The Fisheries Branch Anadromous Assessment Unit compiles annual population estimates of Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha.
Estimates are based on counts of fish entering hatcheries and migrating past dams, carcass surveys, live fish counts, creel census data,
and ground and aerial redd counts.
Monitoring of salmon escapement is an important component of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's fishery management function. The primary objectives of this work are to determine size and composition of salmon populations. Changes in salmon abundance, distribution, and habitat conditions that may reflect adverse effects on salmon are noted to determine if corrective action is necessary.
Central Valley Chinook Salmon
The Sacramento-San Joaquin River system is the principal producer of Chinook salmon caught in California's ocean fisheries. Its salmon runs also contribute to the ocean fisheries of Oregon and Washington. The fall run has been monitored since 1952, spring run since 1960, and late fall and winter runs since 1970.
The GrandTab report is a compilation of sources estimating the late-fall, winter, spring, and fall-run Chinook salmon populations for streams surveyed. Estimates are provided by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Water Resources, the East Bay Municipal Utilities District, the US Bureau of Reclamation, the Lower Yuba River Management Team, and the Fisheries Foundation of California.
Documents
- Central Valley Chinook Salmon Monitoring Annual Report (PDF)
These reports describe the materials, methods, and results of salmon escapement population monitoring projects in the Sacramento and San Joaquin River systems.
- GrandTab (PDF)
GrandTab is a compilation of escapement estimates of the late-fall, winter, spring, and fall-run Chinook salmon in the California Central Valley. This is the complete 21 page GrandTab document.
GrandTab is published as data becomes available.
Upper Klamath - Trinity River Chinook Salmon
Fall, late-fall, and spring-run Chinook spawn and rear in the Trinity River and in the Klamath River upstream of the mouth of the Trinity River. In the Trinity River, Chinook salmon spawn in the mainstem (with their upstream distribution limited by Lewiston Dam), the north and south forks, Hayfork Creek, New River, and Canyon Creek. In the Klamath River, Chinook salmon once ascended into Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, to spawn in the major tributaries to the lake (Williamson, Sprague, and Wood Rivers), but access to this region was blocked by Copco Dam, built in 1917. Today Chinook are known to spawn in the mainstem Klamath River, Bogus Creek, Shasta River, Scott River, Indian Creek, Elk Creek, Clear Creek, Salmon River, Bluff Creek, Blue Creek, and the lower reaches of some of the other smaller tributaries to the mainstem river.
The Megatable report is a compilation of sources estimating the fall-run Chinook salmon populations for streams surveyed. Estimates are provided by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the the U.S. Forest Service, the Hoopa Valley Business Council Fisheries Department, and the Yurok Tribal Fisheries Department.
Documents