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Home My WebLink About1991 Bull Trout/Dolly Varden Investigation• IR I. I BULL TROUT /DOLLY VARDEN INVESTIGATION QUILCENE RANGER DISTRICT OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST 1991 0 bt (S ,,F vrs, O (Drawings courtesy or uoraon Haas By Michael A. Donald ABSTRACT The Olympic National Forest in Conjunction with the Washington Department of Wildlife attempted to investigate the distribution of the bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) on the eastern side of the Olympic National Forest. The most probable habitat was prioritized for the survey but no bull trout were found. The results are not conclusive since only one verified Dolly Varden (Confluentus malma) was captured in areas where they are known to be relatively abundant. The survey was conducted in September of 1991 due to fiscal guidelines and constraints; it is believed that this limited window of time in the survey effort was the limiting factor in the success of the survey. Introduction (From M.Parton, 1990) Historically, bull trout were found in most major river systems in the Pacific Northwest. However, within the past thirty years its western and southern boundaries have been greatly re- duced in the area (Willamette National Forest (WNF) 1989). A common explanation for the declining range of the bull trout holds that once - abundant habitat for juveniles and adults in the form of deep pools, cold water, and 'clean' cobble /gravel substrates has been significantly reduced. For these and other reasons, bull trout are now listed by the USFWS as category 2 species (requiring more biological research and study to determine their status). Bull trout are also management indicator species on many Region 6 National Forests. Summarizing the WNF (1989) literature review and meetings held on the Mt. Baker- Snoqualmie and Olympic National Forests, it is likely that bull trout historically occurred in streams draining the Olympic Peninsula. Rem- nant populations may exist. Appendix A lists streams known or suspected of supporting Dol- ly Varden or unknown populations possibly comprised of both species. Distinguishing be- tween bull trout and Dolly Varden is difficult be- cause the two species are similar in appearance and have similar life histories and habitat re- quirements. References to "bull trout/Dolly Var- den' are made due to uncertain identifications. Further, 'positive' identifications of Dolly Varden made before (and sometimes after) Cavender's (1978) definitive description of bull trout, may somewhat suspect (this includes data and ob- servations presented in Appendix A). Investiga- tors using head /body morphology, meristic counts, and bone structures proposed by Cavender (1978) have had mixed success dis- criminating the species. Recently, Haas (1988) developed a discriminant function to separate the species using four easily measured/ counted characteristics from live fish. This equation 100% correctly classifies the two species and has just been updated for clari ica- tion to include a larger sample size. See Ap- pendix B for memorandum describing the pro- cedure to distinguish the two species. Positive identification is important due to the legal standing of bull trout. As a category 2 species, bull trout receive special considera- tions in environmental planning, that Dolly Var- den do not. The USFS is specifically directed to consider sensitive species in all management activities. Materials and Methods The preferred habitat of the bull trout on the Olympic Peninsula is characteristically difficult for human access as it is usually in high gradi- ent headwater streams - often in the wilderness which provides limited transportation infrastruc- ture. This fact dictated equipment to be used in fish capture. Where access to suspected habitat was rea- sonable -via road or trail- a Smith -Root Type VII electrofisher was used for fish capture. Where habitat was difficult to access, hook and line sampling proved most efficient. A fishing pole and reel with an assortment of spinning lures was used, with an emphasis on the Mepps #2, reported to be effective (Thom Johnson, per- sonal communication). Any bull trout or Dolly Varden over six inches that were caught were put into a 2.5 or 5 gallon collapsable jug with a hole cut in the top and anaesthetized with MS -222 (Tricaine Methanesulfonate). Fish smaller than six inches were not considered for analysis as the data tends to be less reliable (Thom Johnson, personal communication). Once the fish was anaesthetized to permit han- dling, data on the the four parameters used in distinguishing the species could be taken. See appendix A for the procedure in collecting these data and the equation used in distinguishing the species. The measurements recorded are: the branchiostegal number, the anal fin ray number, the maxillary length, and the standard length. See Appendix C for the data sheet used in the field. Once the data were collected, the fish was revived in fresh water and then re- leased. Water temperature was taken regularly, regardless of capture success. The following is a list of equipment used in the survey: - Fishing pole and tackle or electrofisher and accessories - waders -2.5 or 5 gallon collapsable jug with hole cut in top -data sheets and clip board - pencils - pliers/hook remover - alcohol (for specimen preservation in case of mortality) -metal ruler (with millimeter markings) - counting aid for branchiostegals (e.g. toothpick, stirring stick, etc.) - magnifying glass - thermometer -fish key (if necessary) -map and compass - calculator The list of prioritized drainages outlined as pro- viding the most likely bull trout habitat are listed below, those with asterisk were surveyed. This - priority list of sample sites for the Hood Canal and Quilcene Ranger Districts is a result of a meeting held between the USDA Forest Service and the Washington Department of Wildlife on 4/19/91 to determine the most efficient utiliza- tion of Challenge Cost Share monies for a Dolly Varden/bull trout presence /absence survey. See the map on the following page. First Priority: *Canyon Creek above log jam/barrier -Law enforcement reports of 'Dolly Varden' *Grey Wolf above Slab Camp to national park boundary - Anadromous limit may be near Slab Camp *Big Quilcene River above 2750 road. Second Priority North Fork Skokomish River -Four Stream -Five Stream South Fork Skokomish River Main stem above Rural Creek. Big Quilcene River below 2750 Road, but above falls. Duckabush River - Murhut Creek. Hamma Hamma River: Lower Boulder and Lower Whitehorse Creeks. Stocked with brook trout Third Priority Tunnel Creek (Big Quilcene drainage) -Good potential habitat, but diffi- cult access lowers priority. *Little Quilcene River upper extent -Road access easy Hamma Hamma River Mainstem above falls Stocked with brook trout Wynoochee River upper basin Fourth Priority South Fork Skokomish River -lower tribu- taries. Dosewallips River Dungeness River -Brook trout stocking NVA- Region of eastern Olympic Mountains surveyed for bull trout enlarged below .... I ♦ f j oso - r 1 s' � • f •...• rr _- :, / / / � r Y .! �_r "' 81• D ,�• ; W} 4 r • l � , •'.� 'Iro ' '��r o' .,. � r!o + .a ' MMM- -- .� • r . � PJIOes: r + P � 1 ....... 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I L ^ •r ' • r Y. •r i ;' P � ,..fir _ nt \i w 1 `C h 1:. -• .. � '�/ ,,:,• �r'' TON I a . ;' NA o A:• .A P r ; , I .V t s.._ s •- T""�* 1.', ♦ ^ r r i {• w r 1 - r V, , , ....- + �. i . ?w ;r .+ % , t\y - 11 �f �w, Phi, �•• a _r ,r :) ... r . , , � ■ i P is e7 �•' /� ..Y �•r� / <. »��. �. �3 - . ✓. r.- rt ° - _ ........ _ _ - -- — a ._.. f 1 ✓lQ��_ )1 ,t �. )) �� ! ' t 'r ,, ` l•• to / 1' ... :\". 4�;,6 I .. �r� i .. •AY .�r� � �'P t .. r, '... �•' i 1. �. �.��b �'. .r i P. J;71 .. '� �~I.� •.•. , � \ =\ : / -... C r MIMI NVA- Region of eastern Olympic Mountains surveyed for bull trout enlarged below .... I ♦ f j oso - r 1 s' � • f •...• rr _- :, / / / � r Y .! �_r "' 81• D ,�• ; W} 4 r • l � , •'.� 'Iro ' '��r o' .,. � r!o + .a ' MMM- -- .� • r . � PJIOes: r + P � 1 ....... K-}i • -� +j+ r i r 'y' y ; o . ,•1\ � 1 r rl �� a..••u ,1 I • +li 1 \..� ,+.� 1 :). 1 \ � ,,I '1 , 1�) •• ,t :' •� -•.. i �� l� ql• ..,\ ly, a ... ♦/ -__ � � ,/ �• I, tNOR IN U I T) •.I ,: ea \ \� ` \ ,`/ r �w^ f � / 1 '/" 1 1 1 - eel' � ' . ie 1 •r, r � .. : - •t FOREST O 1 r 1 r ^ r tr :,r7ila;r .Gir•-'-if------------- i ; ✓.. • -uw, -- --------------- .�.. +-: _�. Sr I .. L'••�" :.:- -- „ �•_•_•�' 11• ,'' /• r i / ` I A .� U`y. 't {. }�F7�lc r • °I I ' �\ j►• �.. ...... .. .. .- _1 � � � ' �, `' 1 r P ,''. � i 1 ~A �, 1,1� � `r'�:, b , r �� •o'_._ P i • i rl.` � . , ' � � f P /�, F� , � , -Fr � ,) It I .. r 1 r ^„••• r t,• , r r•- r 1, ., I A , r r ; �r t ri•r� ' t P'o`i ,,i.•�rr. I L ^ •r ' • r Y. •r i ;' P � ,..fir _ nt \i w 1 `C h 1:. -• .. � '�/ ,,:,• �r'' TON I a . ;' NA o A:• .A P r ; , I .V t s.._ s •- T""�* 1.', ♦ ^ r r i {• w r 1 - r V, , , ....- + �. i . ?w ;r .+ % , t\y - 11 �f �w, Phi, �•• a _r ,r :) ... r . , , � ■ i P is e7 �•' /� ..Y �•r� / <. »��. �. �3 - . ✓. r.- rt ° - _ ........ _ _ - -- — a ._.. f 1 ✓lQ��_ )1 ,t �. )) �� ! ' t 'r ,, ` l•• to / 1' ... :\". 4�;,6 I .. �r� i .. •AY .�r� � �'P t .. r, '... �•' i 1. �. �.��b �'. .r i P. J;71 .. '� �~I.� •.•. , � \ =\ : / -... Results Table 1 shows the complete catch record dur- ing the survey effort. The total catch yielded 160 rainbow trout (Onchorynchus mykiss), 23 brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and 1 Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma). The one verified Dolly Var- den (value of -3.65) was captured with a mepps spinner on the Grey Wolf River near the Slab Camp Creek confluence. See Appendix D for the data collected on this specimen. The map on the previous page shows the sam- pling locations on the Grey Wolf River, Canyon Creek, Pat's Creek, Big Quilcene River, and Lit- tle Quilcene River. TABLE 1 SAMPLING RESULTS Species Method Water Temp. Number Fish Length Location O.mykiss O.mykiss Hook Hook 48.5°F 48.5° 1 2 250mm 150mm Grey Wolf -at most downstream confluence within Oly Nat'l Pk. Same location as previous O.mykiss Hook NA 5 150 -225mm Grey Wolf, below Slab Camp Confluence. S.malma Hook 47° 1 190mm Same location as previous S.fontinars Shock NA 3 150mm Big Quilcene River, above Road 2750. S.fontinalis Shock NA 14 <150mm Same location as previous S.fontinalis Shock 45° 3 >150mm Little Quilcene headwaters near Road 27 S.fontinalls Shock 45° 1 <150mm Same as previous. O.mykiss Shock 45° 3 >150mm Same as previous. O.mykiss Shock 45° 6 <150mm Same as previous. O.mykiss Shock 44° 3 75mm Canyon Creek, above Road 2870 culvert. O.mykiss Shock 44" 4 100.150mm Same as previous. O.mykiss Shock 44° 1 75mm Canyon Creek, below Road 2870 culvert. O.mykiss Shock 47° 1 125mm Pats Creek, below Road 2870 culvert. O.mykiss Shock ay.480 134 30 -200mm Little Quilcene, forest boundary- source. S.fontinalis Shock ay.480 2 180mm Same as previous Discussion The results of the bull trout/Dolly Varden search are inconclusive. One Dolly Varden was cap- tured in covering all the first priority sites and one of the third priority streams. The lack of success in capturing the target species is not considered to be technique or equipment but rather timing. Given fiscal and personnel con- straints the survey was carried out only through September. Latter September and October is the time period when the species is expected in the eastern Olympics, with arrival dependent on specific weather conditions of the year in ques- tion. It is suspected that October would have been a better time period for the survey. The summer -like weather through October 21, 1991 may have had an affect on the timing of the upstream migration. Future surveys are recommended to pursue the search for the bull trout/Dolly Varden in the east - em drainages of the Olympic Mountains. The search should consider the priority streams out- lined in this report in addition to any drainages that future data identify as worthwhile. The sur- vey should also have temporal flexibility in pur- suing the fish and not be constrained by fiscal year limitations. REFERENCES Cavender, T.M. 1978. Taxonomy and Distribution of the bull trout, Salvelinus confluentus (Suckley), from the american northwest. California Fish and Game 64(3):139 -174. Haas, G.R. 1988. The Systematics, Zoogeography and evolution of Dolly Varden and bull trout in British Columbia. Master's Thesis. University of British Columbia. Johnson, Thom. 1991. Personal communication. Washington Deptartment of Wildlife, Snow Creek Research Station. Parton, Michael 1990. Challenge Cost Share Proposal: bull trout/Dolly Varden Survey on the Olympic National Forest (Which do we have ?) Willamette National Forest. 1989. Biology of the bull trout, Salvelinus confluentus a literature review. Unpublished Report Willamette National Forest, Eugene, OR, USA. 52 pages. Appendix A LIST OF KNOWN DOLLY VARDEN AND POTENTIAL BULL TROUT SITES ON OR ADJACENT TO THE OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST The following list of bull trout /Dolly Varden sites was compiled through interviews with ONF Fisheries Biologists, WDW Fisheries Research Biologist, Thom Johnson, and literature previously cited. Stream system Dolly Varden Present Bull Trout Potential For m!sFi River XX xx S. Fork Skokomish xx XX Dosewallips River xx (upper tribs /mainstem) Quilcene River XX Dungeness River Greywolf River Ehlwah River Lyre River E. & W. Twin Rivers • Deep Creek E. and W. Fork Satsop River Soleduck River (above falls) Bogachiel River (upper tribs) Hoh River Queets River (above falls) XX xx XX xx (above Slab Camp) XX XX XX XX XX XX xx XX XX W Quinalt River xx xx Wynoochee River xx (above reservoir) Appendix B Procedure for distinguishing Dolly Varden and bull trout using the discriminant function Say STArf op O b CURT SMITCH __ Director _ 0 d,S,� lA89 �DY STATE OF WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE Anadromous Game Fish Investigations, 8594 Highwai• 101, Port Townsend, Wa 98368 Phone: (206) 765 -3979 MEMORANDUM DATE: 17 August 1990 TO: Interested parties FROM: Thom H. Johnson, Fishery Research Biologist SUBJECT: Identification of. bull trout vs. Dolly Varden NOTE: This memo will replace the memo written on .6 July 1990 if You received it. We found that there was an error in the linear discriminant function AND it was re- written so that it would be easier to understand. I have also clarified and given tips on how some of the measurements should be made If you want to try to tell whether you have bull trout or Dolly Varden in your area, read on..... The Washington Department of Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service and other groups will have crews in the field this summer -fall that will be involved in bull trout and /or Dolly Varden studies. One task of some of the crews may be to identify whether bull trout or Dolly Varden or both species are present. Distinguishing whether the chary present is a bull trout or Dolly Varden is often difficult because the two species are quite similar in overall appearance. In an excellent Master of Science thesis, Haas (1988) describes a way to identify bull trout from Dolly Varden in British Columbia. Haas (1988) developed an unweighted linear discriminant function based on measurements of branchiostegal number, anal fin rays, maxillary length, and standard length that completely separates the two species (100% correct classification, 0% error rate). Another advantage is that all four measurements can be made in the field without killing fish. This is an important consideration when dealing with a species listed as a Category 2 species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and being considered for possible addition to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife under the Endangered Species act of 1973. The updated linear discriminant function which is based on a larger sample size than that reported in the thesis (G. Haas, University of British Columbia, personal communication) is : ( (0.63 x branchiostegal number) + (0.18 x anal fin rays) + (37.31 x the maxillary length /standard length ratio) ] - 21.8 where, Dolly Varden < 0 and Bull trout > 0 . OC 3 J In making his measurements, Haas (1988) followed the conventions of Hubbs and Lagler (1958). Some descriptions from Hubbs and Lagler (1958) are included below. Count all branchiostegals (i.e., from both left and right sides). Branchiostegals are slender bones in the branchiostegal or gill membranes. Holding the lower jaw and opening the mouth to "flare" the gill covers will expose all branchiostegals on the underside of the fish. Care should be taken to count the most anterior branchiostegals which are apt to be very short, slender, and concealed. The branchiostegal number alone will separate about 80% to 90% of the fish (G. Haas, University of British Columbia, personal communication). Count all principal anal fin rays. Branches of a ray are not counted, only the bases of the principal rays. By convention, however, the two bases at the posterior edge of the fin (closest to the fish) are counted as one ray. Measure _maxillary length from the tip of the snout or upper lip to the posterior tip of the maxillary bone. All measurements are taken in a straight line, from point to point, rather than around the curve or as a projection. For systematics work, the standard length is properly the distance from the most anterior part of the snout or upper lip to the last vertebra. When grasping the caudal peduncle and flexing the tail, the last vertebra is located where the fish "creases ". Since the measurement is a straight line, it is not taken over the curve of the body. Great care should be exercised in the way of accuracy; i.e., the better the measurements, the more meaningful the results. All fish should be anesthesized. Haas recommends the use of calipers for measurements; a steel ruler of good quality is better than the measuring boards commonly used in fishery investigations. A stamp collectors magnifying glass ('10%) or similar devise helps when counting branchiostegals on smaller fish. With care, we should be able to get good measurements on fish longer than about 4 inches. It is important to record all of the individual measurements and not just the final value calculated from the function With enough data, we may be able to develop a similar function or show trends for smaller geographic areas. After all, we are actually testing in our areas the equation Haas developed for fish over a much larger range. Gordon Haas will soon be submitting a paper to a journal which discusses this work. He hopes it will be accepted and ready for unofficial distribution by fall, 1990. Good luck with your field season. Please let me and others know what you find in your studies. Thanks much. Literature Cited: Haas, G.R. 1988. The systematics, zoogeography and evolution of Dolly Warden and bull trout in British Columbia. Master's thesis. University of British Columbia. Hubbs, C.L. and K.F. Lagler. 1958. Fishes of the Great Lakes Region. Univ. Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, MI. j 'I i Appendix C Data sheet used in field survey during investigation BULL TROUT /DOLLY VARDEN DATA SHEET Location Date Temp Branch# L R #Anal Fin Rays Maxillary Length Std Length Valu [(0.63 x branch #) + (0.18 x anal fin ray #) + (37.31 x maxillary lenoth/std. lensxth ratio 11 - 21.8 Dolly Varden < 0 and Bull trout > 0 } Appendix D Data from the Dolly Varden captured BULL TROUT /DOLLY VARDEN DATA SHEET Location Date Temp Branch# L R #Anal Fin Rays Maxillary Length Std Length Value Grey Wolf R. Slab Cam 9/24/91 470 9 11 9 20 190 -3.6 I ..v w a..o. .... ..Y-I T w-, x maxillary Iengwwa. iengm ravo )j - 27.8 Doily Varden < 0 and Bull trout > 0