04-04-2014, 07:57 PM
Idaho Power Company White Sturgeon Stock Assessment
Table 1. Hatchery reared white sturgeon stocked between Bliss and Lower Salmon Falls dams (Source: IDFG 2003).
Year of Release
1989
1991
1994
Brood Year Number
1988 2,195
1990 202
1993 176
Average TL (cm)
33–48
33.3 33–48
Table 2. Hatchery reared white sturgeon stocked between Upper Salmon Falls dam and Shoshone Falls (Source: IDFG 2003).
Year Released
1990
1991
1994
1998
1999
2000
Brood Year Number
1988 171
1990 530
1993 352 (were did all these fish go?)
1997 158
1997 120
Unknown 254
Average TL (cm)
64–68 28–33 38–46 35
35 Unknown
Some of the first sturgeon that were released in the late 80's are reaching spawning size but i do believe that some supplementation would be beneficial to the fishery. The study that these tables came from state that in the shoshone falls-lower salmon falls dam reach 94% of the fish are hatchery fish. They estimate the population around 777. So only 47ish of those fish are wild. And according to the surveys they've done natural recruitment remains low. Self sustaining populations are a bit of a ways off so going back to my original point i think supplementation of different brood parents would help with the genetic diversity of the sturgeon do we don't get a bunch of inbreed fishes.
I agree also that dams that stopped the salmon's upstream migration have also really hurt our fish but i do like cheep electricity and i do enjoy the economic benefits that all the farms in our area provide.
One idea i have to help with the poor food stocks for our sturgeon is have the hatcheries put some of there morts back into the river to help provide a supplemental food source for the sturgeons as well as for the craw fish and other critters that the sturgeon feed on
It a fun thing to contemplate how to help our fishery improve
[signature]
Table 1. Hatchery reared white sturgeon stocked between Bliss and Lower Salmon Falls dams (Source: IDFG 2003).
Year of Release
1989
1991
1994
Brood Year Number
1988 2,195
1990 202
1993 176
Average TL (cm)
33–48
33.3 33–48
Table 2. Hatchery reared white sturgeon stocked between Upper Salmon Falls dam and Shoshone Falls (Source: IDFG 2003).
Year Released
1990
1991
1994
1998
1999
2000
Brood Year Number
1988 171
1990 530
1993 352 (were did all these fish go?)
1997 158
1997 120
Unknown 254
Average TL (cm)
64–68 28–33 38–46 35
35 Unknown
Some of the first sturgeon that were released in the late 80's are reaching spawning size but i do believe that some supplementation would be beneficial to the fishery. The study that these tables came from state that in the shoshone falls-lower salmon falls dam reach 94% of the fish are hatchery fish. They estimate the population around 777. So only 47ish of those fish are wild. And according to the surveys they've done natural recruitment remains low. Self sustaining populations are a bit of a ways off so going back to my original point i think supplementation of different brood parents would help with the genetic diversity of the sturgeon do we don't get a bunch of inbreed fishes.
I agree also that dams that stopped the salmon's upstream migration have also really hurt our fish but i do like cheep electricity and i do enjoy the economic benefits that all the farms in our area provide.
One idea i have to help with the poor food stocks for our sturgeon is have the hatcheries put some of there morts back into the river to help provide a supplemental food source for the sturgeons as well as for the craw fish and other critters that the sturgeon feed on
It a fun thing to contemplate how to help our fishery improve
[signature]