ANNUAL REPORT
TRINITY RIVER SALMON AND STEELHEAD HATCHERY, 2002-2003
By
Gary R. Ramsden
Fisheries Programs Branch
North Coast, Northern California Region
ABSTRACT
This report describes the operation of Trinity River Salmon and Steelhead Hatchery for
the period July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003. Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus
tshawytscha), coho salmon (O. kisutch), and steelhead (Salmo gairdnerii gairdnerii) were
reared.
Tables present the numbers of adults spawned, eggs produced, and fish planted. The
appendix tables present the numbers of eggs and fish liberated and received, and fish
trapping data for the fiscal year.
_________________________________
1/ Inland Fisheries Administrative Report No.
Submitted
INTRODUCTION
This is the forty-fifth consecutive fiscal year report covering operation of the Trinity
River Salmon and Steelhead Hatchery, located near Lewiston, Trinity County. The
hatchery was constructed by the United States Bureau of Reclamation to compensate for
spawning and rearing areas lost to the Trinity River Project. The California Department
of Fish and Game began operation of the permanent installation on May 15, 1963.
Operation and maintenance costs are paid by the Bureau to mitigate this loss. This report
describes operation of the hatchery from July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003.
-2-
PRODUCTION SUMMARY
The ladder was opened on September 6, and spring run chinook salmon began entering
the hatchery trap. The spring run continued through October 10, of which time the
majority of the salmon arriving were fall run. The fall run continued until December 23,
2001.
Coho salmon were trapped from October 03, 2002, through January 14, 2003. Steelhead
entered the hatchery from September 12, 2002, through March 11, 2003.
TABLE 1. Production Summary 2002-2003
________________________________________________________________________
Species
Number
Trapped
Number
Eggs Taken Number
Number
Total
females
fingerlings yearlings
pounds
spawned
planted
planted
planted
________________________________________________________________________
Spring run
chinook
salmon
11,063
1,192
3,854,660
1,005,179 425,701
73,734
Fall run
chinook
salmon
4,500
1,331
4,597,470
Coho
salmon
7,175
667
2,006,900
2,078,192
940,049
95,839
418,139
55,990
Steelhead
6,163
808
3,994,430
877,268
173,294
________________________________________________________________________
Total
28,316
3,998
14,453,460 3,083,371 2,661,157
398,857
-3-
Hatchery Operations
During the 2002-2003 spawning season, spring chinook, coho, and steelhead runs
exceeded established egg allotments and thus satisfied their smolt and/or yearling
programs. The fall Chinook run fell short by 23%, to provide 6,000,000 green eggs for its
appointed allotment. Our liberal allotment of 2:1 egg take over production goals, proved
wise. Enough fall run eggs were collected (4.6 million) to produce ample fish for both
fall smolt and yearling programs expressed in Table 1. Returning steelhead (6,163),
during this report year, numbered second only to the 1965 season, when 6,941 entered the
new installation, and is monumental to the return count of 13 fish in 1977 (Appendix
Table 2).
After hatch, all salmon were nutritionally started on Bio-Moist Grower mash, and then
continued on Bio-Moist Feed until liberation. Steelhead were initially fed BMG #1
starter mash to a size of 50 fish per pound, and then converted to Bio-Dry 1000. Our
demand feed system, exclusive to steelhead, dispersed the feed upon the will of the fish,
until April release into the Trinity River. Salmon were presented feed by means of a
mechanical blower or at times, by hand.
A combined total of 442,200 pounds of feed produced 398,857 pounds of fish for both
smolt and yearling programs of all four fish varieties. Feed poundage was divided into
285,200 wet and 157,000 dry feed, produced by Bio-Oregon, Inc. of Warrington, Oregon.
The conversion rate was calculated at 1.11 (pounds of feed required to rear one pound of
fish).
There were no serious outbreaks of disease during this time frame, although coho
production suffered a reasonable loss during an internal infection controlled with
conventional means. The loss dropped release numbers below program goals. An
assertive plan of quarantine and sterilization during spawning and egg handling, plus
regular pond cleaning, has proved health effective. Prophylactic procedures and low
pond densities have been essential to disease control including viral Infectious
Hematopioetic Necrosis. Production yearlings were not vaccinated with Yersina Ruckeri
Bacterin, an enteric redmouth disease treatment. Department of Fish and Game regional
pathologists have determined this past treatment was successful and to abandon the costly
process while monitoring the health of all production fish. Coho were spawned and egg
lots periodically tested for Bacterial Kidney Disease. Overall, Trinity River Hatchery fish
health assessment was very good.
-4The Hoopa Valley Tribal Fisheries monitor fish migration and populations as part of their
management role in the Klamath River Basin. Data, from coded wire tagging, trapping
sites, and hatchery statistics, are collected for run characteristics and regulation.
“Constant fractional marking”, a statistical strategy, has been implemented in cooperation
with Humboldt State University to track hatchery releases. This operation effectively
enumerates hatchery salmon production for release estimation. Both Chinook races are
marked at the rate of 1 in 4 (25%).
Visitor counts to the installation totaled 5,732. This was a 6% decrease from the previous
year. Guided tours were provided to schools or other interested groups upon request.
Work experience and job shadowing opportunities were utilized by career seeking
individuals, through sponsoring agencies, in all facets of our fish rearing operation.
Approximately 1,089 fly fishers used the Trinity River fishing access in waters adjacent
to the installation, from late April until mid September, a 22% usage decrease, due largely
to increased lake releases during the period.
Chinook Salmon Maintenance Program
The History of the 2002 Run
Chinook salmon began arriving at Trinity River Hatchery in mid May. The ladder and
trap were opened for salmon entry on September 6, and sorting started on September 9.
Eggs were collected through December 12.
Spring Run
A total of 11,063 spring run chinook were trapped between September 6 and October 10,
2002. This total included 4,849 females, 5,608 males and 606 grilse. Fish less than 55
cm, FL, were considered and counted as grilse. Spring females produced 3,854,600
green eggs, an average of 3,238/female. Egg size averaged 91/ounce.
Fall Run
During November and through December 30, 2002, the fall-run numbered 4,500 fish.
This total included 1,412 females, 2,342 males and 746 grilse. Spawned females
produced 4,597,470 green eggs, an average of 3,454/female. Egg size averaged
82/ounce.
-5Planting 2001 Brood Year Chinook Salmon
We planted a total of 1,365,750 chinook yearlings this fiscal year. (Table 2).
Table 2. Yearling Chinook Salmon Planted 2002-2003.
Date
Fish/lb.
10/10-15/02
8.3
13.4
Race
Release site
Spring
Fall
TRH
TRH
Number
425,701
940,049
Total
1,365,750
Planting 2002 Brood Year Chinook Salmon
A total of 3,083,371 chinook salmon fingerlings were planted in 2003 (Table 3).
Table 3. 2002 Brood Year Fingerling Chinook Salmon
Date
Fish/lb.
Race
6/3-09/03
44.5
44.6
76.0
84.5
105.5
Spring
Spring
Fall
Fall
Fall
Release Site
TRH
TRH
TRH
TRH
TRH
Number
714,503
290,676
1,019,337
1,017,888
40,967
__________
Total 3,083,371
COHO SALMON MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
History of the 2002 Run
Coho salmon entered the hatchery from October 3, 2002 to January 14, 2003. We trapped
7,175 fish: 3,550 males; 2,937 females; and 688 grilse. Coho females averaged 3,009
eggs @ 95/ounce. A total of 2,006,990 eggs were taken.
-6Planted 2001 Brood Year Coho Salmon
Table 4. Coho Salmon Yearling Planted in 2003
Date
3/17-19/03
Size/lb.
6.3
9.6
7.9
7.8
Race
Trinity
Trinity
Trinity
Trinity
Release
TRH
TRH
TRH
TRH
Number
106,594
41,933
134,808
134,804
Total 418,139
STEELHEAD MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
History of the 2002-2003 Run
The first steelhead entered the hatchery on September 12, 2002. We trapped through
March 11, 2003, collecting 6,163 fish: 3,576 males and 2,587females. Between
December 30 and March 11, 2003, we spawned 808 females. They produced 3,994,430
eggs, with an average of 4,944/female. Eggs averaged 262/ounce.
Steelhead Planted
We planted a total 877,268 yearling steelhead in FY 2002-2003. (Table 5)
Strain &
brood year
TR-02
Table 5. Steelhead Planted in 2002-2003 FY
Release
Date
Fish/lb.
Mark
site
Number
3/17-19/03
5.8
Ad
TRH
98,699
5.5
Ad
TRH
85,371
5.7
Ad
TRH
100,388
5.5
Ad
TRH
98,450
5.3
Ad
TRH
97,504
4.7
Ad
TRH
78,015
4.6
Ad
TRH
78,908
4.6
Ad
TRH
77,285
4.5
Ad
TRH
77,274
4.5
Ad
TRH
85,374
Total 877,268
-7-
Appendix Table 1. Weekly Adult Salmon and Steelhead Trapping Dates for 2002-03
Chinook
Adults
Grilse
Date
9/10/02
9/12/02
9/16/02
9/17/02
9/18/02
9/23/02
9/25/02
9/26/02
9/30/02
10/03/02
10/07/02
10/10/02
10/24/02
10/28/02
10/31/02
11/04/02
11/07/02
11/12/02
11/14/02
11/18/02
11/21/02
11/25/02
11/27/02
12/02/02
12/05/02
12/09/02
12/12/02
12/16/02
12/19/02
12/23/02
12/30/02
01/06/03
01/14/03
01/21/03
01/28/03
02/04/03
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
904
1,304
1,119
245
934
1,346
1,191
499
1,094
730
607
484
758
499
514
592
387
303
169
263
73
67
25
45
31
3
13
2
4
3
2
0
0
0
0
0
32
47
58
26
39
82
55
36
71
48
43
69
196
113
117
122
59
48
37
32
12
7
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Coho
Adults
Grilse
Steelhead
Male Female
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
4
8
23
6
728
504
470
139
376
342
542
528
851
796
642
212
176
100
33
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
3
5
49
43
26
68
34
169
65
86
23
31
11
28
12
14
6
8
1
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
0
1
1
4
2
25
8
3
3
6
32
66
83
54
44
15
31
21
66
105
354
450
342
166
146
202
365
349
162
0
1
1
0
0
0
2
2
1
1
0
2
21
3
4
6
5
22
47
50
33
27
13
22
12
36
38
149
256
185
134
147
174
249
307
177
-8-
Appendix Table 1. Weekly Adult Salmon and Steelhead Trapping Dates for 2002-03
Continued
Date
02/11/03
02/18/03
02/25/03
03/04/03
03/11/03
Totals
Chinook
Adult Grilse
Coho
Adult
Grilse
Steelhead
Male Female
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
64
162
124
87
30
114
148
86
70
42
14,211
1,352
6,487
688
3,576
2,587
-9Appendix Table 2. Summary of Fish Runs to Trinity River Salmon and Steelhead
Hatchery
Chinook
Dates
1958-59
1959-60
1960-61
1961-62
1962-63
1963-64
1964-65
1965-66
1966-67
1967-68
1968-69
1969-70
1970-71
1971-72
1972-73
1973-74
1974-75
1975-76
1976-77
1977-78
1978-79
1979-80
1980-81
1981-82
1982-83
1983-84
1984-85
1985-86
1986-87
1987-88
1988-89
1989-90
1990-91
1991-92
1992-93
1993-94
1994-95
1995-96
Males
1,269
1,716
1,493
885
1,308
1,569
1,974
477
1,052
1,620
1,797
624
773
3,648
5,217
2,483
4,547
2,958
2,845
1,841
4,478
1,138
2,745
2,214
1,874
2,764
1,923
6,548
13,109
12,374
19,391
8,218
1,677
1,837
2,237
1,483
4,394
9,740
Females
1,744
2,833
1,287
1,613
1,608
2,627
3,042
1,077
1,002
1,250
2,102
832
725
4,645
4,825
1,152
2,840
3,405
1,901
1,318
5,135
1,480
2,271
2,514
1,683
3,256
1,157
2,821
9,376
8,593
12,594
7,728
2,166
2,088
2,452
1,744
3,078
13,879
Coho
Grilse
878
2,701
4,130
2,899
6,535
2,539
1,287
1,521
2,876
1,746
873
1,130
2,946
928
339
1,577
677
860
2,878
2,562
1,287
1,452
2,242
1,146
4,112
903
664
14,533
5,462
5,273
4,401
426
413
447
1,110
997
5,313
623
Steelhead
Males
Females
240
49
84
158
7
32
23
2
45
287
3
153
1,410
28
28
3,808
33
68
1,171
381
580
1,241
753
830
1,686
223
574
3,729
1,309
9,165
5,713
2,509
666
1,430
1,157
1,136
69
2,091
343
44
54
160
0
40
25
1
173
519
1
132
1,396
11
30
3,787
22
109
1,414
317
995
1,547
1,070
1,164
2,112
256
676
3,919
1,593
11,243
5,802
2,324
706
1,056
1,084
920
43
2,414
Grilse
33
26
70
37
9
11
2
9
807
59
34
1,711
341
8
2,612
468
40
2,060
223
1,230
2,080
1,253
1,500
2,529
1,000
227
7,611
4,138
5,230
2,930
1,301
136
263
202
1,351
138
76
276
2,880
2,071
3,526
3,243
1,687
894
6,941
992
135
232
554
241
87
242
271
162
372
175
13
285
683
382
2,019
1,007
715
603
142
461
3,780
3,007
817
4,765
927
350
551
882
376
646
-10-
Appendix Table 2. Summary of Fish Runs to Trinity River Salmon and Steelhead
Hatchery – continued
Dates
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
Totals
Chinook
Males
Females Grilse
4,902
6,229
571
5,185
4,500
1,712
8,397
7,226
3,790
2,216
2,973
1,980
20,509
17,061
1,650
11,699
12,706
750
7,950
6,261
1,352
199,098
182,799 104,491
Males
4,895
398
1,950
1,264
1,699
4,844
3,550
61,471
Coho
Females
4,682
458
1,862
1,783
1,763
4,960
2,937
65,947
Steelhead
Grilse
538
1,731
1,036
396
932
986
688
48,338
4,046
419
438
1,584
842
2,381
6,163
62,989