Dworshak Dam Impacts Assessment and Fisheries Investigations Project, 1993 Annual Report

Dworshak Dam Impacts Assessment and Fisheries Investigations Project, 1993 Annual Report
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 39
Release: 1995
Genre:
ISBN:

We monitored the kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka kennerlyi population in Dworshak Reservoir, Idaho, by mid-water trawling and counting spawners in representative streams. Our estimates of age 1 kokanee abundance in 1993 were the highest on record; 556,000 fish. These fish resulted from last years record year class of age 0 kokanee. Age 2 kokanee were also abundant, achieving their second highest level on record. Dworshak Dam discharged less water between July 1, 1992 and June 30, 1993 than any of our recent years of study (the lowest since 1986-1987). Based on a past relationship with an r2=0.62, we expected age 2 kokanee abundance to be very high with this low level of discharge. We estimated mature kokanee abundance by trawling, which correlated well (r2=.89) to standardized spawner counts. This gives us the means to convert the older spawner count data into age 2 kokanee estimates. It is also a validation of spawner counts in tributary streams as an accurate method to obtain an index of adult kokanee abundance.

Dworshak Dam Impacts Assessment and Fisheries Investigations Project

Dworshak Dam Impacts Assessment and Fisheries Investigations Project
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 34
Release: 1995
Genre: Fish populations
ISBN:

We monitored the kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka kennerlyi population in Dworshak Reservoir, Idaho, by mid-water trawling and counting spawners in representative streams. Our estimates of age 1 kokanee abundance in 1993 were the highest on record; 556,000 fish. These fish resulted from last years record year class of age 0 kokanee. Age 2 kokanee were also abundant, achieving their second highest level on record. Dworshak Dam discharged less water between July 1, 1992 and June 30, 1993 than any of our recent years of study (the lowest since 1986-1987). Based on a past relationship with an r2=0.62, we expected age 2 kokanee abundance to be very high with this low level of discharge. We estimated mature kokanee abundance by trawling, which correlated well (r2=.89) to standardized spawner counts. This gives us the means to convert the older spawner count data into age 2 kokanee estimates. It is also a validation of spawner counts in tributary streams as an accurate method to obtain an index of adult kokanee abundance.

Dworshak Dam Impacts Assessment and Fisheries Investigation Project

Dworshak Dam Impacts Assessment and Fisheries Investigation Project
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 18
Release: 1998
Genre:
ISBN:

We used split-beam hydroacoustics to monitor kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka kennerlyi abundance in Dworshak Reservoir from 1995 to 1996 in order to quantify the impacts of water releases from Dworshak Dam. The kokanee population was at a record high level of 1.9 million age-1 and age-2 fish (350 fish/ha) during June 1995. Large discharges of water during July and August of 1995 did not result in major losses of kokanee. Mid-winter flooding in February. March, and April of 1996: however, caused entrainment losses of 90% of all kokanee in the reservoir. The population declined to 140,000 kokanee. High flows during spring runoff used another 50% of the kokanee to be lost, further reducing the population to 71,000 fish (13 fish/ha). Entrainment losses were partially explainable by the distribution of kokanee in the reservoir. During winter, all age-classes of kokanee congregated near the dam making them susceptible to high releases of water. Kokanee appeared to be less susceptible to entrainment during summer and early fall because most kokanee were in other parts of the reservoir: adults were in the upper reservoir staging to spawn, fry were in the upper reservoir having emerged from tributary streams, and juvenile kokanee were spread throughout the reservoir.

Dworshak Dam Impact Assessment and Fishery Investigation and Trout, Bass and Forage Species

Dworshak Dam Impact Assessment and Fishery Investigation and Trout, Bass and Forage Species
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 92
Release: 1992
Genre:
ISBN:

The Nez Perce Tribe (NPT) and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) entered into separate intergovernmental agreements with the Bonneville Power Administration in a cooperative four-year effort to study impacts of Dworshak Dam operation on resident fisheries. The NPT Department of Fisheries Management focused on rainbow trout, smallmouth bass and forage fish. The IDFG's segment of the project was to document kokanee population dynamics, relate it to the changing nutrient status of the reservoir, evaluate kokanee losses through Dworshak Dam, and make kokanee management recommendations. This final report includes findings for 1990 and 1991 and relates these data to information previously presented in annual reports for 1987, 1988 and 1989.

Dworshak Dam Impact Assessment and Fishery Investigation, 1989 Annual Report

Dworshak Dam Impact Assessment and Fishery Investigation, 1989 Annual Report
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 24
Release: 1990
Genre:
ISBN:

The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) funded two 4-year research projects to develop recommendations for improving the sport fishery on Dworshak Reservoir. Research began during 1987 as a cooperative effort between the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) and the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho. The Nez Perce Tribe examined smallmouth bass and rainbow trout fisheries. The IDFG evaluated kokanee population dynamics and documented changes in reservoir productivity. 12 refs., 12 figs.