Fisheries, Subsistence, and Habitat
Publications Searchable Database
Search Again| Division: | Sport Fish |
| Title: | Movements of spawning cutthroat trout on a Copper River Delta tributary |
| Author: | Marston, B. H., M. G. Miller and S. J. Fleischman |
| Year: | 2011 |
| Report ID: | Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No. 11-69, Anchorage |
| Abstract: | Coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) movements were tracked using radio transmitters implanted into mature fish as they ascended a tributary stream near the mouth of the Copper River during the spring spawning season. The study area lies within the Copper River Special Management Area for Trout on the Copper River Delta in Southcentral Alaska. Initial foot surveys to observe spawning locations and studies to test transmitter implantation procedures occurred May through October in 2004. In 2005, one tributary stream was chosen to examine spawning movements in relation to proposed road development. Cutthroat trout were implanted with transmitters and tracked from April through June in 2005. Thirty-five transmitters were surgically implanted in fish from 328 mm to 511 mm total length (TL; mean = 384 mm, SE = 6.9). Fish were tracked initially by plane and subsequently by boat or on foot. The maximum upriver extent of travel by fish was mapped with Global Positioning System (GPS) software, the presence of potential redd construction was recorded, potential spawning reaches were identified, and postspawning movements were tracked when possible. Additionally, habitats with woody debris in the principle stream channel were measured and mapped. This information was compared to a proposed road corridor along the area, and potential spawning habitats upstream of the road corridor were identified. There were 23 cutthroat trout successfully tracked, of which, 5 were recorded as mortalities before or during spawning migration. There were 7 spawning areas found by tracking tagged fish. Three fish used locations upstream of the proposed road corridor. Most fish moved out of the study area and were lost after the spawning ascent of the stream, but a few postspawning movements were recorded later (into July) that were of considerable distances (range = 123 m to 36 km), showing that migrations occur among drainages. |
| Keywords: | Copper River Special Management Area, Green River, cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii, radiotelemetry, spawning, movement |