Kenai Chinook Estimates, Indices and Inseason Run Summaries
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Location: Kenai River (Chinook) |
The selected years are color-coded in the graphs below:
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Daily Counts
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Cumulative
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Description: In 2015 the department began managing Kenai River king salmon runs using an ARIS sonar station located at river mile 14. In 2017 the Department modified the Kenai River king salmon escapement goals from goals based on king salmon of all sizes, to escapement goals based on large king salmon (fish over 34 inches) only. The early-run king salmon optimal escapement goal range is 3,900 to 6,600 large king salmon (> 34 inches). In 2020 the late-run king salmon escapement goal was modified to an optimal escapement goal range is 15,000 to 30,000 large king salmon (> 34 inches). The ARIS sonar counts found on this page are the daily and seasonal cumulative passage estimates of the number of large king salmon passing the sonar site. Additionally, the past years counts displayed on this page have been converted to large fish counts for comparison. These estimated numbers of large king salmon passing the sonar site are the primary tool for the Kenai River king salmon assessment program that also includes a sport angler harvest survey, and a netting program. The data gathered in these assessments are used together to determine king salmon run strength. This data in conjunction with Fishery Management Plans, allows fishery managers to determine if emergency order regulation changes to the fisheries are needed during the season to help ensure that the escapement goals are achieved. These abundance assessments as well as information about the status of the run and inseason management actions can be viewed via this website on the above tabs. Information is also available by telephone at (907)262-9097.
Optimal Escapement Goal for Chinook - Early Run:
3,900 - 6,600
(Graphed above)
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Contact:
Upper Cook Inlet Area Management Biologist, | |
46 records returned for the years selected. Dashes indicate days with no count.
[Export results in Excel format or JSON format]
| Date 2024 |
Count 2024 |
Cumulative 2024 |
Cumulative 2023 |
Cumulative 2022 |
Cumulative 2021 |
Cumulative 2020 |
Notes for 2024 |
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| Jun-30 | - | 0 | 1,975 | 2,051 | 4,131 | 2,444 | |
| Jun-29 | - | 0 | 1,914 | 2,004 | 4,033 | 2,390 | |
| Jun-28 | - | 0 | 1,884 | 1,980 | 3,930 | 2,317 | |
| Jun-27 | - | 0 | 1,793 | 1,934 | 3,861 | 2,250 | |
| Jun-26 | - | 0 | 1,660 | 1,906 | 3,807 | 2,201 | |
| Jun-25 | - | 0 | 1,605 | 1,864 | 3,728 | 2,158 | |
| Jun-24 | - | 0 | 1,541 | 1,768 | 3,649 | 2,116 | |
| Jun-23 | - | 0 | 1,444 | 1,719 | 3,551 | 2,086 | |
| Jun-22 | - | 0 | 1,352 | 1,625 | 3,424 | 1,995 | |
| Jun-21 | - | 0 | 1,316 | 1,564 | 3,303 | 1,922 | |
| Jun-20 | - | 0 | 1,255 | 1,491 | 3,195 | 1,837 | |
| Jun-19 | - | 0 | 1,152 | 1,400 | 3,104 | 1,734 | |
| Jun-18 | - | 0 | 1,051 | 1,276 | 3,000 | 1,667 | |
| Jun-17 | - | 0 | 977 | 1,188 | 2,915 | 1,419 | |
| Jun-16 | - | 0 | 892 | 1,103 | 2,745 | 1,274 | |
| Jun-15 | - | 0 | 813 | 1,030 | 2,654 | 1,165 | |
| Jun-14 | - | 0 | 704 | 909 | 2,479 | 1,141 | |
| Jun-13 | - | 0 | 589 | 830 | 2,279 | 1,049 | |
| Jun-12 | - | 0 | 419 | 708 | 2,109 | 989 | |
| Jun-11 | - | 0 | 377 | 599 | 1,951 | 916 | |
| Jun-10 | - | 0 | 341 | 530 | 1,836 | 892 | |
| Jun-09 | - | 0 | 305 | 463 | 1,702 | 777 | |
| Jun-08 | - | 0 | 263 | 398 | 1,544 | 668 | |
| Jun-07 | - | 0 | 233 | 356 | 1,283 | 583 | |
| Jun-06 | - | 0 | 221 | 307 | 1,077 | 528 | |
| Jun-05 | - | 0 | 173 | 265 | 913 | 449 | |
| Jun-04 | - | 0 | 149 | 235 | 768 | 358 | |
| Jun-03 | - | 0 | 137 | 187 | 574 | 272 | |
| Jun-02 | - | 0 | 106 | 169 | 465 | 236 | |
| Jun-01 | - | 0 | 100 | 120 | 374 | 194 | |
| May-31 | - | 0 | 46 | 96 | 326 | 176 | |
| May-30 | - | 0 | 36 | 84 | 290 | 109 | |
| May-29 | - | 0 | 24 | 72 | 271 | 85 | |
| May-28 | - | 0 | 24 | 42 | 235 | 60 | |
| May-27 | - | 0 | 24 | 30 | 217 | 48 | |
| May-26 | - | 0 | 18 | 12 | 144 | 48 | |
| May-25 | - | 0 | 18 | 12 | 102 | 48 | |
| May-24 | - | 0 | 18 | 0 | 96 | 30 | |
| May-23 | - | 0 | 18 | 0 | 84 | 12 | |
| May-22 | - | 0 | 18 | 0 | 78 | 0 | |
| May-21 | - | 0 | 24 | 0 | 72 | 0 | |
| May-20 | - | 0 | 18 | 0 | 60 | 0 | |
| May-19 | - | 0 | 6 | 0 | 54 | 0 | |
| May-18 | - | 0 | 6 | 0 | 48 | 0 | |
| May-17 | - | 0 | 6 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| May-16 | - | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Non-Sonar Tools
Early Run Netting Project CPUE Index
The Net Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) is an index of the numbers of Chinook salmon moving into the Kenai River and is based on the rate at which Chinook salmon are captured by the netting project conducted at river mile 8.6.
Early Run Sport CPUE Index
The Sport Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) is an index of the numbers of Chinook salmon in the lower Kenai River and is based on the success rate of anglers fishing downstream of the Sterling Highway Bridge Crossing in Soldotna.
Early Run Netting Project Large Fish CPUE Index
The Net Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) is an index of the numbers of Chinook salmon moving into the Kenai River and is based on the rate at which Chinook salmon are captured by the netting project conducted at the sonar station located at river mile 8.6.
Early Run Netting Project CPUE Index
The Net Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) is an index of the numbers of Chinook salmon moving into the Kenai River and is based on the rate at which Chinook salmon are captured by the netting project conducted at river mile 8.6.
Early Run Sport CPUE Index
The Sport Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) is an index of the numbers of Chinook salmon in the lower Kenai River and is based on the success rate of anglers fishing downstream of the Sterling Highway Bridge Crossing in Soldotna.
Early Run Netting Project Large Fish CPUE Index
The Net Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) is an index of the numbers of Chinook salmon moving into the Kenai River and is based on the rate at which Chinook salmon are captured by the netting project conducted at the sonar station located at river mile 8.6.
Weekly Sportfish Fishing Report for this area
Final Early Run Kenai River Chinook Inseason Summary
King salmon run update:
On June 28th, the daily estimated passage of king salmon greater than 34 inches in length was 121 fish for a season total of 2,855 king salmon. Approximately 95% of the run on average has passed the king salmon sonar by this date. The 2018 run is low and is tracking well behind last year, which saw a final cumulative sonar count of approximately 7,200 large fish for 2017. The current 2018 projection of escapement is below the lower end of the Optimum Escapement Goal (OEG). Management actions were taken on 6/11/18 and an emergency order was issued to restrict the Kenai River king salmon sport fishery to catch and release (EO # 2-KS-1-13-18) effective 6/13/18. Additional management actions were taken on 6/18/18 to close the Kenai River early-run king salmon sport fishery effective Wednesday, 6/20/2018 (EO # 2-KS-1-20-18).
Sockeye Salmon update:
The number of sockeye salmon entering the lower Kenai River has decreased since last week. Escapement through 6/28/2018 at the Russian River weir was 23,812 fish.
Fishery Update:
The early-run sport fishery for Kenai River king salmon is closed. No fishery report available. The estimated season harvest of large early-run king salmon (including catch-and-release mortality) is approximately 148 fish above the sonar site and 34 fish below the sonar site.
Water Conditions:
Water conditions are improving on the Kenai River.
• CFS at Soldotna Bridge was 15,800 ft3 on June 29th.
• CFS at Skilak Lake Outlet was 14,000 ft3 on June 29th.
• CFS at Cooper Landing was 7,470 ft3 on June 29th.
Water Temperature was 49.6 degrees Fahrenheit at the sonar site on June 28th.
This information was compiled based on raw and historical data for in-season management purposes.
Final data is subject to change.