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<p>Hello,<br>
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Here is the 2009 catch summary for the Willow Creek Downstream Migrant Trap on the mainstem Trinity River. Please feel free to distribute. PDF file of text and catch table are attached.<br>
<div align="center"><font size="4">Willow Creek Downstream Migrant Trap Site</font><br>
<font size="4">2009 In-Season Trapping Update –April 16, 2009</font><br>
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<font size="4">Synopsis: The 2009 Downstream Migrant trapping season at the Willow Creek Trap Site (river kilometer 34) is being conducted jointly by the USFWS Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office (AFWO) and the Yurok Tribal Fisheries Program (YTFP) on the mainstem Trinity River near Willow Creek, California. The season began March 12, 2009 with the installation of two traps. A third trap was installed March 14, 2009. See attached catch summary for details of this narrative.</font><br>
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<font size="4">This summary includes data from March 12th, 2009 through March 31st, 2009 and is presented as raw catch. No expansions have been calculated at this time. Data entry is not complete for Julian Weeks 13-15, April 1st to April 16th. Heavy debris load and high flows have occasionally resulted in null sets, causing less than 21 trap days (3 traps x 7 days) in some weeks. </font><br>
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<font size="4">Raw daily catches of Chinook salmon (</font><i><font size="4">Oncorhynchus tshawytscha</font></i><font size="4">) have been captured each day sampling has occurred and most have been young-of-the-year (YOY), with more age 1+ natural Chinook salmon than in past years. Weekly mean Fulton’s K values of YOY Chinook salmon began the season lower than 1.0 with an increase in condition evident over the 3 weeks summarized. Efficiency calibrations were conducted during this summary period with freeze-branded hatchery Chinook salmon on March 13, March 19, and March 26.</font><br>
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<font size="4">Raw daily catches of steelhead (</font><i><font size="4">Oncorhynchus mykiss</font></i><font size="4">) smolts (age 1+) have been steady since the beginning of trapping with hatchery steelhead showing up in Julian Week 13. Steelhead smolts captured JW 11-13 had weekly mean Fulton’s K values slightly higher than 1.0. Steelhead YOY numbers are present in the catch, but have yet to show signs of a peak. </font><br>
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<font size="4">Raw daily catches of coho salmon (</font><i><font size="4">Oncorhynchus kisutch</font></i><font size="4">) are low compared to the past 6 years, especially for natural smolts. Weekly mean Fulton’s K value of natural coho salmon smolts have been higher than 1.0. Hatchery coho smolt catch occurred in the catch during Julian Week 12. </font><br>
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<font size="4">If you have any questions regarding this summary, don't hesitate to contact Bill Pinnix at (707) 822-7201.</font><br>
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<i>(See attached file: WCT_Catch_Summary_04_16_09.pdf)</i><br>
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William Pinnix<br>
USFWS, AFWO<br>
1655 Heindon Rd<br>
Arcata, CA 95521<br>
(707) 822-7201</body></html>