 66.Susitna River sockeye,pink,chum and coho salmon escapements to the Yentna and Sunshine stations combined (Y/S)in 1981-84 and to Flathorn Station in 1984. -174- has also been an increase in chum escapemerts,particularly evirlert in 1984. Monitoring of sockeye,pink,chum and coho salmon at Yentna and Sunshine stations,has provided a measure of the minimum or partial Susitna River escapement of these species (Figure 66).A better indication of total river escapement has been provided in 1984 by escapement monitoring at Flathorn Station located below all but two major spawning tributaries (A 1exander and Fi sh creeks).The escapement for the four speci es at Flathorn Station in 1984 was approximately 5.2 million fish or about twice the combined same year escapement to Yentna and Sunshine stations. A comparison of the 1984 individual species escapements quantified at Flathorn,Yentna and Sunshine stations,indicate major spawning by sockeye,pink and coho occurred below Yentna and Sunshine stations,but only minor chum spawning. Unlike the other four species,chinook have not been monitored at Yentna or Flathorn stations.The only monitoring in the lower reach has been at Sunshine Station with escapements being first quantified there in 1982.For this reason no estimate of the Susitna River chinook escapement is available.Based on drainage wide surveys since 1981, most of the chinook escapement is produced below Sunshine Station. The balance of this section will cover,by species,1981 through 1984 salmon investigations contracted to the ADF&G Su Hydro study team by the APA.Unless otherwi se noted a 11 references to 1981 through 1983 sa 1mon data originate from the ADF&G,Phase I (1981),ADF&G,Phase II (1983) and Barrett el al.(1984)adult anadromous fish reports. -175- Chinook Salmon Lower reach escapements at Sunshine Station have fluctuated between 52,900 and 121,700 fish and averaged 88,200 fish for the last three years (Figure 67 and Table 52).The escapement increases since 1982 may oo... 125 0 0--100 . 0 0 0 -X 0-0 aI ~N., Z LLI :E LLIa.. <t 25uen LLI Z 20 0 ~ .-oJ <t 15cn ~ 0 0 10 Z-:I: (,) 5 o . N .,982 ~1983 ~1984 oo CD •N ooo CD .., SUNSHINE STATION TALKEETNA STATION CURRY STATION Fi gure 67.Minimum Susitna River chinook salmon escapements by station for 1982-84. -176- ....._---- Table 52.Esc a pem ent s by s pee i esan d sa [f,p 1 i nq 10 C2 ~ion s ..:)l'lj 2 :-'='J . Samp 1i ng Escapement .!/ Yea rLocation Sockeye ~/Chinook Pink Chum Coho TOTAL F1athorn 1984 3/605,800 3,629,900 812,700 190,100 5,238,500 Station Yentna 1981 4/139,400 31),100 19,800 17,000 21?,300 Station 1982 113,800 447,300 27,800 34,100 623,000 1983 104,400 60,700 10,800 8,900 184,800 1984 149,400 369,300 26,500 18,200 563,400 Sunshine 1981 3/133,500 49,500 262,900 19,800 465,700 Station 1982 52,900 151,500 443,200 430,400 45,700 1,123,700 1983 90,100 71,500 40,500 265,800 15,200 483,lQG 1984 121,700 130,100 1,017,000 765,000 94,700 2,128,500 -]./Talkeetna 1981 4,800 2,300 20,800 3,300 31,200 Station 1982 10,900 3,100 73,000 49,100 5,100 141,200 1983 14,400 4,200 9,500 50,400 2,400 80,900-1984 24,800 13,100 177,900 98,200 11 ,800 325,800 Curry 1981 3/2,800 1,000 13,100 1,100 18,000 Station 1982 11,300 1,300 58,800 29,400 2,400 103,200 1983 9,700 1,900 5,500 21,100 800 39,000 1984 18,000 3,600 116,900 49,300 2,200 190,000 - - 1/ 2/ 3/ 4/ Escapement estimates were derived from tag/recapture population estimates except Yentna Station escapements which were obtained using side scan sonar. Second run sockeye salmon escapements only. Chinook salmon were not monitored for escapement. Yentna Station side scan sonar equipment was not operational on the dates required to estimate the total Yentna River chinook salmon escapements for 1981-84. -177- be partly due to rpduced foreign fiS~lrc in the Su 1 {o~~13ska (pers.comm.K.Middleton,Middleton and Associates). Middle reach escapements have also improved over the last three years (Figure 67).At Talkeetna Station the escapement has ranged from 10,900 to 24,800 fish and averaged 16,700 fish since 1982.At Curry Station escapement has ranged from 9,700 to 18,000 fi sh and averaged 13 ,000 fish.The 1984 escapements to these stations were about twice that of 1982 and 1983. Some of the middle reach escapements in the last three years have .' included stray fish.For example,in 1984 about 45 and 24 percent of the respective Talkeetna and Curry stations escapements returned downstream and spawned in the lower reach,mainly in the Talkeetna and Chulitna river drainages.In the other years,there has also been less stray fish at Curry Station than at Talkeetna Station. Chinook salmon have been abundant in the lower reach at Sunshine Station from the second week of June through the second week of July for the last three years (Figure 68).Peak abundance has normally occurred in the last two weeks of June.In the middle reach,fish have been abundant from the third week of June to the third week of July.The peak has usually occurred between the third and fourth weeks of June. In 1984,chinook salmon migrating along the east and west banks at Sunshine Station were segregated with Chulitna River fish migrating almost entirely along the west bank,while Talkeetna River fish migrated mainly along the east bank. bank,migrating past Sunshine Middle reach fish were not segregated by Station nearly evenly off both banks. -178- IIiII1982H,·,,\!";',:···:··i."·,;:.;:;......I{1981CURRYSTATIONII·;·····1.II1984II·i,;~.:n.......II1983CHINOOKSALMONM.dlanPeakRano·\Calch~II.':\--1/\~%Cumulatiy.9~%Cumulal""Catchp.rEffortCotchperEttortI......'J\0ITALKEETNASTATION----------------------------------------------II:::.,:::IIHH...<'>.....•..1984I I·.······j:'1ti~·J'·I,:j·...II1983I I •jJI1982----------------------------------------------SUNSHINESTATIONH'~I.II1984Hf·'I•!.<.,.:...HI1983I I.........'~:II••H•••:...••••••••••••••••••••••••1982713192~713192~316121824JUNEJULYAUG.Figure68.MigrationaltimingofchinooksalmonbasedonfishwheelcatchperuniteffortatSunshine,TalkeetnaandCurrystationsin1981-84. - - - There was indication of a simi 1 ar pattern in 19 0 J.Ir"the 'tiO Jr~/;~LlS years the sampling work dt Sunshine Statior"did not differentiate specific populations. In the lower and middle reach,chinook responded to high flows by slowing upstream migration.In 1984,a peak high water discharge of 93,000 cfs,measured by USGS at the Parks Highway Bridge (RM 83), resulted in a sharp catch reduction in the Sunshine Station fishwheels. The same flow event coincided with similar catch reductions at Talkeetna and Curry stations.In 1981 and 1982,radio tagged fish delayed migration at high flows. Chinook migrated slower in the lower reach above Sunshine Station than in the middle reach between Talkeetna and Curry stations for the last three years (Table 53).The slower migration may be associated with Table 53.Migration rates of chinook salmon between sampl ing stations,based on fishwheel tag recoveries. Tagging Station Year Sunshine 1982 1983 1984 Talkeetna 1982 1983 1984 Recapture Station CurryTalkeetna Days 1/Mpd 2/Days Mpd 10.0 2.3 12.0 3.3 13.0 1.8 12.0 3.3 7.0 3.3 11.a 3.6 6.0 2.8 6.0 3.8 4.0 4.3 1/Days =number of days between captures. 2/Mpd =miles per day.This value is based on the median number of days between captures. -180- - For the last four years,lower and middle reach chinook escapements have included fish ranging in aqe from three to seven years old (Table 54). Six year old fish routinely have been dominant with males more abundant than fema 1es (Table 55).The hi gher proport i on of ma 1es has been partially due to an abundance of three year old male fish.Fish lengths have averaged from 602 to 816 mm (Table 55).The longest lengths were in 1984,attributable to more older fish than in the three previous years. There has been no evidence of chinook spawning in the lower or middi~ reaches of the Susitna River mainstem or associated sloughs from 1981 through 1984.All spawning has occurred in streams.The stream mouths in the lower reach are used for passage only,while in the middle reach, many are both spawning and passage areas.In 1984 there was spawning at the mouths of Whiskers Creek,Fourth of July Creek,Indian River, Portage Creek,Cheechako Creek and Chinook Creek. In the middle reach there has been about a 70 percent annual increase in stream escapements over the 1ast four years (Tabl e 56).Most of the increase has been in Indian River and Portage Creek.These streams support 95 percent of the spawning. -181- ~2t"l~e 54.Analvs i :;Jf chinook s d ~'110 r:1qe ':L::t.,1 hv pprc~n~frt)i."'~sc::'~'":"'er" samples collected at Sunshine,~a 1keetna and CUP-J st(1~10ns in 1981-2,4. AGE GROUP BROOD YEAR LOCATION YEAR 3 4 5 6 7 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 SUNSHINE 1981 27.6 31.9 23.1 16.9 0.5 0.5 16.9 23.1 31.9 27.6 STATION 1982 15.1 27.4 20.9 36.2 0.4 0.4 36.2 20.9 27.4 15.1 1983 ,.5 3.9 39.0 45.0 10.6 10.6 45.0 39.0 3.9 1.5 1984 7.1 5.2 18.2 44.8 24.7 24.7 44.8 18.2 5.2 7 .1 TALKEETNA 1981 15.8 29.8 21 .4 30.1 2.9 2.9 30.1 21 .4 29.8 15.8 STATION 1982 20.7 35.8 20.6 22.3 0.6 0.6 22.3 20.6 35.8 20.7 1983 22.5 9.4 34.0 27.9 6.2 6.2 27.9 34.0 9.4 22.5 1984 1.1 4.9 17.8 47.7 28.5 28.5 47.7 17.8 4.9 ).1 CURRY 1981 18.5 34.3 27.8 19.4 0 0 19.4 27.8 34.3 18.5 STATION 1982 17.0 29.3 22.4 30.8 0.5 0.5 30.8 22.4 29.3 17.0 1983 9.4 3.9 24.4 43.5 18.8 18.8 43.5 24.4 3.9 9.4 1984 10.7 6.0 13.3 40.6 29.4 29.4 40.6 13 .3 6.0 10.7 Table 55.Male to female chinook salmon ratios and average mean lengths from Sunshine,Talkeetna and Curry stations for 1981-84. YEAR 1981 1982 1983 1984 Sex Average Sex Average Sex Average Sex Average Ratio Mean Ratio Mean Ratio Mean Ratio Mean (M:F)Length (M:F)Length (M:F)Length (M:F)Length LOCATION (mm)(mm)(mm)(mm) SUNSHINE STATION 3.5:1 602 1 .2:1 707 1 .2:1 761 1 .1 :1 765 TALKEETNA STATION 2.7:1 711 2.3:1 642 2.4:1 626 1 .0:1 816 CURRY STATION 1 .9:1 668 1.5:1 725 1 .4:1 743 1 .3:1 801 -182- laDle 56.Peak survey C0unts and percent dis~ribution or c~inr~< salmon in streams above R~98.6 In 1981-84. Stream 1981 1982 1983 River Peak ~Peak ~Peak ~ Mile Count Distri-Count Distri-Count Distri- 1984 Peak % Count Distri- -,verage "l> 11 bution 1 I bution 1 I bution 1 I bution D;stribution Whiskers Creek 101.4 Chase Creek 106.9 Chinook Creek 156.8 Cheechako Creek 152.5 * * * 1.3 0.6 0.2 0.6 0.4 0.8 99.9\ 26.8 O., 68.3 0.6 0.2 * * 1.3 0.3 0.2 o 0.4 0.2 o 0.9 0.3 20.3 0.1 75.9 99.9\ o 2 7 3 23 17 67 o 92 23 5,446 29 15 7.180 1,456 * o 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.3 o o 0.5 26.9 0.1 70.9 0.6 0.2 100.0"" 3 6 o o 6 8 23 15 25 12 1,193 3,140 o 0 2.3 0.9 0.1 o 0.6 0.7 1.9 0.1 0.1 0.2 o 50.7 42.6 100.2\4,432 5 o o o 15 3 3 56 47 16 1 ,253 3.6 21 37.6 1,053 2 58.8 100.0\2,474 113.6 40 130.8 136.7 138.6 422 148.9 659 161.0 Lane Creek Indian River Sherman Creek 5th of July Cr.123.7 Gold Creek 4th of July Cr.131.1 Jack Long Creek 144.5 Fog Creek 176.1 TOTALS1/1,121 Devil Creek Portage Creek 11 Peak count includes live plus dead fish. 21 Percent distribution totals may not equal 100 due to rounding errors. *Trace -183- Sockeye Salrr.on Fir s t r'U n First run sockeye salmon escapements at Sunshine Station have been approximately 5,800 fish in 1982,3.300 fish in 1983 and 11,800 fish in 1984.These are estimates of spawners in the inlet stream of Papa Bear Lake,the only known spawning area above Sunshine Station, First run fish have been abundant in the lower river at Sunshine Station from the first through the third weeks of June for the last three years (Figure 69).Most of the migration has been along the east bank.First ", run fish stray into the middle river as far as Talkeetna Station but return to the inlet stream of Papa Bear Lake to spawn. ......1Il '-••' ......"'."1/...I /\,...c..........s ....C•••le"•• c.-c.,I.'(11.,t Cote ..,.,l'h,1 ----11984 FIRST RUN SOCKEYE SALMON ---~1982 ----~J983 SUNSHINE STATION 5 10 15 JUNE 20 25 30 Figure 69.Migrational timing of first run sockeye salmon based on fishwheel catch per unit effort at Sunshine Station in 1982-84. Fi rst run fi sh have ranged in age from four to six years old wi th the highest percentage being five year olds (Table 57),Nearly all the returning fish had spent a year in freshwater prior to going to sea. The average fish lengths have been 535 mm in 1982.515 mm in 1983 and 531 mm in 1984 and the respective male to female ratios:0.6:1.1.3:1 and 0.5:1 (Table 58). -184- ....__....._...._--._•.._._--_._-----_.._---- Table57.AnalysisofsockeyesalmonagedatabypercentfromescapementsamplescollectedatFlathorll,Yentna.Sunshine, TalkeetnaandCurrystationsin1981-84.AGEGROUPBROODYEARLocationVear3456 774757677787980HIFlathorn19846.846.045.71.5001.545.746.0G.t!StationVentna19810.88.686.24.40 04.486.28.60.8Station19823.928.556.710.90010.956.728.53.919835.168.124.91.900 1.924.968.1:'.119841.525.666.16.8006.866.125.6,•"JSunshine1981YStation198206.489.54.1004.189.56.401strun1983026.972.11.0001.072.126.90198403.396.40.3000.396.43.302ndrun19811.122.272.83.90 03.972.822.21.119823.123.870.62.30.20.22.370.623.83.1I19830.164.035.50.4000.435.564.00.1.....19844.262.532.60.7000.732.662.5~')CO.,UlITalkeetna1981024.571.93.60 03.671.924.50Station19824.323.371.60.8000.871.623.34.319834.455.839.8000039.855.84.419841.183.914.60.4000.414.683.91.1Curry19810.728.569.31.50 01.569.328.50.7Station198222.939.937.2000 037.239.922.919836.772.121.20 00021.272.16.719843.872.622.61.0001.022.672.6).b1/SunshineStationwasnotoperationaluntilafterpassageoffirstrunsockeye. -rable 58.M,a 1e to ft:C'2~P sock'e'IP salmon ratios ani!lve r ljP ':,":'a n lengths from Flc:"ln r n,Yentna,Sunshine,Ta1~ee:na and Curry stations ;n 1981-84. YEAR 1984198119821983 Location Sex Average Sex Average Sex Average Sex Average Ratio Mean Ratio Mean Ratio Mean Ratio Mean (M:F)Length (~:F)Length (~:F)Length (M:Fl Length (mm)(mm)(mm)(mm) F1athorn Station 1 .5:1 519 Yentna Station 1 .2 :1 580 2.1 :1 532 1.S:1 494 0.9:1 535 Sunshine Station Run 1 1 !1!0.6:1 535 1 .3:1 515 0.5:1 531 Run 2 1.cr:1 55'4 0.9:1 550 0.9:1 506 0.7:1 512 Talkeetna Station 0.6:1 548 1 .3:1 548 1 .6:1 509 0.7:1 513 Curry Station 0.8 :1 549 2.1 ;1 466 1 .6:1 484 1.4:1 495 1/Sunshine Station was not operational unt i1 after the first run had passed RM 80. " Second Run Second run sockeye salmon escapements in the lower river have averaged 126,800 fish to Yentna Station and 121,700 fish to Sunshine Station for the last four years (Figure 70 and Table 52).Combined escapements to these stations have ranged from 175,900 to 279,500 fish and averaged 248,400 fish (Figure 71).The 1984 combined escapement was the highest on record at 279,500 fish.The escapement at Flathorn Station in 1984 was over twice this at 605,800 fish.This indicates a major segment of the Susitna River escapement spawned below Yentna and Sunshine stations in 1984.Known spawning areas downstream of Sunshine Station include the Fish Creek,Alexander Creek,Whitsol Lake and Deshka River drainages.It is possible that a portion of the Flathorn Station -186- S 1981 •1982 SJ 1983 ~1984 oo " ~ aa.,a~a ~. ~ '? - - - oo 0-0 ~goo gS~.~~:.~~~ Ii.;,~~.;~.:.,;O.....L.--"l._-.IOl'--..CL.Ja.._..a....~u..._..a...........~--=-.-....g..J,4.- FLATHORN YE NTNA SUNSHINE TALKEETNA CURRY STATION STATION STATION STATION STATION 50- 75 - 25- .- Fi gu re 70.Minimum Susitna River sockeye salmon escapement~by station for 1981-84. 0"625 oo x 500- ~ Z UJ 375~ UJ a.. <u (f) UJ ~ i 125 z ~ o 605.8 Combined Yentna (TRM 04)a Sunshine (RM 80)Stations Flathorn Station (R M 22) 27 . 1981 1982 1983 1984 Fi gure 71.Minimum 1981-84 Susitna River sockeye salmon escapements based on population estimates at Flathorn.Yentna and Sunshine stations. -187- .- escapemen~spawned below this statlo r bas~~nr ~~e 5~rdv'~~~~a~Jc:urs (l,t other stations.The major spawning area below Ventna ,'wd Sunshine stations is in the Fish Creek drainage which enters the Susitna River about 14 miles downstream of Flathorn Station. Middle river sockeye escapements measured at Talkeetna Station thp last four years have ranged from 3.100 to 13.100 fish with a 6,300 fish average (Fi gu re 70).At Curry Sta t ion,the range has been 1,300 to 3.200 fish with a 1.,400 fish average.The escapements to these stations in 1984 were the highest on record. Most of the fish that reached Talkeetna Station for the last four years have been strays that spawned downstream,primarily in the Talkeetna and Chulitna river drainages.About 46 percent in 1981,48 percent in 1982, 38 percent in 1983 and 17 percent in 1984 of the Ta 1 keetna Stat ion escapement spawned in the middle reach.Less straying occurred at Curry Station.Approximately 79 percent in 1981,100 percent in 1982,84 percent in 1983 and 62 percent in 1984 of the Curry Station escapement were fish that spawned in the middle reach.The balance were stray fi s h. Sockeye have been abundant in the lower reach annually between the second week of July and the second week of August the last four years (Figure 72).The peak has normally occurred around the fourth week of July.In the middle river,fish have been abundant from the third week of July to the fourth week of August.The peak has been between the last week of July and the first week of August. -188- --_._--.,--_._._-------- I11982II1981II·II I1984I II ·I I198~I IliIII IfI-------------------------------------------------------------------II·I'I1984II,.II198~ISI11962II •III1981CURRYSTATIONTALKEETNASTATION--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1-------I·III1984-T-"--'--'IiI IrIIiI III 1r-r--r----.---------.---.-II I I I I I III I I I II-----.------.--r--r-----,27I~9I~112.2~292ti1014.1222tiW, 7III~'9JUNEIJULYIAUG.ISEPTI~I~I1~~==ii=-=-=-=-l------------------------~---J1'984._----J.=Ir-----I.III198~1------------1f~----11962------JI1981I.....(X)\0ISUNSHINESTATIONYENTNASTATIONfLATHORNSTATION~SI11984~--1•III1983rI'I1-----I19821---..-----1•III1981--------------------------------------------------------------SECONDRUN~OCK~'fL~A~!'tION....dI(If'>....a&ROOIl'\COiL"I/~i/'.')0/",(..m..lul,..lj~/gC",",,,I.JI.'CQ,<:tlpe'("QII(olenpelf"(H'Figure72.Migrationaltimingofsecondrunsockeyesalmonbasedonfishwheelcatchperuniteffortatselectedstationsin1981-84. stations passed Flat.hor-n Station ~hrough ~he east chdnn~1.[Iljr-ing dl~ four years e.t Yentna and Sunshine stations,most of the migrating fish have passed along the south and east banks.In the middle river at Talkeetna Station the fish hcve been about evenly split between thp east and west banks,while at Curry Station most of the fish have been along the east bank. Migration speeds have been generally slower in the lower reach than in the middle reach for the last four years (Table 59).Presumably most of the slower travel speeds have been associated with straying and or ." Table 59.Migration rates of sockeye salmon between sampling stations,based on fishwheel tag recoveries. Recapture Station 1/ Tagging Yentna Sunshine Talkeetna Curry Station ~/3/Year Days Mpd Days Mpd Days Mpd Days Mpd Flathorn 1984 3 3.3 8 7.3 11 7.4 14 7.0 Sunsh i ne 1981 9.0 2.6 14.0 2.9 1982 9.0 2.6 11.0 3.6 1983 9.0 2.6 9.0 4.4 1984 4.0 5.8 7.0 5.7 Talkeetna 1981 7.0 2.4 1982 2.0 8.5 1983 6.0 2.8 1984 2.0 8.5 1/Dash denotes insufficient sample size to determine migration rates. ~/Days =number of days between captures. 3/Mpd =miles per day.This value is based on the median number of days between captures. -190--------------_.._.. - - ialkeetna,Susitna and Chulitna riverS confluence. Lower and middle river sockeye escapements for the last four years have includerj fish ranging in age from three to seven years old (Table 57). Most of the fish have been four and five years old.Nearly all sockeye in both reaches had smolted in their second year of life.Fish lengths have averaged between 466 and 580 mm (Table 58).Generally,males have been more abundant that females in both reaches (Table 58). Sockeye fecundity was estimated at 3.350 eggs/female based on a 1983.. study.This represents about 350 eggs less than the mean fecundity of North American stocks reported by Hart (1973). There has been no evidence of spawning in the Susitna River lower mainstem including side channels in the last four years.In addition, stream mouths and sloughs whi ch were surveyed on 1yin 1984.were not spawning areas. In the middle reach mainstem for two of the last four years there has been minor spawning.Eleven fish were observed spawning at one site in 1983 and 33 fish at seven other sites in 1984.The total number of mainstem spawners in 1983 and 1984 was probably in the range of 35 and 100 fish,respectively,assuming about one-thin'!of the spawners were present at the time the hi ghes t counts were recorded.Streams in the middle reach also had little or no spawning habitat value in the last four years.Only one pa i r of spawni ng fi sh was observed in 1984.and that was at the mouth of Portage Creek -191- Esse nt i a.1 :y all s P ?"tI n j n c;i n ~he c';rl d1ere ach has 0 ccu',-"~I r ~.i'.~r :; (Table 60).Since 1981,three slou9hs have suppor~ed <1pproximate!y 9n percent of the spawning.These have bpen sloughs 11,8A and ~l.Peak spawning in sloughs has normally occurred around the second week of September. Table 60.Peak survey counts and percent distribution of second run sockeye salmon in sloughs above Rt-1 98.6 in 1981-84....1982 1983 19841981 Average River Peak %Peak \Peak \Peak \'I;, Slough Mile Count Di stri-Count Distri-Count Distri-Count Distri-Distri--1/bution 1/bution 1/bution 1/bution bution I 99.6 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 1.I 0.3 2 100.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0.8 0.2 3B 101.4 I O.I 0 0 5 0.9 20 2.2 0.8 .. 3A 101.9 7 0.5 0 0 0 0 II I .2 0.5 5 107.6 0 0 0 0 0 0 I O.I *6A 112.3 1 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 *8 113.7 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.2 0.1 8C 121.9 0 0 2 0.3 0 0 0 0 O.I 8B 122.2 0 0 5 0.8 0 0 1 O.I 0.2 Moose 123.5 0 0 8 1 .3 22 4.0 8 0.9 1., 8A 125.4 177 14.3 68 II .2 66 11.9 128 13 .8 13.2 B 126.3 8 I .3 2 0.3 9 1.0 0.8 9 128.3 10 0.8 5 0.8 2 0.3 6 0.6 0.7 9B 129.2 81 6.5 I 0.2 0 0 7 O.B 2.7 9A 133.8 2 0.1 1 0.2 I 0.2 0 0 0.1 10 133.8 0 0 0 0 I 0.2 0 0 *II 135.3 893 72.0 456 75.2 248 44.7 564 61.0 64.8 IS 137.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 I 0.1 ... 17 13B.9 6 0.5 0 0 6 1.I 16 1.7 0.8 19 139.7 23 1.9 0 0 5 0.9 11 1.2 I .2 20 140.0 2 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 21 141.I 38 3.1 53 8.7 197 35.S 122 13.2 12.3 22 144.5 0 0 2 0.2 O.I Totals Y I .241 100\607 100\555 100\926 100.2\100.I \ 1/Peak count includes live plus dead fish. 2/Percent distribution totals may not equal 100 due to rounding errors. *Trace In 1983 and 1984,sockeye salmon were monitored at several middle reach sloughs for observation 1i fe.The average time from slough entry to morta 1ity or departure was 11.8 days/fish in 1983 and 8.4 days/fish in 1984. -192- - - - - - in 1981,1,500 fish in 1982,1,600 fish in 1983 and 2,200 fish 1r-'.:)..l.':. These numbers were calculated using two years of observation life data and four years of live fish counts. In 1983 and 1984,female fish were examined for egg retention at several middle reach sloughs.The average was 249 eggs/female in 1983 and 64 eggs/female in 1984.Barrett in 1974 reported a positive correlation between egg retention and spawner density.This was not apparent in the last two years.Slough escapement was about 40 percent higher in 1984 than in 1983,but egg retention was about three times lower in 1984 than ,'. in 1983. Pink Salmon The 1984 pink salmon escapement to Flathorn Station was about 3,629,900 fish,which was 60 percent higher than the combined,same year escapement to Yentna and Sunshine stations.Since 1981,combined Yentna and Sunshine stations escapements have averaged 93,400 fish in the odd years and 1,138,400 fish in the even years (Figure 73).The escapement to Yentna and Sunshine stations have been generally within 30 percent of each other except in 1984 due to a higher than average escapement to Sunshine Station. In the middle river at Talkeetna Station odd year pink salmon escapements have averaged 5,900 fish,while even year escapements have averaged 125,500 over the last four years (Table 52 and Figure 74). Average odd and even year escapements at Curry Station have been 3,300 -193- 0 3750 Combined Yentna (TRM 04)0 Wj0 &Sunshine (RM 80)Stations x 3000 ~Flathorn Station (RM 22) I-z w 2250:E wa- ctu 1500(J) w 138 6. :E 890.5 ~7502-z-101.2285.6 0 1981 1982 1983 1984 .' Figure 73.Minimum 1981-84 Susitna River pink salmon escapements based on population estimates at Flathorn,Yentna and Sunshine stations. and 87,900 fish.At both stations,the 1984 escapement was about twice the previous even year escapement. Most of the pink salmon entering the middle river reach have been stray fish at least in 1984.Based on spawning ground surveys about 85 and 80 percent of the fish reaching Talkeetna and Curry stations,respectively were strays. The lower reach below Sunshine Station produces most of the pink salmon escapement.In 1984 about 10 percent of the escapement reaching Flathorn Station spawned in the Yentna River drainage,60 percent in the lower reach between the Yentna River and Sunshine Station and 30 percent -194- .., CURRY STATION =198 I II i 982 S 1983 ~1984 TALKEETNA STATION SUNSHINE STATION -::> ::> '"... -::.:.. (3 .,t:::~., ~0 -t:;:'"~t:;:-'"~~ ~v.- --0~0 ,_1 '"-....- ;vi '::0-0 ~'"0 '£°o.- "'"~'.r."...-0 1-::-000 /:...;;:~..-~0~:!0 ;;:.. 0 ~-~~'"-;;: '"0~~0-;;:8 '"0 /'~~-~ -~ 0 ~~ -t:;:t-.:°0 t:;:'"t:;:0 0 °/'V.~~'"t:;:0 0 ~~-~....~~0t:;:N ~~v.~;;-o FLATHORN yENTNA STATION STATION x 350 to-290z w :E 230 w Cl.170<{ u (f)I 10w z 700 ~ ....J 60<{ (J') 50 ~ Z ~40 30 20 10 Figure 74.Minimum Susitna River pink salmon escapements by station for 1981-84. above Sunshine Station.These are approximate values because a portion of the escapement reaching Flathorn Station probably spawned below this site,primarily in Alexander Creek. Pink salmon have been abundant in the lower river from the second week of July to the third week of August in odd years and from the fourth week of July to the second week of August in even years (Figure 75).In the middle river fish have been abundant from the last week of July to the third week of August in odd years and from the last week of July to the second week of August in even years. -195- PINKSALMONM.dlo",P.akROtH.."Lotch1/1,.-/\-/\~%C"''''uIOI'....Cj~Q/oC...m...kJl,...eCatchper£'lrollCote"p.t(IIulJlJI.....'Df'CURRYSTATIONTALKEETNASTATIONSUNSHINESTATIONYENTNASTATIONfLATHORNSTATION1984IIfI I19831--1fII19821S·'II1981II·II I---~------------------------------------------------~----------IIfII1984I IfII1983ISI11982r-----iI ·I I1981--------------------------------------------------------------III.II1984II·==-JI11983IIfII1982III·II1981--------------------------------------------------------------III-II1984f--I •III1983IIfII1982II!1-1198\--------------------------------------------------------------IIfII/9841 IiI I I I , I I I ItI I 1 I I I III I I I I I I I I------rI Ir-r------y---l~O4812162024281~91317212:>29l6IUJUNEIJULYIAUG.ISEPTFigure75.MigrationaltimingofpinksalmonbaSedonfishwheelcatchperuniteffortatselectedstationsin1981-84.."U, - ei'lst channel in 1984.In tre last ""our years eH Ycntna and Sunsr,lne stations,most of the fish have travel~d mainly of""the south and east banks.In the middle river the fish have traveled predominantly Off the east bank at both Talkeetna and Curry stations. Recovery of pink salmon tagged at Flathorn Station in 1984 indicate Yentna River fish were evenly distributed in the east and west channels at Flathorn Station,whereas the fish destined to Sunshine Station migrated mainly in the east channel. .. Pinks traveled at a slower rate between Flathorn and Ventna stations than between Flathorn and Sunshine stations (Table 61).This was probably due to straying and or milling in the Susitna and Yentna rivers confluence.In the middle river pink salmon have migrated slower between Sunshine and Talkeetna stations than between Talkeetna and Curry stations during the last four years.This was probably due to more milling or straying in the confluence areas of the Talkeetna,Susitna and Chulitna rivers.For the last four years,in even years pink salmon have migrated slower than in odd years. No age information has been collected for the past four years on pink salmon because pinks are almost exclusively two year old fish.Fish lengths in both the lower and middle reaches have averaged from 419 to 474 mm with no major differences occurring between odd and even years (Table 62).Between and within year length variation may be due to ocean growth as pinks have essentially no freshwater rearing. -19i- .~enerally,mal,,')~a.ve been slightly erOrf~abundan,:t:h,j'"~erna1"(Cr.:::0"" reaches with no rtajor distinction between odd and e'lefl years Susitna River pink salmon fecundities were calculated by regression analysis from a sample col lected at Sunshine Station in 1983.The mean fecundity was 1,350 eggs/female which is within the range (POO-2,OOO) reported by Morrow (1980). Since 1981,there has been no confirmed spawning in the middle or lower reach mainstem.However,possible spawning may have occurred in 1984 at RM 119.1 based on a report from E.Woody Trihey and Associates.... Sloughs in the lower reach,above the Yentna Ri ver confl uence,do not support spawni ng based on 1984 surveys.In the mi ddl e reach,mi nor spawning has occurred in sloughs for the last four years except in 1983 when there was no slough spawning.The primary spawning has been at sloughs 11,8A and 20 (Table 63).Total spawning escapement has been 38 fish in 1981.297 fish in 1982 and 647 fish in 1984. In the lower reach,above the Yentna River confluence,pink salmon spawned in the mouths of 10 streams,based on 1984 surveys.Nearly all the spawning occurred at the mouths of Willow,Birch and Sunshine creeks. Several thousand fish spawn in stream mouths above the Yentna River confluence in the relatively high even year escapements.In the middle river,pink salmon spawned in nine of the 22 stream mouths surveyed in -198- Table 6:.~,iqration rates of pirk-salmon be~ween SalTlp~inc st3tiors. based on fishwhee1 tag recoveries. Recaoture Station 1/ Tagging Yentna Sunshine Talkeetna Curry Station 2/3/Year Days Mpd Days Mpd Days Mpd Days Mpd Flathorn 1984 2.0 5.0 6.0 9.7 10.0 8.1 11.0 8.9 Sunshine 1981 9.0 2.6 198?3.0 7.7 4.0 10.0 1983 4.0 5.8 4.0 10.0 1984 3.0 7.7 4.0 10.0 Talkeetna 1981 3.0 5.7 1982 2.0 8.5 1983 2.0 8.5 1984 1.0 17.0 1/ Y 3/ Dash denotes insufficient sample size to determine migration rates. Days =number of days between captures. Mpd =miles per day.This value is based on the median number of days between captures. Table 62.Male to female pink salmon ratios and average mean lengths from Flathorn,Yentna,Sunshine,Talkeetna and Curry station in 1981-84. YEAR 1981 198Z 1983 ,984 Location Sex Average Sex Average Sex Average Sex Average Ratio Mean Ratio Mean Ratio Mean Ratio Mean (~:F)Length (M:F)Length (~:F)Length (M:F)Length (mm)(mm)(mm)(mm ) F1athorn 1 .3:1 443 Station Yentna 0.8:1 474 1 .0:1 428 0.9:1 426 1 .2:1 445 Station Sunshine 0.8:1 447 1.8:1 435 1.0:1 429 1.1:1 441 Station Talkeetna 1 .2 :1 434 1 .6:1 426 0.8:1 427 , •, :1 447 Station Curry 0.8:1 432 ,.5:1 419 1 .0:1 425 1 .6:1 442 Station -199- Table ~3.Peak survey coun~s and porcent dis ~r 1 "Ij ~ion I)"fl1 n •,"'~(J r in sloughs above R~08.~in 19R1-84. 1981 1982 1983 1984 Averaoe Peak a. ., River Peak ~Peak "6 Peak "6 , Jistri- Slough Mi 1e Count Distri-Count Di stri'Count Di stri-Count Distri-bution1/bution 1/bution 1/bution 1/bution-- 2 100.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.2 0.1 3B 101.4 0 0 0 0 0 0 28 2.6 1.7 3A 101 .9 1 3.6 0 0 0 0 56 5.2 3.4 5 107.6 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0.4 0.2 6A 112.3 0 0 35 6.9 0 0 0 0 2.1 8 113.7 25 89.3 0 0 0 0 1 0.1 1.6 Bushrod 117.8 10 0.9 2.4 8e 121 .9 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.1 0.1 8B 122.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 68 6.4 4.1 Moose 123.5 0 0 8 1.6 0 0 25 2.3 2.0 A'124.6 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 2.2 1 .4 A 124.7 2 7.1 0 0 1 4.8 0 0 0.2 8A 125.4 0 0 28 5.5 3 14.2 134 12.5 10.0 B 126.3 32 6.3 0 0 0 0 2.6 9 128.3 0 0 12 2.4 0 0 1 0.1 0.6 11 135.3 0 0 131 25.8 7 33.3 1 21 11 .3 15.5 15 137.2 0 0 132 26.0 1 4.8 500 46.6 38.0 17 138.9 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.1 0.1 ." 19 139.7 0 0 1 0.2 1 4.6 0 0 0.1 20 140.0 0 0 64 12.6 7 33.3 85 8.0 9.4 21 141 .1 0 0 64 12.6 1 4.8 6 0.7 4.4 TOTAL5 Y 28 100\507 99.9\21 100\1,069 99.9\100.2\ 1/Peak count includes live plus dead fish. 21 Percent distribution totals do not equal 100 due to rounding errors. 1984.Based on peak index survey counts over the last four years Indian River,Fourth of July Creek and Lane Creek were the primary spawning streams (Table 64). fourth weeks of August. Peak spawning occurred between the second and In 1983 and 1984,Indi an River and Portage Creek surveys were of each streams entire spawning reach (Table 65).These surveys show that index counts of Portage Creek were not indicative of this streams spawning importance.For examp 1e,in 1984 the pea k index count was 302 fi sh while a survey of the entire spawning reach revealed a peak count of -200- Table 64.Peak SUiVP'I CGun+-:;ora Doreen"riistiibutior,I)-Dln.:;il'~"'''' 1n stream index reaches above ~M 98.6 In 19P1-RJ. 1981 1982 1983 1984 Average '\I Oi5U;- bution '\I Oi 5tri- bution Peak Court 1/ 'i Oi5tri- bution Peak Count 1/ ~ Oi5tri- bution Peak Count 1/ ", Distrl- bution River Peak ~1ile Count 1/ Stream \l/hi5ker5 Creek 101.4 Cha5e Creek 106.9 38 0.3 10.1 138 107 4.8 3.8 o 6 a 0.5 293 438 2.6 3.9 2.5 3.4 Lower McKenzie 116.2 Creek .- Slash Creek Gash Creek Lane Creek Clyde Creek Maggot Creek 111.2 '1 1 .6 113.6 291 113.8 115.6 o 77 .0 o 640 23 22.4 0.8 o o 28 17 o o 2.1 1.3 3 6 1 ,184 34 107 585 * * 10.5 0.3 1.0 5.2 * * 12.2 O.B 2.4 3.6 McKenzie Creek 116.7 Little Portage 117.7 Creek o o 17 140 0.6 4.9 o 7 a 0.5 11 162 0.1 1.4 0.2 2.3 • Fromunda Creek 119.3 40 0.4 0.9 Downunda Creek 119.4 6 *0.1 Deadhorse Creek 120.8 Tulfp Creek 120.9 337 B 3.0 0.1 7.7 0.2 4th of July Cr.131.1 Jack Long Creek 144.5 5th of July Cr.123.7 Skull Creek Sherman Creek Gold Creek Indian River 124.7 130.8 136.7 138.6 2 8 6 29 o 2 0.5 2.1 1 .6 7.7 a 0.5 0.3 113 12 24 702 11 738 21 4.0 0.4 0.8 24.6 0.4 25.9 0.7 9 o 78 7 886 5 0.7 0.1 o 5.9 0.5 66.7 0.4 411 121 48 1 ,842 B2 5,282 14 3.6 1 .1 0.4 16.3 0.7 46.7 0.1 3•1 0.8 0.5 1 5.1 0.5 39.3 0.2 4.3 100.1\ 21.4 302 2.7 100.1\11 .316 100.1 \ 5.9 285 100.0\1,329 Portage Creek 148.9 0 a 169---=----=----...;..:.:._-..:..::....:....-_..:.=_-=...:....:....:.....-_---=.:::~_.:....:....:..._---=:....:....:.... TOTALS !/378 100.1\2,855 11 Peak count includes live plus dead fish. 21 Percent distribution totals do not equal 100 due to rounding errors. *Trace -201- =,70 7 fiSh.In Indian River about ~p r~rc~n~or the 9,O~~~'~h counted were within the inrlex reach Signifying this areas impor~2nce as spawni ng habitat.Based on peak counts,the estimated escapement t:o middle reach streams was about 26,700 fish in 1984. Table 65.Peak survey counts and percent distribution of pink salmon in streams above RM 98.6 in 19B3 and 1984. Stream \~hiskers Creek Chase Creek Slash Creek Gash Creek Lane Creek Clyde Creek Maggot Creek L.McKenzie Cr. McKenzie Creek Lt1.Portage Cr. Fromunda Creek Downunda Creek Deadhorse Creek Tulip Creek 5th of July Cr. Skull Creek Sherman Creek 4th of July Cr. Gold Creek Indian River Jack Long Creek Portage Creek Ri ver Mile 101.4 106.9 111.2 111.6 113.6 113.8 115.6 116.2 116.7 117.7 119.3 119.4 120.8 120.9 123.7 124.7 130.8 131.1 136.7 138.6 144.5 148.9 1983 Peak % Count Distri- .1I bution o 0 6 0.5o0 o 0 28 ?1 17 1.3 o 0 7 0.5 9 0.7 1 0.1o0 78 5.9 7 0.5 886 66.7 5 0.4 285 21.4 Peak Count .1I 293 438 3 6 1,184 34 107 585 11 162 40 6 337 8 411 121 48 1,842 82 9,066 14 2,707 1984 % Distri- bution 1.7 2.5 * * 6.8 0.2 0.6 3.3 0.1 0.9 0.2 * 1.9 0.1 2.4 0.7 0.3 10.5 0.5 51.8 0.1 15.5 Average 0/ '0 Distri- bution 1.5 2.3 * 6.3 0.4 1.1 3.1 O.1 0.9 0.4 0.1 3.5 O.1 2.2 0.6 0.2 9.9 0.5 51.4 O.1 15.4 TOTALS ~I 1,329 100.1~17,505 100.1%100.1~(' II Peak count includes live plus dead fish. 2/Percent distribution totals do not equal 100 due to rounding errors. *Trace -202- Chum Salmon Lower river chum salmon escapements for the last four years at Yentna Station have averaged 21,200 fish and at Sunshine Station,431,000 fish (Table 52).The 1984 escapement to both stations combined was 75 percent above the four year average.Most of this increase was at Sunshine Station.The Flathorn escapement in 1984 was about 812,700 fish,three percent above combined Yentna and Sunshine stations escapement for the same year (Figure 76).Essentially all of the Susitna River escapement reaches Flathorn Station because less than 500 chums probably spawn below this station annually, " - 791.5 ~Combined Yentna (TRM 04) ~a Sunshine (R M 80)Stations ~Flathorn Station (RM 22) 150 300 750 450 o 900 ooo x 600 - 1981 1982 1983 1984 Figure 76.Mi ni mum 1981-84 Sus i tna River chum sa 1man escapements based on population estimates at Flathorn,Yentna and Sunshine stations. -203- For the last four years in the middle reac",p.5caDemen~s ~o Y-3.1keCl~n;> Station have ranged between 20,800 to 98,?OO fish and averaged 54,600 fish (Figure 77).At Curry Station the escapements have ranged from 13,100 to 49,300 fish and averaged 28,200 fish.The 1984 escapement to both stations was about 1.8 times higher than average. During all four years,a high proportion of the middle river escapement were fish which spawned in the lower reach,mainly in the Talkeetna River drainage.For example,in 1981 and 1982 several radio tagged fish CURRY STATION TALKEETNA STATION ooo..... SUNSHINE STATION oo..... N <D--.... 0 -e 1981°-• 0 0 0 •198200'"D'"..~1983-:l~N N 0 ~1984--....~~0 .-:~~......• ::::~ - - --;;0000-2 •..,-o·~ ~•~•-- - ;;0;;0-0 •<D 0.......0 ~-;;0~..0 N ~-0 N •-•-0 !!;;N 0 N-0 -2 --•,.;0 -~~o FLATHORN YENTNA STATION STATION 85 -650 0 0 45. 0 2~x ~10 Z 9L&J ~ L&J 8Q. <t U 7en L&J 6 Z 0 5~ ~<4en 2 3 :::J:r::2u Figure 77.Minimum Susitna River chum salmon escapements by station for 1981-84. -204- released at Talkeetna awl Currv s~c1~iors spawr.en ir ~he li\'ler "eacft.[r 1984 about 7,and 45 percent of the escapements to these stations were stray fish that spawned elsewhere. In the lower river chum salmon have been abundant from the second week of July to the last week of August in each of the last four years with the peak occurring in the last week of July or the first week of August (Figure 78).In the middle reach,fish have been abundant from the third week of July to the last week of August. abundance has occurred in the first week of August. In general,peak H In 1984 nearly all the chum destined to Yentna and Sunshine stations traveled in the east channel past Flathorn Station.Apparently most of the Yentna Station fish crossed to the west side of the Susitna River in the six miles before the Yentna River confluence. Migration speeds were slower in the lower than in the middle river in each of the last four years (Table 66).The slower migration speeds in the lower river may be associated with fish milling or straying in areas of the Yentna and Susitna rivers confluence. In the lower and middle river,returning fish ranged in age from three to six years old in each of the last four years (Table 67).Most of the fish were four years old except in 1983 when the majority were five year olds.Fish lengths averaged from 584 to 608 ITIT1 for all four years (Table 68).Generally males were more plentiful than females in all four years (Table 68). -205- p',2!i:fW11;t_'Ei!1CURRYSTATIONIr;ffjg'5H'li:;L~I1984IIj,j:}iDl:~J!rr>l.:Y''Frf'''')}3k.1 I1983I1;'••'il!J;;!WIBI19821";.3&_'._I_I.'.,i1981CHUMSALMON...OlanPeG'Ran,.\.ColChr-Ll,.,'l-----i/\.~%C""""'IIIf.9~%C""""&ollw.Calc"....[liar!CalC"""[110'I-------------------------------------------------------q:~N:'•.>is"W<Ii~',"tJIta.."L~_,4tk~'::¥'.~~,~<~~1982J,I1!;;!ia;\~~::·.:;111981~.......,~__I1984I_;.Elliji~,1I1983TALKEETNASTATION---------------------------------------------------------INaO'lISUNSHINESTATIONII":.'?f~'.'"';"".:tj.;,~.iII'"';'1,1__.:i.....•._~,1984I1\;_i.,'.IJ11983-----------_11962I(;·'ff15&t.;:;F";?jt1ID;-:m,'·F:";jI1981--------------------------------------------------------YENTNASTATIONII':··.'::~:Ji2:::::::'::'=:::<Al;:;>:T';"I I.:.ibifiS;_;;+t4PrRc~.m>¥)+··;_.~.t·r-:<1984II<};\"-'IHBlP'<Q!,h'fu'1:t¥1I1963H":l,·,1,.':7'0111',1I1982II....•,;;b;p:!F?i,·t¢;:"llP:C,._IIL-..---.;....;u.,~~,.".-::,,,!:>.1981FLATHORNSTATION--------------------------------------------------------19842430JUNEI61218JULY243015II11AUG,2S29410 1622SEPT.28Figure78.Migrationaltimingofchumsalmonbas~onfishheelcatchperuniteffortatselectedstationsin1981-84. Table 66.Miaration rates of c~um sal~on ~etween sa~pling sta~j)Gs, based on ~ishwheel tag recoverips. Recrtpture Station 1/ Tagging Yentna Sunsh,ne Talkeetna Curry Station 2/3/Year Days Mpd Days Mpd Days Mpd Days Mpd Flathorn 1984 4.0 2.5 13.0 4.5 15.0 5.4 16.0 6.1 Sunshine 1981 7.0 3.3 1982 5.0 4.6 5.0 8.0 1983 5.0 4.6 8.0 5.0 1984 4.0 5.8 6.0 6.7 Talkeetna 1981 4.0 4.2 1982 2.0 8.5 1983 4.0 4.2 1984 2.0 8.5 ., 1/ 2/ 3/ Dash denotes insufficient sample size to determine migration rates. Days =number of days between captures. Mpd =miles per day.This value is based on the median number of days between captures. Table 68.Male to female chum salmon ratios and average mean lengths from Fl a thorn,Yentna,Sunshine,Talkeetna and Curry stations in 1981-84. YEAR 1981 1982 1983 1984 Location Sex Average Sex Average Sex Average Sex Average Ratio Mean Ratio Mean Ratio Mean Ratio Mean (M:F)Length (M:F)Length (M:F)Length (M:F)Length (mm)(mm)(mm )(mm) Flathorn Station 1. 1:1 586 Yentna Station 1 .0:1 592 1.3:1 598 1 .3:1 593 0.7:1 584 SunShine Station 0.8:1 603 1 .0:1 606 1 .0:1 594 1•1:1 593 Talkeetna Station 1 .3:1 584 1 .9:1 609 1 .5:1 606 1 .4:1 60S Curry Station 1•1:1 602 1•1:1 603 1 .9:1 614 2.0:1 597 -207- Table67.AnalysisofchumsalmonagedatabypercentfromescapementsamplescollectedatFlathorn,Yentna,Sunshine,TalkeetnaandCurrystationsin1981-84.AGEGROUPBROODYEARlocationYear234567576777879808\82flathorn1984015.573.910.20.40.410.273.915.50StationYentna198106.684.19.3009.384.16.60Station198203.390.46.3006.390.43.30198302.246.151.30.40.451.346.\2.1019840.119.769.310.20.70.710.269.3\9.70.1Sunshine198\04.188.77.20 07.288.74.10Station198205.591.13.4003.491.15.50I198300.340.168.41.2\.258.440.\0.30N1984012,075.712.2O.\0.112.175.7\2.00@ITalkeetna198\04.185.210.70 010.785.14.\0Station198204.987.18.0008.087.14.90198300.830.368.70.20.268.730.30.80198406.569.222.91.41.422.969.26.50Curry198101.984.014.100\4.184.01.90Station198202.185.812.1 00 12.185.82.1019830027.972.10072.117.9001984010.471.016.71.91.916.77\.0\O.~0 Chum salmon were sClmpled for fe':'Jndit.'I in 1983 at Sunshine 5ta~,i(ir.The average was 2,800 eggs/female '.-Ihich is within the range for North American stocks (Bakkala 1970). Spawning in the lower reach has been documented in the mainstem.sloughs and stream mouths above the Yentna River confluence.In 1981,six mainstem sites were identified between RM 68.3 and 97.0.In the range of 180 chum salmon spawned at these areas determi ned by expandi ng the highest survey count (60 live fish)by a factor of three.This estimate is considered conservative because a peak count represents about 50 percent of a spawni ng escapement and the hi ghest fi sh count for the N. mainstem was probably not made at the peak spawning period due to survey conditions. In 1982 no spawning was observed.In 1983 the lower river mainstem was not surveyed.However,in 1984 surveys resumed and 12 spawni ng areas were identified between RM 62.1 and 98.0.An estimated 2.700 fish spawned at these sites as determined by the method previously outlined. None of the 12 areas located in 1984 were identified spawning areas in 1981. In the last four years visibility in the mainstem has been generally poor in early September due to high flows and turbidity.In 1ate September to freeze up (mid October)visibility has generally been better.and thi s was when most of the spawni ng in 1981 and 1984 was documented.It is likely that the peak spawning in 1981 and 1984 occurred sometime around mid September before visibility was good.In both years spawning was essentially over by the second week of October. ~Ij. In the middle reach above the YentnCl River confluence,at least ~ sloughs are used for spawning based on 1984 surveys with approximately 900 fish spawning in these sloughs.Spawning extended from mid September i:o mid October and probably peaked about the last week of Seotember in 198a, Nearly all the stream mouths in the lower reach above the Yentna River confluence are used for passage and to a lesser extent for spawning based on 1984 surveys.The major spawni ng area found in 1984 was the Willow Creek mouth where there were about 350 spawners.Spawning occurred between the first and third weeks of August... Chum spawning occurs in the middle reach in the mainstem,sloughs and streams.Most of the mainstem spawning areas were found in 1984 of the last four years (Table 69).However during 1981-83 surveys,visibility was poor in the mainstem due to higher flows and turbidity which probably caused some spawning areas to be missed.In addition more spawning in the mainstem probably occurred in 1984 than other years due to the record high escapement in 1984.In the last four years almost all spawning areas were above Curry Station.The spawning occurred in September and early October with the peak probably occurring between the second and third weeks of September. In 1984 about 3,800 chums spawned in the mainstem middle river based on the assumptions that all spawning areas were identified and the highest fish count of these areas represented about one-third of the population. No estimates of the three previous spawning escapements are available because of inefficient sampling associated with poor visibility due to higher water and turbidity. -210- Table 69.Number of mainstem chum salmon spawning ar~as identified in the Susitna River middle reach in 1981-84 and the corresponding,highest fish counts. Number of Middle Reach Highest Fish Year Mainstem Spawni ng Sites Count (Catch) 1981 4 14 1982 9 550 1983 6 219 1984 36 1.266 Twelve streams in the middle reach have been used for spawning by chum .' salmon during the last four years.The 1984 escapement to streami was the highest on record as were the escapements almost everywhere else. Most of the spawni ng since 1981 has been ; n Indi an Ri ver and Portage Creek.The spawning in middle reach streams has normally occurred from the fourth week of July to the second week of September and has generally peaked in the last two weeks of August. Spawning survey in 1983 and 1984 for Indian River and Portage Creek, were expanded beyond the the index areas to the full length of the streams.This was not done at other streams because elsewhere essentially all spawning occurs in the index areas.In both years at Indian River the majority of the spawning occurred in the index area whereas at Portage Creek most of the spawning occurred above the index area (Table 70 and 71).Together these creeks have had an average 92 percent of the total,middle river stream escapement for the last two years which was about 3,000 fish in 1983 and 7,650 fish in 1984. -211- Table 70.Peak survey counts and percent distribu~ion of chul1'saimon in stream index reaches above RM 98.6 in \98l-84. 1981 1982 1983 1984 Average River Peak "Peak ~Peak "Peak ""Stream Mi 1e Count Distri-Count Di stri-Count Di stri-Count Di5tri-Di stri- 1/bution 1/bu t ion 1/bution 1/bution bution Whiskers Creek 101.4 0.4 0 0 0 0 0 0 "* Chase Creek 106.9 0.4 0 0 0 0 0.1 "* Lane Creek 113.6 76 31.5 11 0.6 6 0.5 31 1 .7 2.5 L.McKenzie Cr.116.2 14 5.8 0 0 0.1 23 1 .3 0.8 Ltl.Portage Cr.117.7 0 0 31 1.8 0 0 18 1.0 1 .0 5th of July Cr.123.7 0 0 0.1 6 0.5 2 0.1 0.2 Sku11 Creek 124.7 10 4.2 0.1 0 0 4 0.2 0.3 Sherman Creek 130.8 9 3.7 0 0 0 0 6 0.3 0.3 4th of July Cr.131.1 90 37.3 191 11 .0 148 12.0 193 10.6 12.4 Indian River 138.6 40 16.6 1,346 77 .5 811 65.6 1 ,272 70.0 69.0 .' Jack Long Creek 144.5 0 0 3 0.2 2 0.2 4 0.2 0.2 Portage Creek 148.9 0 0 153 8.8 262 21 .2 262 14.4 13 .5 TOTALS Y 241 99.9\1 ,737 100.1\1,236 100.1 "1 ,816 99.9\100.2\ 1/Peak count includes live plus dead fish. 21 Percent distribution totals may not equal 100 due to rounding errors. "*Trace Thirty-two sloughs in the middle reach have been used by chum salmon in the 1ast four years (Tab 1e 72).Most of the spawni ng has been at sloughs 9,8A,11 and 21,ranked in order of importance.Slough escapements totaled 5,200 fish in 1981,4,500 fish in 1982,2,950 fish in 1983 and 14,650 fish in 1984.The four year average escapement of 6,800 fish was 50 percent below the 1984 escapement.All slough escapements were calculated using 1983 and 1984 observation life data and respective year survey counts.The average observation 1 He of a chum in a slough was 6.9 days in 1983 and 6.8 days in 1984.Observation life studies were not conducted prior to 1983. -212- Tcble 71. Stream Penk survey counts and percen~distribu~ion 0 f ChUM salmon in streams above RM 98.6 in 1983 and 1984. 1983 1984 Average River Peak ""Peak 0:01 /0 ·0 Mile Count Oistri-Count Oistr;-Distr;- 1/but;on 1/bution butiori - Chase Creek 106.9 0 0 1 '"'"Lane Creek 113.6 6 0.4 31 0.8 0.7 L.McKenzi e Cr.116.2 1 O.1 23 0.6 0.5 Ltl.Portage Cr.117.7 0 0 18 0.5 0.3 5th of July Cr.123.7 6 0.4 2 0.1 0.2 Sku 11 Creek 124.7 0 0 4 0.1 O.1 Sherman Creek 130.8 0 0 6 0.2 O.1 4th of July Cr.131.1 148 9.9 193 5.1 6.4 Indian River 138.6 811 54.1 2,247 59.0 57.5 Jack Long Creek 144.5 2 O.1 4 0.1 O.1 Portage Creek 148.9 526 35.1 1,285 33.7 34.1 TOTALS ~/1,500 100.1%3,814 100.2%100.0~.. 1/Peak count includes live plus dead fish. 2/Percent distribution totals may not equal 100 due to rounding errors. *Trace Spawning in middle reach sloughs extended from the second week of August to the last week of September in each of the last four years.The peak spawning normally occurred in the first week of September or about one to two weeks later than in the nearby streams. Egg retention at sloughs in the middle river averaged 114 and 463 eggs/female in 1983 and 1984,respectively.Median retention was 5.0 and 1.0 eggs/female.The higher retention in 1984 may have been associated with the record high escapement.Bakkala in 1970 reported that egg retention normally increased with spawner density.Egg retention was not studied in 1981 or 1982. -213- Table 72.Pea k su rv ey counts a.nrJ percent distribution of crLJ~salr.on i n sloughs above RM 98.6 in 1981-84. 1981 1982 '983 1984 Average River Peak %Peak ~Peak %Peak %~ Slough Mile Count Distri-Count Di stri-Count Di stri-Count Distri-g~H5~-1/bution 1/bution 1/bution 1/bution 1 99.6 6 0.2 0 0 0 0 12 0.2 0.1 2 100.2 27 1.1 0 0 49 3.4 129 1.7 1 .4 38 101.4 0 0 0 0 3 0.2 56 0.7 0.4 3A 101 .9 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 0.2 0.1 5 107.6 0 0 2 0.1 1 *0 0 *6A 112.3 11 0.4 2 0.1 6 0.4 0 0 o .1 8 113.7 302 11 .6 0 0 0 0 65 0.9 2.5 Bushrod 117.8 90 1 .2 2.5 80 121.8 0 0 23 1.0 1 *49 0.7 0.5 BC 121.9 0 0 48 2.1 4 0.3 121 1.6 1 .2 8B 122.2 1 *80 3.6 104 7.1 400 5.3 4.1 Moose 123.5 167 6.4 23 1.0 68 4.7 76 1.0 2.3AI124.6 140 5.4 0 0 77 5.3 111 1.5 2.3 A 124.7 34 1.3 0 0 2 0.1 2 *0.3 8A 125.4 620 23.9 336 15.0 37 2.5 917 12•1 13.2 8 126.3 58 2.6 7 0.5 108 1.4 1 .6 9 128.3 260 10.0 300 13.4 169 11.5 350 4.6 7.5 98 129.2 90 3.5 5 0.2 0 0 73 1.0 1 .2 9A 133.8 182 7.0 118 5.3 105 7.2 303 4.0 4.9 10 133.8 0 0 2 0.1 1 *36 0.5 0.3 11 135.3 411 15.8 459 20.5 238 16.2 1,586 21.0 18.6 13 135.9 4 0.2 0 0 4 0.3 22 0.3 0.2 14 135.9 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 **15 137.2 1 *1 *2 0.1 100 1.3 0.7 16 137.3 3 0.1 0 0 0 0 15 0.2 0.1 17 138.9 38 1.5 21 0.9 90 6.1 66 0.9 l.S 18 139.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0.2 0.1 19 139.7 3 0.1 0 0 3 0.2 45 0.6 0.4 20 140.0 14 0.6 30 1.3 63 4.3 280 3.7 2.7 21 141 .1 274 10.6 736 32.8 319 21 .8 2,354 31.2 25.7 2Z 144.5 114 7.8 151 2.0 3.7 21A 145.3 8 0.3 0 0 0 0 10 0.1 0.1 TOTALS 2,596 100'\2,244 100\1 ,467 100\7,556 100.1\100.3\ , I Peak count includes 1i ve pl us dead fish. *Trace -214- Coho Salmon The lower river coho salmon escapement at Flathorn Station in 1984 was about 190,100 fish or 40 percent greater than the same year combined escapement at Yentna and Sunshine stations (Figure 79).Yentna and Sunshine stations combined escapements have ranged from 24,100 to 112,900 fish while averaging 63,200 fish the last four years (Figure 80).The 1984 Sunshine Station escapement was more than double the 1982 escapement which indicates an excellent return to spawning areas above Sunshine Station.This was further substantiated by the escapement to the middle river at Talkeetna Station where the 1984 escapement was also.. more than double the 1982 escapement.At Curry Station the 1984 escapement was 200 fish less than in 1982,which suggests that the large escapements to areas above Sunshine Station were not inclusive of those stocks spawning above Curry Station. ooo X-I- Z L&J 2 L&Ja.. et Uen L&J 2 ::) 2-z-~ Fi gure 79. 200 150 50 o Combined Yentna (TRM 04 ) 8 Sunshine (RM 80)Stations Flathorn Station (RM 22) 1981 1982 1983 1984 Mi nimum 1981-84 Sus itna River coho sa lmon escapements based on population estimates at Flathorn,Yentna and Sunshine stations. -215- °FLATHORN YENTNA STATION STATION -oo o '" oo N CURRY STATION -oo-.o N ll!~ oo.. oo• N 61981 •1982 fSJ 1983 I?'.d 1984 -o S!-o .., o '".. TALKEETNA STATION o o.... oo N !! -oo,. SUNSHINE STATION ..,-.o :~~oo N.. oo '"D oo ~-~ooo.... 8- 10- 12- 16- 18-~z UJ ~ UJ Q. <t U (J) UJ Zo 2 ...J <t (J) o ~ou Figure 80.Minimum Susitna River coho salmon escapements by station for 1981-84. A large portion of the escapement to the middle river are fish which stray and ultimately spawn in the lower river reach.In 1984 about 75 percent of the Talkeetna Station escapement and 45 percent of the Curry Station escapement were fish which strayed.The greater percentage of straying fish at Talkeetna Station was probably due to this stations proximity to the Talkeetna,ChuH tna and Sus itna ri vers confl uence. This premise is supported by 1982 radio telemetry studies.Ten of eleven coho salmon radio tagged at Talkeetna Station spawned below this site,while at Curry Station only one of five radio tagged fish spawned downstream of this site. -216- - - - - The lower and middle reach above Sunshine Stat;nn Droduces most of the escapement return.In 1984,50 percent of the basin wide escapement returned to Sunshine Station and above,ten percent returned to spawning areas wi thin the Yentna River drainage and 40 percent returned to spawning areas between the Yentna River and Sunshine Station.Specific spawning areas within the lower and middle reaches are discussed later in this section. Cohos have been abundant in the lower river from the third week of July to the third week of August in the last four years (Figure 81).In the middle reach they have been abundant from the last week of July to the , first week of September.In 1984 the escapement passed Flathorn Station primari ly in the east channel.At Yentna and Sunshine stations,the migration has been mainly along the south and east banks during the last four years. Tag recovery data in 1984 indicate that most coho salmon reaching Yentna and Sunshine stations migrated past Flathorn Station in the east channel.In the middle river at Talkeetna Station,the migration has been mainly along the west bank and at Curry Station evenly spl it between east and west banks during the last four years. Coho salmon migration rates in the lower river were slower between Flathorn and Yentna stations than between Flathorn and Sunshine stations (Table 73).This was probably due to straying or milling in the confluence area of the Susitna and Yentna rivers.This pattern appears consistent with the middle river where the migration rates between Sunshi ne and Ta 1keetna stati ons was slower than between Ta 1keetna and -217- ----------~---~._- COHOSALMONI1;·1H1984"UlonPoooRanQ.\..Cater...~;I · ·H1983~,.,LHH,'Ii·I·;!<II1982~O/:c..m"lo",o')~%c"m~...oH,:;;t',;:;:::;';'-:1!AUi'}I 11981L-C_O_IC_"_PO_'_E_"_0'_'_C_O_IC_"_1HI_'_l_It_0f---.J'-------------------------------------------------------I1'WI.f:I I1984II':.:1:::'"I ;':.l------11983..0.....-_--.1.,H.t'1II1982r--lt.;;•II I1981----------------------------------------------------II.:V.,I I1984I I-1,,:1.I I1983II,">!:I;;.II1982I1'\-,.II1981-------------------------------------------------I---1I·II1984~---i•I*I I1983l-----I•I.'.:II1982I1'·1"~'~~I I1981CURRYSTATIONYENTNASTATIONSUNSHINESTATIONTALKEETNASTATIONIN....coIFLATHORNSTATION-------------------------------------------------II·II I1984SEPT,4'016JULY2228I391:12121IZAUG.8142026Figure81.Migrationaltimingofcohosalmonb~sedonfishwheelcatchperuniteffortatselectedstationsin1981-84. Table 73.Migration rates o~co~o salmon betwepn samoling S~l~ions, based on fishwheel tag recoveries. Recapture Station 1/ CurryTaggingYentnaSunshineTalkeetna Station 2/3/Year Days Mpd Days Mpd Days Mpd Days Mpd Flathorn 1984 10.0 1.0 25 2.3 7 11.6 Sunshine 1981 1982 1983 15.0 1.5 20.0 2.0 1984 7.0 3.3 10.0 4.0 Ta 1keetna 1981 1982 1983 3.0 5.7 1984 3.0 5.7 ," 1/Dash denotes insufficient sample size to determine migration rates. 2/Days =number of days between captures. 3/Mpd =miles per day.This value is based on the median number of days between captures. Curry stations duet presumablYt to milling or straying during passage through the confluence area of the Talkeetna,Chulitna and Susitna rivers. Coho salmon in the lower and middle river reach have ranged in age from three to five years old (Table 74).Four year olds were most abundant at all sites except in 1982 at Talkeetna and Curry stations when three year 01 ds domi na ted the escapement.Coho sa 1mon 1engths in both ri ver reaches have ranged from 517 to 559 mm (Table 75).Between and wi th in year variability in lengths may be due to between year differences in age class composition or stock differences between sampling sites. Males were more abundant than females in both river reaches (Table 75). -219- Table74.AnalysisofcohosalmonagedatabypercentfromescapementsamplescollectedatFlathorn,Yentna,Sunshine,TalkeetnaandCurrystationsin1981-84.AGEGROUPBROODYEARLocationYear2345767778798081tJ2Flathorn19840.433.964.21.51.561t.233.90.4StationYentna1981016.182.91.01.082.916.10Station1982031.866.81.41.466.831.801983016.180.43.53.580.416.101984027.970.02.12.170.027.90Sunshine1981031.865.13.13.165.131.80Station1982049.350.40.30.350.449.301983035.963.30.80.863.335.901984034.264.41.41.464.1t34.20INNTalkeetna1981012.284.83.03.084.812.20aStation1982059.041.00041.059.00I1983039.460.60060.639.401984031.767.31.01.067.331.70Curry1981028.668.82.6 2.668.828.60Station1982051t.046.00046.054.001983046.853.20053.246.801984046.452.41.21.252.1t46.4I) Table 75.Malp to female coho salmon ratios and average mean lengths from Flathorn,Yentna,Su ns hi ne,Talkeetna and Curry stations in 1981-84. '(EAR 1981 1982 1983 1984 Location Se'"Average Se",Average Se'"Average Se",Average Ratio Mean Ratio Mean Ratio Mean Ratio Mean (1'1:F)Length (M:F)Length (M:F)Length (1'1:F)Length (mm)(mm)(mm)(mm) Flathorn Station 1 .4:1 542 Yentna Station 0.9:1 535 2.4:1 544 2.3:1 528 0.8:1 557 Sunshine Station 1 .2:1 524 1 .4 :1 550 1 .2:1 524 1 .2:1 546 Talkeetna Station 1 .5:1 531 1.5:1 550 1 .7:1 528 1 .1 :1 559 Curry Station 2.0:1 517 1 .3:1 531 2.0:1 524 1 .1 :1 531 Fecundity of Susitna River coho salmon was estimated to be 2,800 eggs/female based on a 1984 study.This was slightly higher (36Q, eggs/female higher)than reported by Hart (1973).Problems encountered wi th freezi ng and thawi ng immature eggs introduced an unknown error component into the analysis. Spawning in lower and middle river main and side channel habitats has been limited.In 1984,two spawning sites were located in the lower river,one each at RM 87.5 and 94.5.In the middle river three spawning sites were located,one each in 1981.1983 and 1984 at RM 129.2,131.7 and 131.5,respectively. Spawning in lower and middle river sloughs has been found to be virtually non-existent.One spawning site was identified in the lower river at RM 57.0 in 1984 the only year surveys were conducted.In the middle river spawning was confirmed only at RM 125.1 during the last four years. -221- Susitna River coho salmon spawn mainly in lower and middle river streams.In the lower ri ver,fi sh were observed in eleven of the seventeen streams surveyed in 1984.Coho utilized the stream mouths of the eleven streams for either passage or milling as no fish were observed spawning in these areas. In the middle river,fish spawned (in order of abundance)primarily in Gash Creek,Whiskers Creek,Chase Creek and Indian River based on peak index survey counts duri ng the 1as t four years (Table 76).In 1984. coho were observed spawning at the mouths of Whiskers,Slash,Fourth of July and Portage creeks.Spawning in the middle river has generally I reached a peak during the month of September in the last four years, In 1984 surveys of major coho salmon producing streams in the middle ,reach were inclusive of each streams entire spawning range (Table 77). Based on the peak counts of these surveys,stream escapements to Indian River and Whiskers Creek,the two most important coho producing streams, were 930 and 602 fish in 1984.The 1984 escapement to all middle reach streams was an estimated 2,900 fish. -222- Table 76.Peak survey counts and percent distribut~on of coho sairron in stream index reaches above PM 98.6 in 198~-~4. 1981 '982 1993 1984 Average "Distri- bution \ Distri- bution Peak Count 1/ \ Distri- bution Peak Count 1/ \ Distri- bution Peak Count 1/ \ Distri- bution River Peak Stream Mile Count 1/ Whiskers Creek 101.4 70 L.McKenzie Cr.116.2 56 Little Portage 117.7 Creek 111.2 0.8 0.6 24.0 1.0 11 .9 21 .5 18.2 1 •I 3.3 a 0.7 32.6 33.2 16.3 239 5 234 8 24 a 117 0.8 1.5 13 .9 a 1.5 14.6 42.355 2 19 2 18 a 1.0 1.3 5.7 0.8 27.8 21.0 11.774 36 6 5 133 8 17615.3 17.5 30.8 0.7 12.2 3 106.9 80 111.6141 113 .6 Chase Creek Lane Creek Gash Creek Slash Creek 0.4 a 0.1 a 9.7 a a 70 a 2.3 a 20.8 0.8 3 a 27 4 101 a 0.2 18.6 a a a 138.6 85 136.7 I nd ian Ri ver Gold Creek 4th of July Cr.131.1 Jack Long Cr.144.5 0.6 0.2 16.0 0.2 Portage Creek 148.9 ...;2::.::2=--_....:.4..:..;.8=--_......::.88::......._....;1..::3..:...9=--__.:.2__1:....:•..=.5__....:2:....;1 2:...;.:...:9__..::6..:..;.8:... TOTAL~I 458 100.1'633 100.2\130 100.0\719 99.9\100.0\ 11 Peak count includes live plus dead fish. '[I ,Percent distribution totals may not equal 100 due to rounding errors. Table 77.Peak survey counts and percent distribution of coho salmon in streams above RM 98.6 in 1983 and 1984. Stream River Mil e Peak Count 1/ 1983 % Distri- bution Peak Count 1/ 1984 % Distri- bution Average % Distri- bution Whiskers Creek 101.4 115 47.9 301 21.0 24.9 Chase Creek 106.9 12 5.0 239 16.7 15.0 Sl ash Creek 111.2 2 0.8 5 0.4 0.4 Gash Creek 111.6 19 7.9 234 16.3 15.1 Lane Creek 113.6 2 0.8 24 1.7 1.6 L.McKenzie Cr.116.2 18 7.5 24 1.7 2.5 4th of July Cr.131.1 3 1.3 8 0.6 0.7 Indian River 138.6 53 22.1 465 32.4 30.9 Jack Long Creek 144.5 1 0.4 6 0.4 0.4 Portage Creek 148.9 15 6.3 128 8.9 8.5 TOTALS '£/240 100.0%1,434 100.1%100.0% 1/Peak count includes live plus dead fish. '£/Percent distribution totals may not equal 100 due to rounding errors. -223- REFERENCES Alaska Department of Fish and Game.1972.1972 Tustumena Sockeye Salmon Research Report.Alaska Department of Fish and Game,Division of Commercial ~isheries,Soldotna,Alaska,USA. ·1981.Phase 1 final draft report.Subtask 7.10.Adult ------anadromous fisheries project (June-September 1981).Alaska Department of Fish and Game Susitna Hydro Aquatic Studies. Anchorage,Alaska,USA. ·1983.Susitna Hydro aquatic studies phase II final report. Volume 2.Adult anadromous fish studies,1982.Alaska Department of Fish and Game Susitna Hydro Aquatic Studies.Anchorage,Alaska, USA. ·1984.Susitna Hydro aquatic studies (May 1983 -June 1984) ------procedures manual.Alaska Department of Fish and Game Susitna Hydro Aquatic Studies.Anchorage,Alaska,USA. 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C.Lindsey.1970.Freshwater fishes of northwestern Canada and Alaska.Fisheries Research Board of Canada,Bulletin 173,Ottawa,Canada. Meehan,W.R.1961.Use of a fishwheel in salmon research management. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society Vol.90:490-494. Mills,M.J.1983.Alaska Statewide Harvest Study.AOF&G Federal Aid in Fish Restoration.Volume 24.SW-I. Morrow,J.E.1980.The freshwater fishes of Alaska.Alaska Northwest .. Publishing Company,Anchorage,Alaska,USA. Neilson,J.D.,and G.H.Geen.1981.Enumeration of spawning salmon from spawner residence time and aerial counts.Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 110:554-556. Ricker,W.E.1975.Computation and interpretations of biological statistics of fish populations.Bulletin 191.Information Canada, Ottowa,Canada. Schaefer,M.B.1951.A study of the spawning populations of sockeye salmon in the Harrison River system,with special reference to the problem of enumeration by means of marked members.International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission,Bulletin IV,New Westminster, British Columbia,Canada. Seber,G.A.and R.Felton.1981.Tag loss and the Petersen mark-recapture experiment.Biometrika 68 (1):211-219. Thompson,F.M.and B.M.Barrett.1983.Analysis of the species selectivity of fishwheels for the capture of adult salmon in the Susitna River In Synopsis of the 1982 aquatic studies and analysis of fish and hal51tat relationships.Alaska Department of Fish and Game,Su Hydro Aquatic Studies Program,Anchorage,Alaska,USA. Trihey,E.W.Memorandum to Andrew Hoffmann,10 August 1984.Alaska Department of Fish and Game,2207 Spenard Road,Anchorage,Alaska, USA. U.S.Geological Survey (USGS).1984.Provisional summary of 1984 water resources data for Alaska. -225-