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Development of Off‐Channel Habitats for Use by Juvenile Chinook Salmon
Author(s) -
Richards Carl,
Cernera Phillip J.,
Ramey Michael P.,
Reiser Dudley W.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8675(1992)012<0721:doochf>2.3.co;2
Subject(s) - chinook wind , oncorhynchus , habitat , fishery , streams , hatchery , channel (broadcasting) , fish measurement , juvenile , environmental science , floodplain , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology , biology , computer network , computer science , electrical engineering , engineering
Fisheries habitat improvement frequently requires the exploitation of existing or artificial features of stream channels and associated floodplains. Along the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River, four series of off channel mining dredge ponds were connected to the river by excavating channels; surface‐water control structures were installed to regulate flow through each series of ponds. The project was created to increase rearing habitat for juvenile chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha . Highest fish densities (5.2/m 2 ) in the newly constructed pond series were in connecting channel habitats. These densities were higher than those reported in other streams and may have been related to the hatchery origin of the stocked fish. Densities observed in the ponds were similar to those reported in natural habitats. Addition of habitats through incorporation of dredge ponds increases management options for rebuilding chinook salmon populations in the stream.