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Redd Count

The chart below provides total annual fall Chinook redds counts by year from 1991 through 2003. The redd counts were collected from aerial surveys conducted by Idaho Power Company and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for the Snake, Grande Ronde and Imnaha rivers during the noted spawning period.

For more detailed information about redd counts during each year, click the year in the table below.

Total Redd Count By Year

Year

Snake River

Grande Ronde River

Imnaha River

Clearwater River

Salmon River

Total

2009 2,095 101 36 1,198 34 3,464

Detailed Redd Count Information For 2009

       
Week of Survey Snake River
Weekly Flight Counts
  Snake River
Cumulative Total Count
10/19/2009 18 18
10/26/2009 118 136
11/02/2009 688 824
11/09/2009 447 1271
11/16/2009 73 1344
11/23/2009 86 1430
12/01/2009 39 1469
12/07/2009 13 1482
Ground Count 29 1511
Deep Redd Count
584 2095

   * No Flight During This Week.


2008 1,819 185 68 949 14 3,035

Detailed Redd Count Information For 2008

  Weekly Flight Counts By River

  Cumulative Total Count By River

Week of Survey Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
  Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
10/08/2008 3 2 3 2
10/15/2008 5 0 8 2
10/20/2008 22 1 3 22 9 5
10/27/2008 190 43 3 212 52 8
11/03/2008 547 45 29 759 97 37
11/10/2008 212 * * 971 97 37
11/17/2008 53 43 21 1024 140 58
11/24/2008 104 45 10 1128 185 68
12/01/2008 54 * * 1182 185 68
12/08/2008 6 * * 1188 185 68
Ground Count 45 0 0 1233 185 68
Deep Redd Count
586 0 0 1819 185 68

   * No Flight During This Week.


2007 1,117 80 17 718 18 1,950

Detailed Redd Count Information For 2007

  Weekly Flight Counts By River

  Cumulative Total Count By River

Week of Survey Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
  Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
10/09/2007 0 2 0 2
10/15/2007 1 0 0 1 0 2
10/22/2007 19 1 3 20 1 5
10/30/2007 133 13 5 153 14 10
11/06/2007 282 17 3 435 31 13
11/14/2007 137 11 * 572 42 13
11/20/2007 48 * * 620 42 13
11/26/2007 51 18 4 671 60 17
12/03/2007 43 * * 714 60 17
12/18/2007 20 * 714 80 17
Ground Count 0 0 0 714 80 17
Deep Redd Count
403 0 0 1117 80 17

   * No Flight During This Week.


2006 1,025 41 36 257 9 1,368

Detailed Redd Count Information For 2006

  Weekly Flight Counts By River

  Cumulative Total Count By River

Week of Survey Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
  Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
10/09/2006 0 3 0 3
10/16/2006 0 1 0 4
10/23/2006 34 4 4 34 4 8
10/30/2006 266 9 7 300 13 15
11/14/2006 221 17 13 521 30 28
11/20/2006 129 * * 650 30 28
11/27/2006 18 * * 668 30 28
12/04/2006 9 * * 675 30 28
12/11/2006 11 8 675 41 36
Ground Count 19 0 0 694 41 36
Deep Redd Count
329 0 0 1025 41 36

   * No Flight During This Week.


2005 1,442 129 36 487 27 2,121

Detailed Redd Count Information For 2005

  Weekly Flight Counts By River

  Cumulative Total Count By River

Week of Survey Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
  Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
10/03/2005 0 0 0 0
10/10/2005 1 0 1 0
10/18/2005 8 4 1 8 5 1
10/25/2005 123 8 7 131 13 8
10/31/2005 229 15 11 360 28 19
11/07/2005 339 48 5 699 76 24
11/15/2005 171 41 11 870 117 35
11/21/2005 78 7 * 948 124 *
11/28/2005 51 5 1 999 129 36
12/05/2005 22 * * 1021 *
12/12/2005 1 * * 1022 *
Ground Count 20 0 0 1042 129 36
Deep Redd Count
400 0 0 1442 129 36

   * No Flight During This Week.


2004 1,709 161 35 630 21 2,556

Detailed Redd Count Information For 2004

  Weekly Flight Counts By River

  Cumulative Total Count By River

Week of Survey Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
  Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
10/11/2004 8 1 8 1
10/18/2004 1 16 0 1 24 1
10/25/2004 95 20 6 96 44 7
11/01/2004 303 29 5 399 73 12
11/08/2004 493 34 10 892 107 22
11/15/2004 183 30 5 1075 137 27
11/22/2004 82 17 8 1157 154 35
11/29/2004 48 7 0 1205 161 35
12/06/2004 13 * * 1218 *
Ground Count 0 0 0 1218 161 35
Deep Redd Count
491 0 0 1709 161 35

   * No Flight During This Week.

1. 11/01/2004 Flight: Incomplete flight due to weather, count reflects from the Lewiston to RM 227 (Pine Bar).
2. 11/15/2004 Flight: Incomplete flight due to weather, count reflects from the Lewiston to RM 225.
3. 11/22/2004 Flight: Complete flight - deep redd results were as of Friday 11/19/2004.
4. In 2004 helicopter surveys for Fall Chinook redds on the Snake River were conducted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service.
5. The Nez Perce Tribe provided the data for the Grande Ronde and Imnaha Rivers.

2003 1,524 84 44 571 18 2,241

Detailed Redd Count Information For 2003

  Weekly Flight Counts By River

  Cumulative Total Count By River

Week of Survey Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
  Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
10/06/2003 1 0 1 0
10/13/2003 7 3 8 3
10/20/2003 5 16 0 5 24 3
10/27/2003 72 30 3 77 54 6
11/03/2003 246 21 17 323 75 23
11/10/2003 418 5 21 741 80 44
11/17/2003 292 4 0 1033 84 *
12/01/2003 79 * * 1112 *
12/08/2003 6 * * 1118 *
Ground Count 12 0 0 1123 84 44
Deep Redd Count
394 0 0 1524 84 44

   * No Flight During This Week.

1. In 2003 helicopter surveys for Fall Chinook redds on the Snake River were conducted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service.
2. Cooperative helicopter surveys were conducted with the Nez Perce Tribe on the Grande Ronde and Imnaha Rivers.

2002 1,113 111 72 524 31 1,851

Detailed Redd Count Information For 2002

  Weekly Flight Counts By River

  Cumulative Total Count By River

Week of Survey Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
  Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
10/21/2002 30 37 9 30 37 9
10/28/2002 172 31 4 202 68 13
11/04/2002 291 8 9 493 76 22
11/11/2002 190 11 5 683 87 27
11/18/2002 125 10 10 808 97 37
11/25/2002 67 13 29 875 110 66
12/02/2002 3 1 0 878 111 66
Ground Count 0 0 6 878 111 72
Deep Redd Count
235 0 0 1113 111 72

   * No Flight During This Week.

1. Clearwater River redd surveys during 2002 are being conducted by the Nez Perce Tribe.
2. Idaho Power Company Fall Chinook Program stable spawning flows of 8,900 cfs were initiated on October 14, 2002.

2001 710 197 38 312 22 1,279

Detailed Redd Count Information For 2001

  Weekly Flight Counts By River

  Cumulative Total Count By River

Week of Survey Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
  Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
10/09/2001 9 1 0 9 1 0
10/15/2001 0 3 0 9 4 0
10/22/2001 4 19 0 13 23 0
10/29/2001 70 7 4 83 30 4
11/05/2001 82 31 1 165 61 5
11/13/2001 213 * 11 378 16
11/19/2001 85 62 8 463 123 24
11/26/2001 37 25 7 500 148 31
12/03/2001 10 35 * 510 183 *
12/10/2001 2 14 7 512 197 38
Ground Count 23 0 0 535 197 38
Deep Redd Count
175 0 0 710 197 38

   * No Flight During This Week.

1. Clearwater and Salmon River redd surveys during 2001 were conducted by the Nez Perce Tribe.
2. Idaho Power Company Fall Chinook Program stable spawning flows of 9,000 cfs were initiated on October 9, 2001.

2000 346 8 9 173 0 536

Detailed Redd Count Information For 2000

  Weekly Flight Counts By River

  Cumulative Total Count By River

Week of Survey Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
  Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
10/09/2000 1 0 0 1 0 0
10/16/2000 4 3 0 5 3 0
10/23/2000 18 1 1 23 4 1
10/30/2000 80 2 1 103 6 2
11/06/2000 79 0 5 182 6 7
11/13/2000 52 2 2 234 8 9
11/20/2000 16 0 0 250 8 9
11/28/2000 5 * 0 255 9
12/04/2000 0 * 0 255 9
12/11/2000 0 * * 255 *
Ground Count 0 0 0 255 8 9
Deep Redd Count
91 0 0 346 8 9

   * No Flight During This Week.

1. Clearwater and Salmon River redd surveys during 2000 were conducted by the Nez Perce Tribe.
2. Idaho Power Company Fall Chinook Program stable spawning flows of 9,800 cfs were initiated on October 9, 2000.

1999 373 13 9 184 0 579

Detailed Redd Count Information For 1999

  Weekly Flight Counts By River

  Cumulative Total Count By River

Week of Survey Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
  Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
10/11/1999 0 6 0 0 6 0
10/18/1999 5 1 0 5 7 0
10/25/1999 41 4 1 46 11 1
11/01/1999 80 0 0 126 11 1
11/11/1999 119 0 3 245 11 4
11/16/1999 24 2 1 269 13 5
11/23/1999 1 0 2 270 13 7
12/01/1999 2 * 0 272 7
12/07/1999 1 * 2 273 9
Ground Count 0 0 0 273 13 9
Deep Redd Count
100 0 0 373 13 9

   * No Flight During This Week.

1. Clearwater and Salmon River redd surveys during 1999 were conducted by the Nez Perce Tribe.
2. Idaho Power Company Fall Chinook Program stable spawning flows of 12,500 cfs were initiated on October 18, 1999

1998 185 24 13 78 3 303

Detailed Redd Count Information For 1998

  Weekly Flight Counts By River

  Cumulative Total Count By River

Week of Survey Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
  Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
10/19/1998 0 0 0 0 0 0
10/26/1998 28 11 2 28 11 2
11/02/1998 43 7 5 71 18 7
11/09/1998 35 6 4 106 24 11
11/17/1998 20 0 0 126 24 11
11/23/1998 4 * 2 130 24 13
11/30/1998 5 * * 135 24 13
12/07/1998 0 * * 135 24 13
Ground Count 0 0 0 135 24 13
Deep Redd Count
50 0 0 185 24 13

   * No Flight During This Week.

1. Clearwater and Salmon River redd surveys during 1998 were conducted by the Nez Perce Tribe.
2. Idaho Power Company Fall Chinook Program stable spawning flows of 9,600 cfs were initiated on October 19, 1998.

1997 58 55 3 72 1 189

Detailed Redd Count Information For 1997

  Weekly Flight Counts By River

  Cumulative Total Count By River

Week of Survey Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
  Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
10/20/1997 1 12 0 1 12 0
10/27/1997 16 11 0 17 23 0
11/03/1997 8 1 0 25 24 0
11/10/1997 13 13 1 38 37 1
11/17/1997 10 10 2 48 47 3
11/24/1997 0 6 0 48 53 3
12/01/1997 1 2 0 49 55 3
12/08/1997 0 0 0 49 55 3
Ground Count 0 0 0 49 55 3
Deep Redd Count
9 0 0 58 55 3

   * No Flight During This Week.

1. Clearwater and Salmon River redd surveys during 1997 were conducted by the Nez Perce Tribe.
2. Idaho Power Company Fall Chinook Program stable spawning flows of 12,100 cfs were initiated on October 20, 1997.

1996 113 20 3 69 1 206

Detailed Redd Count Information For 1996

  Weekly Flight Counts By River

  Cumulative Total Count By River

Week of Survey Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
  Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
10/21/1996 2 3 0 2 3 0
10/28/1996 26 3 2 28 6 2
11/04/1996 23 9 0 51 15 2
11/11/1996 19 5 1 70 20 3
11/19/1996 0 * * 70 20 3
11/25/1996 0 * * 70 20 3
12/02/1996 1 * * 71 20 3
Ground Count 0 0 0 71 20 3
Deep Redd Count
42 0 0 113 20 3

   * No Flight During This Week.

1. Clearwater and Salmon River redd surveys during 1996 were conducted by the Nez Perce Tribe.
2. Idaho Power Company Fall Chinook Program stable spawning flows of 10,000 cfs were initiated on October 21, 1996.

1995 71 18 4 20 2 115

Detailed Redd Count Information For 1995

  Weekly Flight Counts By River

  Cumulative Total Count By River

Week of Survey Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
  Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
10/23/1995 4 10 0 4 10 0
10/30/1995 9 3 1 13 13 1
11/06/1995 18 5 0 31 18 1
11/12/1995 6 * 1 37 18 2
11/20/1995 3 * 2 40 18 4
11/27/1995 1 * 0 41 18 4
12/05/1995 0 * 0 41 18 4
Ground Count 0 0 0 41 18 4
Deep Redd Count
30 0 0 71 18 4

   * No Flight During This Week.

1. Clearwater and Salmon River redd surveys during 1995 were conducted by the Nez Perce Tribe.
2. Idaho Power Company Fall Chinook Program stable spawning flows of 9,600 cfs were initiated on October 23, 1995.

1994 67 15 0 37 1 120

Detailed Redd Count Information For 1994

  Weekly Flight Counts By River

  Cumulative Total Count By River

Week of Survey Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
  Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
10/24/1994 1 1 0 1 1 0
11/01/1994 4 0 0 5 1 0
11/07/1994 18 8 0 23 9 0
11/13/1994 9 0 0 32 9 0
11/21/1994 10 1 0 42 10 0
11/28/1994 8 5 0 50 15 0
12/05/1994 1 * 0 51 15 0
12/12/1994 0 * 0 51 15 0
Ground Count 0 0 0 51 15 0
Deep Redd Count
16 0 0 67 15 0

   * No Flight During This Week.

1. Clearwater and Salmon River redd surveys during 1994 were conducted by the Nez Perce Tribe.
2. Idaho Power Company Fall Chinook Program stable spawning flows of 9,300 cfs were initiated on October 24, 1994.

1993 127 49 4 36 3 219

Detailed Redd Count Information For 1993

  Weekly Flight Counts By River

  Cumulative Total Count By River

Week of Survey Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
  Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
10/25/1993 2 11 2 2 11 2
11/01/1993 18 11 2 20 22 4
11/08/1993 13 1 0 33 23 4
11/15/1993 15 7 0 48 30 4
11/22/1993 5 12 0 53 42 4
11/29/1993 5 4 0 58 46 4
12/06/1993 0 2 0 58 48 4
12/13/1993 2 1 0 60 49 4
Ground Count 0 0 0 60 49 4
Deep Redd Count
67 0 0 127 49 4

   * No Flight During This Week.

1. Clearwater and Salmon River redd surveys during 1993 were conducted by the Nez Perce Tribe.
2. Idaho Power Company Fall Chinook Program stable spawning flows of 9,500 cfs were initiated on October 25, 1993.

1992 47 5 3 26 1 82

Detailed Redd Count Information For 1992

  Weekly Flight Counts By River

  Cumulative Total Count By River

Week of Survey Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
  Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
10/16/1992 0 0 * 0 0 *
10/23/1992 0 3 0 0 3 0
10/30/1992 0 1 0 0 4 0
11/05/1992 4 1 3 4 5 3
11/13/1992 16 0 0 20 0 3
11/23/1992 18 0 0 38 0 3
12/04/1992 6 0 0 44 0 3
12/12/1992 1 0 0 45 0 3
Ground Count 1 0 0 46 5 3
Deep Redd Count
1 0 0 47 5 3

   * No Flight During This Week.

1. Clearwater and Salmon River redd surveys during 1992 were conducted by the Nez Perce Tribe.
2. Idaho Power Company Fall Chinook Program stable spawning flows of 9,400 cfs were initiated on October 16, 1992.

1991 47 0 4 4 0 55

Detailed Redd Count Information For 1991

  Weekly Flight Counts By River

  Cumulative Total Count By River

Week of Survey Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
  Snake
 
Grande
Ronde
Imnaha
 
10/14/1991 0 0 0 0 0 0
10/21/1991 0 * 0 0 0 0
10/28/1991 1 0 0 1 0 0
11/04/1991 9 * 1 10 0 1
11/11/1991 6 0 0 16 0 1
11/18/1991 11 * 0 27 0 1
11/26/1991 8 * 0 35 0 1
12/02/1991 5 * 0 40 0 1
12/09/1991 1 * 3 41 0 4
Ground Count 1 0 0 42 0 4
Deep Redd Count
5 0 0 47 0 4

   * No Flight During This Week.

1. Clearwater River redd surveys during 1991 were conducted by the Nez Perce Tribe.
2. Idaho Power Company Fall Chinook Program stable spawning flows of 9,900 cfs were initiated on October 14, 1991.

 


View Graph of Redd Counts from 1991-2003

Idaho Power’s Fall Chinook Program began in 1991 and is a voluntary operations plan for the Hells Canyon Complex.

The program provides a stable river flow level during the fall Chinook salmon spawning period, generally from mid-October to early December. The flow level provided during the fall Chinook salmon spawning period generally establishes what the minimum flow from Hells Canyon Dam will be once spawning is complete.

Minimum Flows

This minimum flow may be slightly lower than the stable flow provided during the spawning period. The minimum flow depends on the depth of the shallowest redds observed during the spawning period. The minimum flow level is the level that will protect the shallowest redd in the Snake River from being dewatered. Dewatering is when there is not enough water to sufficiently cover the redds.

Idaho Power maintains this minimum flow throughout the entire incubation and emergence period, which is approximately the end of May. The emergence period is when the fish swim up out of the redds. The stable flow level provided during the spawning period may vary from one year to the next. The flow level depends on the quantity of water available, which largely depends on the amount of snow pack within a given water year.

Redd Counts

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Idaho Power started a cooperative research program to determine the quantity of spawning habitat and flow levels necessary to support sufficient spawning habitat for fall Chinook salmon. As part of this research program, fall Chinook salmon redd counts happen each year.

Redd counts monitor redd locations and establish the location and depth of the shallowest redd. Idaho Power and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service do weekly counts via helicopter during the spawning period over the Snake River. In addition, the Nez Perce Tribe conducts aerial redd counts on the Clearwater, Grande Ronde, Imnaha and Salmon Rivers.

These survey flights account for the majority of the redds observed. However, in the Snake River, many redds cannot be observed from the air because they are in deep water. So, deep water redd searches using underwater videography occur during the spawning period as well as the aerial surveys. Redds as deep as 22 feet have been observed in the Snake River using underwater videography.

Related Information

 

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A race of chinook salmon that is generally larger than spring or summer chinook salmon. For details, click on the word.

Also known as spawning beds, or nests, redds are areas in the stream bottom dug out by female salmon in preparation for spawning. For details, click on the word.

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