Project Information

Title: Kenai River Sockeye Salmon Restoration 93015

Project Year and Number: 1993: 93015

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 1997: 97255-CLO, 1996: 96255, 1996: 96255-1, 1996: 96255-2, 1995: 95255, 1994: 94255, 1992: R053

Principal Investigator (PI): Ken Tarbox (Alaska Department of Fish & Game)

Managing Agency: ADFG

Assisting Personnel: Linda Brannian, Randall Davis, Jeff Fox, Stephen Fried, Bruce King

Research Location: Kenai River

Restoration Category: General Restoration

Injured Resources Addressed: Sockeye Salmon

Abstract: Greatly reduced fishing time in the Upper Cook Inlet (UCI) area due to EVOS caused sockeye salmon spawning escapement levels in the Kenai River system to exceed the desired amount by three times. Data collected by the Natural Resources Damage Assessment following the EVOS indicated greatly reduced survival of juvenile sockeye salmon during the winter-spring rearing period. Overpopulated rearing juvenile sockeye salmon may have exceeded the carrying capacity of salmon rearing lakes, affecting all trophic levels in the lakes. Limiting sockeye salmon fry production by closely regulating the number of spawning adults may be the only way to restore the productivity of these rearing areas. The goal of this project is to restore Kenai River sockeye salmon stocks injured by the EVOS. This will be accomplished through improved stock assessment capabilities, more accurate regulation of spawning levels, and modification of human use. Restoration will be achieved when average fry, smolt, and adult production can be maintained. Kenai River System sockeye salmon will be identified by genetic and parasite characteristics in combination with an offshore test fishing program and detection by hydroacoustic equipment.


Proposal: Not Available

Reports:
Annual Report FY93: View (1,288 KB)
Final Report: See Project 94255

Publications from this Project: None Available

Datasets:
EVOSTC Data Archive: Hydroacoustic signals; allozyme frequencies. Electronic (Excel, ASCII, Lotus): echograms; data type. Availability: Limited, based on availability and time to prepare.