Lots of Winter Run Chinook Spawning Now

[matt johnson]

I observed many winter run Chinook actively spawning in the Sacramento River today. This was in the reach from Kutras Lake on up to Keswick. Almost every good area of spawning gravel had fish on it. This was very encouraging to me since up to this point things were looking dismal (few fish observed). It is too early to make any accurate predictions about total run size for 2009, but I believe it is going to at least hold with the last two years and possibly improve a little? No more downward trend! Here are some winter run Chinook numbers for the last few years:

1999 3,288
2000 1,352
2001 8,224
2002 7,464
2003 8,218
2004 7,869
2005 15,839
2006 17,334
2007 2,542
2008 2,850

Sacramento river winter run Chinook bottomed out at 186 fish in 1994 and were soon after listed as an endangered species. The run seemed to be on a good track for recovery through 2006, but then dropped way off in 2007 and 2008. All 4 races of Central Valley Chinook salmon and steelhead were WAY down in 2008.

Many people mistakingly refer to the winter run up in Redding as "springers" or "summer salmon". Spring run Chinook salmon ascend the rivers/creeks March throuh May, hold over all summer, and spawn late September through mid October. It is very incongruous for salmon to be spawning in June and July in Redding California, but that is how the Sacramento works now. This unique race of Chinook historically spawned June/July in cool, spring fed reaches of the upper Sacramento River basin well above Shasta Dam. Matt.

[Dustin Revel]

good news! and thanks for the clarification between spring and winter run.

[Tony Buzolich]

It sounds like good news Matt and I hope things keep going in this direction.

I'm still a bit confused though about the timing call and the names applied to the runs of fish. Are you saying that the tradional big fall run of salmon are actually spring or summer fish that have finally piled up on the gravel beds and are now visible for the usual take?

[OceanSunfish]

It's my understanding that the Sacramento River was host to 4 different runs of chinnook salmon at one point in time. Two have vanished while the 3rd (winter run) is on the endangered list. The last remaining run is the fall run.

I'm not sure when the two extinct runs spawned, but I surmise they spawned in the fall with the fall run and only the Winter Run spawned in the spring when they were able to reach the upper Sacramento during winter run off and draining watersheds.

I guess it's safe to say that three out of the four runs went belly-up after the installation of dams while the fall run was chosen to survive via hatchery programs.

Rivers like the Rogue get a true 'springer' which has the fat stored away so that the fish is able to survive all summer in the river until it's ready to spawn in the fall. These fish aren't even mature fish when they first enter the river in the early spring.

During the late 90's and early 2000's, the Feather was getting a lot of early fall run salmon in MayJune and by July 4th, the outlet hole would be busy. I guess these could be called springers since they have to mill around until the fall to spawn. All I know is that they are very strong fish and one caught in early July was a long way from being a "boot".

[Darrin.Deel]

I've noticed alot of salmon on alot on beds above cypress all the way through caldwell park.

[matt johnson]

Hi all. Central Valley Chinook are a little confusing, but here goes:

The San Joaquin system used to have spring run Chinook, but those are now extinct. The San Joaquin system now only has fall run Chinook.

Amazingly, all four races of Chinook endemic to the Sacramento River system are still with us. These include fall run, late fall run, spring, and winter run Chinook.

Before the installation of the Red Bluff Diversion Dam, the Sacramento River just had "Chinook Salmon". People didn't get all fancy with the run designations. However, operation of the traps and fish ladders at the dam revealed the fact that the river had four separate "runs" of Chinook. The names "winter", "spring", "fall", and "late-fall" were assigned based on peak passage timing through the Red Bluff Diversion Dam.

Winter-run Chinook lost their entire range of natal spawning habitat when Shasta Dam went in. However, they managed to somehow survive, spawning in the middle of summer in the river around Redding.

Spring run Chinook lost the vast majority of their habitat behind the dams on the San Joaquin, American, Feather, and Sacramento Rivers. However, viable populations still exist in Butte, Mill, and Deer Creeks. In addition, spring run Chinook are found in Big Chico, Beegum, Antelope, Clear, and Battle Creeks, although these populations range from 0-200 fish on a given year. Spring run Chinook enter their spawning tributaries late February through May, hold all summer in cool water, then spawn in the fall.

Feather River spring run are kind of a funny critter. There is considerable hybridization between fall and spring run Chinook on the Feather system due to historical Feather River hatchery practices. For a long time any fish entering the hatchery before October 16th were called “springers”, anything entering after the 16th were called “‘fall run” So, on the Feather River system you have a lot of salmon expressing spring run life history characteristics, ex. early entry, an over-summering period, then spawning in the fall. Nowadays the Feather River hatchery is taking more steps to segregate spring and fall run.

Fall-Run Chinook are the most abundant race in the Central Valley. They are produced by the millions in hatcheries and drive the sport and commercial fisheries. These fish enter the rivers July through October and spawn October through mid December.

Late Fall Chinook arrive on the heels of the fall run. They spawn late December through March on the Sacramento River. Coleman hatchery on Battle Creek also produces late fall run Chinook. Late fall run are also found throughout the valley in small numbers.

I hope this is a little bit clear? Like I said, it is sort of complicated! I could go into even more detail but I don’t want to put everybody to sleep, although I would be happy to provide further clarification. Matt.

[Mike R]

Matt,
Thanks for posting that information for everyone. Another interesting point about the salmon runs is to see how each run has slightly different life history strategies with regards to their specific habitat needs. The winter and spring run fish adapted to spawning high in tribs while fall and late fall fish are more prone to spawn in large-valley floor rivers (which is why they have fared better than the other runs; not ALL their spawning habitat has been blocked by dams).

There's a ton of info out there on salmon in california...search google scholar for Yoshiyama chinook or Williams chinook. For steelhead, look for McEwan and Jackson.

See ya,
Mike

[Notch]

Good stuff, Matt. Another thing to note about winter run Chinook is that historically they required cool, spring fed flows for their eggs to incubate through the scorching summer heat. The Upper Sac, McCloud, Pit, and Battle Creek provided those flows for the fish and are the only rivers winter run Chinook are native to, I think?

After Shasta went in, Summer water temps in the river would climb to 70* since water was released from the top of the lake. This warm water is what drove the winter run to near extinction. So, in 1998 a temperature control device was constructed on the dam which pulled cooler water from deep within the reservoir to allow the winter run eggs to incubate through the 100* summer heat. Basically, the Sac is so damn cold all summer long just because of the winter run Chinook.

[Dave Neal]

Matt, Thanks for all the information! What a great contribution to the board...

[Wolfie]

Hello...well I'm new here but it seems to me that with these counts in 2005 15,839
2006 17,334 and then just a drastic decrease
2007 2,542
2008 2,850, should you all in CA start protesting to ur local government to at least put up ladders where those dams were built, plus a re-stock of salmon according to the time frame, would be a better idea then to do nothing?