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1 February 2009 Characteristics of the Kokanee Spawning Run in Harvey Creek, Washington, and its Potential Use as an Egg Source
Jason G. McLellan
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Abstract

Kokanee populations often require stocking to meet fishery management goals, since natural reproduction may be limited. Many kokanee stocking programs are dependent on eggs collected from a limited number of brood lakes. The anticipated loss of the primary brood source for the statewide kokanee program in Washington State prompted the evaluation of alternative egg sources. I conducted a four-year investigation of the kokanee spawning run in Harvey Creek, a tributary to Sullivan Lake, to evaluate its potential as an egg source. A weir, electrofishing, seining, and carcass surveys were used to collect and enumerate spawning kokanee from 2002 through 2005. Kokanee spawned in Harvey Creek from October through December. Escapement estimates ranged from 4,594 in 2002 to 24,611 in 2004. There were significant declines in mean total length and weight for both sexes throughout the study period. Fecundity had a significant positive relationship with length (r2 = 0.38, P <0.001). The decreasing trend in mean size was suggestive of density dependent growth. The potential for density dependent effects on growth and fecundity associated with variable abundance may make management of the population for multiple uses difficult, particularly given the lack of information regarding harvest rates, food web interactions, and survival rates of various life stages.

© 2009 by the Northwest Scientific Association. All rights reserved.
Jason G. McLellan "Characteristics of the Kokanee Spawning Run in Harvey Creek, Washington, and its Potential Use as an Egg Source," Northwest Science 83(1), 1-15, (1 February 2009). https://doi.org/10.3955/046.083.0101
Received: 4 February 2008; Accepted: 1 September 2008; Published: 1 February 2009
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