2004 Yakima River Fall Chinook juvenile Migration Survival and Redd Surveys By: Melinda Davis Yakama Nation, Fish Biologist

Acclimation below Prosser Dam at Prosser Hatchery and above Prosser Dam at Marion Drain Hatchery and Stiles Pond.
A key uncertainty is the smolt-smolt survival in the upper river.
*where should we raise, and
*when should we release fish (short & long term)?

Warmer rearing conditions and earlier releases appear to yield better survival overall.
- -For all releases, Accelerated and MarionD out-perfomed the Conventional releases as smolts leaving the system,
- -AND as Adults returning to spawn for BY99 and BY2000.

The Accelerated releases have been as early as the 2nd or 3rd week of April. AND, due to circumstances, as late as the 1st week of May….
Regardless of release, mean passage date at McNary has typically been the end of May or beginning of June.

1) Observe timing and survival rates of wild fall chinook smolts emigrating above Prosser Dam (Union Gap and Granger) and below Prosser Dam (Benton/Kiona and VanG)
2) Observe how Hatchery releases compare to Wild releases.

Continue to Acclimate Fall Chinook at the Prosser and Marion Drain Hatcheries.
Attempt to Acclimate at Edler Pond in Union Gap for comparison to Hatchery experimental releases in 2006.
Acclimate at Stiles Pond in 2006.
Continue to Beach Seine Wild Fall Chinook.
Redd Surveys.
Radio Tag Returning Adults (2005) at the Prosser Denil.

YN: Andrew Lewis, Ernie Reynolds, Denny Nagle, Jason Allan, Conan Northwind, Quincy Wallahee, Joe Jay Pinkham III and Linda Lamebull who carried out the daily field activities to make it happen.
Mel Sampson, Dave Fast, Mark Johnston, Todd Newsome, Bill Bosch, Dave Lind, Doug Neeley, Billy Fiander and Ida Sohappy-Ike
Prosser Hatchery: Joe Blodgett, Sonny Fiander and the Prosser Hatchery crew.
BIG THANKS TO EACH OF YOU!
This project is funded by the Bonneville Power Administration and is administered through David Byrnes.