Willamette River Instream Ecological Flow Science Review and Analyses Prioritization” and “Adult Salmonids Trap and Transport Success Above Dams
Project ID: W912HZ-16-2-0030
Federal Agency: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Partner Institution: Oregon State University
Fiscal Year: 2016
Initial Funding: $535,872
Total Funding: $2,167,738
Principal Investigator: O'Malley, Kathleen
Abstract: Willamette River Instream Ecological Flow Science Review and Analyses Prioritization
Principal Investigators: James T. Peterson (USGS) and J. Tyrell Deweber (OSU)
We propose to work with managers and scientists to develop a framework for informing flow management in the Willamette River Basin through instream ecological flow needs. This process has been initiated to support the development of instream flow recommendations for the Willamette Basin Review (WBR) feasibility study, and address the National Marine Fisheries Service 2008 Biological Opinion for the Corps Willamette Project. Specifically, the objectives of the project are to work with scientists, managers, and other stakeholders to identify ecological objectives and hypothesized flow-ecology relations, review existing information on instream flow needs in the river, and develop a framework for identifying analyses or assessments to review information and hypotheses on instream flow needs. This process began on April 12, 2016, when a group of managers and scientists (Instream Flow Science Group) met to discuss the instream flows needs for the Willamette River. During the workshop, Instream Flow Science Group participants identified ecological objectives for the mainstem Willamette River that can be placed into three broad categories: aquatic taxa that included native fishes and freshwater mussels with particular emphasis on listed salmonid stocks; herpetofauna with an emphasis on at risk species- yellow legged frogs and box turtles- and non-native bullfrogs; and ripariandependent terrestrial plants and animals with emphasis on black cottonwoods and yellow-breasted chat. The group then proceeded to identify measureable attributes of the objectives (e.g., juvenile salmon production) and factors affecting them (e.g., water temperature) that are hypothesized to change in response to managing instream flows in the Willamette River mainstem.
ADULT SALMONIDS TRAP AND TRANSPORT SUCCESS ABOVE DAMS
Principal Investigator: Kathleen O’Malley, Associate Professor, Fisheries Genetics, Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Dept. Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University
Utilize current and emerging genetic methods to determine the effectiveness of trapping and transport of adult salmonids above and below Portland District hydro-electric projects in the Willamette River Basin to increase population abundance, productivity and diversity. This includes determining if returning spawners are progeny of previous transports and the lifetime fitness of transported individuals.