I began my assignment on 1 April 1991 to compile, analyze and write-up or edit back-year accumulations of file data pertaining to studies conducted to determine survival and harvest rates of salmon and steelhead reared at Trinity River Hatchery. Preliminary analyses have been completed for the first of four high priority tasks developed to meet Job VIII's contract objectives.
1. To provide for the compilation, analysis, write-up or editing of multi-year accumulations of previously collected file data pertaining to Trinity River basin salmon and steelhead that are beyond the scope of current Project activities.
2. To provide timely, as-needed technical support to the Project Supervisor in responding to unprogrammed information and data analysis requests regarding Trinity River basin salmon and steelhead stocks.
Klamath-Trinity Program management defined the following four high priority tasks as the first to be completed in fulfilling the Job Objectives mentioned above.
1. Survival and contribution to the fisheries and spawner escapements made by chinook salmon of the 1977-1979 and 1982-1984 brood years released at Trinity River Hatchery (TRH) and at locations downstream of the hatchery.
2. Survival and contribution to the fisheries and spawner escapements made by chinook salmon of the 1977-1979, 1983-1984 and 1986 brood years reared and released at TRH as fingerlings, yearlings and 1.5 year old fish.
3. Survival and contribution to the fisheries and spawner escapements made by coho salmon of the 1979-1982 brood years reared and released at TRH at various phases of the lunar cycle.
4. Survival and contribution to the fisheries and spawner escapements made by coho salmon of the 1976-1978 brood years reared and released at TRH, based on size of release.
I was appointed to fill this position on 1 April 1991 and began collecting tagging records and recovery data for the coded-wire tag groups used in the first study listed above. As of 30 June 1991, preliminary analysis was completed on the first study. The results of this analysis showed that survival was increased from three to ten fold by trucking and releasing fingerlings in the lower Trinity River. Although survival was increased, straying of fish returning to spawn was also increased. The survival of yearlings was increased by about 10 percent for groups planted 38 miles downstream of Trinity River Hatchery.
