NOAA TR NMFS SSRF-646 A UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PUBLICATION NOAA Technical Report NMFS SSRF-646 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Dissolved Nitrogen Concentrations in the Columbia and Snake Rivers in 1970 and their Effect on Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Trout r WESLEY J. EBEL SEATTLE, WA. August 1971 Marine Biologtcal L^bor iory LI BRA ^<^ 5PP1 31972 Woods Hole. :i% NOAA TECHNICAL REPORTS National Marine Fisheries Service, Special Scientific Report-Fisheries Series The major responsibilities of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) are to monitor and assess the abundance and geographic distribution of fishery resources, to understand and predict fluctuations in the quantity and distribution of these resources, and to establish levels for optimum use of the resources. NMFS is also charged with the development and implementation of policies for managing national fishing grounds, develop- ment and enforcement of domestic fisheries regulations, surveillance of foreign fishing off United States coastal waters, and the development and enforcement of international fishery agreements and policies. NMFS also as- sists the fishing industry through marketing service and economic analysis programs, and mortgage insurance and vessel construction subsidies. It collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on various phases of the industry. The Special Scientific Report — Fisheries series was established in 1949. The series carries reports on scien- tific investigations that document long-term continuing programs of NMFS, or intensive scientific reports on studies of restricted scope. The reports may deal with applied fishery problems. The series is also used as a medium for the publication of bibliographies of a specialized scientific nature. NOAA Technical Reports NMFS SSRF are available free in limited numbers to governmental agencies, both Federal and State. They are also available in exchange for other scientific and technical publications in the marine sciences. Individual copies may be obtained (unless otherwise noted) from NOAA Publications Section, Rockville, Md. 20852. Recent SSRF's are: 586. The Trade Wind Zone Oceanography Pilot Study. Part VII : Observations of sea birds March 1964 to June 1965. By Warren B. King. June 1970, vi + 136 pp., 36 figs., 11 tables. 591. A bibliography of the lobsters, genus Homarus. By R. D. Lewis. January 1970, i + 47 pp. 592. Passage of adult salmon and trout through pipes. By Emil Slatick. January 1970, iii + 18 pp., 8 figs., 12 tables. 594. Seasonal and areal distribution of zooplankton in coastal waters of the Gulf of Maine, 1967 and 1968. By Kenneth Sherman. July 1970, iii + 8 pp., 6 figs., 3 tables. 595. Size, seasonal abundance, and length-weight re- lation of some scombrid fi.shes from southeast Florida. By Grant L. Beardsley, Jr., and William J. Richards. May 1970, iii -f 6 pp., 5 figs., 2 tables. 596. Fecundity, multiple spawning, and description of the gonads in Sebastodes. By John S. MacGregor. March 1970, iii + 12 pp., 6 figs., 7 tables. 597. Fur seal investigations, 1967. By Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Marine Mammal Biological Laboratory. March 1970, vii + 104 pp., 31 figs., 79 tables. 599 Diagnostic characters of juveniles of the shrimps Penaeus aztcciis aztecus, P. duorarum duorarum, and P. brasilieiisis (Crustacea, Decapoda, Penaei- dae). By Isabel Perez Farfante. February 1970, iii -f 26 pp., 25 figs. 600. Birectilinear recruitment curves to assess in- fluence of lake size on survival of sockeye salmon (OncorhynchKS nerka) to Bristol Bay and fore- cast runs. By Ralph P. Silliman. March 1970, iii -f 9 pp., 13 figs., 2 tables. 601. Effect of flow on performance and behavior of chinook salmon in fishways. By Clark S. Thomp- son. March 1970, iii -f 11 pp., 8 figs., 3 tables. 602. Biological characteristics of intertidal and fresh- water spawning pink salmon at Olsen Creek, Prince William Sound, Alaska, 1962-63. By John H. Helle. May 1970, iii -f 19 pp., 11 figs., 5 tables. 603. Distribution and abundance of fish in the Yakima River, Wash., April 1957 to May 1958. By Ben- jamin G. Patten, Richard B. Thompson, and Wil- liam D. Gronlund. June 1970, iii + 31 pp., 26 figs., 37 tables. 604. The flora and fauna of a basin in central Florida Bay. By J. Harold Hudson, Donald M. Allen, and T. J. Costello. May 1970, iii -f- 14 pp., 2 figs., 1 table. 605. Contributions to the life histories of several penaeid shrimps (Penaeidae) along the south Atlantic Coast of the United States. By William W. Anderson. May 1970, iii + 24 pp., 15 figs., 12 tables. 606. Annotated references on the Pacific saury, Colol- abis sah-a. By Steven E. Hughes. June 1970, iii + 12 pp. 607. Studies on continuous transmission frequency modulated sonar. Edited by Frank J. Hester. June 1970, iii + 26 pp. 1st paper. Sonar target classification experiments with a continuous- transmission Doppler sonar, by Frank J. Hester, pp. 1-20, 14 figs., 4 tables; 2d paper. Acoustic target strength of several species of fish, by H. W. Volberg, pp. 21-26, 10 figs. 608. Preliminary designs of traveling screens to col- lect juvenile fish. July 1970, v -f- 15 pp. 1st paper, Traveling screens for collection of juvenile Continued on inside back cover. _ .^0 WMOsp^, "''■■wf\t L'^ '^'"^ U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Maurice H. Stans, Secretary NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION Robert M. White, Administrator NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE Philip M. Roedel, Director NOAA Technical Report NMFS SSRF-646 Dissolved Nitrogen Concentrations in the Columbia and Snake Rivers in 1970 and their Effect on Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Trout WESLEY J. EBEL "Marine UBRARy 31972 SEPl V»/oods Hole. Mass. SEATTLE, WA. August 1971 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Othce Washington, D.C. - Price 20 cents Stock number 0320-0020 CONTENTS Page Introduction 1 Methods 1 Dissolved nitrogen concentrations 1 Effect of dissolved nitrogen on fish 3 Results 3 Dissolved nitrogen concentrations 3 Effect of dissolved nitrogen on fish 5 Literature cited 6 HI Dissolved Nitrogen Concenfrotions in the Columbia and Snake Rivers in 1970 and Their Effect on Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Trout By WESLEY J. EBEL, Fishery Biologist National Marine Fisheries Service, Biolog-ical Laboratory Seattle, Washington 98102 ABSTRACT Concentrations of dissolved nitrogen gas varied widely in 1970 but were generally lower in the Columbia River than in 1968-69. Concentrations were high, however, in some areas of the Snake River in the spring and early summer, mainly because of spill- ing of water at Little Goose Dam. Symptoms of gas bubble disease were widespread in Snake River juvenile and adult chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead trout (Salmo gairdneri) . There were substantial losses of fish, particularly juveniles, during periods of high concentration of dissolved nitrogen gas. INTRODUCTION Continued evidence of the supersaturation of dissolved nitrogen gas associated with spill- ing of water at dams in the Columbia River Basin has prompted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to undertake studies to develop a mathematical model for prediction of concen- trations of dissolved nitrogen and to examine means of designing spillways that do not super- saturate the water. It was hoped that infor- mation from the develo])ment of the model would also enable the Corps to modify present spillway operations to reduce nitrogen gas con- centrations in the Columbia and Snake Rivers. This report summarizes the water sampling data provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service for the model and briefly reviews some studies of the effects of supersaturation of dis- solved nitrogen on some salmonids. Concen- trations of dissolved nitrogen gas were mea- sured twice a month from April to August 1970 in the lower 200 km of the Snake River and the lower 640 km of the Columbia River. The effects (unusual mortality and symptoms of gas bubble disease) of the concentrations were ex- amined among various populations of juvenile and adult chinook salmon (Oncorhyvchus tsha- wytscha) and steelhead trout (Salmo galrd- neri) . METHODS Dissolved Nitrogen Concentrations Stations from the forebay of Little Goose Dam to Astoria, Oreg., were reached by air- craft and sampled semimonthly from 7 April to 18 August 1970 (Figure 1 and Table 1). On some trips, the aircraft could not land at all stations because of high winds near some sampling sites. Each set of samples was ob- tained in a single day, usually on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Samples from forebay stations were taken at the surface and at 10 m; samples from tailrace stations were taken at the surface only. Data were collected on dissolved nitrogen, dissolved oxy- gen, and related water temperatures. The sampling techniques and analytical procedures were identical to those described by Ebei (1969) and by Beiningen and Ebel (1970) . The argon fraction in the air is included in the listed ni- trogen data. WASHINGTON 21 o \ ASTORIA ^\\ o u. o \\o ll '-- 16 0. 1 PORTLAND 1^ OREGON — BONNEVILL DAM THE DALLES I'AK !Ma LITTLE GOOSE 0AM 2 I LOWER MONUMENTAL DAM HN DAY DAM ' ICE HARBOR DAM II 8 /McNARY DAM 50 0 25 50 I I I 100 150 KILOMETERS Figure 1. — Location of sampling stations (station code numbers from 1 tlirough 21) on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, 1970. Table 1. — Location of sampling sites in the Columbia and Snake Rivers; representative sampling sites are shown by number in Figure 1. Station code number Sampling site River kilometers from Columbia River mouth Snake River 1 Little Goose Dam-Forebay 696.1 2 Little Goose Dam— Tailrace 695.1 3 Lower Monumental Dam— Forebay 597.8 4 Lower Monumental Dam— Tailrace (Spillway side) 596.8 5 Ice Harbor Dam— Forebay 538.2 6 Ice Harbor Dam— Tailrace (Spillway side) 537.2 Columbia River 7 Columbia River— above Snake River mouth 521.7 8 McNary Dam-Forebay (Spillway side) 470.6 9 McNary Dam-Forebay (Powerhouse side) 470.6 10 McNary Dam— Tailrace (Powerhouse side) 469.6 11 McNary Dam— Tailrace (Spillway side) 469.6 12 John Day Dam— Forebay 347.6 13 John Day Dam— Tailrace (Spillway side) 346.6 14 The Dalles Dam-Forebay 308.8 15 The Dalles Dam— Tailrace (Spillway side) 307.8 16 Bonneville Dam— Forebay 235.7 17 Bonneville Dam— Tailrace (Spillway side) 234.7 18 Columbia River at Washougal 195.9 19 Columbia River above mouth of Willamette 171.5 20 Columbia River near Prescott 109.0 21 Columbia River at Harrington Point (Astoria) 37.8 Effect of Dissolved Nitrogen on Fish Wild and hatchery stocks of juvenile fall Chinook salmon and wild spring chinook salmon were held in cages at various depths in the forebay of Ice Harbor Dam and were inspected for numbers of dead fish and symptoms of gas bubble disease. Fifty fish were placed in each cage and observed for 7 days. In each of these tests the deep cage, or the enclosure with fish held at 3 to 4 m, was designated as the control cage because at these depths concentrations of dissolved nitrogen up to about 135 9r of satur- ation would be compensated for by the hydro- static pressure. Concentrations of dissolved nitrogen and water temperatures were recorded at the beginning and end of each test. Numbers of survivors with and without gas bubble di- sease symptoms were also recorded at the termination of each test. Samples of juvenile chinook salmon and steel- head trout were taken from the gatewell bypass trap at Ice Harbor Dam throughout the migra- tion period and were examined for external symptoms of gas bubble disease. One hundred or more fish were captured for study during each sampling. Adult chinook salmon were examined at Rapid River Hatchery, Riggins, Idaho, for ex- ternal symptoms of gas bubble disease. The fish were captured in a trap near the hatchery and were examined before they were moved to the holding pond. During each aircraft flight for data on dis- solved nitrogen concentrations, I also searched along the rivers for dead specimens of adult salmon and trout. Numbers of dead fish and location and date of the sightings were recorded and then related to the concentrations of dis- solved nitrogen gas near the dead fish. RESULTS Dissolved Nitrogen Concentrations Concentrations of dissolved nitrogen gas (as well as concentrations of dissolved oxygen and related water temperatures) at sampling sites in the Columbia and Snake Rivers are listed in Table 2. Concentrations in the Columbia were lower in 1970 than in the previous years 1968-69 (Beiningen and Ebel, 1971), except during the peak flow period in the first week of June. For example, concentrations between McNary and Bonneville in early May ranged between 100 and 133% of saturation in 1968, 128 and 144% in 1969, and 96 and 107% in 1970. The Snake River, however, had some extremely high concentrations. The Snake River was supersaturated with dissolved nitrogen (129% below Little Goose Dam) on the first survey, 7 April. During the next 2 months, concentrations between Little Goose and Ice Harbor Dams increased, reach- ing a high on 3 June of 146% of saturation in the forebay of Lower Monumental Dam. The concentrations remained high in the river until 21 July when marked reduction was noted. This reduction was no doubt caused by the reduced spill at Little Goose Dam — from about 1,981 cubic meter ^second (cms) (70,000 cfs) on 7 July to 368 cms (13,000 cfs) on 21 July. On 18 August (the last survey), levels had re- turned to normal — near 100%. A comparison of average percentage saturation of dissolved nitrogen gas in the forebay of Lower Monu- mental Dam with mean daily spill at Little Goose Dam (Figure 2) shows a sharp increase in concentration of dissolved nitrogen from 5 May to 19 May at Lower Monumental as spill volume increased at Little Goose. Nitrogen-Lower Monumenlol Dam 90 -ii;; 6-23 7-7 Figure 2. — Average concentration of dissolved nitrogen gas in forebay of Lower Monumental Dam and mean daily spill of water at Little Goose Dam, 7 April to 7 July 1970. (To convert from cubic feet to cubic meters, multiply cubic feet by 0.0283.) Table 2. — Concentrations of dissolv ed nitrogen and oxygen gas a nd relate d water tempe ratures in th e Colu mbia and Snake Rivers, 7 April to 18 August 1970. Date station code number Depth («) Temp. OWKei Ppn, ,tSat. KltrORon Date station code numbi Depth - (M) Temp. Oitygen Ppm it Sat. Nitrogen Ppm % Sat. Ppm « Sat. 7 April 1 0 8.1i 12.0 102. ll 18.9 97.9 16 0 12.5 U.6 109.2 19.3 110.7 10 8.2 11.1 94.2 19.2 99.4 10 12.6 11.8 U1.3 19.6 U0.5 2 0 8.4 Ik. 9 127.1 24.9 129.4 17 0 12.8 13.1 124.2 23.7 134.4 3 0 8.6 11.9 102.0 21.2 110.4 18 0 12.8 U.7 Ul.l 20.3 U4.7 10 8.5 u.7 106.8 21.8 U3.|/ 19 0 13.0 12.1 U4.4 19.7 U1.9 ll 0 8.6 -- -. — 20 0 13.5 U.O 106.0 16.5 106.1 5 0 8.6 12.2 105.0 21.0 10,.|^ 21 0 13.8 10.7 104.0 18.2 105.0 10 8.6 -- -- 3 June 1 0 l4.o — __ _. 6 0 8.6 U.9 102.0 21.2 ^^°^ 10 12.5 U.2 105.5 19.8 111.3 7 0 7.2 -- — -- 2 0 12.6 14.4 135.8 24.8 139.6 8 0 8.0 11. ll 96.3 20.6 106.0 3 0 14.2 15.1 147.7 25.2 146.4 10 7.9 11.1 93.5 20.6 105.7 10 u.6 15.3 l4l.o 24.8 137.2 9 0 8.0 11.0 92.9 19.2 98.8 4 0 12.0 14.4 133.9 24.6 138.2 10 7.8 10.8 90.8 19.0 97.3 5 0 13.6 13-9 134.2 23.2 133.3 10 0 7.9 11.6 98.0 19.9 106.0 10 12.4 13.0 122.1 22.6 127.0 11 0 8.0 11.6 98.0 20.6 106.0 6 0 12.6 13.6 128.3 22.9 128.8 12 0 8.2 11.7 99.0 19.5 101.0 7 0 13.9 12.7 123.5 20.4 U7.8 10 8.2 11.7 99.3 20.0 103.3 8 0 15.4 12.8 128.6 19.8 U7.5 13 0 8.1i 10.9 93.0 19.2 99.6 10 14.0 12.7 123.8 20.7 U9.8 Ik 0 8.2 lO.ll 87.6 15.8 81.6 9 0 14.2 12.3 120.4 20.1 116.8 10 8.2 12.0 101.9 19.3 99.8 10 13.4 12.5 120.2 19.9 U3.8 15 0 3.3 11.1 94.5 19.8 102.4 10 0 13.8 12.4 120.3 20.0 U5.3 16 0 8.3 11.1 94.5 20.6 106.7 U 0 14.5 14.4 141.9 22.7 132.5 10 8.2 11.5 97.6 19.5 100.6 12 0 15.0 12.9 128.6 21.5 126.8 IT 0 8.5 n.6 99.1 19.2 99.8 10 14.0 13.0 126.7 21.9 126.7 20 0 8.8 11.3 97.3 19.0 99.3 13 0 14.6 14.2 140.3 23.6 138.7 21 April 1 0 8.1 12.0 101.6 18.7 96.4 14 0 14.4 13.6 133.7 23.4 136.4 10 8.7 ll.ll 97.9 19.0 u1:^ 10 14.2 13.4 131.1 22.9 133.0 2 0 8.9 12.8 U0.5 22.1 15 0 14.6 13.0 128.5 21.5 125.8 3 0 9.6 Ik. 3 125.7 22.6 120.1 \ 16 0 14.6 U.9 U7.6 19.9 U6.4 10 8.6 13.2 112.8 22.7 U8.3 10 14.3 12.7 124.6 21.7 126.2 ll 0 8.8 15.3 123.2 24.4 127.5 \ ", / 0 14.4 13.2 129.8 23.1 134.4 5 0 10.0 12.8 U3.6 22.3 U9.5 V 0 14.7 12.2 120.8 21.6 123.1 10 9.1 13.0 112.6 22.4 U8.1 20 0 15.2 12.1 121.1 20.6 122.0 6 0 9.11 13.2 U5.0 22.8 120.5 21 0 15.5 U.4 U4.9 20.4 121.4 T 0 8.0 12.6 106.8 19.6 100.8 23 June 1 0 17.6 9.6 101.3 17.2 104.5 8 0 10.5 13.0 U6.7 20.6 1U.5 10 16.8 10.2 105.7 17.0 103.4 10 8.8 12.2 105.1 20.0 104.5 2 0 16.6 13.2 136.8 22.8 137.0 9 0 11.2 13.2 120.5 20.5 107.7 3 0 17.3 13.0 136.3 22.0 134.9 10 8.9 12.7 109.7 20.6 107.4 10 16.6 13.0 134.2 22.2 134.5 10 0 9.2 12.2 106.2 20.4 107.6 4 0 16.6 12.9 133.7 22.0 133.8 11 0 9.0 12.2 105.6 20.4 107.1 5 0 17.1 13.0 135.7 21.2 129.6 12 0 9.2 u.9 103.6 19.4 102.3 10 16.3 12.4 127.2 20.8 125.4 0 8.9 12.1 104.5 20.9 109.6 6 0 16.1 12.6 128.7 20.8 125.2 13 0 9.0 U.ll 98.7 19.0 99.8 7 0 17.0 u.4 U8.6 17.3 105.5 11) 0 9.0 11.7 101.3 18.6 97.7 8 0 18.0 U.5 122.3 18.3 U3.6 10 8.8 u.ll 98.2 18.6 97.2 10 16.7 10.9 112.7 16.3 98.9 15 0 9.1 U.6 100.7 19.0 100.0 9 0 18.0 U.5 122.3 18.0 U1.7 16 0 9.1 U.6 100.7 18.8 98.9 10 16.2 10.9 U1.6 17.2 103.5 10 9.0 10.8 93.5 17.9 94.0 10 0 16.2 12.0 122.8 19.6 U8.0 17 0 9.2 u.ll 99.2 19.8 104.3 u 0 17.0 12.9 134.2 22.2 135.4 20 0 9.6 u.o 96.7 18.2 96.8 12 0 17.4 13.6 142.8 20.4 125.3 21 0 9.9 u.o 97.3 19.1 99.5 10 16.6 13.0 134.2 20.4 123.6 5 Hay 1 0 12.1 12.5 U6.6 18.3 102.2 13 0 16.8 12.4 126.5 21.6 131.4 10 11.2 U.8 107.8 18.3 100.4 14 0 16.4 12.1 124.4 19.6 U8.4 2 0 10.8 111. 2 128.4 24.4 132.8 10 16.4 12.6 129.5 20.4 123.0 3 0 ll.lt lU.O 128.4 21.7 U9.6 15 0 16.4 U.9 122.3 19.2 U6.0 10 10.6 H.l 126.9 22.3 120.6 16. 0 16.3 U.l U3.8 19.0 U4.5 ll 0 10.7 12.6 U5.5 21.2 115.2 10 16.4 u.l U4.0 17.9 108.2 5 0 12.7 13.6 128.7 20.7 U6.9 17 0 16.4 12.5 128.5 22.4 135.3 10 10.8 13.3 120.2 20.7 112.7 18 0 16.5 U.9 122.5 21.0 123.9 6 0 10.7 12.6 U3.7 21.6 117.4 19 0 16.4 u.7 120.2 18.1 109.4 7 0 11. ll 12.6 U5.6 19.2 105.8 20 0 16.8 U.O U4.0 17.4 105.6 8 0 10 12.0 11.2 12.8 12.6 U9.0 U5.4 18.2 19.6 101.4 107.5 21 0 16.9 u.o U4.2 18.0 109.7 9 0 U.7 13.1 121.1 18.6 103.1 7 July 1 0 22.4 9.6 U1.9 15.5 104.9 10 10. U 12.6 112.9 19.8 107.0 10 19.7 9.3 102.4 15.7 100.1 10 0 11.0 12.5 U3.6 18.1 99.0 2 0 19.6 12.9 136.3 22.5 143.5 11 0 11.1 12.6 114.7 19.4 106.2 3 0 20.2 12.0 133.6 20.9 134.4 12 0 10.2 12.9 U4.8 18.5 99.5 10 16.0 U.6 123.4 20.5 127.3 10 9.9 12.8 U3.3 18.2 97. 3 4 0 17.9 12.2 130.6 21.9 135.7 13 0 10.2 u.6 103.2 18.4 99.0 5 0 19.4 12.0 127.4 21.1 130.7 111 0 10.6 u.6 104.4 17.8 96.5 10 17.9 12.5 136.9 21.7 137.8 10 10.6 u.7 105.6 18.6 100.9 6 0 17.7 12.3 129.0 21.5 130.4 15 0 10.7 u.7 105.6 17.7 96.2 7 0 18.6 U.2 120.6 18.3 U4.7 16 0 10.8 12.1 109.4 18.2 99.1 8 0 22.4 U.4 132.6 17.6 U6.9 10 10.8 12.1 109.4 18.3 99.7 10 19.4 U.3 123.8 18.4 U2.3 17 0 11.0 u.6 105.4 18.3 100.0 9 0 22.6 U.4 133.2 17.6 U7.3 20 0 11.5 10.9 100.3 17.9 98.8 10 18.7 11.2 120.8 19.3 121.2 21 0 10.2 U.l 93.7 17.5 94.1 10 0 19.0 10.8 U8.3 17.5 U0.4 19 May 1 0 lll.O 10.6 103.3 18.5 107.1 u 0 19.6 U.8 136.3 19.3 122.9 10 13.2 10.8 103.3 19.0 108.3 12 0 19.8 U.O 121.4 17.9 114.4 2 0 13.3 13.11 128.5 23.7 135.3 10 18.6 U.O U8.4 18.4 U5.4 3 0 13.0 13.7 130.5 24.0 136.4 13 0 18.8 10.5 U3.5 -- -- 10 12.2 13.5 126.2 23.5 134.0 14 0 16.6 10.5 U3.0 17.9 112.2 ll 0 12.2 13.5 126.0 23.8 135.7 10 18.6 10.7 U5.2 17.6 U0.2 5 0 12.0 13.5 125.6 23.5 131.0 15 0 18.8 10.8 108.6 18.6 U6.2 10 11.7 13. ll 123.8 22.9 126.9 16 0 18.2 10.1 107.9 16.6 103.4 6 0 11.8 13.1. 124.2 22.6 125.4 10 18.2 10.1 107.9 17.2 107.1 7 0 12.5 11.3 106.2 18.7 107.2 17 0 18.4 u.5 125.8 19.3 126.0 8 0 13.7 12.0 U6.2 18.8 108.2 18 0 18.9 10.3 U4.0 16.9 108.2 10 13.0 u.8 112.4 19.8 U2.5 19 0 18.9 10.5 112.7 17.7 1U.5 9 0 lll.O 12.7 123.8 20.3 117.5 20 0 19.2 9.8 108.0 16.6 105.1 10 12.9 12.8 121.7 21.4 U6.7 21 0 19.3 10.4 U1.5 17.0 107.7 10 0 13.1 12.2 116.6 19.6 1U.5 21 Juty 1 0 21.1 8.3 94.1 15.4 100.5 11 0 13.6 13.0 126.0 22.3 126.8 10 21.1 9.5 107.7 17.6 U4.7 12 0 13. k U.3 108.6 18.3 104.7 2 0 20.9 9.4 106.1 16.7 109.1 13^ 10 13.'! 11.5 U0.6 19.5 1U.5 3 0 21.4 9.2 104.9 16.2 104.9 0 13.6 12.0 U6.0 20.7 U9.0 10 21.4 9.6 109.5 17.0 109.5 15 0 13.1 12.1 U5.5 20.9 U8.9 4 0 21.3 8.8 100.1 15.6 100.1 Table 2. — Concentrations of dissolved nitrogen and oxygen gas and related water temperatures in the Columbia and Snake Rivers, 7 April to 18 August 1970. — Continued Date Station code number Depth (M) Temp. •c Oxygen Ppm tsat. Nitrogen Ppm f Sat. Date Station code number 15 Depth (M) 0 Temp. •c 20.1. Oxygen 8.6 * Sat. 96.5 Nitrogen Ppn 17.0 t Sat. 5 0 21.9 e.ii 96.8 15.2 96.8 109.6 10 22.0 7.6 87.7 15.3 87.7 16 0 20.3 9.0 100.3 15.9 102.1. 6 0 21.6 9.6 109.8 16.9 109-8 10 20.3 9.0 100.3 16.1 103.7 7 0 19. k 10.6 u6.1 15.7 99.7 17 0 20.1. 10.9 121.8 18.7 120.3 e 0 21.0 9.6 108.6 15.6 101.6 20 0 20.5 8.4 91.2 16.3 105.0 10 20.7 9.8 110. 1 16.3 105.6 21 0 19.9 8.2 90.3 16.1. 101. .9 9 0 21.1. 9.6 109.5 15.6 102.1 18 August 1 0 22.6 7.7 90.0 11..1. 95.7 10 21.0 9.6 108.6 15.7 102.2 10 22.3 6.8 79.0 13.9 92.2 10 0 20.8 9.8 110.1. 15.7 102.1. S 0 22.5 8.5 99.1 15.5 103.1 u 0 20.8 9.8 no.i. 15.0 97.3 3 0 23.1. 7.7 91.3 1I..8 99.7 13 0 20.2 8.9 99.1 15.1. 99.0 10 22.1 7.5 86.7 15.6 102.9 15 0 19.9 9.2 101.8 15.7 100.5 It 0 22.2 6.9 80.2 13.7 90.8 16 0 19.7 8.8 97.0 15.1 96.3 5 0 23.1. 8.7 103.2 1I..7 99.1 10 19.7 10.0 110.1 15.3 97.6 10 22.3 8.6 99.8 16.3 108.1 IT 0 19.8 10.9 120.3 16.8 107.3 6 0 22.3 8.0 92.9 1I..7 97.5 18 0 19.7 9.6 105.7 16.1 102.8 7 0 20.1 9.9 U0.3 16.8 107.8 19 0 20.0 9.2 102.0 15.8 101.3 8 0 22.3 9.8 113.7 15.2 100.5 20 0 20.1* 9.2 102.8 15.6 100.6 10 20.9 10.1 m.o 16 .7 108.2 21 0 20.3 8.5 9I..8 15.7 101.1 9 0 22.0 9.2 106.1 11. .1. 95.1 6 Augiut 1 0 23.1 8.7 102.9 11. .7 99.0 10 0 20.8 9.3 101.2 16.5 107.1 10 21.9 8.0 92.2 15.3 100.9 11 0 21.0 9.1. 106.3 15.1. 100.3 2 0 21.9 10.2 117. 3 18.1 119.3 12 0 21.3 8.3 9I..1. 15.8 103.3 3 0 23.1 9.2 108.5 16.3 109.1. 10 20.8 8.1 91.2 15.5 100.6 10 22.0 9.3 107.3 16.5 109.0 13 0 20.9 8.0 90.3 16.0 103.6 l> 0 22.1 8.1. 97.6 16.2 107.2 Ik 0 20.2 8.6 95.8 16.0 102.9 5 0 23.3 9.3 110.1 15.6 105.1 10 20.2 8.7 96.9 16.5 106.1 10 22.2 8.1. 97.3 15.7 1I..6 10I..O 15 0 20.1 8.1. 92.9 15.2 97.8 6 0 22.2 7.9 91.5 96.8 16 0 19.2 9.2 100.3 16.8 106.3 7 0 19.8 10.3 113.6 16.3 101. .2 10 19.5 8.1. 92.1 Ik. 3 90.9 8 0 21.6 10.6 121.3 15.9 lOU.l. 17 0 19.6 9.1 100.0 15.9 101.0 10 20.5 9.9 U0.9 IT.l uo.i. 18 0 19.5 9.1 99.8 15.1. 97.9 9 0 21.9 10.9 125.6 16.5 108.8 19 0 18.8 9.1 100.1. 15.3 97.8 10 20.3 9.5 105.9 16.5 106.2 20 0 20.2 8.7 96.9 15.1. 96.5 10 0 20.6 9.7 108.1. 16.9 109.3 21 0 20.0 8.3 92.0 Ik. 9 95.2 n 12 0 0 21.0 20.6 10.0 8.7 112.9 97.6 15.7 16.1 102.2 lOk.l 10 20.lt 8.5 95.0 16.1 103.8 1/ Sample jottles were broken before data ^ere obtained. 13 0 20.6 8.2 92.5 16.3 105.1. 2/ Coinbinatlon spillway and flshway water. Ik 0 20.3 8.7 97.0 15.6 100.5 3/ Sampled 5/ Sampled in shallow water near shore due to high w nds. 10 20.3 8.8 98.1 16.2 101.. 1 near Corbett, Or eg., about 203 km from Columbia Fiver mouth Effect of Dissolved Nitrogen on Fish Various populations of juvenile and adult salmon and trout were examined in 1970 for mortality and symptoms of gas bubble disease that resulted — directly or indirectly — from supersaturation of dissolved nitrogen in the Snake and Columbia Rivers. There were substantial mortalities due to supersaturation of nitrogen among stocks of juvenile chinook salmon held in cages at var- ious depths near Ice Harbor Dam (Tables 3 Table 3. — Mortality of juvenile spring chinook salmon of wild (native) origin held in cages at various depths in the forebay of Ice Harbor Dam, 21-28 May 1970.' Holding time Cage depth (m) and mortality (%) Surface 75-1.0 m 1.5-2.0 m 3.0-4.0 m (control) 0-4.5 m 24 hours 60 48 hours 92 7 days 100 No test No test =6 M5 ' Water temperature was 11.9° C and dissolved nitrogen concentration was 127% of saturation at start of test; water temperature was 12.4° C and dissolved nitrogen concen- tration was 127% of saturation at end of test. ■ 17% of survivors had symptoms of gas bubble disease. ^ 94% of survivor: had symptoms of gas bubble disease. through 6) . I believe that data from the 0-4.5 m cage are probably most representative of what may have happened to migi'ating juvenile fish because the caged fish could sound at their vo- lition to 4.5 m. Mortalities in the 0-4.5 m cage ranged between 45 and 68% from late May to early July. Examination of juvenile migrants taken in gatewells at Ice Harbor indicated that 25 to 45 '^f of the chinook salmon and 30 to 58 Tr of the steelhead trout had symptoms of gas bubble Table 4. — Mortality of juvenile fall chinook salmon of hatchery (Wahkeena Pond) origin held in cages at various depths in the forebay of Ice Harbor Dam, 4-11 June 1970.' Holding time Cage depth (m) and mortality (%) Surface .75-1.0 m 1.5-2.0 m 3.0-4.0 m (control) 0-4.5 m 24 hours 48 hours 7 days 98 98 100 64 98 100 '40 '2 '68 ' Water temperature was 12.4° C and dissolved nitrogen concentration was 127% of saturation at start of test; water temperature was 13.8° C and dissolved nitrogen concen- tration was 132% of saturation at end of test. - 97% of survivors had symptoms of gas bubble disease. •^ 92% of survivors had symptoms of gas bubble disease. ' 100% of survivors had symptoms of gas bubble disease. Table 5. — Mortality of juvenile fall chinook salmon of wild (native) origin held in cages at various depths in the forebay of Ice Harbor Dam, 15-22 June 1970.' Holding time Cage depth (m) and mortality (%) Surface .75-1.0 m 1.5-2.0 m 3.0-4.0 m (control) 0-4.5 m 24 hours 48 hours 7 days 58 82 100 74 100 '50 ' Water temperature was 13.8° C and dissolved nitrogen concentration was 132% of saturation at start of test; water temperature was 15.8° C and dissolved nitrogen concen- tration was 127% of saturation at end of test. ' 69% of survivors had symptoms of gas bubble disease. ° 25% of survivors had symptoms of gas bubble disease. * 88% of survivors had symptoms of gas bubble disease. Table 6. — Mortality of juvenile fall chinook salmon of wild (native) origin held in cages at various depths in the forebay of Ice Harbor Dam, 24 June-2 July 1970.^ Holding time Cage depth (m) and mortality (%) Surface .75-1.0 m 1.5-2.0 m 3,0-4.0 m (control) 0-4.5 m 24 hours 100 100 48 hours 7 days .. .. 34 =38 =56 ^ Water temperature was 17.1° C and dissolved nitrogen concentration was 127% of saturation at start of test; water temperature was 19.4° C and dissolved nitrogen concen- tration was 134% of saturation at end of test. ' Survivors had no symptoms of gas bubble disease. = 12% of survivors had symptoms of gas bubble disease. disease. Population estimates made by Ray- mond (1971)' of juvenile chinook in the Salm- on River at Whitebird, Idaho, and those arriv- ing at Ice Harbor Dam indicated that about 70% of the migrating chinook were lost be- tween these points. A similar estimate for steelhead from Dworshak Hatchery indicated a 15% loss to Ice Harbor Dam and about a 90% loss to McNary Dam. These independent ob- servations of the effect of supersaturation of nitrogen gas on juvenile migrant chinook and steelhead and the estimate of losses recorded by Raymond clearly indicated that substantial ^ Raymond, H. L. 1971. Survival and timing of the 1970 and 1971 migration of juvenile chinook salmon and steelhead trout from the Snake River. Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., Biol. Lab., Seattle, Wash. (Unpublished manuscript.) losses of juvenile steelhead and chinook mi- grants resulted from supersaturation of dis- solved nitrogen in the Snake River. Less data are available to determine the effect of dissolved nitrogen on adult fish than are available for juvenile fish. Examination of adult chinook at Rapid River Hatchery showed that after 6 July about 30 ''r of the arriving fish had symptoms of gas bubble di- sease. Searches along the Columbia and Snake Rivers for dead salmon and steelhead during each sampling survey indicated no significant mortality until 7 July. On that date, 27 dead adult chinook were counted between Little Goose and Lower Monumental Dams on the Snake River. Although most of the fish were too decomposed to observe symptoms, symp- toms of gas bubble disease on three of the fish and high nitrogen concentrations in the river led me to believe gas bubble disease was the primary cause of the mortality. Apparently there was considerable delay between the time these fish were subjected to high levels of ni- trogen gas and the time that the mortalities were found. Concentrations of nitrogen gas were high in the Snake River in early April but did not become high in the Columbia until early June. The appearance of mortalities in early July was probably caused by the addition- al exposure of the later migrating fish to high concentrations in both the Snake and Columbia Rivers. These limited observations cannot measure the extent of the losses to adult mi- grants. However, a more comprehensive study (Mallet et al, 1971) indicated that 45% of the adult spring chinook in the Snake River were lost before they spawned and that the loss was caused by the delayed efl['ects from exposure to supersaturation of nitrogen gas. LITERATURE CITED BEININGEN, K. T., and W. J. EBEL. 1970. Eff'ect of John Day Dam on dissolved nitrogen concentrations and salmon in the Columbia River, 1968. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 99: 664-671. 1 97 1 . Supersaturation of dissolved nitrogen in the Columbia and lower Snake Rivers, 1965-69. U.S. Dep. Commer., Natl. Oceanic Atmos. Admin., Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., Data Rep. 56, 60 p. on 2 micro- fiche. EBEL, W. J. 1969. Supersaturation of nitrogen in the Columbia River and its effect on salmon and steelhead trout. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv., Fish. Bull. 68: 1-11. MALLET, J., T. HOLUBETZ.andD. CORLEY. 1971. Idaho salmon and steelhead status re- port for 1970. State of Idaho Fish and Game Dep., Boise, Idaho, 13 p. [Pro- cessed.] GPO 999-493 MBL WHOI Library Serials ii SE 01826 salmon (models I and II), by Daniel W. Bates and John G. Vanderwalker, pp. 1-5, 6 figs., 1 table; 2d paper, Design and operation of a canti- levered traveling fish screen (model V), by Dan- iel W. Bates, Ernest W. Murphey, and Earl F. Prentice, 10 figs., 1 table. 609. Annotated bibliography of zooplankton sampling devices. By Jack W. Jossi. July 1970, iii + 90 pp. 610. Limnological study of lower Columbia River, 1967-68. By Shirley M. Clark and George R. Snyder. July 1970, iii + 14 pp., 15 figs., 11 tables. 611. Laboratory tests of an electrical barrier for con- trolling predation by northern squawfish. By Galen H. Ma.xfield, Robert H. Lander, and Charles D. Volz. July 1970, iii + 8 pp., 4 figs., 5 tables. 612. The Trade Wind Zone Oceanography Pilot Study. Part VIII: Sea-level meteorological properties and heat exchange processes, July 1963 to June 1965. By Gunter R. Seckel. June 1970, iv + 129 pp., 6 figs., 8 tables. 613. Sea-bottom photographs and macrobenthos col- lections from the Continental Shelf off Massa- chusetts. By Roland L. Wigley and Roger B. Theroux. August 1970, iii + 12 pp., 8 figs., 2 tables. 614. A sled-mounted suction sampler for benthic or- ganisms. By Donald M. Allen and J. Harold Hudson. August 1970, iii + 5 pp., 5 figs., 1 table. 615. Distribution of fishing effort and catches of skip- jack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis, in Hawaiian waters, by quarters of the year, 1948-65. By Richard N. Uchida. June 1970, iv + 37 pp., 6 figs., 22 tables. 616. Effect of quality of the spawning bed on growth and development of pink salmon embryos and alevins. By Ralph A. Wells and William J. Mc- Neil. August 1970, iii + 6 pp., 4 tables. 617. Fur seal investigations, 1968. By NMFS, Ma- rine Mammal Biological Laboratory. December 1970, iii 4- 69 pp., 68 tables. 618. Spawning areas and abundance of steelhead trout and coho, sockeye, and chum salmon in the Columbia River Basin - past and present. By Leonard A. Fulton. December 1970, iii + 37 pp., 6 figs., 11 maps, 9 tables. 619. Macrozooplankton and small nekton in the coastal waters off Vancouver Island (Canada) and Washington, spring and fall of 1963. By Donald S. Day, January 1971, iii -|- 94 pp., 19 figs., 13 tables. 620. The Trade Wind Zone Oceanography Pilot Study. Part IX : The sea-level wind field and wind stress values, July 1963 to June 1965. By Gunter R. Seckel. June 1970, iii + 66 pp., 5 figs. 621. Predation by sculpins on fall chinook salmon, Oncorhyncliiiff tshawytscha, fry of hatchery or- igin. By Benjamin G. Patten. February 1971, iii -f 14 pp., 6 figs., 9 tables. 622. Number and lengths, by season, of fishes caught with an otter trawl near Woods Hole, Massa- chusetts, September 1961 to December 1962. By F. E. Lux and F. E. Nichy. February 1971, iii + 15 pp., 3 figs., 19 tables. 623. Apparent abundance, distribution, and migra- tions of albacore, Thunnus alalunr/a, on the North Pacific longline grounds. By Brian J. Rothschild and Marian Y. Y. Yong. September 1970, v -|- 37 pp., 19 figs., 5 tables. 624. Influence of mechanical processing on the quality and yield of bay scallop meats. By N. B. Webb and F. B. Thomas. April 1971, iii -f 11 pp., 9 figs., 3 tables. 625. Distribution of salmon and related oceanographic features in the North Pacific Ocean, spring 1968. By Robert R. French, Richard G. Bakkala, Ma- sanao Osako, and Jun Ito. March 1971, iii + 22 pp., 19 figs., 3 tables. 626. Commercial fishery and biology of the fresh- water shrimp, Macrobrachium, in the Lower St. Paul River, Liberia, 1952-53. By George C. Mil- ler. February 1971, iii -f- 13 pp., 8 figs., 7 tables. 629. Analysis of the operations of seven Hawaiian skipjack tuna fishing vessels, June-August 1967. By Richard N. Uchida and Ray F. Sumida. March 1971, v -|- 25 pp., 14 figs., 21 tables. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 - 35 cents. 633. Blueing of processed crab meat. II. Identifica- tion of some factors involved in the blue discol- oration of canned crab meat (Callhiectes sapi- di(s). By Melvin E. Waters. May 1971, iii + 7 pp., 1 fig., 3 tables. 636. Oil pollution on Wake Island from the tanker R. C. Stoner. By Reginald M. Gooding. May 1971, iii 4- 12 pp., 8 figs., 2 tables. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Govern- ment Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 25 cents. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL OCEANIC & ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS STAFF BLDG. 67, NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY SEAHLE, WASHINGTON 98115 OFFICIAL BUSINESS POSTAGE AND FEES PAID U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE