This project emphasizes collection of tributary specific adult spring and summer chinook salmon abundance information.  Adult salmon abundance information is necessary to understand both population recovery status (NMFS 2000, McElhaney et al. 2000, NMFS 2002, Interior Columbia Basin TRT 2005) and the conservation status of a threatened species (Reed and Blaustein 1997, Botkin et al. 2000, Mundy 1999, Foose et al. 1995).  Accurate abundance information has been recognized as necessary for status monitoring and assessment of progress toward recovery goal metrics for threatened Snake River basin chinook salmon.

The Chinook Salmon Adult Abundance Monitoring project utilizes underwater time-lapse video and acoustic imaging camera (DIDSON) technologies to provide adult salmon abundance information on an annual basis.  As adult salmon migrate upstream through a monitoring site, escapement information is collected via an underwater time-lapse video camera on Lake Creek (Hatch et al. 1994), and a DIDSON acoustic imaging camera on the Secesh River.  The structures allow both upstream and downstream movement, and fish are not trapped or handled in any manner.  Information collected from this project will allow comparison to redd count survey data to assess if redd count information provides reliable indices of adult salmon escapement.  Accurate abundance data is necessary to calculate derived performance measures such as smolt-to-adult returns, spawner-to spawner ratios, recruits per spawner, population growth rates (lambda) and population trends.  Managers need accurate abundance information to determine if recovery actions are recovering threatened Snake River basin wild and natural chinook salmon subpopulations in an unsupplemented stream.

Coordination will occur with Idaho Supplementation Studies (ISS) as the Secesh River and Lake Creek represent control streams for that investigation.  ISS studies will further complement this investigation as they routinely estimate juvenile emigrant abundance which can be used to develop recruit per spawner relationships.  The Pilot study in the South Fork Salmon River explicitly states a need for adult salmon escapement information in the Secesh River at the population level.  Salmon abundance and productivity monitoring on wild populations is also a clearly identified need in the Salmon Subbasin Management Plan (2004).  Federal and state fisheries agencies from Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Alaska have consulted with this project concerning the application of underwater video, acoustic imaging cameras and other technologies to monitor fish abundance.  Discussion of standardized data collection, methods, linkages to other research projects has and will continue to occur.  Undoubtedly, this will become an component of a larger comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan for quantifying abundance, life stage specific survival and population growth for salmon index populations.

The Chinook Salmon Adult Abundance Monitoring project is located on Lake Creek and the Secesh River in the Secesh River drainage of west central Idaho.  The Secesh River is a tributary to the South Fork Salmon River.  The video fish counting station is situated in Lake Creek, 100 meters above the confluence with the Secesh River (rkm 45).  The DIDSON acoustic camera/video fish counting station is located on the Secesh River (rkm 30) at the U. S. Forest Service's Chinook Campground.