Ecological and Genetic Interactions between Hatchery and Wild Steelhead in Eagle Creek, Oregon

摘要

The purpose of this project was to determine the ecological and genetic interactions between a hatchery stock of steelhead raised at Eagle Creek National Fish Hatchery for harvest and a U.S. Endangered Species Act threatened steelhead population in Eagle Creek, Oregon. We evaluated adult returns, hatchery smolt releases, abundance and habitat selection of juvenile fish, and genetics of hatchery and wild origin steelhead. From these evaluations we: (1) determined hatchery and wild adult return timing, distribution and abundance (2) determined migration time for juvenile hatchery steelhead from the release site to the mouth of Eagle Creek (3) determined the distribution and summer rearing densities of juvenile salmonids in Eagle Creek and North Fork Eagle Creek (4) determined the presence or absence of residual hatchery steelhead, and if present, determined what impact if any, they have on mesohabitat (riffle, pool, and glide) selection of juvenile wild salmonids (5) determined the genetic contribution of hatchery and wild fish to natural production and (6) determined the fish health and disease profile of hatchery and wild fish in Eagle Creek.