How "Humpy" PS populations have changed.

[Smalma]

The Stillaguamish coho largely use the smaller tributaries for spawning and juvenile rearing thus avoiding the impacts from the massive flooding that is so limiting for Chinook, steelhead, pinks and chums.

As an aside the sea-run cutthroat are small tributary fish and their abundances since the mid-1980s are above that seen in the previous 50 years (back to the1930s). While there is certainly year to year variations in both cutthroat and coho that is typically to droughts rather than flooding. The cutthroat has the additional life history advantage of having multiple years contribution to the annual spawning run. It is not uncommon to see at least a 5% contribution from 4-year classes of adult cutthroat in the typical spawning run.

Curt

 

[skyrise]

The Stillaguamish coho largely use the smaller tributaries for spawning and juvenile rearing thus avoiding the impacts from the massive flooding that is so limiting for Chinook, steelhead, pinks and chums.

As an aside the sea-run cutthroat are small tributary fish and their abundances since the mid-1980s are above that seen in the previous 50 years (back to the1930s). While there is certainly year to year variations in both cutthroat and coho that is typically to droughts rather than flooding. The cutthroat has the additional life history advantage of having multiple years contribution to the annual spawning run. It is not uncommon to see at least a 5% contribution from 4-year classes of adult cutthroat in the typical spawning run.

Curt

Curt, what about the yearly pink returns on our neighbors to the north ? Is this due to much bigger & better stream environments ? Though I do read of yearly fluctuations from up north. And one would think with such a large and mostly intact stream environment that the Skagit would have maybe the highest returns of any local river system minus any tribal netting.

 

[Smalma]

skyrise -
I do not know much about the salmon returns to the Fraser system. Suspect that given the variety and distribution of the spawning tributaries the status of annual returns benefits from literally having their eggs in a number of "baskets".

The Skagit case is interesting and while on the surface it lots like the stream environment looks to be in good shape reality is something different.
With the extensive wilderness areas in the basin significant portions headwater areas are near pristine. Because of the large hydro dam systems in the basin the main stem hydrograph has been significantly altered; especially the river above the Sauk. Many of the lower Skagit and Sauk tribs. have been not escaped the impacts from long term forestry impacts. Finally the sediment inputs into the Sauk basin has increased as the glacial tilt exposed from the receding glaciers as become exposed, especially during major flood events. The October 2002 event was especially devasting as those exposed glacial deposits were not protected by any snow cover. The results from that massive fine sediment input from the event is still obvious through out the basin downstream of Glacier Peak. All these changes will generally impact egg and fry survivals for all the salmon and steelhead. While the pink salmon have the lowest freshwater requirements their eggs are still in that environment and as the smallest salmon they may have the most rigid spawning gravel requirements - the gravel is too large or too silted they have fewer options for quality spawning sites.

Before we leave this pink discussion we need to recognize that much of the methodology in estimating escapements and run forecasts is serious out of date and is need of update and improvement. However, other the booming recreational fisheries in odd years the economic value of pink fisheries has fallen. This and ESA listing of Chinook, early chums, steelhead, and bull trout populations have push pink management needs down the ladder behind other species.

Curt

 

[Millsfly]

anyone talking about how the millions of hatchery releases are smashing the trophic food web.....

 

[Salmo_g]

anyone talking about how the millions of hatchery releases are smashing the trophic food web.....

Oh yeah, I read about it some. With two nations - Japan and Alaska - each looking out for its own interests in isolation silos apart from all others, it doesn't appear as though there is much incentive to make ecosystem-wide changes. Yes, I mentioned Alaska as a nation because that's how Alaska acts in the international fisheries discussions and fish management treaties.