The primary objective of the on-going trans-generational genetic mark-recapture (tgmr) project is to: 1) estimate the abundance of chinook salmon spawners (n) and effective breeders (NB) in the…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a $221,141 Project Grant under the Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Pacific Salmon Treaty Program (CFDA 11.438) to the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians. The funding will support the ongoing Trans-Generational Genetic Mark-Recapture (TGMR) project, which aims to: 1) Estimate the abundance of Chinook salmon spawners and effective breeders in the Stillaguamish River; 2) Estimate the natural spawning Chinook salmon abundance by origin, sex, and age; and 3) Refine the redd-count expansion calibration factor for escapement estimates. The project will collect genetic samples during fall spawning in 2024 and conduct smolt trapping in winter/spring 2025 to meet bilateral data standards for estimating the number of natural-origin spawners. This federal grant award builds on the tribe's previous seven years of TGMR funding from the Sentinel Stocks Committee of the Pacific Salmon Commission and five years from the Southern Fund, demonstrating the Stillaguamish Tribe's expertise and ongoing collaboration with federal agencies in salmon conservation efforts.

The primary objective of the on-going trans-generational genetic mark-recapture (tgmr) project is to: 1) estimate the abundance of chinook salmon spawners (n) and effective breeders (NB) in the stillaguamish river above the smolt trap site (RM 6) using genetic abundance methods for brood year 2024. The secondary objectives of this study are to: 2) estimate the natural spawning chinook salmon abundance by origin (hatchery or natural), SEX and age, and 3) to continue the refinement of the redd-count expansion calibration factor developed from historic redd-based escapement estimates. The data collected for this project will also provide a genetic baseline for population estimates, a genetic (parentage- based) estimate of the proportion of hatchery-origin spawners (phos), and an estimate of relative reproductive success of hatchery spawners. Genetic sampling will be conducted during fall spawning in 2024 and smolt trapping will be conducted in winter and spring 2025. We propose to meet the bilateral data standards for estimating the number of natural origin spawners including: 1) individual estimates of spawning escapement will have on average an estimated coefficient of variation (CV) of 15% or less; and 2) these specific estimates shall be consistent because the methods used to produce them are asymptotically unbiased. The principle investigators on this proposal have received seven years of funding for tgmr for chinook salmon in the stillaguamish river from the sentinel stocks committee of the pacific salmon commission and five years of funding from the southern fund. Each year the project tasks were completed on schedule and within budget. The tgmr project has enlightened CO-manager understanding of chinook salmon production in the stillaguamish river.