Old Franks Monitoring, 1997 Update
Prince of Wales Island, Southeast Alaska

John Hannon, Craig Ranger District

This report summarizes the results of monitoring the Old Franks Fishpass Project during 1997.Monitoring efforts during 1997 were scaled back from 1996 and focused primarily on coho salmon escapement and colonization in the Old Franks system.

The 1997 monitoring activities included the following:

·Escapement monitoring at the upper fishpass and in selected parts of the stream system

·Coded wire tag collection from the common property fisheries by ADF&G

·Snorkel population surveys in upper Old Franks Creek

·Population estimates in Trail Creek and Toque Creek

·Stream survey of Toque Creek

·Stream flow and temperature monitoring

Background Information

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game began fisheries investigations in the Old Franks Watershed in 1978.These were augmented with additional fisheries data collected in 1989 (Zadina and Haddix 1993).The Forestry Sciences Lab collected baseline population and habitat data on the system in 1990 to evaluate the response of the system to the introduction of anadromous salmonids (Bryant 1991).The Craig Ranger District began to monitor population and habitat conditions in the system in 1991 (Craig Ranger District 1994, 1995, & 1996).The Ketchikan Area conducted a watershed analysis in the upper watershed in 1994 (USDA 1994).

Two fishpasses were constructed over waterfalls on lower Old Franks Creek in 1992.Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and pink salmon (O. gorbuscha) negotiated the fishpasses during the 1992 run.Coho moved into the upper reaches of the accessible habitat during that year while pink salmon did not travel all the way to the upper fishpass.Pink numbers have since increased and some pink salmon now make it through the upper fishpass.Chum salmon (O. Keta) have also begun to colonize the habitat between the fishpasses.

Sockeye salmon (O. nerka) fingerlings were stocked in 1992 and coho fingerlings were stocked in 1994, 1995, and 1996 (Table 1).The coho bioenhancement program was a three year project conducted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.Coho egg takes were conducted above Salmon Lake in McGilvery Creek, in the Karta system.Egg takes were conducted in late October and November.Sockeye and king salmon were both stocked into the system in the past.No sockeye or king salmon runs developed, but there is a kokanee population in the Old Franks Lake system which may have been established from the sockeye stocking.Presently no other stocking is planned.Resident salmonids present above the barrier waterfalls in the system prior to fishpass construction and stocking were cutthroat trout (O. clarki), rainbow trout (O. mykiss), and dolly varden char (Salvelinus malma).

Table 1.Stocking History of the Old Franks system

Date	Species	Age	Number	Location Planted	Source
1952	Sockeye	Green Eggs	60,000	Unknown	Buschmann Creek
1952	Sockeye	Eyed Eggs	35,000	Unknown	Buschmann Creek
1953	Sockeye	Green Eggs	165,550	Unknown	Buschmann Creek
1962	King Salmon	Fry	33,750	Lakes	Soos Cr., WA
1963	King Salmon	Fry	46,223	Lakes	Karta (Beaver Falls reared)
5-14-92	Sockeye	Fry	227,200	Lakes	Karta (Klawock H reared)
8-16-94	Coho	Fry	96,632	Upper Lake	Karta (Klawock H reared)
7-21-95	Coho	Fry	78,719	Bridge	Karta (Klawock H reared)
7-26-95	Coho	Fry	139,405*	O.F. Lake	Karta (Klawock H reared)
6-25-96	Coho	Fry	143,416	O.F. Lake	Karta (Beaver Falls reared)

34,735 cohos were coded wire tagged in 1994, 32,728 were tagged in 1995, and 44,431 were tagged in 1996.

*9,223 cohos with the same tag code were accidentally released into the Klawock River in 1995.

Methods

Site Description

The Old Franks watershed on Prince of Wales Island is 32 km east of Craig (Figure 1).It covers 65 km² and flows into Polk Inlet (Figure 2).The lakes in the system cover over 300 ha and there are over 19 km of anadromous streams made accessible by the fishpasses.Monitoring work has beenconducted primarily on the mainstem of Old Franks Creek below the lakes (escapement), above the lakes (juvenile fish) and within the lakes (resident fish).

Escapement Counts

A Smith Root Model 1100 Fish Counter was installed in a horizontal flume at the upper fishpass and has been used to count returning adult salmon since 1993.The picket fish trap was installed in July of 1997 in the exit pool of the fishpass, above the fish counter.The trap helped to validate counts made on the fish counter.Adult salmon captured in the picket trap were measured (mid-eye to fork length), examined for adipose clips, and tagged with a numbered 30 cm yellow spaghetti tag.The tag allowed us to identify fish upstream that passed through the fishpass and to identify fish that went back down over the falls.We took scales from up to ten coho salmon each day and from all sockeye.Twenty of the adipose-clipped coho were killed to recover the coded-wire tags.The tags identify which stocked group the fish is from.We also conducted periodic snorkel counts from Lake Mary down to saltwater to monitor the upstream migration of the salmon.A Peterson mark-recapture estimate (Chapman modification) was used to estimate escapement through both fishpasses.Confidence intervals were calculated using Appendix II of Ricker (1975).

Trail Creek and Toque Creek Fish Survey

Trail Creek flows through a large beaver pond before emptying into Old Franks Creek from the south between the upper fishpass and Lake Mary.Toque Creek flows into Old Franks Lake from the north near the lake outlet.We estimated the juvenile coho population in September in Trail Creek, upstream of the pond, and in Toque Creek.Fish were captured in minnow traps baited with salmon eggs.All fish captured (coho, cutthroat, and dolly varden) were measured and dye marked.Insufficient numbers of cutthroat or dolly varden were caught to conduct population estimates on those species.

Stream Population and Habitat Surveys

Habitat surveys were conducted in 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1994 on upper Old Franks Creek from the upper lake to the top of anadromous fish habitat.Fish densities (all ages and species) were determined annually since 1990 by snorkeling established habitat units.New snorkel units were marked periodically to adjust for natural changes in habitat units.The existing marked habitat units were re-measured in 1997.The draft Region 10 stream survey protocol (Coghill 1997) was used in 1997 to survey Toque Creek.

Water Temperature and Streamflow Monitoring

Since 1991, water temperature has been monitored above and below the lake system during summer and fall by using Ryan Temp Mentors recording at one-hour intervals.Water level was recorded daily in lower Old Franks Creek using readings from a staff gauge at the outlet of Lake Mary.

Results

Salmon escapement in Old Franks Creek

Coho Salmon

The 1997 coho escapement estimate was down from the 1996 return.It consisted of returns from coho stocked in 1994 and 1995.It also included returns from coho that spawned upstream of the fishpass in 1993 and 1994.

The pickets were installed for the season on August 5 and the first coho was captured the same day.The number of fish that used the fishpass prior to August 5 is unknown.A total of 461 coho passed through the fishpass by October 9 (Figure 3).A majority of the coho jump the falls without passing through the fishpass so the fishpass count is a subsample of the total.Run timing has been similar each year (1995 - 1997).The majority of coho pass the upper fishpass between late August and mid-September during rising streamflows.

Upstream snorkel escapement counts were used to obtain an escapement estimate.The primary count in 1997 was conducted in upper Old Franks Creek on October 10.Counts later in the run and in other tributaries were hindered by high streamflows.The escapement estimate for 1997 was 4,488 coho (95% CI = 2,228 - 9,817).This compares to estimates of 6,664 in 1996, 2,222 in 1995 and 250 in 1993 and 1994 (Figure 4).

We examined 347 coho at the fishpass for missing adipose fins (indicating the presence of a coded wire tag).Of the 347 coho, 11% had adipose clips.The percentage of tagged coho fingerlings released was 15%.This indicates that approximately 71% of the return was from bioenhancement (Karta stock) fish and 29% was from Old Franks spawned fish.The 1996 return consisted of a slightly higher proportion of Old Franks spawned fish than the 1997 return (Table 2).

Table 2.Breakdown of bioenhanced and Old Franks spawned coho returns, 1996 - 1997.

Return Year	fingerlings adipose clipped	adults with clips	% bioenhanced returns	% Old Franks spawned
1996	36% of 96,600	24% of 431	66	34
1997	15% of 218,124	11% of 347	71	29

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game collected 116 Old Franks tagged coho from the common property fishery.The estimated bioenhancement contribution to the commercial fishery was 1,790 coho in 1997 and 1,915 coho in 1996 (Figure 5).Two sport caught coho were collected in 1996, in Sitka and Ketchikan.Two sport caught coho were collected in 1997 at Sitka.No sport contribution was estimated.The 1997 commercial catch consisted 99% of coho from the 1994 brood and 1% of coho from the 1993 brood.The commercial contribution by gear type is presented in Table 3.

Table 3.Estimated coho bioenhancement contribution (number of fish) to commercial fisheries by gear type.

Gear Type	1996	1997
Troll	668	1,219
Drift Gillnet	699	367
Purse Seine	528	204
Total	1,915	1,790

Pink and Chum Salmon

The pink and chum salmon escapement estimate is from a snorkel escapement count conducted on August 13.The count was 16,681 pinks and 30 chums.More than 10,000 of the pink salmon were counted upstream of the lower fishpass.A total of 12 pink salmon made it through the upper fishpass, although approximately 500 were within 300' downstream of the fishpass.Twenty seven pink salmon and one chum salmon made it through the upper fishpass in 1996.

Sockeye Salmon

Three sockeye were captured in the picket trap after it was installed.Sockeye that went through prior to the August 5 installation were missed.During 1996, 32 sockeye were captured in the trap.No bioenhanced sockeye were expected back in 1997 from those stocked in 1992.

Juvenile Coho in Trail Creek and Toque Creek

The population estimate for coho in Trail Creek was 456 ⁺/_- 42 in mid-September.This compares to an estimate of 1,038 ⁺/_- 73 in mid-August of 1996.We counted 29 spawning coho in Trail Creek in 1996.Trail Creek flows through a large beaver pond before emptying into Old Franks Creek between Lake Mary and the upper fishpass.The size distribution of coho in Trail Creek showed the coho to be smaller in 1997 than in 1996 (Figure 6).

This was the first coho population estimate in Toque Creek.Toque Creek is a tributary to Old Franks Lake, near the lake outlet.The estimate was 344 ⁺/_-28.The size distribution in Toque Creek was similar to Trail Creek.The coho in these two tributary streams exhibit slower growth rates than the coho in the lakes, probably due to the cooler water temperatures.Few cutthroat, rainbow, or dolly varden were captured in Trail Creek or Toque Creek.

Salmonid Abundance and Distribution in Upper Old Franks Creek

A snorkel survey of 51 habitat units in upper Old Franks Creek showed coho densities to be similar to 1996 but lower than 1995 densities (Figure 7).The coho counted in 1997 and 1996 were all Old Franks spawned fish.The 1995 count included primarily stocked coho which showed a very patchy distribution.Coho densities were highest in lateral scour and mid-channel scour pools in 1997. 

The cutthroat/rainbow density was lower than in any year since 1993.The survey in 1997 was conducted in mid-June, prior to cutthroat and rainbow emergence so consisted entirely of age 1+ fish.Surveys in previous years were conducted between mid-July and late September (Table 3).The density of age 1+ cutthroat/rainbow was also the lowest since 1993.

Table 3.Percentage of age 1+ cutthroat/rainbow (>50 mm) and coho (>55 mm) counted during snorkel surveys.

	1994	1995	1996	1997
Cut/Rnb	23%	25%	30%	100%
Coho		0%	13%	12%

The highest cutthroat/rainbow densities were found in boulder riffles.No dolly varden were observed during the June survey, although some were observed later in the fall during the snorkel escapement count.

Toque Creek Stream Survey

A tier 3 stream survey was conducted on all anadromous habitat (937 meters) in Toque Creek.The stream contains a 740 meter reach of MM1 channel type with an average bed width of 2.4 meters downstream of a 197 meter reach of HC2 channel type with an average bed width of 2.6 meters.Above the HC2 reach gradient steepens and fish habitat is marginal.The stream flows through a productive lowland riparian area along the lakeshore.There is a 97 meter reach of clearcut along the left bank of the stream starting at 668 meters upstream of Old Franks Lake, in the transition from lowlands to footslope.This area was harvested around 1990.

Survey data analysis is presented in Table 4.Survey data was compared with Region 10 Riparian Habitat Management Objectives (USDA Forest Service 1995).Toque Creek values lie between the 50^th and 75^th percentiles for all three riparian habitat management objectives: Pieces of large woody debris per 1,000 square meters of wetted stream area, percent of wetted stream area in pool habitat, and bankfull width to depth ratio (bankfull width divided by average bankfull depth in a cross section).Better fish habitat is generally associated with the high ends of the range for woody debris density and pool area and with the low ends of the range for width to depth ratio.No RHMO’s have been developed for HC channels.The predominant habitat types in the MM1 reach were scour pools and riffles.The predominant habitat types in the HC2 reach were riffles.Dominant substrate in the MM1 reach was gravel and in the HC2 reach it was cobble.

The habitat in Toque Creek is good for coho spawning.Coho adults were observed in Toque Creek in October but high flows prevented a total count.A spaghetti tag from 1996 was found in Toque Creek in 1997.Toque Creek is used by coho for rearing but the stream is rearing habitat limited and most juveniles probably move downstream into Old Franks Lake for rearing.

Table 4.Tier 3 stream survey statistics for Toque Creek.

Channel  Type	Length of Channel  Type,m	% Pool	Pools per km	Avg Resid Pool Depth,m	BFW/ Depth (CTV)	Avg CBW	Chann Width Per Pool	LWD per 1,000 m**2	LWD per km	LWD Key per km	LWD RWke per km	LWD Both per km	Undercut length/ Stream length
MM1	740	66.2	67.6	.37	14.7	2.4	6.2	72	207	81	8	4	.38
HC2	197	13.2	35.6	.27	No data	2.6	10.8	40	138	56	31	0	.17

Stream Flows During 1997

Stream flows in Old Franks Creek were higher in 1997 than in past years that escapement has been monitored.This made snorkel and walking escapement counts difficult.Ideally staff gauge level at the outlet of Lake Mary needs to be about 1.2 feet or less to conduct an effective count in Old Franks Creek (Figure 6).The level can be slightly higher for tributary counts but frequent rainfall in October kept flows up in the tributary streams much of the time.

Discussion

Coho salmon juveniles are now present throughout the accessible habitat in the Old Franks watershed, although all habitat is not yet fully seeded.The coho escapement in 1997 was down from 1996 even though more juveniles were stocked in 1995 than in 1994.The lower than expected escapement in Old Franks is consistent with the rest of Southeast Alaska where coho returns were low.The reason behind the lower returns is unknown but believed to be associated with factors in the ocean.The number of spawning coho counted in upper Old Franks Creek was higher in 1997 than in 1996.This may be because 36% of the coho were stocked at the bridge over upper Old Franks Creek in 1995.None were stocked in the stream in 1994. Coho adults were observed upstream of the road bridge for the first time in 1997. 

Old Franks continued to receive fishing pressure near the mouth of the stream in 1997.Sport fishers were observed near the mouth on many occasions.Both pink salmon and coho salmon were harvested there. 

The final year of coho returns from the bioenhancement effort will occur in 1998.Starting with the 1999 return, nearly all returning coho will be from fish spawned within the Old Franks system.

The sockeye return was lower in 1997 because no bioenhancement returns came back.The sockeye returning were either strays from other streams or returns from kokanee progeny that outmigrated and returned as adults.

Pink salmon escapement continues to increase.The pink salmon escapement was the highest we have documented even though pink salmon returns were lower than expected in Southeast Alaska.Pink salmon migration to the upper fishpass is highly flow dependent.Fewer pinks made it through the upper fishpass in 1997 than in 1996.Many pink salmon migrated to within 500' of the fishpass but went back downstream to spawn.The habitat between the fishpasses is not yet fully seeded with pinks.The chum salmon escapement was fairly low in 1997 but the count is considered low because the number of pink salmon made it difficult to differentiate the chums.

Acknowledgements

This project could not have been completed withoutthe diligent work of Herb Roerick, Pat Moore, and April Moore who spent many weeks at a time living in the field at Old Franks under inclement conditions.

Literature Cited

Bryant, M.D.1991.Evaluation of the zooplankton and resident salmonid populations of Old Franks Lake before the introduction of an anadromous salmonid population.Final Report for 1990.FSL Juneau.21p.

Coghill, K.1997.Draft fish habitat and stream survey procedures for the Tongass National Forest.June 20, 1997 version.FSL Juneau.50p.

Hannon, J.1996.Old Franks Monitoring--1996.U.S. Forest Service.Craig Ranger District.Craig, AK26p.

Ricker, W.E.1975.Computation and interpretation of biological statistics of fish populations.Bulletin of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada.Bulletin 191., Ottawa, Canada.382p.