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Establishing Baseline Information on the Geographic Distribution of Fish Pathogens Endemic in Pacific Salmonids Prior to Dam Removal and Subsequent Recolonization by Anadromous Fish in the Elwha River, Washington

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Title: Establishing Baseline Information on the Geographic Distribution of Fish Pathogens Endemic in Pacific Salmonids Prior to Dam Removal and Subsequent Recolonization by Anadromous Fish in the Elwha River, Washington
Alternative Title: Northwest Science, Vol. 82, Special Issue
Creator: Chris Patterson
Marcia House
Samuel J. Brenkman
Sonia L. Mumford
Date Created and/or Issued: 2008
Contributing Institution: UC Riverside, Library, Water Resources Collections and Archives
Collection: Clearinghouse for Dam Removal Information (CDRI)
Rights Information: Copyrighted
Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Description: Scope/Content: Abstract: After the removal of two dams, wild, natural, and hatchery produced fish are expected to recolonize historic habitats in the Elwha River. Fish populations previously isolated by the dams will interact, and potentially transmit pathogens. Geomorphic changes caused by dam removal could disrupt the balance between host and pathogen, resulting in pathogen transmission and amplification, potentially leading to disease. We reviewed historic stocking records and conducted an initial survey to better understand the distribution of salmonid pathogens in the Elwha River before dam removal. Review of hatchery plantings revealed that seven salmonid species were released throughout the Elwha River Basin since 1914. Approximately 61 million Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and 40 million chum salmon (O. keta), coho salmon (O. kisutch), and steelhead trout (O. mykiss) were released below Elwha Dam from various stock origins. Additionally, 19 million salmonids were planted above Elwha Dam beginning in 1930. From 2003 to 2006, five salmonid species from the lower, middle, and upper Elwha River and tributaries were tested for bacteria (n=684), viruses (n=943), and were screened for Myxobolus cerebralis (n=740). Renibacterium salmoninarum was the only target pathogen found, and was detected in five salmonid species in each segment of the river. In Elwha hatcheries, erythrocytic inclusion body syndrome, R. salmoninarum, and Flavobacterium psychrophilum were most commonly detected. Information from baseline surveys in the Elwha River highlight the benefit of including fish pathogen distribution as an important factor in risk assessment for future dam removals.
Scope/Content: Author affiliation: USFWS
Scope/Content: Author affiliation: Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
Scope/Content: Author affiliation: National Parks Service
Type: text
Identifier: ark:/86086/n2c53kgj
1050
Subject: Fisheries and fish passage
Dams
Dam retirement
Place: Elwha River, WA
Elwha Dam and Glines Canyon Dam

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