Fisheries, Subsistence, and Habitat
Publications Searchable Database

Search Again
Division: Sport Fish
Title: Estimates of chinook salmon abundance in the Kenai River using split-beam sonar, 1999.
Author: Miller, J. D., D. Bosch., and D. Burwen
Year: 2002
Report ID: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No. 02-24, Anchorage.
Abstract: The passage of chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in the Kenai River was estimated using side-looking split-beam sonar technology in 1999. Early (16 May-30 June) and late (1 July-10 August) runs of Kenai River chinook salmon have been monitored acoustically since 1987. A 200 kHz split-beam sonar system has been used since 1995 to estimate numbers of migrating adult chinook salmon returning to their natal stream. From 1987 to 1994, a 420 kHz dual-beam sonar was used to generate similar estimates. In 1999, total upstream chinook salmon passage from 16 May through 10 August was an estimated 73,735 (SE = 812) fish, 25,666 (SE = 370) during the early run and 48,069 (SE = 723) during the late run. The daily peak of the early run occurred on 25 June with 50% of the run having passed by 17 June. The daily peak of the late run occurred on 17 July, with 50% of the late run having passed by 22 July.
Keywords: split-beam sonar, dual-beam sonar, chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, acoustic assessment, Kenai River, riverine sonar, early run, late run.