CRE-01-02 YR J Chinook & J Chum Out Migration Timing & Sampling Characteristics as Determined Using a Rotary Auger Trap From early June to August 2002, a rotary auger trap was operated in the Yukon River mainstem near Dawson City to evaluate this technique as a means to monitor downstream migrations of juvenile salmon from the upper Yukon River basin. This project was a collaboration between local a First Nation, community groups and Fisheries and Oceans, Canada. The rotary auger trap was operated successfully, and was rarely affected by debris. A total of 1,515 age 0+ chinook salmon, 68 age 1+ chinook salmon, and 159 age 0+ chum salmon was captured. Age 0+ chinook migration peaked in early July; the size and timing of chinook fry suggests growth occurred prior to, or during migration.. The peak of age 1+ chinook salmon migration was probably in June. Based on size, our results indicate chum salmon are migrating directly from spawning areas, with migration probably peaking in May before the trap was operated A total of 7,433 other fish was captured, of which most (84%) were various whitefish species. In future the trapping program should begin in early May to more fully sample the migrations of age 0+ chinook and 0+ chum salmon as well as age 1+ chinook salmon. An index program based on trap catches may have utility as a stock assessment tool.
CRE-02-02 Radio Tag Recovery: THFN Traditional Territory Acquire the post-spawning location of NMFS applied radio tags in streams within the Tr'ondek Hwech'in traditional territory and document any new spawning areas found.
CRE-05-02 Klondike River Sampling and Redd Mapping Determine overall run-size and techniques and methodologies for future broodstock collection, and assess broodstock feasibility on the Klondike River. Sample juvenile Chinook salmon to determine optimum target growout sizes to mimic naturally occurring conditions for future incubation and outplanting. In the process, map spawning habitat and critical over-wintering habitat.
CRE-06-02 Klondike Area Central Incubation and Outplanting Facility: Feasibility Assess the feasibility of building and operating an incubation and out-planting facility in the Dawson City region in support of proposed salmon restoration programs for streams in the THFN traditional territory.
CRE-07-02 First Fish 2002 Youth Camp First Fish 2002 was a joint initiative between Tr’ondek Hwech’in (T.H.) and the Yukon River Commercial Fishers Association (YRCFA). The aim of First Fish 2002 was to provide local youth with an opportunity to learn: Traditional and commercial salmon fishing skills (including catching, cleaning, cutting and smoking/drying) and Conservation and stewardship ethics, in respect to salmon and their habitat.
CRE-08-02 Coal Creek Stream Study: Spawning and Rearing Assess the presence of spawning and/or rearing salmon in Coal Creek.
CRE-09-02 Contingency Chum Test Fishery and Live Capture Fishwheels The purpose of this project was to assess the strength of the 2002 Fall Chum Run of Dawson City.
The work was performed by The Yukon River Commercial Fishing Association.
Live catch wheels were used in three locations between 40 Mile and Dawson City.
The project ran for four weeks.
A total of 2,756 chum salmon werecaught and 198 of them had been tagged.
The data collected helped to establish sufficient strength in the chum run to permit an
aboriginal fishery and a limited commercial fishery. CRE-09-02 Data
CRE-10-02 Contingency Chinook Test Fishery The Chinook Test Fishery is a project that organizes and conducts a test fishery
on the Yukon River for chinook salmon for fisheries management purposes. Salmon management in the Yukon Territory is accomplished technically by way
of a mark-recapture program, primarily conducted by Fisheries and Oceans
Canada.
CRE-13-02 Chandindu River Salmon Enumeration Weir Jeremy Roht and Jay Farr assisted the project as weir attendants and Jay also assisted in the report writing. Lana Miller, Patrick Milligan and Sandy Johnston of
Fisheries and Oceans, Canada (DFO) initiated and facilitated contact with the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USF&WS). A great deal of assistance was gained
from the USF&WS through personal communication and the sharing of key
information and weir technology. Photographs provided by Kevin VanHatten were
incredibly useful, and personal communications with both Kevin and David
Wiswar contributed greatly to our success. The Alaska Department of Fish and
Game (ADF&G) assisted with additional information pertaining to the construction
of resistance-board weirs. The Yukon River Panel under the Yukon River
Restoration and Enhancement Fund provided financing for this project.
CRE-15-02 Training and Chinook and Coho Habitat Assessment Four members of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation (Old Crow, Yukon) as well as a project coordinator, received training and experience related to conducting fish research in the field. The Miner River, a major tributary of the Porcupine River was sampled for juvenile chinook and coho salmon. An aerial survey was also conducted on the Miner Rivers as well as portions of the Whitestone and Fishing Branch Rivers to locate chinook spawning redds/adult salmon, and, to track via radio telemetry chinook salmon fitted with radio transmitters from Alaska. The results of the project indicate that the much of the Miner River (from mouth of the Fishing Branch River upstream to Fishing Creek) is a major spawning ground for Porcupine River Chinook salmon.
CRE-16-02 Traditional and Local Knowledge References to historic fish trap and salmon locations in the Porcupine River watershed were researched in the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation’s Oral History Project. Fourteen elders in Old Crow, Dawson City, and Fort McPherson were interviewed regarding the historic location of fish traps and salmon. Results of interviews and previously documented references were analysed and compiled in this report, which documents the historic location of twenty-two fish traps, thirty-four locations of salmon, and associated information within the Porcupine River watershed.
CRE-19-02 Monitor and Evaluate McQuesten River Logjam Diversion Develop an effective and efficient monitoring protocol. Monitor and evaluate the partial diversion excavated in CRE-06-00.
CRE-20-02 McQuesten River Watershed Assessment and Restoration Plan Determine and rank restoration opportunities based on an integrated watershed approach. Develop efficient and effective techniques for watershed assessment and restoration planning and provide baseline information to monitor development and rehabilitation. CRE-20-02 Appendix A, CRE-20-02 Fig. 4.3, CRE-20-02 Fig. 4.18, CRE-20-02 Fig. 4.19, CRE-20-02 Fig. 4.24, CRE-20-02 Fig. 4.28, CRE-20-02 Fig. 4.35, CRE-20-02 Fig. 4.36, CRE-20-02 Fig. 4.37.
CRE-21-02 Salmon Habitat Signs at Fraser Falls Inform river travelers and users about the presence of migrating Chinook salmon at Fraser Falls and use both English and Northern Tutchone on the signs.
CRE-23-02 McQuesten River Chinook Spawner Survey The McQuesten River, a tributary to the Stewart River, is an important chinook spawning stream that the
First Nation of the Nacho Nyak Dun has a keen interest in. In the last 50 years, a significant amount of development has occurred in the watershed; however, monitoring of the chinook population has been
sporadic. This project has collected the existing data on chinook spawning in the watershed and
included two overview flights to locate spawners. The results of the project found that the McQuesten River mainstem, below the confluence of the North and South McQuesten Rivers, is the primary
spawning area in the watershed. Several other areas were identified as spawning areas or potential
spawning areas; however, there is no evidence of annual spawning in these locations. Future works
were recommended to monitor numbers using the primary spawning location (as an index area) as well
the other locations in the watershed. CRE-23-02 Appendix A, CRE-23-02 Fig. 1.
CRE-24-02 Lower Stewart River Aquatic Habitat Classification System and Mapping Pilot Using a portion of the lower Stewart River and smaller tributaries as a pilot project to develop fisheries habitat classification and mapping methods that would be applicable to most Yukon watercourses. CRE-24-02 Appendix 1, CRE-24-02 Appendix 2
CRE-27-02 Investigations into Fish Habitats of Tributaries to the Pelly and MacMillan Rivers Investigations into fish habitats and fish utilization of tributaries to the Macmillan and Pelly Rivers upstream of the confluence of these two rivers (Figure 1) were conducted during July and August, 2002. The emphasis of these investigations was to determine current fish values of the tributaries and denote spawning areas. Adult chinook salmon were recorded for the first time in the Tummel River. Extensive areas of under-utilized spawning habitat were recorded on the Earn River. Sampling in mix water zones of the tributaries with the Pelly and Macmillan Rivers showed these areas support significant numbers of several fish species, particularly juvenile chinook salmon and juvenile whitefish (spp.). Juvenile chinook salmon were well dispersed in the larger, clear water tributaries and in rivers, but were found sporadically in the smaller tributaries. A total of 13 fish species were encountered during the study including; chinook salmon, slimy sculpin, Arctic grayling, northern pike, lake chub, long nose sucker, burbot, round whitefish, broad whitefish, least cisco, lake whitefish, inconnu and Arctic lamprey. CRE-27-02 Appendix 1, CRE-27-02 Appendix 2, CRE-27-02 Appendix 3, CRE-27-02 Appendix 4.
CRE-28-02 Mica Creek Salmon Habitat Restoration Mica Creek has been an important creek for salmon and historically provided a subsistence fishery to the Selkirk First Nations. The creek is small and subject to damming by beaver. Deadfall from a major forest fire, which occurred in 1969, results in log jams. The dams and logjams result in obstructions to adult and juvenile Chinook salmon. This project included the maintenance of the monitoring trail adjacent to the creek, the monitoring of the creek for obstructions, the mapping, assessment and breaching of dams and logjams, the sampling of juvenile Chinook salmon, and the mapping of Chinook salmon redds. All these components were conducted successfully. Trapping of beaver was not conducted due to high water levels. Implementation of the project extended over a two-year period due to staff turnover. Long-term stewardship of Mica Creek, with the participation of youth, is recommended.
CRE-29-02 2002 Chum Salmon Tag Recovery Project Yukon River Minto to Ft. Selkirk The primary objective of the Chum Spawning Ground Tag Recovery program is to gather in-season mark re-capture data to assist DFO fisheries management biologists to estimate run abundance on the mid mainstem of the Yukon River. This is achieved through recovering spaghetti tags to determine the ratio of tagged to untagged chum salmon in the Minto index area that extends from Minto Landing downstream to Fort Selkirk. CRE-29-02 Appendix A, CRE-29-02 Appendix B, CRE-29-02 Appendix C, CRE-29-02 Appendix D.
CRE-30-02 Groundwater ID and Investigations: Upper Yukon River Purchase and study satellite images through computerized aid and process, analyze and report on image analysis. Identified sites will be truthed by boat during peak spawning times.
CRE-33-02 Carmacks Watershed Camp The Cultural Education program at Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation allows for the high school students to participate in a three-day field trip to Alma Wrixon's Tatchun Creek fish camp during the fishing season.
CRE-35-02 Klusha Creek and Tatchun Creek Beaver Management Conduct summer juvenile Chinook fry trapping to determine presence/absence. Removal of beaver dams and trapping beaver in late winter. Aerial survey of the creek for observation and visual counts of salmon and redds.
CRE-40-02 Salmon Rearing Stream Signage Put signs at strategic points throughout the Teslin River Sub Basin to inform public to salmon spawning streams.
CRE-41-02 Chum Spawning Sites: Upper Teslin RiverIdentify, photograph and map observed and potential chum spawning areas.
CRE-42-02 Preliminary Assessment of Chinook Incubation/Dist.: Swift River, BC Initiate investigations of spawning habitat in the Swift River, which could determine if boating activity in this area is having a negative effect on egg and larvae survival.
CRE-44-02 Salmon Information Gathering Workshop for the Teslin Tlingit Traditional Territory The Teslin Tlingit Council held a Salmon Information Gathering Workshop on June 24 and 25, 2002. There was an extensive amount of scientific and Traditional Knowledge data collected from Teslin residents (including elders and Teslin Tlingit Council Lands staff), government agencies and environmental consultants. It was obvious that the interest and importance of salmon within the Teslin Community is of a very high interest and importance. This workshop captured an extensive amount of data and provided an excellent starting point for future salmon planning in the Teslin Tlingit Traditional Territory. CRE-44-02 Appendix 2
CRE-47-02 Teslin River Sub Basin Community Stewardship and Beaver Management Plan for Chinook Enhancement Conduct an integrated management program through which conservation concerns throughout the Teslin River Sub Basin can be addressed in-season as the need arises.
CRE-50-02 McClintock River Watershed Salmon Management Plan Document Traditional Knowledge resource values and map sensitive terrain potentially affecting salmon habitat if disturbed. Gather information on present and future land use activities in the watershed. Barrier removal, dead pitch adult population and health enumeration and juvenile Chinook salmon relative index for population, timing and health.
CRE-54-02 Upper Takhini River Tributaries Juvenile Chinook Salmon Investigations The summer of 2002 is the first year for chinook salmon restoration initiatives performed on the tributaries of Kusawa Lake and the upper most reach of the Mendenhall River by the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, the principal component for this project. Both of the project locations drain into the Takhini River, a tributary of the Yukon River. Funding for the project was provided by the Yukon River Panel’s Restoration and Enhancement (R&E) Fund. The focus for this first year, of the proposed multi-year project, was to collect and report chinook salmon and habitat data on six selected Takhini River tributaries within the study area. The project’s primary objective is to investigate the presence/absence of juvenile chinook salmon (jcs) in the study locations. During investigations water quality data, reconnaissance salmon habitat data and background information were collected. Of the six tributaries investigated, only in the Primrose River and the Upper Takhini River jcs were captured in a very low quantity. Also, both these rivers hosted dune-like features consistent with the classic stereotypical chinook spawning dunes. At the outlet of the Kusawa River an observation was made of fry surface feeding. These fry were not captured and only observed at a distance but were of an anticipated size as out-migrating jcs but the crew could not definitively substantiate that these fry were jcs. No jcs were captured or observed during the Mendenhall River investigations but prime salmon spawning habitat was noted.
CRE-55-02 Upper Nordenskiold River Restoration Ensuring the successful distribution of Chinook salmon, by removing obstructions, temperature profiles, aerial spawning survey to record the abundance, distribution and location of adult salmon and also obtain DNA samples.
CRE-56-02 Beaver Dams Upwelling Ground Water To gain a better understanding of the relationship between upwelling ground water sites, beaver dams and the various life stages of chum salmon in the upper Kluane River.
CRE-57-02 Investigation Spawning Chum: Kluane Lake This report documents a chum salmon spawning site located at the southeast end of Kluane Lake near Silver City and provides preliminary information on the habitat characteristics of the site. At least 30 chum spawners were observed at this site during an aerial survey on October 14, 2002. Genetic material for stock identification was collected from 31 post-spawned chum.
CRE-58-02 Conserve and Restore Chinook Habitat: Tincup Creek An aerial survey was conducted on August 29, 2002 to track radio-tagged chinook salmon and enumerate chinook salmon spawners in selected watersheds of the White River sub-basin lying within the traditional territory of Kluane First Nation. Areas surveyed included sections of the Donjek, Klotassin and Nisling Rivers, the Tincup Lake drainage and upper reaches of the Kluane River. A total of 7 radio tagged chinook was located in the surveyed streams and rivers. These included 5 located in the Nisling River, one in Tincup Creek and one in the Donjek River near the confluence of the Kluane River. The radio-tagged fish located in Tincup Creek was alive and observed near a spawning redd. All remaining tagged fish were detected as inactive and presumed to be dead. A total of 21 chinook spawners were counted in Tincup Creek between the outlet of Tincup Lake and the mouth of the creek, although spawning activity appeared to be nearing completion. The Nuntaea Creek drainage between Dogpack Lake and Tincup Lake appeared to have limited chinook spawning potential and no chinook spawners were observed at the time of the survey. Upper reaches of the Kluane River showed good potential spawning habitat between the outlet of Kluane Lake and the confluence of the Duke River. However, there were no chinook spawners observed here and no sign of recent spawning activity at the time of the survey.
CRE-60-02 Upper White River Chinook Reconnaissance During the summer of 2002 efforts were made to determine the extent of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) within the upper White River watershed (above the mouth of the Donjek River). The study consisted of gathering existing knowledge, juvenile sampling and an adult reconnaissance. Gathering of local and scientific information indicated that there was sporadic documentation of chinook in the study area; however, traditional information indicated that chinook appeared to be more common in the 1940’s and 1950’s, specifically in the Snag Creek watershed. Juvenile sampling and spawner surveys (aerial survey, radio tracking and gillnetting) conducted in 2002 did not reveal any chinook or evidence of chinook salmon in the study area. Recent reports indicate a significant amount of straying adult chinook were present in Enger Creek, a tributary to Snag Creek in 1995. Assuming there was a consistent run of chinook in the past, it appears that this chinook salmon population no longer exists. The reasons for an apparent disappearance are not clear; however, are likely due to a combination of factors which are discussed in this report.
CRE-63-02 Whitehorse Rapids Hatchery Coded Wire Tagging Ensure that all salmon released from the Whitehorse Hatchery are tagged with coded wire tags and have their adipose fin clipped. Recover a representative sample of heads from the Whitehorse Rapids Fishway.
CRE-65-02 McIntyre Creek Salmon Incubation Project Take eggs, incubate, rear apply coded wire tags and release groups of Chinook fry back into Takhini River and Tatchun Creek. Monitor returning adults and fry that have been released to determine effectiveness. Provide eggs and a facility for their incubation to schools around the Yukon.
CRE-67-02 Yukon Schools Fry Releases and Habitat Studies Give students, teachers and parent volunteers an appreciation of the natural aquatic habitat of the salmon by enabling them to participate in "hands on" activities at Yukon salmon streams.
CRE-68-02 First Nations Fisheries Technical and Stewardship Capacity BuildingProvide technical and stewardship capacity within Yukon First Nations by supplying standardized and uniform training through the Fisheries Field Technician Training Certificate Program.
CRE-69-02 Yukon Salmon Stewardship Program To assist in the Yukon Salmon Committee's stewardship program by providing funds to Yukon Habitat Stewards to use as "seed money" to initiate valuable conservation and stewardship projects.
CRE-69A-02 YSSP: R&E Fund Report Templates & Manuals The manuals and reports were compiled in an effort to assist individuals and groups with the successful completion of Restoration and Enhancement projects via the Yukon River Panel's R&E Program. Although the manuals are as generic as possible, much of the content of both the manuals and the templates have information specific to the R&E program and process.
CRE-70-02 Restore Fish Passage To restore fish population and habitat by creating access to historic migration areas, which have been prevented for up to 20 or so years due to culvert barriers.
CRE-71-02 Development of a Fish and Fish Habit GIS Database and Restoration Plan for the City of Whitehorse To improve the City of Whitehorse fisheries assessment capabilities and to promote stewardship and awareness of fisheries resources in the City.
CRE-72-02 Commercial Fish Plant Upgrades & Value Added Processing This project was about doing the necessary upgrades to our fish processing facility in order to maintain our viability and thus: (1) enable us to purchase and process salmon supplied by other commercial fishers - thus maintaining their viability, (2) do the work necessary to acquire export permits, and (3) produce the finest product possible that commands top prices while retaining the most value from our salmon resources locally by way of the employment created and markets developed.
CRE-75-02 Commercial Salmon Fishery Feasibility Study: Dawson City Salmon Plant Feasibility Model A comprehensive business and development plan for the Commercial Fishery, based in Dawson City to maintain the long term viability of Yukon's commercial fishery as a whole.
CRE-78-02 Radio Telemetry Tracking of Chinook Salmon in the Canadian Portion of the Yukon River Watershed Obtain accurate information on the numbers of radio-tagged fish entering primary tributaries of the Canadian section of the Yukon River to determine spawning distribution and timing. To establish four remote tracking stations located at or near the mouths of the Stewart, White, Pelly and Teslin Rivers. An additional station is to be located on the upper Stewart River.
CRE-79-02 Stock Identification of Yukon River Chinook Salmon using Microsatellite DNA Loci Survey MHC variation in Yukon River Chinook salmon populations on a drainage wide basis. Examine population structure and biodiversity of populations and evaluate utility of using MHC variation to provide population specific estimates of stock composition for Yukon River Chinook salmon populations.
CRE-86-02 Restoration of Placer Mined Streams Identification of Strategies to Expedite Recovery An overview study was conducted in August 2002 to assess the effects of historical placer mining activities on stream channel stability and to prepare conceptual recommendations to expedite the recovery of these
areas. Four representative watersheds were inspected. These consisted of Upper Clear Creek, Indian
River, Hunker Creek and lower Klondike River near Dawson. The effects of varying historic mining techniques were evaluated as was the performance of two sites on Hunker Creek which received the
Robert E. Leckie Award for Outstanding Mining Reclamation Practices. These sites were selected as being
representative of the best modern mining and reclamation procedures. CRE-86-02 Exec.Summ. & TOC, CRE-86-02 Appendix 1.
CRE-92-02 Placer Miners to Monitor Sediment (2) Method Two year project to devise a field method for placer miners to monitor suspended sediment levels of effluent discharge.
CRE-95-02 Yukon Queen II Investigations Further investigations are needed to assess this community concern, in 2000/01 a limited study was completed however the significance of this data is still unclear. The continuance of this study is required to clarify the significance of the harm to fry.
CRE-96-02 Salmon Restoration of Fox, Laurier and Joe Creeks Restore salmon access to rearing habitat through stream clearance and beaver management, record the historical use and harvest of salmon resources in these areas and develop a long-term water quality and quantity monitoring program.
URE-01-02 Radio Tag Recovery Lower Yukon Fisheries Retrieve radio transmitters from salmon caught in the lower section of the Yukon River and send back to Marshall or Russian Mission for re-deployment.
URE-02-02 Mtn Village Fall Season Salmon Drift Gillnet Test Fishery Provide the Alaska Department of Fish and Game with fall chum and Coho salmon migration timing, run composition and relative abundance at sites on the lower Yukon River.
URE-04-02 Abundance and ASL Composition of the Chinook and Summer Chum Escapements in the Salcha River Estimate total escapement of Chinook and chum salmon and estimate age, sex and length compositions of the Chinook salmon escapement.
URE-06-02 Kaltag Fall Chum and Coho Season Test Drift Gillnet Fishery Enumerate fall chum and Coho salmon by using test drift fishing techniques and procedures. Collect scale samples and age, sex and length data.
URE-08-02 Subdistrict Y-5A Fall Chum and Coho Test Fishwheel The Y-5A Test Fishwheel Project operated from July 1 to September 30 in 2002. Data were collected for chinook and summer chum salmon entering the Tanana
River for the first time at the site. The data for fall chum and coho salmon were added to
the information gathered since 1993. A new and improved fishwheel was used that
successfully addressed problems associated with the old design. Video capture
equipment was used throughout the season as the primary method of data collection. URE-08-02 Appendix 1, URE-08-02 Appendix 2
URE-09-02 Rampart Rapids Fall Chum Catch Per Unit Effort Video Monitoring The Rapids video fish wheel provides daily fishwheel/video catch-per-unit-effort data on fall chum to fisheries managers.
URE-11-02 In-Season Management Teleconferences Arrange and conduct weekly teleconferences to include fishers and management agencies involved throughout the Yukon River drainage during the fisheries season.
URE-12-02 Enhance Mainstem Fall Chum Escapement Provide supplementary hatchery fish for consumption by dogs to relieve harvest pressure on native stocks of chum salmon
URE-13-02 Effect of Ichthyophonus on Survival and Reproduction in Chinook Salmon Repeat multi-site monitoring of Chinook salmon for Ichthyophonus prevalence and pathogenicity from Emmonak to Whitehorse. Relate changes in annual disease severity to annual changes in river conditions. Examine spawn-outs at terminal spawning streams and attempt to find the source of Ichthyophonus infections. Determine if non-salmonid species are also infected. URE-13-02 Appendix I, URE-13-02 Appendix II, URE-13-02 Appendix III, URE-13-02 Appendix IV, URE-13-02 Appendix V, URE-13-02 Figures, URE-13-02 Tables. |
