Anadromous Fish Summary
I. Salmon / Steelhead
a. Status and Trends
    1. Status and Trends of Salmon and Steelhead in the Columbia River Basin
b. Adult Counts
1. Estimates of Adult Salmon and Steelhead Counts at the Columbia River Mouth
2. Counts of Adult Salmon and Steelhead at Bonneville Dam
3. Counts of Adult Salmon and Steelhead at Priest Rapids Dam
4. Counts of Adult Salmon and Steelhead at Lower Granite Dam
c. Hatchery Production
    1. Hatchery Production of Salmon and Steelhead in the Columbia River Basin
d. Harvest
    1. Columbia River Basin Salmon and Steelhead Harvest
  e. Anadromous Fish Projects
1. Anadromous Fish Habitat Projects in the Columbia River Basin
2. BPA Funded Anadromous Fish Habitat Project Accomplishments
  f. Salmon Survival
    1. Survival of Adult Salmonids Through the Hydropower System
i. Survival of Adult Upper Columbia River Salmonids from Bonneville Dam to McNary Dam
ii. Survival of Adult Snake River Salmonids from Bonneville Dam to Lower Granite Dam
iii. Straying Rates (%) of Adult Chinook Salmon (2001-08 Pooled) and Steelhead (2005-07 Pooled)
iv. Relative Success of Adult Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Migrating from Bonneville Dam to Lower Granite Dam  
    2. In-River Survival Rate of Wild Juvenile Chinook Salmon and Steelhead - Lower Granite to Bonneville Dam
    3. Smolt to Adult Survival Rate (SAR; Lower Granite to Lower Granite) for Spring-Summer Chinook Salmon
    4. Smolt to Adult Survival Rate (SAR; Lower Granite to Lower Granite) for Wild Steelhead
  g. Predation on Salmonids
    1. Northern Pikeminnow Management Program
    2. Avian Predation on Juvenile Salmonids in the Lower Columbia River
    3. Predation on Adult Salmonids by Sea Lions Near Bonneville Dam
II. Pacific Lamprey
  a. Trends at Columbia River Hydroelectric Facilities
  b. Counts at Bonneville, McNary and Lower Granite Dams
III. Resident Fish Substitution
  a. Resident Fish Substitution for Lost Anadromous Fish Opportunities
  b. Columbia River Basin Resident Fish Substitution Releases
 

SALMON / STEELHEAD

Status & Trends
Status and Trends of Salmon and Steelhead in the Columbia River Basin 551
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Recovery Domain Species ESU/DPS Name Number of Extant Populations Current ESA
Listing Status
Willamette/ Lower Columbia Chum Salmon (1) Columba River Chum 16 Threatened (1999)
  Chinook Salmon (2) Lower Columbia River Chinook 32 Threatened (1999)
  Chinook Salmon (3) Upper Willamette River Chinook 7 Threatened (1999)
  Steelhead (4) Lower Columbia River Steelhead 23 Threatened (1999)
  Coho Salmon (5) Lower Columbia River Coho 24 Threatened (2005)
  Steelhead (6) Upper Willamette River Steelhead 5 Threatened (1999)
Interior Columbia Chinook Salmon (7) Snake River Fall Chinook 1 Threatened (1992)
(Excludes Clearwater) Chinook Salmon (8) Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook 31 Threatened (1992)
  Chinook Salmon (9) Upper Columbia River Spring Chinook   3 Endangered (1999)
  Steelhead (10) Snake River Basin Steelhead 24 Threatened (1997)
  Steelhead (11) Middle Columbia River Steelhead 18 Threatened (1999)
  Steelhead (12) Upper Columbia River Steelhead 5 Endangered (1997)
  Sockeye Salmon (13) Snake River Sockeye 1 Endangered (1991)
No Recovery Domain Chinook Salmon (14) Middle Columbia Spring Chinook 4 Not Warranted
  Sockeye Salmon (15) Okanogan River Sockeye 1 Not Warranted
  Sockeye Salmon (16) Lake Wenatchee Sockeye 1 Not Warranted
  Steelhead (17) Southwest Washington Steelhead 7 Not Warranted
  Chinook Salmon (18) Upper Columbia River Summe Fall Chinook 3 Not Warranted
  Chinook Salmon (19) Deschutes River Summer/Fall Chinook 1 Not Warranted

Updated: 3/31/2010

 

Adult Counts
Estimates of Adult Salmon and Steelhead at the Columbia River Mouth (1970-2010) 10, 231, 232
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Estimates of the number of salmon and steelhead returning to the Columbia River Basin are generally made by summing (1) harvest in the Columbia River downstream from Bonneville Dam, (2) runs into tributaries downstream from Bonneville Dam, and (3) counts at Bonneville Dam. Because fish entering tributaries downstream from Bonneville Dam may not be completely counted, some estimates are considered “minimum”.

Numbers of fish entering the Columbia River reached a relative high in 2001 and generally declined until increases from 2008 through 2010. Increases have been partially a result of record returns of sockeye salmon, and relatively high returns of coho salmon and steelhead. The number of spring Chinook salmon in 2010 was the highest since 2001 and the second highest since 1970.

Updated: 7/26/2011

Updated: 7/25/2011 Updated: 9/28/2010
 
Updated: 3/18/2010 Updated: 3/18/2010

Notes :
    1. Wild/hatchery ratio for Summer Chinook estimated from observations of fin-clipped fish at Bonneville Dam in July.
    2. Most coho passing Bonneville Dam are likely of hatchery origin but the majority are not fin clipped. They are therefore considered unknown.
    3. All sockeye are considered wild; however, some Upper Columbia fish are raised in net pens.
View Data
Year Chinook Fall Chinook Spring Chinook Summer Chum Coho Sockeye Steelhead Summer Steelhead Winter Total
1970 452,000 237,800 55,200 1,200 895,300 95,400 157,000 134,500 2,028,400
1971 428,900 241,500 71,900 1,100 544,500 150,500 248,500 169,200 1,856,100
1972 285,500 334,700 67,800 2,400 277,800 123,300 257,800 113,000 1,462,300
1973 482,500 307,700 37,600 1,800 291,200 61,300 217,000 90,900 1,490,000
1974 290,500 206,900 28,900 1,200 460,900 43,800 168,900 77,700 1,278,800
1975 453,900 166,500 33,000 800 292,500 58,200 105,400 62,000 1,172,300
1976 448,700 144,700 26,700 1,500 337,000 43,700 147,800 55,400 1,205,500
1977 361,300 230,500 34,300 800 93,800 99,800 238,500 112,100 1,171,100
1978 328,400 233,700 38,700 1,900 307,500 18,400 154,500 77,100 1,160,200
1979 296,400 117,300 27,800 300 276,500 52,600 146,300 114,100 1,031,300
1980 321,200 126,100 22,991 500 301,600 58,886 177,400 80,600 1,089,277
1981 283,900 157,400 19,124 1,500 170,300 56,037 217,700 67,000 972,961
1982 360,700 181,400 14,677 2,900 453,100 50,319 207,900 46,000 1,316,996
1983 241,200 149,300 13,576 600 100,500 100,628 240,200 67,700 913,704
1984 305,500 163,100 18,999 2,300 414,200 161,886 388,400 94,400 1,548,785
1985 361,600 168,100 19,084 1,300 366,200 200,759 405,300 77,300 1,599,643
1986 494,800 210,800 19,307 3,000 1,527,900 59,963 474,200 85,000 2,874,970
1987 871,000 232,400 23,604 2,500 307,500 145,546 364,400 91,700 2,038,650
1988 784,700 239,900 23,397 4,800 664,800 99,780 362,800 59,300 2,239,477
1989 552,100 219,800 22,739 2,000 701,800 47,479 327,800 68,000 1,941,718
1990 313,000 255,481 19,296 2,900 196,000 49,754 247,400 44,700 1,128,531
1991 276,100 193,307 14,569 1,300 934,300 76,484 311,000 63,200 1,870,260
1992 219,000 194,879 9,796 4,900 211,300 85,000 372,100 55,900 1,152,875
1993 214,900 209,728 14,781 4,500 113,900 91,727 242,800 36,400 928,736
1994 254,000 83,778 14,977 1,200 168,800 12,863 212,100 52,200 799,918
1995 242,800 62,900 12,615 1,500 74,900 9,667 247,100 20,100 671,582
1996 330,800 97,587 12,333 3,300 111,600 30,899 244,100 26,500 857,119
1997 321,500 169,384 18,277 1,700 148,100 47,487 292,500 15,300 1,014,248
1998 255,400 96,163 16,332 1,900 163,700 13,220 216,400 23,600 786,715
1999 313,200 105,930 22,347 2,400 274,200 17,878 235,700 23,300 994,955
2000 255,000 258,333 23,169 2,500 547,700 93,757 318,800 30,400 1,529,659
2001 548,800 538,604 54,935 5,500 1,108,500 120,361 710,300 21,825 3,108,825
2002 733,600 481,077 92,820 11,900 500,100 50,539 600,300 33,711 2,504,047
2003 893,100 405,895 83,120 87,600 677,400 39,375 436,600 23,452 2,646,542
2004 799,000 421,535 65,446 11,325 442,600 130,045 423,700 29,566 2,323,217
2005 561,400 192,158 60,060 3,300 342,000 77,352 388,200 14,672 1,639,142
2006 422,400 223,944 76,196 4,528 383,100 37,067 336,300 16,613 1,500,148
2007 219,600 150,973 37,190 2,349 318,600 26,114 328,700 14,985 1,098,511
2008 449,000 223,600 55,500 2,129 471,700 214,500 416,200 35,300 1,867,929
2009 430,500 222,732 53,878 2,330 721,600 178,968 668,619 11,367 2,289,994
2010 657,100 468,379 72,346 0 441,100 387,858 507,718 19,000 2,553,501
Counts of Adult Salmon and Steelhead at Bonneville Dam (1970-2010) 10, 231, 232
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Because it is the lowermost dam on the Columbia River, counts of salmon and steelhead at Bonneville Dam provide information important to the management of upriver stocks. Fish are counted at windows in fish ladders, either directly or by viewing video tape.

Similar to estimates of fish entering the Columbia River, counts at Bonneville Dam declined from 2001-2007, then increased from 2008 through 2010.

Counts at Bonneville Dam generally follow the same trend as estimates at the Columbia River mouth; however, this relationship is affected to varying degrees by individual species or races. For example, large numbers of coho salmon entering the Columbia River do not often result in high counts at Bonneville Dam because most coho salmon spawn or are harvested in the lower river.



Updated: 4/6/2011

View Data
Year Chinook Fall Chinook Spring Chinook Summer Chum Coho Sockeye Steelhead Total
1970 159,713 103,047 51,272 209 54,868 70,762 113,510 553,381
1971 152,862 109,544 66,334 29 53,817 87,447 193,966 663,999
1972 94,149 178,305 63,583 1 34,216 56,323 185,886 612,463
1973 148,066 135,432 35,338 43 25,849 58,979 157,823 561,530
1974 125,246 124,134 39,030 23 31,605 43,837 137,054 500,929
1975 219,483 97,866 32,971 11 32,772 58,212 85,540 526,855
1976 228,489 92,613 43,805 11 36,666 43,611 124,177 569,372
1977 132,025 115,551 34,083 17 9,325 99,829 193,437 584,267
1978 144,913 147,680 39,730 28 30,278 18,436 104,431 485,496
1979 143,955 48,638 27,742 1 26,612 52,627 114,010 413,585
1980 127,718 53,100 26,952 44 12,974 58,882 129,254 408,924
1981 147,109 62,827 22,363 4 21,935 56,037 159,270 469,545
1982 157,771 70,011 20,129 12 55,816 50,219 157,640 511,598
1983 113,270 54,898 18,046 50 8,402 100,542 218,419 513,627
1984 147,278 46,870 22,321 64 16,604 152,540 315,795 701,472
1985 186,792 83,113 23,898 97 38,504 165,933 330,170 828,507
1986 226,404 118,371 26,300 77 108,587 58,099 376,752 914,590
1987 336,950 98,573 33,033 147 17,921 116,956 300,351 903,931
1988 290,050 90,532 31,315 60 27,038 79,721 279,277 797,993
1989 263,149 81,267 28,786 16 27,422 41,884 287,802 730,326
1990 177,392 94,014 24,983 26 11,641 49,581 183,011 540,648
1991 150,190 57,346 18,897 5 60,417 76,482 274,535 637,872
1992 116,200 88,425 15,063 37 14,369 84,992 314,974 634,060
1993 126,472 110,820 22,045 11 10,642 80,178 188,386 538,554
1994 170,397 20,169 17,631 22 20,291 12,678 161,978 403,166
1995 164,197 10,192 15,030 26 10,397 8,774 202,448 411,064
1996 205,358 51,493 16,034 25 15,737 30,252 205,213 524,112
1997 218,734 114,000 27,939 15 24,061 47,008 258,385 690,142
1998 189,085 38,342 21,433 0 46,290 13,218 185,094 493,462
1999 242,143 38,669 26,169 43 40,684 17,875 206,488 572,071
2000 192,815 178,302 30,616 38 85,734 93,398 275,273 856,176
2001 400,410 391,367 76,156 58 259,756 114,934 633,464 1,876,145
2002 474,554 268,813 127,436 72 88,459 49,610 481,203 1,490,147
2003 610,336 192,010 114,808 326 125,743 39,291 361,412 1,443,926
2004 583,422 170,152 92,143 77 115,041 123,291 311,122 1,395,248
2005 417,057 74,038 79,208 128 83,321 72,971 314,721 1,041,444
2006 299,161 96,456 97,519 121 101,087 37,066 333,250 964,660
2007 159,427 67,482 47,412 95 91,994 24,376 320,931 711,717
2008 314,995 125,543 78,271 66 135,399 213,607 356,186 1,224,067
2009 283,691 114,525 81,936 86 224,597 177,823 603,264 1,485,922
2010 467,475 244,384 97,604 1,060 120,295 386,525 412,721 1,730,064
 
Counts of Adult Salmon and Steelhead at Priest Rapids Dam (1970-2010) 10
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All Upper Columbia River fish must pass Priest Rapids Dam, including endangered Upper Columbia River spring Chinook salmon and threatened steelhead. General trends have been similar to those at the river mouth and at Bonneville Dam. A record number of sockeye in 2010 resulted in a large increase in total numbers of fish from 2009.

Updated: 4/6/2011

View Data
Year Chinook Fall Chinook Spring Chinook Summer Coho Sockeye Steelhead Total
1970 7 5 13 2 78 0 105
1971 9 5 16 7 74 0 110
1972 5 8 13 2 45 0 74
1973 5 9 12 1 54 0 82
1974 5 11 13 1 35 0 65
1975 4 8 19 0 55 0 86
1976 6 12 17 1 33 0 68
1977 4 21 16 0 95 10 146
1978 5 21 21 0 18 5 69
1979 5 7 20 0 46 8 87
1980 6 9 16 0 52 9 91
1981 4 14 12 0 51 9 91
1982 9 9 9 1 40 11 79
1983 8 10 9 0 90 32 149
1984 8 12 16 0 114 26 176
1985 11 24 16 0 119 35 204
1986 19 22 16 0 43 22 122
1987 35 19 14 0 77 14 159
1988 22 13 13 0 51 10 110
1989 15 12 20 0 45 11 102
1990 6 12 16 0 46 8 88
1991 5 8 15 0 71 14 113
1992 4 20 9 0 81 14 127
1993 7 29 16 0 83 5 141
1994 12 3 15 0 12 7 49
1995 13 1 12 0 9 4 40
1996 13 2 11 0 29 8 64
1997 11 7 13 0 45 9 85
1998 10 4 13 0 11 6 44
1999 30 4 21 0 16 8 79
2000 39 20 22 0 90 11 182
2001 24 50 53 10 111 30 279
2002 27 34 96 1 48 16 222
2003 49 18 83 5 37 18 209
2004 44 14 67 5 125 19 273
2005 31 14 61 1 75 12 195
2006 19 9 57 3 27 10 125
2007 23 7 31 11 25 15 111
2008 34 12 39 6 197 17 304
2009 41 13 49 11 153 40 308
2010 39 31 49 2 357 26 504
 
Counts of Adult Salmon and Steelhead at Lower Granite Dam (1970-2010) 10
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Endangered Snake River sockeye salmon must pass Lower Granite Dam, as must threatened Snake River spring/summer Chinook salmon and steelhead, except for fish from the Tucannon River. General trends have been similar to those at the river mouth and at Bonneville Dam, except that a decrease in the number of steelhead in 2010 resulted in a slight decrease in total fish from 2009.



Updated: 4/6/2011

View Data
Year Chinook Fall Chinook Spring Chinook Summer Coho Sockeye Steelhead Total
1970 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1971 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1972 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1973 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1974 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1975 1 16 8 0 0 17 43
1976 0 16 7 0 1 23 47
1977 1 36 8 0 0 51 96
1978 1 41 12 0 0 30 83
1979 0 7 3 0 0 25 35
1980 0 5 3 0 0 40 49
1981 0 13 3 0 0 40 57
1982 1 12 4 0 0 73 90
1983 1 10 4 0 0 87 101
1984 1 7 5 0 0 99 112
1985 1 25 5 0 0 114 145
1986 1 32 6 0 0 134 173
1987 1 29 6 0 0 69 105
1988 1 29 6 0 0 87 123
1989 1 13 3 0 0 133 149
1990 0 17 5 0 0 57 80
1991 1 7 4 0 0 100 111
1992 1 21 3 0 0 121 147
1993 1 21 8 0 0 67 97
1994 1 3 1 0 0 48 52
1995 1 1 1 0 0 81 84
1996 1 4 3 0 0 86 94
1997 1 34 11 0 0 86 132
1998 2 10 4 0 0 72 88
1999 3 3 3 0 0 74 85
2000 4 34 4 1 0 113 156
2001 9 172 14 1 0 263 458
2002 12 75 22 0 0 219 329
2003 12 71 16 1 0 181 281
2004 15 71 9 4 0 154 253
2005 11 26 7 2 0 156 202
2006 8 23 7 1 0 146 185
2007 10 23 7 3 0 157 200
2008 17 50 23 3 1 175 269
2009 15 50 14 5 1 324 409
2010 42 94 29 2 2 206 375
 

Hatchery Production
Hatchery Production of Salmon and Steelhead in the Columbia River Basin  10
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In 2009, more than 143 million salmon and steelhead were released in the Columbia River Basin. Hatchery programs are categorized, based on their genetic broodstock management strategy, as either integrated (i.e., composite population of natural and hatchery origin fish) or segregated (i.e., distinct population reproductively isolated from natural populations). The purpose of these programs are either to provide harvest opportunities, serve as a conservation measure, or both.

Click here to view Hatchery information

Updated: 4/30/2011

 
View Data
Year Chinook Fall Chinook Spring Chinook Summer Chum Coho Sockeye Steelhead Summer Steelhead Winter Total
1990 101,532,720 35,018,158 4,003,208 363,000 43,641,273 660,956 16,211,975 2,908,045 204,339,335
1991 107,704,750 33,741,958 3,194,393 847,598 36,116,483 201,869 14,382,723 3,385,469 199,575,243
1992 102,833,134 34,754,229 4,059,019 54,000 36,904,910 335,266 13,281,235 2,984,303 195,206,096
1993 94,112,248 26,976,698 2,782,499 620,000 34,706,145 453,103 14,239,964 2,560,049 176,450,706
1994 89,500,468 32,813,670 3,571,039 200,000 28,212,320 0 13,837,432 2,521,548 170,656,477
1995 109,257,330 30,430,661 4,572,844 212,000 26,940,307 144,961 13,365,379 2,888,513 187,811,995
1996 97,956,450 19,775,742 4,566,441 166,000 27,314,496 323,692 14,285,309 2,408,788 166,796,918
1997 89,904,238 20,779,145 3,788,729 107,075 22,623,325 729,960 13,770,764 2,720,784 154,424,020
1998 69,072,757 25,394,336 4,347,026 12,600 26,796,299 499,043 12,648,439 1,814,719 140,585,219
1999 66,374,944 27,352,572 4,295,116 108,711 27,071,486 206,596 13,969,109 2,027,334 141,405,868
2000 70,948,027 24,917,412 4,205,379 206,036 30,525,765 313,478 13,037,494 2,254,487 146,408,078
2001 60,330,595 23,970,726 5,536,375 202,833 25,858,915 428,123 13,439,076 1,935,598 131,702,241
2002 67,256,027 29,014,680 5,150,665 258,370 25,760,888 388,068 13,732,924 1,755,366 143,316,988
2003 69,802,317 28,864,850 5,398,538 615,436 23,998,635 393,059 12,767,747 1,515,374 143,355,956
2004 66,399,588 29,846,672 5,861,446 357,000 20,275,372 723,814 12,667,638 1,988,019 138,119,549
2005 62,390,624 29,932,721 5,491,652 163,000 20,552,455 1,528,861 12,133,760 1,695,684 133,888,757
2006 64,704,376 28,225,057 6,156,507 175,079 21,891,926 1,902,560 13,225,551 1,934,587 138,215,643
2007 67,444,768 28,875,739 5,202,309 200,019 22,584,482 1,939,863 13,294,261 2,097,370 141,638,811
2008 61,561,127 27,434,471 5,950,741 100,859 23,013,953 1,422,431 12,994,420 2,204,254 134,682,256
2009 69,550,841 28,753,180 5,546,602 102,000 23,053,675 460,524 13,284,101 2,184,668 142,935,591
 

Harvest
Columbia River Basin Salmon and Steelhead Harvest  6, 144, 307, 231, 232
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* Tributary treaty data for 2009-10 not yet included;
* Tributary sport data incomplete for Washington (2005-10) and Oregon (2010)

Click here to view Harvest information

Updated: 7/25/2011
Updated: 7/25/2011 Updated: 9/28/2010
 
Updated: 7/6/2010 Updated: 7/6/2010

Notes :
    1. See notes regarding estimates of wild and hatchery returns to the Columbia River mouth.
View Data
Year Mainstem Commercial Mainstem Sport Mainstem Treaty Tributary-Sport Tributary-Treaty Total
2005 142 74 151 117 12 496
2006 111 78 133 143 12 477
2007 67 78 85 129 6 366
2008 123 102 197 140 17 579
2009 185 149 203 167 0 704
2010 167 130 269 131 0 697

Anadromous Fish Projects
Anadromous Fish Habitat Projects in the Columbia River Basin 1, 2
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During FY 2010, BPA funded projects in the Columbia River Basin to improve wetland, instream, riparian, and riparian-upland habitat zones that are important for the conservation and restoration of anadromous fish. General descriptions of the project-types and the habitat zones that are addressed through the implementation of the associated actions are listed below. A more thorough description of the actions is included in Appendix.

The accomplishments of a given habitat project can be measured several different ways. For example, a project for which the focus is to increase instream habitat complexity may have the following objectives: 1.) install a specific number of structures and 2.) treat a specified number of stream miles. Similarly, the installation of wells, pipelines, sprinklers, etc. can provide multiple benefits (e.g., primary stream miles improved, total stream miles improved, cfs of water conserved, and acre-feet of water conserved).

Click here to access F&W Projects in Columbia River Basin

BPA Funded Anadromous Fish Habitat Project Accomplishments   1
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Project-type Planned Value * Accomplishment
(Actual Value) *
Increase instream complexity and stabilization, remove vegetation 58.65 miles 61.12 miles stream complexity improved
Increase instream complexity and stabilization, remove vegetation 58.65 miles 2,067 structures installed
Increase instream habitat complexity and stabilization  12 barriers 14 barriers addressed
Removal/install diversion, remove/breach dam, install fish passage structure 460.35 miles 460.95 miles habitat accessed
Removal/install diversion, remove/breach dam, install fish passage structure 545.65 miles 449.9 miles primary stream reach improved
Install well, install pipeline, install sprinkler, acquire water instream 18.4 cfs 17.4 cfs water conserved
Install well, install pipeline, install sprinkler, acquire water instream 1,259.95 miles 1,318.1 miles total stream reach improved
Install well, install pipeline, install sprinkler, acquire water instream 230.9 acre-feet 228.9 acre-feet water conserved
Install well, install pipeline, install sprinkler, acquire water instream 207.98 161.98 acres affected
Realign connect and/or create channel 9.8 miles 9 miles stream added
Realign connect and/or create channel 2 screens 2 screens addressed
Remove/install diversion 51,022.2 acre-feet 23,935.2 acre-feet water screened
Install fish screen 99.5 cfs 99.2 cfs water screened
Install fish screen 78.8 miles 73 miles improved
Acquire water instream 29,349.1 acre-feet 34,710.4 acre-feet water protected
Acquire water instream 164.34 cfs 177.93 cfs water protected
Acquire water instream 692.62 acres 630.87 acres treated
Plant/remove vegetation 140.31 miles 123.69 miles vegetation treated
Plant/remove vegetation 77.19 miles 78.07 miles protected
Purchase land, lease land 42,666 acres 44,346.4 acres protected
Conduct controlled burn, plant vegetation, practice no-till and conservation tillage, remove vegetation, upland erosion and sedimentation control, enhance floodplain, create, restore, and enhance wetland 668.37 acres 1,137.28 acres treated
Install fence 10.25 acres 10.25 acres protected
Install fence 33.95 miles 32.94 miles fence installed
Install fence 30.11 miles 26.3 miles stream fenced
Decommission roads, relocate roads, improve roads 658.93 miles 670.08 miles road treated

Updated: 5/1/2011

* Data presented is for fiscal year 2010

* This table may not represent all efforts completed as data are updated on a daily basis.
 

Salmon Survival

Salmon and steelhead survival depends in part on the hydrology of the Columbia River Basin in conjunction with operation of the hydrosystem. Juveniles in particular rely on flow to aid downstream migration, but annual discharge rate can fluctuate greatly. Flow is further regulated by the hydropower system. Dams have altered the seasonal flow of the basin to meet electricity, irrigation, flood control, navigation, recreation, and water supply demands. What was once a free-flowing river with a broad complex of habitats has been converted to a series of reservoirs.

Survival of juvenile salmonids may be directly affected by passage at dams, by the increased time and energy needed for migration to the ocean, or by other factors related to the changed river such as predation, disease, or thermal stress. Adult migration may be delayed or blocked by dams, and may also be affected by predation.

Actions intended to increase the survival of migrating juvenile salmonids include flow enhancement at critical times, increased spill at dams, placement of structures to increase passage efficiency, transportation past dams and reservoirs, and predation control measures. Actions to increase survival of migrating adults have been largely completed, and focused on increasing passage efficiency at dams. Predation control is an additional measure.

Survival of Adult Upper Columbia River Salmonids
from Bonneville Dam to McNary Dam 552
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View Data
Survival of Adult Upper Columbia River Salmonids from Bonneville Dam to McNary Dam
Year Spring Chinook Steelhead
2003 90.9 90.7
2004 96.1 81.6
2005 89.4 77.6
2006 86.1 84.1
2007 87.8 84.4
Survival of Adult Snake River Salmonids
from Bonneville Dam to Lower Granite Dam 552
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View Data
Survival of Adult Snake River Salmonids from Bonneville Dam to Lower Granite Dam
  Summar/Spring Chinook Fall Chinook Steelhead
Year Migrated
In-River		 Transported Migrated
In-River		 Transported Migrated
In-River		 Transported
2003 91.7 84.4 98.6 99.6 93.8 89.8
2004 94.8 87.1 93.7 94.7 93.4 82
2005 91.7 88 71.2 75.1 85.6 86.4
2006 81.6 73.7 58.8 62.4 91.4 80.2
2007 88.5 84.4 83.9 67.2 84.6 73.1
Straying Rates (%) of Adult Chinook Salmon (2001-08 Pooled) and Steelhead (2005-07 Pooled)  553
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View Data
Straying Rates (%) of Adult Chinook Salmon (2001-08 Pooled) and Steelhead (2005-07 Pooled)
  Chinook (Hatchery) Steelhead (Wild and Hatchery)
Transported 0.49 3.00
Migrated In-River 0.08 0.20
Relative Success of Adult Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Migrating from Bonneville Dam to Lower Granite Dam  553
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Success ratio estimated as the success rate of fish transported divided by the success rate of fish migrating in-river as juveniles

Updated: 4/2/2011

View Data
Year Chinook Salmon - Wild Steelhead - Hatchery Steelhead - Wild Total
2000 1 1 1 2
2001 1 1 1 3
2002 1 1 1 3
2003 1 1 1 3
2004 1 1 1 3
2005 1 1 1 3
2006 1 1 1 3
2007 1 1 1 3
In-River Survival Rate of Wild Juvenile Chinook Salmon and Steelhead - Lower Granite to Bonneville Dam 553
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View Data
Year Steelhead Yearling Chinook Total
1994 0.00 0.20 0.20
1995 0.00 0.41 0.41
1996 0.00 0.44 0.44
1997 0.52 0.51 1.03
1998 0.54 0.61 1.15
1999 0.45 0.59 1.04
2000 0.30 0.48 0.78
2001 0.00 0.00 0.00
2002 0.52 0.61 1.13
2003 0.37 0.60 0.97
2004 0.18 0.40 0.58
2005 0.25 0.48 0.73
2006 0.58 0.57 1.15
2007 0.38 0.60 0.98
2008 0.42 0.46 0.88
2009 0.70 0.51 1.21
Smolt to Adult Survival Rate (SAR; Lower Granite to Lower Granite) for Spring-Summer Chinook Salmon 553
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Note:
  1. 2-6% SAR is goal of Northwest Power and Conservation Council
  2. (C0) in 2001 assumed to equal (C1)
View Data
Year 2% Goal (Lower) 6% Goal (Upper ) In-River; Bypassed at Least Once (C1) In-River; Migrated via Spill or Turbines (C0) Overall Transported (T0)
1994 2.00 6.00 0.07 0.28 0.43 0.45
1995 2.00 6.00 0.25 0.37 0.35 0.35
1996 2.00 6.00 0.13 0.26 0.42 0.50
1997 2.00 6.00 0.93 2.35 1.73 1.74
1998 2.00 6.00 1.07 1.36 1.21 1.18
1999 2.00 6.00 1.89 2.13 2.39 2.43
2000 2.00 6.00 2.33 2.39 1.71 1.43
2001 2.00 6.00 0.14 0.14 1.27 1.28
2002 2.00 6.00 0.99 1.22 0.92 0.80
2003 2.00 6.00 0.17 0.33 0.34 0.34
2004 2.00 6.00 0.22 0.49 0.52 0.53
2005 2.00 6.00 0.11 0.11 0.22 0.23
2006 2.00 6.00 0.51 0.97 0.70 0.77
2007 2.00 6.00 0.59 0.81 0.98 0.93
2008 2.00 6.00 2.48 2.22 2.26 2.17
Smolt to Adult Survival Rate (SAR; Lower Granite to Lower Granite) for Wild Steelhead 553
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Note:
  1. 2-6% SAR is goal of Northwest Power and Conservation Council
  2. (C0) in 2001 assumed to equal (C1)
  3. 2008 information available only for “Overall"
View Data
Year 2% Goal (Lower) 6% Goal (Upper ) In-River; Bypassed at Least Once (C1) In-River; Migrated via Spill or Turbines (C0) Overall Transported (T0)
1997 2.00 6.00 0.23 0.66 1.16 1.45
1998 2.00 6.00 0.21 1.07 0.30 0.21
1999 2.00 6.00 0.76 1.35 2.84 3.07
2000 2.00 6.00 1.81 1.92 2.66 2.79
2001 2.00 6.00 0.07 0.07 2.47 2.49
2002 2.00 6.00 0.94 0.67 2.14 2.84
2003 2.00 6.00 0.52 0.45 1.57 1.99
2004 2.00 6.00 0.06 0.06 0.85 0.87
2005 2.00 6.00 0.17 0.17 0.80 0.84
2006 2.00 6.00 0.60 1.54 1.14 1.31
2007 2.00 6.00 1.72 1.42 2.56 4.18
2008 2.00 6.00 1.40 1.40 1.40 1.40

Predation on Salmonids

Predation research and management in the Columbia River, to date, has historically focused on losses of juvenile salmonids to predacious fish (primarily northern pikeminnow) and birds (primarily Caspian terns and cormorants). Predation by non-native fish such as smallmouth bass, walleye, and channel catfish has also become a concern. Initial steps have been taken to evaluate and manage predation by these non-natives. In recent years, predation on adult salmonids and white sturgeon by sea lions below Bonneville Dam has become an additional concern. Actions to reduce this predation have recently been implemented.

Northern Pikeminnow Management Program556
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The goal of the Northern Pikeminnow Management Program (NPMP) is to reduce predation on juvenile salmonids through sustained harvest of northern pikeminnow. The NPMP is based on research conducted from 1983-93 that indicated: (1) loss of juvenile salmonids to resident fish predators was significant, (2) northern pikeminnow were responsible for a majority of the losses, and (3) relatively large reductions in predation could be achieved through relatively low exploitation of northern pikeminnow. Since the NPMP was implemented in 1990, program fisheries have harvested more than 3.5 million northern pikeminnow, with annual harvest rates (for fish > 250 mm) averaging approximately 13%. Models indicate that annual losses of juvenile salmonids to northern pikeminnow have decreased approximately 40% from pre-program levels. Empirical evidence supports these results. There is no evidence of compensation in predation, growth, or reproduction by surviving northern pikeminnow, or by other resident fish predators.
 

Updated: 4/6/2011

Updated: 4/6/2011

View Data
Northern Pikeminnow Catch and Index of Predation on Juvenile Salmonids
Year Catch (Thousands) Relative Predation Index (%)
1990 20 100
1991 159.2 98.461
1992 186.9 95.872
1993 104.5 87.272
1994 129.4 85.502
1995 199.8 78.597
1996 157.2 72.205
1997 119.5 68.151
1998 108.9 70.638
1999 114.7 71.756
2000 189.7 71.037
2001 240.9 70.876
2002 201.4 67.746
2003 196.6 65.865
2004 267.4 67.818
2005 241.4 640494
2006 233.9 62.296
2007 192.5 63.332
2008 158.2 61.849
2009 141.645 60
2010 173.981 650
Avian Predation on Juvenile Salmonids in the Lower Columbia River 557
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A 1997 study found that Caspian terns nesting on Rice Island, a dredged material disposal island, were a significant predator of juvenile salmonids. Island supported the largest Caspian tern breeding colony in the world (16,000 birds), and these birds consumed more juvenile salmonids than any other prey. Terns were subsequently relocated closer to the ocean on East Sand Island. By 2000, 94% of all terns in the estuary nested on East Sand Island. Since 2001, all Caspian terns nesting in the Columbia River estuary have used East Sand Island, and this relocation resulted in a sharp drop in consumption of juvenile salmonids. Double-crested cormorants are another common piscivorous waterbird in the Columbia River Estuary. East Sand Island now supports 10-15,000 breeding pairs, compared to about 100 pairs in 1990.
 

Updated: 3/19/2010

Updated: 3/19/2010

View Data
Abundance of Colonial Birds and Consumption of Juvenile Salmon in the Columbia River Estuary
Year Caspian Tern Breeding Pairs Tern Consumption Cormorant Consumption Cormorant Breeding Pairs
1997 8 7.26   6.1
1998 8.725 11.37   7.07
1999 8.865 12.32   6.46
2000 9.135 6.63   7.115
2001 9 5.37   8.2
2002 10.1 5.68   10.1
2003 8.7 4.2 5.5 10.6
2004 9.8 4 6.3 12.1
2005 8.9 3.9 3 11.9
2006 9.3 5.4 8.9 13.8
2007 9.9 5.5 9.2 13.8
2008 10.75 6.7   10.9
Predation on Adult Salmonids by Sea Lions Near Bonneville Dam 558
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  Observed Salmonid Catch Expanded Salmonid Catch
Year Salmonid Count
(Jan1 - May 31)		 Catch % of Run Catch % of Run
2002 284,733 448 .2% - -
2003 217,185 1,538 .7% - -
2004 186,804 1,324 .7% - -
2005 82,006 2,659 3.1% - -
2006 105,063 2,718 2.5% 3,401 3.1%
2007 88,474 3,569 3.9% 4,355 4.7%
2008 147,543 4,243 2.8% 4,927 3.2%
2009 186,060 4,489 2.4% 4,960 2.7%
2010 267,194 6,081 2.2% 6,321 2.4%
Predation on adult salmonids by California and Steller sea lions has been generally increasing, with at least 2.4% of the total run from (January through May) consumed each year since 2006. Predation is primarily on Chinook salmon, with the remainder on steelhead. These values represent predation at Bonneville Dam. Predation rates in the remainder of the lower river are unknown. Most predation on salmonids (usually >90%) is by California sea lions, with Steller sea lions consuming mostly white sturgeon (2,172 in 2010). Pacific lamprey are also consumed by California sea lions; however predation rates relative to this species are unknown. Sea lion deterrents utilized have included physical barriers to fishways, acoustic devices, and harassment. Trapping and removal has been implemented since 2008.

Updated: 12/07/2010

 

Pacific Lamprey

Pacific Lamprey Background

Like salmon, Pacific lamprey are anadromous; however, their life-cycle is more complex than that of salmon. Juvenile lamprey remain burrowed in the substrate of streams for 4 to 6 years before emerging and migrating to the ocean in late-winter or early-spring. After 2 to 3 years in the ocean, adults return to streams from July to October and spawn the following spring.

Indigenous peoples from the Pacific Northwest have harvested adult lamprey for subsistence, religious, and medicinal purposes for many generations. Although historical population sizes of lamprey are unknown, adult Pacific lampreys were an important tribal subsistence food.

Pacific lamprey were likely widely distributed throughout the Columbia River Basin, but counts at dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers indicate a severe decline in Pacific lamprey abundance. Annual counts at Bonneville Dam prior to 1970 often exceeded 250,000 fish. Counts at most dams have decreased dramatically in recent years.

Declining trends in abundance suggest that productivity may be limited for all populations. Passage obstructions, degraded habitat, and impaired water quality are all factors that are decreasing the rate of population growth. Predation by exotic predators (e.g., smallmouth bass) may also decrease lamprey productivity.

Recent efforts have begun to address some of these limiting factors and threats, especially passage of adults at mainstem dams. Structures designed to improve the collection and passage of lamprey have been installed at Bonneville Dam, with installations at other dams planned for future years. Gratings and screens will be replaced to enhance passage. Sharp corners in and around fish ladders are being rounded to further improve adult passage. Velocity-reducing structures are being evaluated. Adult and juvenile lamprey passage needs will be evaluated at each dam.
Trends at Columbia River Hydroelectric Facilities
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Genetic population structure for Pacific lamprey is currently unknown in the Columbia River Basin, thus, specific populations or management groups cannot be displayed at this time. In addition, little is known about adult returns to specific waters.

Updated: 5/1/2011

Hydroelectric Facility / No
1Bonneville 16 Kerr 31 Palisades
2

The Dalles

 17 Hungry Horse 32 Big Cliff
3 John Day 18 Libby 33 Detroit
4 McNary 19 Ice Harbor 34 Foster
5 Chandler 20 Lower Monumental 35 Green Peter
6 Roz 21 Little Goose 36 Cougar
7 Priest Rapids 22 Lower Granite 37 Dexter
8 Wanapum 23 Dworshak 38 Lookout Point
9 Rock Island 24 Hells Canyon 39 Hills Creek
10 Rocky Reach 25 Oxbow   
11 Wells 26 Brownlee  
12 Chief Joseph 27 Black Canyon  
13 Grand Coulee 28 Boise River Diversion  
14 Albeni Falls 29 Anderson Ranch  
15 Noxon Rapids 30 Minidoka  
Counts of Adult Pacific Lamprey at Bonneville, McNary and Lower Granite Dams 10
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Updated: 4/6/2011

Updated: 4/6/2011

Updated: 4/6/2011

Dam counts are used to index the relative abundance of Pacific lamprey, but these counts are of limited use in estimating actual abundance. Many adult lamprey pass at night when counting is not conducted. In addition, numerous routes are available for lamprey to pass dams without being detected. Research to develop more accurate counting methods is underway.
View Data
Counts of Adult Pacific Lamprey
Year Bonneville McNary Granite
1997 20,891   1,122
1998 37,515    
1999 37,296    
2000 19,002 1,281 28
2001 27,947 2,539 27
2002 100,476 11,282 128
2003 117,029 13,325 282
2004 61,780 5,888 117
2005 26,664 4,158 40
2006 38,938 2,456 35
2007 19,313 3,454 34
2008 14,562 1,530 61
2009 8,622 676 12
2010 11,183 833 15
 

Resident fish Substitution

Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s Resident Fish Substitution Policy  

Resident fish populations throughout the Columbia River Basin have been affected by the construction and operation of the hydropower system. Dams altered natural river flows, inundated spawning and rearing areas, and blocked natural migration patterns. Historically, more than two million salmon and steelhead annually spawned in the upper Columbia River and Snake River basins

Mitigation for the annual losses of anadromous fish in these blocked areas is achieved through the release of hatchery-produced fish such as kokanee, rainbow trout, brook trout, Lahontan cutthroat trout, and largemouth bass as well as habitat projects to benefit resident fish populations. These efforts are essential for providing tribal subsistence and public recreation fisheries, opportunities that were lost due the lack of passage for anadromous fish to reach historic spawning areas.

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council “finds that mitigation in areas blocked to salmon and steelhead by the development and operation of the hydropower system is appropriate, and flexibility in the approach utilized for mitigation is necessary. The Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s resident fish substitution policy authorizes “restoring native and resident fish species to near historic ranges where habitat can be feasibly restored.” The policy also calls for taking actions to reintroduce anadromous fish into areas blocked by dams such as Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee, where feasible, and for administering and increasing opportunities for consumptive and non-consumptive resident fisheries for native, introduced, wild and hatchery-reared stocks that are compatible with the continued persistence of native resident fish species. This includes intensive fisheries within closed or isolated systems and recreational fisheries such as those in northeastern Washington and northwestern Montana.

Resident Fish Substitution for Lost Anadromous Fish Opportunities
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Columbia River Basin Resident Fish Substitution Releases  561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 566, 567, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 577, 578, 665
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View Data
Year Brook Trout Kokanee Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Largemouth Bass Rainbow Trout Redband Trout Westslope Cutthroat Trout Total
2002 125,177 3,388,685 129,864 0 974,861 0 22,578 4,641,165
2003 0 3,076,244 0 0 920,068 0 0 3,996,312
2004 0 3,485,439 0 0 803,806 0 0 4,289,245
2005 59,618 4,751,013 119,510 10,659 1,157,851 38,848 0 6,137,499
2006 159,434 5,035,688 62,031 8,190 799,151 346,761 35,020 6,446,275
2007 320,155 1,259,010 109,806 11,582 2,167,372 308,545 0 4,176,470
2008 237,639 1,449,065 25,204 162 1,278,343 98,055 0 3,088,468
2009 228,777 4,818,329 238,614 8,688 1,727,308 1,256,050 0 8,277,766
 

 

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