2. Chum and Coho Salmon Spawning Distribution and Abundance in the Susitna River, Alaska Pete Cleary Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Sport Fish 1800 Glenn Highway Palmer, Alaska 99645 peter.cleary@alaska.gov

3. 1. Overview of the Susitna River chum and coho salmon distribution and abundance - reasons for the study - methods 2. Results 2010 3. Some data from 2011. OUTLINE

4. Talkeetna Anchorage Wasilla Palmer Yentna River Susitna River Alaska Range Talkeetna Mountains Cantwell Cook Inlet Chugach Mountains Parks Highway Glenn Highway

5. Flathorn Camp Susitna River Yentna River Fish Wheels 1 4 2 ~30 miles to Anchorage 3 ~18 miles to Cook Inlet Tracking Station Mainstem Camp 1 2 Fish Wheels

8. Susitna R. Anchorage Palmer Flathorn Aerial Survey area Yentna R. Skwentna R. Talkeetna R. Chulitna R Susitna R.

9. Wasilla

10. Results…..

13. Chum Salmon: Utilize more “mainstem” and “side slough” areas. 2010 – 65% in either Yentna, Susitna, or Skwentna mainstem. Coho Salmon: 1.Utilize a wide variety of drainage morphologies throughout the entire watershed. CONCLUSIONS:

14. FUTURE: Distribution and Abundance estimation for coho salmon will continue through 2014. Distribution of Chinook Salmon will continue through 2014 (2012 first year)

15. Abundance estimates Little information on Susitna coho and chum salmon stocks Contribute to Cook Inlet fisheries Conservation and allocation issue Proposed hydroelectric dam – upper Susitna River

16. Flathorn Camp Susitna River Yentna River Fish Wheels 1 4 2 ~30 miles to Anchorage 3 ~18 miles to Cook Inlet Tracking Station Mainstem Camp 1 2 Fish Wheels

17. Objectives Tag chum and coho salmon with dart tags Deploy esophageal radio tags in chum and coho Generate abundance estimates for chum and coho stocks

18. Methods Capture and recapture using fish wheels Four wheels used for deployment Four fish wheels upstream – (Yentna and Mainstem Susitna River) 17

19. 18 Sampling

20. Tags deployed: Coho – 6,993 Chum – 4,598 19 Results

21. Yenta River Total Catch: Coho - 6,134 Chum - 6,191 Tags Recovered: Coho - 176 Chum - 158 20

22. Mainstem: Total Catch Coho - 643 Chum – 1,291 21 Tags recovered Coho - 15 Chum - 23

23. 22 Abundance Estimates - Chum Entire Susitna Watershed: 357,000 95% CI: 285,000 – 476,000) Yentna River: 202,000 95% CI: 110,000 – 292,000) Mainstem Susitna River:155,000 95% CI: 103,000 – 272,000)

24. Mainstem Susitna River: 60,000 (95% CI: 29,000 – 127,000) Yentna River 136,000 (95% CI: 99,000 – 206,000) Abundance estimates - Coho Entire Susitna Watershed: 196,000 (95% CI: 153,000 – 283,000)

25. Mainstem Yentna Deployment (Flathorn) 2011201020112010 Total Catch Coho – 647 Chum – 1,291 Total Catch Coho - 2,801 Chum - 34,743 Total Catch Coho - 6,134 Chum - 6,191 Total Catch Coho – 6,336 Chum – 16,406 Tags deployed Coho – 6,933 Chum – 4,598 Tags deployed Coho – 6,661 Chum – 37,805 20102011 Coho – 15 Chum – 23 Tag Recoveries Coho - 46 Chum - 713 Tag Recoveries Coho - 174 Chum - 159 Coho - 281 Chum - 478

26. Thank you

27. Acknowledgments Rick Merizon Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Wildlife Conservation (Formerly of the Division of Sport Fish) Richard Yanusz Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund Nick Logelin Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Sport Fish Dave Westerman Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Commercial Fisheries