The WFRC has partnered separately with both the Skagit River System Tribal Cooperative and the Nisqually Tribe to research the use of otoliths (calcium carbonate deposits beneath the brain used in hearing and balance that grow in proportion to the overall growth of the fish) as a tool in examination of Puget Sound Fall Chinook salmon life history.
Puget Sound Fall Chinook Estuarine Utilization
The widespread loss of estuarine and nearshore habitats throughout Puget Sound comes at a price. Puget Sound Chinook salmon are just one of many species whose populations have declined to precariously low levels (ESA threatened status) due to a variety of perturbations, including estuarine and coastal development. Juvenile fall Chinook salmon utilize a number of habitats during their migration to the open ocean. One important habitat is the estuary, particularly tidal deltas, which provide a migratory corridor, protection from predators, and opportunity to forage, grow and adapt to seawater. Monitoring and restoration efforts within the tidal delta and nearshore habitats of large river deltas are becoming common throughout Puget Sound. Therefore, a pre-restoration baseline that includes characterization of life history types, estuary residence times, growth rates, and habitat use is needed for evaluating the potential response to restoration efforts by natural and hatchery origin fall Chinook salmon, for determining restoration success and complementing monitoring efforts.
The Western Fisheries Research Center has partnered separately with both the Skagit River System Tribal Cooperative and the Nisqually Tribe to research the use of otoliths (calcium carbonate deposits beneath the brain used in hearing and balance that grow in proportion to the overall growth of the fish) as a tool in examination of Puget Sound Fall Chinook salmon life history. Residence times and growth rates in various habitats, and the overall importance of estuarine utilization to juveniles as well as the returning adult population are the focus of the research.
These projects have developed over the years to include a large body of information on Fall Chinook salmon from two main river deltas within Puget Sound: the Skagit River and the Nisqually River. The Skagit River basin baseline research is near completion for three brood years of wild fall Chinook consisting of juvenile out-migrants and the corresponding adult returns under varying density conditions from year to year for the out-migrant population. The Nisqually River basin research is currently in the final stages of completing pre-restoration baseline information from three brood years of natural and hatchery fall Chinook, consisting of juvenile out-migrants and the corresponding adult returns. Information is currently being collected on several years of natural and hatchery juvenile fall Chinook out-migrant samples following restoration efforts in the Nisqually delta.
Related Links:
Nisqually Delta Restoration website.
Cooperator Publications:
Beamer, E., A.McBride, C. Greene, R. Henderson, G. Hood, K. Wolf, K. Larsen, C. Rice, and K. Fresh. 2005. Delta and nearshore restoration for the recovery of wild Skagit River Chinook salmon: Linking estuary restoration to wild Chinook salmon populations. Supplement to: Skagit Chinook Recovery Plan, 94 p.
Beamer, E., and K. Larsen. 2004. The importance of Skagit delta habitat on the growth of wild ocean-type Chinook in Skagit Bay: Implications for delta restoration. Skagit River System Cooperative Research Program, 6 p.
Beamer, E.M., J.C. Sartori, and K.A. Larsen. 2000. Skagit Chinook life history study Progress Report Number 3. Prepared for the Non-Flow Coordination Committee (NCC) under the Chinook Research Program in the Non-flow Mitigation part of the Skagit Fisheries Settlement Agreement. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project Number 553, 19 p.
Below are additional publications associated with this project.
Validation of a freshwater Otolith microstructure pattern for Nisqually Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
Otolith analysis of pre-restoration habitat use by Chinook salmon in the delta-flats and nearshore regions of the Nisqually River Estuary
Pre-Restoration Habitat Use by Chinook Salmon in the Nisqually Estuary Using Otolith Analysis: An Additional Year
Characterization of estuary use by Nisqually Hatchery Chinook based on Otolith analysis
Pre-Restoration Habitat Use by Chinook Salmon in the Nisqually Estuary Using Otolith Analysis
Below are news stories associated with this project.
- Overview
The WFRC has partnered separately with both the Skagit River System Tribal Cooperative and the Nisqually Tribe to research the use of otoliths (calcium carbonate deposits beneath the brain used in hearing and balance that grow in proportion to the overall growth of the fish) as a tool in examination of Puget Sound Fall Chinook salmon life history.
Puget Sound Fall Chinook Estuarine Utilization
Tribal beach seining in the nearshore habitat of the Nisqually River. Credit: USGS, Western Fisheries Research Center (Public domain.) The widespread loss of estuarine and nearshore habitats throughout Puget Sound comes at a price. Puget Sound Chinook salmon are just one of many species whose populations have declined to precariously low levels (ESA threatened status) due to a variety of perturbations, including estuarine and coastal development. Juvenile fall Chinook salmon utilize a number of habitats during their migration to the open ocean. One important habitat is the estuary, particularly tidal deltas, which provide a migratory corridor, protection from predators, and opportunity to forage, grow and adapt to seawater. Monitoring and restoration efforts within the tidal delta and nearshore habitats of large river deltas are becoming common throughout Puget Sound. Therefore, a pre-restoration baseline that includes characterization of life history types, estuary residence times, growth rates, and habitat use is needed for evaluating the potential response to restoration efforts by natural and hatchery origin fall Chinook salmon, for determining restoration success and complementing monitoring efforts.
A processed sagittal otolith of a juvenile Chinook salmon from the Skagit River, WA depicting daily increments. Credit: USGS, Western Fisheries Research Center (Public domain.) The Western Fisheries Research Center has partnered separately with both the Skagit River System Tribal Cooperative and the Nisqually Tribe to research the use of otoliths (calcium carbonate deposits beneath the brain used in hearing and balance that grow in proportion to the overall growth of the fish) as a tool in examination of Puget Sound Fall Chinook salmon life history. Residence times and growth rates in various habitats, and the overall importance of estuarine utilization to juveniles as well as the returning adult population are the focus of the research.
These projects have developed over the years to include a large body of information on Fall Chinook salmon from two main river deltas within Puget Sound: the Skagit River and the Nisqually River. The Skagit River basin baseline research is near completion for three brood years of wild fall Chinook consisting of juvenile out-migrants and the corresponding adult returns under varying density conditions from year to year for the out-migrant population. The Nisqually River basin research is currently in the final stages of completing pre-restoration baseline information from three brood years of natural and hatchery fall Chinook, consisting of juvenile out-migrants and the corresponding adult returns. Information is currently being collected on several years of natural and hatchery juvenile fall Chinook out-migrant samples following restoration efforts in the Nisqually delta.
Related Links:
Nisqually Delta Restoration website.
Cooperator Publications:
Beamer, E., A.McBride, C. Greene, R. Henderson, G. Hood, K. Wolf, K. Larsen, C. Rice, and K. Fresh. 2005. Delta and nearshore restoration for the recovery of wild Skagit River Chinook salmon: Linking estuary restoration to wild Chinook salmon populations. Supplement to: Skagit Chinook Recovery Plan, 94 p.
Beamer, E., and K. Larsen. 2004. The importance of Skagit delta habitat on the growth of wild ocean-type Chinook in Skagit Bay: Implications for delta restoration. Skagit River System Cooperative Research Program, 6 p.
Beamer, E.M., J.C. Sartori, and K.A. Larsen. 2000. Skagit Chinook life history study Progress Report Number 3. Prepared for the Non-Flow Coordination Committee (NCC) under the Chinook Research Program in the Non-flow Mitigation part of the Skagit Fisheries Settlement Agreement. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project Number 553, 19 p.
The Skagit River tidal delta habitat. Credit: USGS, Western Fisheries Research Center (Public domain.) - Publications
Below are additional publications associated with this project.
Validation of a freshwater Otolith microstructure pattern for Nisqually Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
The Nisqually Fall Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) population is one of 27 stocks in the Puget Sound (Washington) evolutionarily significant unit listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). Extensive restoration of the Nisqually River delta ecosystem has taken place to assist in recovery of the stock since estuary habitat is a critical transition zone for juvenilAuthorsAngie Lind-Null, Kim LarsenOtolith analysis of pre-restoration habitat use by Chinook salmon in the delta-flats and nearshore regions of the Nisqually River Estuary
The Nisqually Fall Chinook population is one of 27 salmon stocks in the Puget Sound (Washington) evolutionarily significant unit listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). Extensive restoration of the Nisqually River delta ecosystem is currently taking place to assist in recovery of the stock as juvenile Fall Chinook salmon are dependent on the estuary. A pre-restorationAuthorsAngie Lind-Null, Kim LarsenPre-Restoration Habitat Use by Chinook Salmon in the Nisqually Estuary Using Otolith Analysis: An Additional Year
The Nisqually Fall Chinook population is one of 27 stocks in the Puget Sound evolutionarily significant unit listed as threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). Preservation and extensive restoration of the Nisqually delta ecosystem is currently taking place to assist in recovery of the stock as juvenile Fall Chinook salmon are dependent upon the estuary. A pre-restoration baselinAuthorsAngie Lind-Null, Kim LarsenCharacterization of estuary use by Nisqually Hatchery Chinook based on Otolith analysis
INTRODUCTION The Nisqually Fall Chinook population is one of 27 stocks in the Puget Sound evolutionarily significant unit listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). Preservation and extensive restoration of the Nisqually delta ecosystem are planned to assist in recovery of the stock. A pre-restoration baseline including life history types, estuary residence time, growtAuthorsAngie M. Lind-Null, Kim A. Larsen, Reg ReisenbichlerPre-Restoration Habitat Use by Chinook Salmon in the Nisqually Estuary Using Otolith Analysis
INTRODUCTION The Nisqually Fall Chinook population is one of 27 stocks in the Puget Sound evolutionarily significant unit listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. The preservation of the Nisqually delta ecosystem coupled with extensive restoration of approximately 1,000 acres of diked estuarine habitat is identified as the highest priority action for the recovery of naturaAuthorsAngela Lind-Null, Kimberly Larsen, Reginald Reisenbichler - News
Below are news stories associated with this project.