Since time immemorial, aboriginal people of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon (CTWSRO) have harvested fall Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) for subsistence, ceremonial, and medicinal purposes.  Not only is this species culturally significant, but it also has a high economic and recreational value to non-Indians.  Since fall Chinook do not recognize state, international or tribal boundaries, the need for accurate escapement estimation tools are needed.  The CTWSRO has actively worked to protect this resource within the Deschutes River Subbasin, Columbia River Basin and in International waters.  Escapement data is used by a variety of entities including CTWSRO, Technical Advisory Committee of the Columbia River Fish Management Plan and the United States Chinook Technical Committee to the Pacific Salmon Commission.  However, genetic composition of fish entering the D... eschutes is unknown.  Recent telemetry and genetic analysis leads us to believe there is a fair amount of straying and/or dip-ins.  Weather and turbidity have decreased our ability to continuously, accurately estimate escapement.  In order to estimate escapement, we will continue to validate the current Deschutes River estimate based on a combination of aerial redd counts and a mark-recapture abundance estimate.  We will also determine the feasibility of establishing a PIT tag reader at the mouth of the Deschutes.  Currently we have multiple coded wire tagged brood years anticipated to return to the Deschutes for the next five years.  In order to recover these tags, we will conduct carcass surveys in the lower Deschutes River.  This information will be used to determine if Lyons Ferry Hatchery fish can be used as a surrogate for ocean exploitation distribution when Deschutes River information is not available.  Carcass surveys will also be used to recover Passive Integrated Transponders (PIT) implanted at Bonneville Dam.   Show More