The Willamette River Basin in western Oregon has historically supported large numbers of salmon, however, population growth and habitat changes have contributed to the decline of salmon in the areas. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Portland District (NWP) Hatchery Program provided funding to EAS to conduct work as part of the continued effort by the NWP Hatchery Program to minimize adverse effects on listed species and their critical habitat.
During 2018 and 2019 EAS provided monitoring and evaluation services for the NWP Hatchery Program along with our teaming partner Normandeau Associates Inc. This work was designed to aid in researching the mitigation production and release of spring Chinook salmon into the Willamette basin. EAS biologists conducted spawning surveys by boat and foot to determine abundance and distribution of hatchery and natural-origin Chinook salmon adults, counted redds, and sampled carcasses. Data collected was used to update the Hatchery Management Team with key findings used to advance the program and to provide stakeholders with periodic summaries of findings. EAS assembled and analyzed the data, and produced detailed monitoring reports. EAS staff also provided annual presentations of the work conducted on the project at the Willamette Fisheries Science Review in Corvallis, Oregon.
Completing datasheets for spawning ground surveys. 
Assessing a pre-spawn mortality chinook salmon collected in the Willamette Basin. 
Utilizing inflatable kayaks to access smaller river reaches. 
Conducting a walking survey looking for salmon redds and carcasses. 
Sampling post-spawn chinook carcasses. 
Crew negotiating rapids during a spawning survey.