Oregon's ocean going salmon

Chinook Salmon (ocean-rearing)

• Distribution includes coast and Columbia Basin mainstem rivers.
• Juveniles migrate to the ocean the first fall after they hatch, rearing briefly in estuaries.
• They rear over a broad ocean area, ranging from northern California to the Gulf of Alaska.
• Adults, typically 3 to 5 years old, return to fresh water in the spring, summer or fall.
• Spring and summer migrants prefer deep, cool pools where they hold several months before fall spawning.
• Adults spawn in large concentrations on mainstem gravel bars; may use both upper and lower mainstems.

Chinook (stream-rearing)

• In Oregon, they are only in upper Columbia Basin tributaries.
• Juveniles migrate to the ocean as 1-year-olds, in the spring.
• Little is known about the ocean distribution of Oregon's stream-rearing chinook.
• Adults return to fresh water in the spring, when 3 to 5 years old, and require deep, cool pools to hold for several months over the summer before fall spawning.
• They spawn in concentrations on gravel bars in upper tributaries.

Chum Salmon

• Shortest freshwater residence of all salmon. Adults stay only about a week prior to spawning; juveniles migrate to the ocean hours after hatching.
• Juveniles rear briefly in estuaries.
• Most Oregon chums migrate to the Gulf of Alaska for ocean rearing.
• Adults spawn at 3 to 5 years of age.
• Spawning occurs in lower mainstems, concentrated on large gravel bars.
• Adults are unable to pass even minor barriers.

Coastal Cutthroat

• Some coastal cutthroats migrate to the ocean. But others may migrate only to the estuary or river main- stems, or they may not migrate at all.
• Those that do go to the ocean migrate out in the spring, stay only a few months close to shore, then return in the fall.
• The ones that migrate may rear in fresh water for several years before going to the ocean.
• They spawn in the winter and early spring, using small pockets of gravel. They may spawn more than once. The spawning age of cutthroats seems to vary over their distribution area.
• Cutthroat prefer the smallest, highest tributaries in a basin.

Coho Salmon

• Juveniles rear throughout watersheds, often concentrating in pools in the summer, spreading out in the winter.
• Juveniles migrate to the ocean at 1 year, in the spring.
• Most Oregon coho rear just off our coast.
• Adults return to fresh water in the fall and spawn in late fall and winter.
• Adults tend to spawn in concentrations on gravel bars in upper watersheds.
• Most adults spawn when they are 3 years old.

Sockeye/Kokanee Salmon

• There is both an ocean-going form (called sockeye), and a resident form (called kokanee).
• Juveniles rear in a lake, spending 1 to 2 years in fresh water before migrating to the ocean in the spring.
• Columbia Basin sockeye migrate to the Gulf of Alaska for ocean rearing.
• Adults typically spend 2 years in the ocean.
• Loss of Oregon sockeye resulted from blocked access to lakes. Kokanee are thriving in some lakes.

Steelhead

• There are two subspecies of steelhead in Oregon. Each also has a resident form. Coastal steelhead are closely related to rainbow trout. Inland steelhead are closely related to redband trout.
• Most juveniles rear in fresh water for 1 or 2 years and migrate to the ocean in the spring.
• Most steelhead spend 2 years in the ocean. Their distribution is poorly known but appears to be further off-shore than other salmon.
• Most inland steelhead return to fresh water in the summer while most (but not all) coastal steelhead return in the winter.
• Summer-run steelhead require cold deep pools where they hold until spawning. All steelhead spawn in the winter and may spawn more than once.

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