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Seafood Watch® Wild Pacific Salmon Report October 8, 2010 negative effects on salmon populations despite mitigation measures, and may be currently preventing recovery of endangered salmon populations. Prior to 2002, the Army Corp of Engineers compiled information on the location and distribution of dams by state. The National Inventory of Dams indicated that in 2001 California had 1,470 existing dams, Oregon 812, Washington 675, Idaho 404, and Alaska just 110 (Figure 1.2) (USACOE 2002). Number of Dams by State Dams 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 AK CA ID OR WA State Figure 1.2. Number of dams in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and Alaska. While it is clear that these hydroprojects have been devastating to many fish populations in North America, and more generally worldwide (Pringle et al. 2000), Chinook and coho salmon in the contiguous states have been among the most negatively affected. According to one recent analysis (Dauble et al. 2003), only 13% and 58% of Chinook salmon’s original riverine habitat in the Columbia and Snake Rivers, respectively, remains, with much of the Snake River habitat located behind the Hells Canyon dam and therefore inaccessible to salmon. Of the nearly 1,500 km of these rivers once used for spawning by fall Chinook salmon, under 250 km (
Seafood Watch® Wild Pacific Salmon Report October 8, 2010 In contrast to the widespread use of dams in California, Oregon, and Washington, water storage and hydroelectric projects are far less abundant in Alaska, due largely to the scarcity of major metropolitan or agricultural areas and greater abundance of water. According to one count, of the roughly 75,000 dams in the U.S., just 160 are located in Alaska (Alaska 2000). However, where dams do exist, they continue to have effects on anadromous fish. Few of the existing hydro facilities in Alaska appear to have anadromous fish ladders, and there is evidence that where dams do exist formerly strong salmon runs have dwindled (Boltwood 2002). As a proxy for the presence and extent of dams, data from the Energy Information Agency indicates that in the year 2000 hydroelectric facilities in Alaska generated 1 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) (Figure 1.3). In contrast, California and Oregon each generated 38 times that amount, and Washington State generated more than the other three states combined (EIA 2002). Hydroelectric Production by State (2000) 90000 80000 WA 70000 Million kWh 60000 50000 40000 30000 CA OR Alaska California Idaho Oregon Washington 20000 10000 0 AK ID Figure 1.3. Hydroelectric production in the year 2000. Data source: (EIA 2002) Other Habitat Alterations In addition to dam development, Pacific salmon habitat has been compromised by other forms of human activity, including logging, water diversions, road construction, the proliferation of impervious surfaces, channelization of rivers, the removal of woody debris and riparian vegetation, disruption in sediment and nutrient supply, and a general fragmentation of habitats (Larsen et al. 2004b, OPR 2004). Again according to the NMFS Office of Protected Resources: “Studies indicate that in most western states, about 80 to 90 percent of the historic riparian habitat has been eliminated…. In Washington, the number of large, deep pools in National Forest streams has decreased by as much as 58 percent due to sedimentation and loss of pool-forming structures such as boulders and large wood. Similarly, in Oregon, the abundance of large, deep pools on private coastal lands has decreased by as much as 80 percent” (OPR 2004). The disappearance of these natural features can reduce the suitable habitat for Pacific salmon. An earlier but more comprehensive review by the U.S. Geological Survey notes that Oregon and Washington have witnessed the logging of 96% and 75% of their original coastal temperate rainforests, respectively (Noss et al. 1995). In addition, both states have incurred losses of oldgrowth forests in Douglas-fir regions on the order of 80-90%. California’s habitat losses have 22
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