Salmon Species Chinook Aka “King” or “Tyee” or “Blackmouth” Largest of the seven species Average 4-10 years at sea Spawn in main stem of rivers

Chum Salmon Aka Dog salmon 2nd largest of the salmon species 2-6 years at sea Spawn in lower tidal stretches

Silver Salmon Aka Coho 3rd largest of the seven species 2-3 years at sea Spawn in upper reaches of rivers

Pink Salmon 1-2 years at sea Return to rivers only in odd numbered years (in Washington) 3-5 lbs

Steelhead Salmon Spring Spawner both a summer run and winter run Spawn in fast flowing upper reaches

Cutthroat trout (salmon) Coastal fish Migrates to estuaries and spawns in upper reaches Smallest of the seven species

Sockeye aka “Blueback” or “Kokanee” or “Red Salmon” Must spawn in river systems that have lakes (e.g. Lake Quinault) 5-8 pounds

Salmon Lifecycle Anadromous—salmon are born in fresh water—migrate to ocean to grow& return to their stream of origin to reproduce. Semelparity—die after spawning 2. Alevin Stage Freshwater Yolk sac contains proteins/carbs/fats Egg Stage Freshwater Gravel Need O2

Emerge from gravel and are active feeders 3. Fry Stage Emerge from gravel and are active feeders Parr marks are forms of camouflage Coho Fry Chinook Fry Steelhead Fry

4. Smolt Salmon spends time as a juvenile in the marine estuary Preparing it’s body to transition from a freshwater environment to a saltwater environment. This transitioning process is called smoltification. Notice the loss of their parr marks.

5. Ocean Adult Salmon puts on size depending on 3 factors: Length of time in the ocean Genetics Ocean conditions 6. Returning Adult Salmon use chemoreceptors to find home stream All rivers/streams have their own unique chemical signature based on the geology

7. Salmon Carcasses Return 95% of ocean nutrients to our ogliotrophic (nutrient poor) streams Food for multitudes of scavengers including young salmon fry

7 Needs Limiting Factors Genetic Diversity Access to Spawning habitat Cool Clean Water—45-55 F Food Supply-diet is 50% aquatic/50% terrestrial Clean Gravel (remember Soil BMPs and Riparian Zones?) Cover-Large Wooded Debris (LWD), undercut banks, rootwads Balanced Predator Populations

Clean Gravel Large Woody Debris Critical salmon habitat for cover; avoiding strong currents; finding food; cool water temps

Riparian Zones Create shade = cooler water = more OXYGEN—thus greater biodiversity! Source of LWD Keep gravel clean by trapping sediments