Schmied Salmon and Water Quality

Salmon & Water QualitySalmon & Water Quality
Salmon need high quality water!!
jschmied©2014jschmied©2014

Our water comes from the snow
pack in the Cascade Mountains

Water QualityWater Quality
IndicatorsIndicators

• Salmon/Trout needSalmon/Trout need high dissolvedhigh dissolved Oxygen (DO) levelsOxygen (DO) levels
to live.to live.
• Cold waterCold water holdsholds moremore Oxygen than Warm water.Oxygen than Warm water.
• So, Salmon & TroutSo, Salmon & Trout alsoalso need cold water to surviveneed cold water to survive..
• Temps of 18°C are dangerousTemps of 18°C are dangerous,, 25°C is lethal25°C is lethal
Rainbow TroutRainbow Trout
Oxygen and TemperatureOxygen and Temperature
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/Rainbow_Trout.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/Rainbow_Trout.jpg
(Groot and Morgolis 1991, USEPA 1987(Groot and Morgolis 1991, USEPA 1987))

AgeAge Upper Limit ºCUpper Limit ºC Optimal ºCOptimal ºC
Migrating adultMigrating adult 2222 5 - 175 - 17
JuvenileJuvenile 1818 11 -1511 -15
SpawningSpawning 1010
Egg protectionEgg protection 1313
Temperature Limits for SockeyeTemperature Limits for Sockeye
(Groot and Morgolis 1991, USEPA 1987)(Groot and Morgolis 1991, USEPA 1987)
animals.nationalgeographic.comanimals.nationalgeographic.com
TempsTemps 4ºC4ºC or belowor below
are not good for Salmon.are not good for Salmon.
Above 18Above 18ºCºC are dangerousare dangerous

Fish needFish need moremore oxygen when temperatures riseoxygen when temperatures rise
because their metabolism increases.because their metabolism increases.
Example:Example:
• At 5At 5 oo
CC (41(41 oo
F), TroutF), Trout use 50-60 mguse 50-60 mg of Oxygen/hrof Oxygen/hr
• At 25At 25 oo
CC (77(77 oo
F), Trout needF), Trout need 250-300 mg250-300 mg ofof
Oxygen/hrOxygen/hr
Oxygen, Temperature, & MetabolismOxygen, Temperature, & Metabolism
Spawning male Pink Salmon, orSpawning male Pink Salmon, or “Humpback”“Humpback”

• Survive in oxygen levels < than 1 mg/l< than 1 mg/l (Camp Dresser and McKee 1981)
• Wide temperature tolerance = 0 C. to about 30 C.
The Olympic Mud MinnowThe Olympic Mud Minnow
Some fishSome fish (not Salmon!)(not Salmon!) can survive in ancan survive in an
extreme oxygen & temperature ranges!extreme oxygen & temperature ranges!

What pH range canWhat pH range can Salmonids live in?Salmonids live in?
Salmonids begin to die below pH 6.0Salmonids begin to die below pH 6.0 … and above pH 9… and above pH 9
Environmental Chemistry Bashkin, (Bunce 1994) and StreamkeeperEnvironmental Chemistry Bashkin, (Bunce 1994) and Streamkeeper’s Field Guide’s Field Guide

• A pH decrease ofA pH decrease of as little of 1.4 units of pHas little of 1.4 units of pH cancan
disturb the aquatic community.disturb the aquatic community.
• Trout / salmonTrout / salmon leaveleave areas with acid pH (low #areas with acid pH (low #’s)’s)
• Acidic waterAcidic water slowsslows microbial activity,microbial activity, reducesreduces
decomposition & nutrientdecomposition & nutrient cycling.cycling.
Acid Effects on Salmon & Aquatic SystemsAcid Effects on Salmon & Aquatic Systems
Male Sockeye Salmon, spawning phaseMale Sockeye Salmon, spawning phase

• Low pHLow pH decreasesdecreases the amount of invertebratesthe amount of invertebrates
and other plankton, vital parts of the food chain.and other plankton, vital parts of the food chain.
• Some amphibians getSome amphibians get reproductive failuresreproductive failures duedue
to sensitivity to low pH.to sensitivity to low pH.
Other AcidOther Acid
Effects ofEffects of
low pHlow pH

Dissolved oxygen (DO) isDissolved oxygen (DO) is oxygenoxygen dissolved indissolved in
water.water.
Oxygen dissolves into water from:Oxygen dissolves into water from:
• the surrounding air;the surrounding air;
• moving watermoving water - tumbling over falls or- tumbling over falls or
rapids;rapids;
• photosynthesisphotosynthesis (plants).(plants).
• Dissolved O2 MovesDissolved O2 Moves fromfrom areas of highareas of high
concentration oxygenconcentration oxygen toto areas of lowerareas of lower
What is Dissolved Oxygen??What is Dissolved Oxygen??

1.1. water temperaturewater temperature
2.2. pollutants presentpollutants present
3.3. physical statephysical state
4.4. speciesspecies
5.5. ……and moreand more..
It is hard to accurately predict minimum DOIt is hard to accurately predict minimum DO
levels, but there is data for salmonids.levels, but there is data for salmonids.
The amount of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) anThe amount of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) an
aquatic organism needs depends uponaquatic organism needs depends upon
the:the:
Male Coho, Spawning PhaseMale Coho, Spawning Phase

• Embryo & Alevin stagesEmbryo & Alevin stages 1111 ppmppm (mg/l)(mg/l)
• Other life stagesOther life stages 88 ppmppm
• Natural activityNatural activity > 6 ppm (LIMIT!)> 6 ppm (LIMIT!)
• Juvenile salmonJuvenile salmon > 8> 8 ppmppm
• SpawningSpawning > 8> 8 ppmppm
Minimum Dissolved Oxygen LevelMinimum Dissolved Oxygen Level
Required for healthy SalmonRequired for healthy Salmon (EPA criteria)(EPA criteria)
http://www.yukonriverpanel.com/Library/Fisheries/Pics/CRE-27N-03%20Chum%20Tagging%20Test%20Fishery.jpghttp://www.yukonriverpanel.com/Library/Fisheries/Pics/CRE-27N-03%20Chum%20Tagging%20Test%20Fishery.jpg
SpawningSpawning
ChumChum
SalmonSalmon

1. Measure of how clear water is = NTU or JTU1. Measure of how clear water is = NTU or JTU
2. Turbid water has organic & inorganic material2. Turbid water has organic & inorganic material
(clay, silt )(clay, silt ) suspended in the watersuspended in the water..
3. Caused by:3. Caused by:
• Soil erosionSoil erosion
• Run offRun off
• Algae bloomsAlgae blooms
• Bottom sedimentBottom sediment
disturbancesdisturbances
TurbidityTurbidity

• Salmon needSalmon need clear waterclear water to see their preyto see their prey
• Sight feeding is restrictedSight feeding is restricted above 50 NTU or JTUabove 50 NTU or JTU..
• Salmonids try to leave the area at 50 NTU or JTU.Salmonids try to leave the area at 50 NTU or JTU.
• Best water for SalmonBest water for Salmon < 20 NTU or JTU< 20 NTU or JTU
Turbidity affects SalmonTurbidity affects Salmon
http://scienceguy288.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/sal.jpg
(Jackson Turbidity Units (JTU's)(Jackson Turbidity Units (JTU's) Or Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU’s)
MaleMale
CohoCoho
SalmonSalmon
SpawningSpawning
PhasePhase

Salmon: Symbols of a healthy environmentSalmon: Symbols of a healthy environment
Who speaksWho speaks
for naturefor nature??
Salmon areSalmon are
in troublein trouble
www.sa-cinn.com
www.sa-cinn.com jschmied©2014jschmied©2014

Richard Shorty

Andrew.hendry©1996Andrew.hendry©1996 jschmied©2014jschmied©2014
Female sockeye salmon, spawning phaseFemale sockeye salmon, spawning phase

Schmied Salmon and Water Quality

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