Salmon Species

ChinookAka “King” or “Tyee” or “Blackmouth”Largest of the seven speciesAverage 4-10 years at seaSpawn in main stem of rivers

Chum SalmonAka Dog salmon2nd largest of the salmon species2-6 years at seaSpawn in lower tidal stretches

Silver SalmonAka Coho3rd largest of the seven species2-3 years at seaSpawn in upper reaches of rivers

Pink Salmon1-2 years at seaReturn to rivers only in odd numbered years (in Washington)3-5 lbs

Steelhead SalmonSpring Spawner both a summer run and winter runSpawn in fast flowing upper reaches

Cutthroat trout (salmon)Coastal fishMigrates to estuaries and spawns in upper reachesSmallest of the seven species

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

Salmon LifecycleAnadromous—salmon are born in fresh water—migrate to ocean to grow& return to their stream of origin to reproduce. Semelparity—die after spawning

1.Egg Stage• Freshwater• Gravel• Need O2

2. Alevin Stage•Freshwater•Yolk sac contains proteins/carbs/fats

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

Coho Fry

Chinook Fry

Steelhead Fry

4. SmoltSalmon 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 AdultSalmon puts on size depending on 3 factors:•Length of time in the ocean •Genetics•Ocean conditions

6. Returning AdultSalmon use chemoreceptors to find home streamAll rivers/streams have their own unique chemical signature based on the geology

7. Salmon CarcassesReturn 95% of ocean nutrients to our ogliotrophic (nutrient poor) streamsFood for multitudes of scavengers including young salmon fry

7 NeedsLimiting 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

Large Woody DebrisCritical salmon habitat for cover; avoidingstrong currents; finding food; cool water temps

Clean Gravel

Riparian ZonesCreate shade = cooler water = more OXYGEN—thus greater biodiversity!Source of LWDKeep gravel clean by trapping sediments