Geology topics

Research about Klickitat County, Washington

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Klickitat County, Washington.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2020

Fish and habitat assessment in Rock Creek, Klickitat County, southeastern Washington, 2018

Executive Summary Native steelhead (anadromous form of rainbow trout [ Oncorhynchus mykiss ]) and bridgelip sucker ( Catostomus columbianus ) were historically used by the Kah-miltpah (Rock Creek) Band for sustenance, trade, and traditional practices in Rock Creek, a tributary to the Columbia River in southeastern Washington State. Rock Creek flows south to the Columbia River at river kilometer (rkm) 368 and is an intermittent stream of great significance to the Yakama Nation and to the Kah-miltpah Band in particular. Concern over declines in the abundance of these fish in Rock Creek prompted a research and monitoring program to better understand habitat conditions, population status, and limiting factors. In addition to steelhead and bridgelip sucker, coho salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ) and resident rainbow trout are also present and monitored. Rainbow trout and steelhead will be collectively referred to as O. mykiss . Streamflow is a limiting habitat factor in this system, but steelhead and coho salmon still successfully return to spawn, rear, outmigrate, and survive over summer in many of the isolated pools that provide important refuge for juvenile rearing. We completed a habitat survey during autumn 2018 to assess the perennial pools during low-flow conditions. In Rock Creek, the overall percentage of habitat recorded as dry was 41, non-pool wet was 42, and pool was 17. The number of pools ( n =93) recorded was less than during previous years’ survey efforts (2015–17). The percentage of non-pool wet habitat was generally higher in 2018 than in previous years. This is a likely result of habitat reaches, which in the past, were considered pools but have become shallower and smaller and are now categorized as non-pool wet habitat. However, the fewer habitat reaches categorized as pools in 2018 now have an average length, area, and depth that are generally greater than in past years. In Walaluuks Creek, the percentage of habitat recorded as dry was 53, non-pool wet was 40, and pool was 7. The percentage of pool habitat was the lowest of all years surveyed since 2015. Fish sampling occurred during autumn after habitat surveys were completed from October 1 to November 9. Fish species distribution, relative abundance, length-frequency distribution, and pool fish density were determined using backpack electrofishing in stratified, systematically selected pools. During fish sampling, 855 O. mykiss were handled and 662 were tagged with a passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag, and 718 coho salmon were handled and 567 were PIT tagged. A total of 536 bridgelip suckers and largescale suckers ( Catostomus macrocheilus [ n =6]) were handled and 294 were PIT tagged. In Rock Creek, pool abundance estimates were calculated for six pools for both O. mykiss age classes (age 0 and age 1 or older [age 1+]) and one additional pool for age 1+. For pools where age-0 O. mykiss were present, the average pool population abundance was 0.144 ( n =6; range: 0.052–0.208) fish per square meter. For age-1+ O. mykiss , the average pool population abundance was 0.045 ( n =7; range: 0.002–0.179) fish per square meter. For age-0 O. mykiss in Walaluuks Creek, the average pool abundance was 0.207 fish per square meter ( n =7; range: 0.038–0.416), and for age-1+ fish, the average pool abundance was 0.382 fish per square meter ( n =6; range: 0.009–0.761). In Rock Creek, coho salmon were more abundant than O. mykiss in pools except for three pools upstream from rkm 20. The average pool abundance for coho salmon was 0.256 fish per square meter ( n =8; range: 0.019–0.756) in Rock Creek pools. In Walaluuks Creek, coho salmon were captured in four pools and were not captured in the upstream pools sampled. The average pool abundance for coho salmon in the four lower pools was 0.488 fish per square meter ( n =4; range: 0.417–0.548). Bridgelip suckers were captured in all pools in Rock Creek except the pool sampled at rkm 21.8. The average pool abundance for bridgelip suckers was 0.552 fish per square meter ( n =7; range: 0.015–1.554) in Rock Creek. Bridgelip suckers were captured in three downstream pools in Walaluuks Creek, and the average abundance was 0.044 fish per square meter ( n =3; range: 0.024–0.085). Overwinter and reach survival probabilities were estimated for O. mykiss and coho salmon using a Cormack-Jolly-Seber modeling approach. The best fit survival model for the O. mykiss and coho salmon was a reach only model. The upstream reach includes overwinter survival probability because fish are tagged and released in autumn and primarily migrate the following spring. During 2018, coho salmon (0.568, standard error [SE]=0.027) had a significantly higher probability of overwinter survival than O. mykiss (0.276, SE=0.019). The reach survival probability was higher for O. mykiss than coho salmon in the downstream migratory reaches. Survival was not modeled for bridgelip suckers. For bridgelip suckers, 147 were detected of 294, that were PIT tagged and released in the Rock Creek subbasin (50.0 percent). Information provided in this report increases our understanding of the status and trends of these populations. It further documents how intermittent streams can support salmonid populations. It also provides insight into potential management and restoration actions that could be beneficial and timing and allocation of resources. Ongoing monitoring work of this population will inform progress towards Rock Creek species recovery goals and contribution to recovery goals for the steelhead Middle Columbia River Distinct Population Segment.

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USGS2016

Report A: Fish and habitat assessment in Rock Creek, Klickitat County, Washington, June 2013-December 2015

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Yakama Nation have collaborated in the Rock Creek subbasin, southeastern, Washington since 2009 to assess steelhead (Oncorynchus mykiss) populations and habitat conditions. Rock Creek, flows south to the Columbia River at river kilometer (rkm) 368. During 2015, a habitat survey was conducted, and monitoring of Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT)-tagged salmonids in the Rock Creek subbasin continued. Two multiplexing PIT-tag interrogation systems (PTISs) were installed in Rock Creek in the fall of 2009 to evaluate timing and degree of salmonid movement, smolting success, stray rates, and other life history attributes. These have been monitored every year since, during the spring, fall, and winter months. Returning adult steelhead detection histories are summarized from past Rock Creek PIT-tagging efforts. Detection histories and detection efficiencies were used to estimate a smolt-to-adult return rate (SAR) for Rock Creek PIT-tagged steelhead (tagged from 2009 to 2012) that ranged from 2.2% to 5.5%. Additionally, a SAR was also estimated for Rock Creek PIT-tagged steelhead returning to Bonneville Dam, Columbia River (rkm 235). The SAR rate to Bonneville Dam was always higher (2.4% to 10.4%), indicating straying of adults to other sites for spawning potentially further upstream or in other tributaries, or pre-spawn mortality. Twenty-two Rock Creek PIT-tagged steelhead were detected returning to Rock Creek and 35 were detected at Bonneville Dam from past tagging efforts (2009 – 2012). Monitoring of the Rock Creek PTISs [Rock Creek Lower (RCL) and Rock Creek Squaw (RCS)] provide evidence for PIT-tagged salmonid use from fish tagged outside of Rock Creek subbasin (out-of-basin) origins. A total of 82 out-of-basin PIT-tagged fish have been detected at the Rock Creek PTISs since installation. The habitat survey was conducted in Rock Creek from September 16 to October 7, 2015. The survey started at rkm 2 and continued upstream to rkm 29.3, and included portions of the major tributaries, ranging from 1 to 9 rkm survey length upstream from their confluence. During the survey, we measured the lengths of all dry and non-pool wet sections, and for pools: the length, wetted width, average residual depth, maximum residual depth, and temperature. During the 2015 survey of Rock Creek, 38% of the river between rkm 2 and 29 was classified as dry, with a higher relative proportion (57%) of dry being in the lower river section (rkm 2-13) than the upper river section (33%, rkm 14-22). This was higher than during survey years 2010 to 2012, which ranged from 29% to 43% in the lower river. As a result of the increase in dry area the percent of non-pool wet habitat was less (22%) than previous years (range 34% to 43%), as well as the percent of pools (21%). However, more river kilometers were surveyed in the lower river section (rkm 2-13) than previous years. For the 2015 survey length (rkm 2 to 29), 19% was classified as pools and 43% was non-pool wet. This work informs potential restoration actions by identifying the persistent pools across years and in years of low water flow (i.e., 2015). This work also provides a baseline to evaluate effectiveness of future restoration actions. Potential restoration actions could include headwater and upland restoration to improve base flows and pool habitat enhancement, through increased structure and vegetation plantings for increased cover. The Rock Creek steelhead population remains to be an important cultural resource for the Rock Creek Band of the Yakama Nation Tribe. The Rock Creek steelhead population is part of the Cascades Eastern Slope major population group (MPG), one of four MPGs contributing to the Middle Columbia steelhead distinct population segment (DPS). The National Marine Fisheries Service recovery plan for Rock Creek (NMFS 2009a) identifies an overall biological recovery goal for Rock Creek steelhead to contribute to recovery of the Mid-Columbia D

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USGS2013

Report A: Fish distribution and population dynamics in Rock Creek, Klickitat County, Washington

The U.S. Geological Survey collaborated with the Yakama Nation starting in fall of 2009 to study the fish populations in Rock Creek, a Washington State tributary of the Columbia River 21 kilometers upstream of John Day Dam. Prior to this study, very little was known about the ESA-listed (threatened) Mid-Columbia River steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) population in this arid watershed with intermittent stream flow. The objectives of the study were to quantify fish habitat, document fish distribution, abundance, and movement, and identify areas of high salmonid productivity. To accomplish these objectives, we electrofished in the spring and fall, documenting the distribution and relative abundance of all fish species to evaluate the influence of biotic factors on salmonid productivity and survival. We surveyed the distribution of perennial pools and established a network of automated temperature recording devices from river kilometer (rkm) 2 to 23 in Rock Creek and rkm 0 to 8 in Squaw Creek, a major tributary entering Rock Creek at rkm 13, to better understand the abiotic factors influencing the salmonid populations. Salmonid abundance estimates were conducted using a mark-recapture method in a systematic subsample of the perennial pools. The proportion and timing of salmonids migrating from these pools were assessed by building, installing, and operating two passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag interrogation systems at rkm 5 and at the confluence with Squaw Creek (rkm 13). From fall 2009 to fall 2012, we PIT-tagged 3,088 O. mykiss and 151 coho salmon (O. kisutch) during electrofishing efforts. In the lowest flow periods of 2010 to 2012, we found that an average of 36% of the surveyed streambed length was dry, and 17% remained as perennial pools. The maximum temperature recorded in those pools was 24.4°C, but most pools had a maximum temperature that was less than 21°C. O. mykiss were present in most pools, and non-native fish species, such as smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), were typically found downstream of rkm 5. Coho salmon were present in nearly every pool that was sampled in 2011, but were rare in 2009, 2010, and 2012. About 27% of the PIT-tagged O. mykiss and 38% of the PIT-tagged coho were detected outmigrating to the Columbia River. Of those fish, 92% (n=695) were detected leaving Rock Creek as smolts in April and May. As of November 2013, 9 O. mykiss and 4 coho that we tagged in Rock Creek as juveniles have returned as adults to Bonneville Dam. Also, an additional 34 PIT-tagged adult steelhead, and 6 PIT-tagged coho that were tagged by other groups have been detected in Rock Creek, of which, 22 were of known origin (tagged as juveniles). Of these, 85% were tagged or released in the Snake River. The PIT-tag interrogation systems will be operated for several more years to allow time for the fish tagged as juveniles to return as adults and complete their life cycles. The Yakama Nation will use the information collected from this study to prioritize and gauge the effectiveness of ongoing and future restoration actions.

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