Coho Smolt Monitoring
Current Smolt Counts
Methods
Funnel net traps are operated on Green Valley and Mill creeks each spring to monitor the downstream migration of coho smolts. In past years, smolt traps were also operated on Sheephouse and Ward creeks. Captured coho, Chinook and steelhead are counted, weighed and measured, scanned for coded-wire and/or PIT tags, and possibly sampled for genetics before being released back into the creek. Each fish is also checked for the presence of an adipose fin clip to determine whether it is a hatchery-released program fish (clipped adipose fin) or a wild fish (intact adipose fin). All other fish, amphibians, crustaceans and other aquatic species are counted and recorded.
Results
The data from downstream migrant smolt trapping allows us to determine minimum smolt counts, overwinter survival of fall-released program coho, average smolt size, and growth of PIT-tagged fish. Trapping also and offers an opportunity to collect genetic samples from wild coho smolts to determine whether they are offspring of wild adults or Broodstock Program fish.
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