Anadromous salmonids of the Hanford Reach, Columbia River: 1984 status
The Hanford Reach, a regulated but flowing section of the Columbia River, supports spawning populations of fall chinook salmon and steelhead. It also serves as a migration route for upriver runs of chinook, coho and sockeye salmon, and of steelhead. Environmental studies conducted in association with activities on the Hanford Site provide a basis for assessing present ecological conditions in the Hanford Reach. Spawning populations of fall chinook salmon at Hanford increased dramatically after 1960, when Priest Rapids Dam was completed, and have remained relatively stable since 1969. Generally, upriver runs of spring, summer, and fall chinook salmon have been depressed, but the fall run has been increasing since 1980. Habitat modification represents the greatest threat to sustained production of fall chinook salmon in the Hanford Reach. Operations on and near the Hanford Site releases of small amounts of radioactivity from onsite operations to river and groundwater, and operation of a steam electric plant, can have negligible effects on salmonids and other aquatic resources. Possible activities with potential future impacts include development of a multi-unit power plant complex at Hanford, construction of a low-head hydroelectric dam above Richland, flow fluctuations from peaking power generation at Priest Rapids Dam, irrigation and reductions of instream flows, and dredging and commercial navigation above Hanford. If reproducing populations of fall chinook salmon and steelhead are to survive in the mid-Columbia River, the Hanford Reach must remain flowing, undeveloped for navigation, and with unimpaired water quality. 156 refs., 16 figs., 7 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 5222130
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-5371; ON: DE86000829
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Fish Passage Center; Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority, 2003 Annual Report.
Reintroduction of Lower Columbia River Chum Salmon into Duncan Creek, 2007 Annual Report.
Related Subjects
SALMON
HABITAT
COLUMBIA RIVER
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FISHERIES
GROUND WATER
HANFORD RESERVATION
POPULATIONS
THERMAL EFFLUENTS
WATER QUALITY
ANADROMOUS FISHES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
DATA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FISHES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RIVERS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES
WATER
520100* - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (-1989)
520500 - Environment
Aquatic- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989)