CONTENTS Introduction Intensively Monitored Watersheds Smolt/Adult Monitoring Skagit River Lake Washington Green River Deschutes Hood Canal Dungeness Grays Harbor Lower Columbia River Wenatchee River Trapping Gear Publications Data Salmonscape

Wild Salmon Population Monitoring Introduction In 1977, the (then) Washington Department of Fisheries initiated a comprehensive, long-range research effort to address the specific needs of managing Washington’s naturally-produced salmon runs.  The Wild Salmon Production Evaluation unit (WSPE) was created to measure production, survival, and fisheries contribution of natural salmon stocks.  Since its creation, WSPE has continued to enumerate adult and smolt populations, and measure and survival at three long-term monitoring stations.  In addition, downstream-migrant production evaluations are conducted in selected large and small stream systems throughout Washington State.  It also currently participates in a broad-based multi-agency monitoring project, Intensively Monitored Watersheds (IMW).  Headquartered in Olympia, WSPE monitors wild salmon populations in Puget Sound, the Washington coast and lower Columbia River.  Regional biologists and the Hatchery/Wild Interactions Unit monitors the freshwater production of wild salmon populations at additional sites statewide. Juvenile & Adult Salmonid Monitoring In 1977, the WSPE began monitoring adult coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) spawning populations and subsequent production of out-migrating coho salmon smolts to improve harvest and habitat management.  Since that time, these studies have collected over 20 years of continuous measurements from Big Beef Creek (Hood Canal), the Deschutes River, and Bingham Creek (Chehalis River).  More recently, the monitoring focus has expanded to include additional anadromous species and their responses to a variety of management actions.  The unit now monitors ESA-listed chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) populations in the Skagit River, Big Bear Creek (Sammamish River), Cedar River, Green River, and Deschutes River to inform the restoration process; sockeye salmon (O. nerka) populations in the Cedar River and Big Bear Creek to assess habitat and harvest management, as well as  hatchery contributions; coho, steelhead (O. mykiss), and chinook survival through the Lake Washington basin to assess effects from shoreline development, lake management, and operation of the Ballard Locks; coho populations in Mill, Germany, and Abernathy Creeks to gather information on this candidate for ESA-listing; and anadromous production as influenced by hydropower and/or water management on the Skagit, Cedar, and Green Rivers.  The production or catch of other species such as pink salmon (O. gorbuscha), chum salmon (O. keta), cutthroat trout (O. clarki), and bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) are also annually monitored.  The locations of traps and distributions of wild salmonids throughout Washington can be found on the WDFW’s Salmonscape website. A variety of traps are used to capture juvenile and adult salmonids.  These include: Juvenile Monitoring: Screw Trap Scoop Trap Fence Trap Fan Trap Adult Monitoring: Adult Trap Watersheds currently monitored by WDFW Juvenile Monitoring Sites:  Puget Sound   Skagit River   Lake Washington   Green River   Deschutes   Hood Canal   Grays Harbor Lower Columbia River Wenatchee River Adult Monitoring Sites: Deschutes Hood Canal   Big Beef Creek Grays Harbor   Bingham Creek   Elk Creek