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DART PIT Tag ESU (Evolutionarily Significant Unit) and DPS (Distinct Population Segment) Filter and Glossary

ESU (Evolutionarily Significant Unit) is a distinct population listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). DPS (Distinct Population Segment) is a distinct steelhead population listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The DART ESU/DPS Filter identifies PIT-tagged Columbia Basin Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESU) and Distinct Population Segment (DPS) -- distinct populations listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) -- based on PIT Tag specifications including: species, run, rear type, release location (river kilometer, release site, and hydrounit), and hatchery origin.

DART develops and maintains database processes for correspondence between PTAGIS tagging and release metadata on individually tagged fish to potentially assign individuals to ESU and DPS populations. In addition to species, run, rear-type, and release location; DART uses hydrounit, river kilometer, tagging coordinator, hatchery, and stock where applicable. DART restricts ESU / DPS assignments to fish tagged as juveniles to avoid mislabeling adult migrants and strays.

With each PTAGIS update (daily, monthly, annually) into DART, we maintain database and report definitions of all the Columbia Basin ESU and DPS populations to match NOAA's stock definitions, including hatchery propagation efforts.

We present the NOAA descriptions of the ESA listed Columbia Basin salmonids runs and provide the conditional PSQL statements applied by DART to PTAGIS tagging and release data for selecting the ESU/DPS subsets on Monitoring Resources Method: Columbia Basin ESU and DPS populations.

Based on aggregation and filtering of PIT Tag data, DART reports on the status and trends of 10 Snake, Columbia, and Willamette River Chinook and sockeye ESU and steelhead DPS populations.

Chinook

The Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook ESU includes naturally spawned spring/summer-run Chinook salmon originating from the mainstem Snake River and the Tucannon River, Grande Ronde River, Imnaha River, and Salmon River subbasins. It also includes spring/summer-run Chinook salmon from 11 artificial propagation programs: Tucannon River Program, Lostine River Program, Catherine Creek Program, Lookingglass Hatchery Program, Upper Grande Ronde Program, Imnaha River Program, Big Sheep Creek Program, McCall Hatchery Program, Johnson Creek Artificial Propagation Enhancement Program, Pahsimeroi Hatchery Program, and Sawtooth Hatchery Program. Definition implemented by Columbia River DART: March 2015.

The Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook ESU Wild Only Subpopulation includes naturally spawned spring/summer-run Chinook salmon originating from the mainstem Snake River and the Tucannon River, Grande Ronde River, Imnaha River, and Salmon River subbasins. The ESU Wild Only Subpopulation does not include the 11 artificial propagation programs that are part of the Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook ESU. Definition implemented by Columbia River DART: March 2015.

The Upper Columbia River Spring Chinook ESU includes naturally spawned spring-run Chinook salmon originating from Columbia River tributaries upstream of the Rock Island Dam and downstream of Chief Joseph Dam (excluding the Okanogan River subbasin). Also, spring-run Chinook salmon from six artificial propagation programs: Twisp River Program, Chewuch River Program, Methow Program, Winthrop National Fish Hatchery Program, Chiwawa River Program, and White River Program. Definition implemented by Columbia River DART: March 2010.

The Upper Columbia River Spring Chinook ESU Wild Only Subpopulation includes naturally spawned spring-run Chinook salmon originating from Columbia River tributaries upstream of the Rock Island Dam and downstream of Chief Joseph Dam (excluding the Okanogan River subbasin). The ESU Wild Only Subpopulation does not include the six artificial propagation programs that are part of the Upper Columbia River Spring Chinook ESU. Definition implemented by Columbia River DART: March 2010.

The Lower Columbia River Chinook ESU includes naturally spawned Chinook salmon originating from the Columbia River and its tributaries downstream of a transitional point east of the Hood and White Salmon Rivers, and any such fish originating from the Willamette River and its tributaries below Willamette Falls. Not included in this ESU are: (1) spring-run Chinook salmon originating from the Clackamas River; (2) fall-run Chinook salmon originating from Upper Columbia River bright hatchery stocks, that spawn in the mainstem Columbia River below Bonneville Dam, and in other tributaries upstream from the Sandy River to the Hood and White Salmon Rivers; (3) spring-run Chinook salmon originating from the Round Butte Hatchery (Deschutes River, Oregon) and spawning in the Hood River; (4) spring-run Chinook salmon originating from the Carson National Fish Hatchery and spawning in the Wind River; and (5) naturally spawning Chinook salmon originating from the Rogue River Fall Chinook Program. This ESU does include Chinook salmon from 15 artificial propagation programs: Big Creek Tule Chinook Program, Astoria High School Salmon-Trout Enhancement Program (STEP) Tule Chinook Program, Warrenton High School STEP Tule Chinook Program, Cowlitz Tule Chinook Program, North Fork Toutle Tule Chinook Program, Kalama Tule Chinook Program, Washougal River Tule Chinook Program, Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery (NFH) Tule Chinook Program, Cowlitz Spring Chinook Program in the Upper Cowlitz River and the Cispus River, Friends of the Cowlitz Spring Chinook Program, Kalama River Spring Chinook Program, Lewis River Spring Chinook Program, Fish First Spring Chinook Program, and Sandy River Hatchery (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Stock #11). Definition implemented by Columbia River DART: March 2015.

The Lower Columbia River Chinook ESU Wild Only Subpopulation includes naturally spawned Chinook salmon originating from the Columbia River and its tributaries downstream of a transitional point east of the Hood and White Salmon Rivers, and any such fish originating from the Willamette River and its tributaries below Willamette Falls. Not included in this ESU are: (1) spring-run Chinook salmon originating from the Clackamas River; (2) fall-run Chinook salmon originating from Upper Columbia River bright hatchery stocks, that spawn in the mainstem Columbia River below Bonneville Dam, and in other tributaries upstream from the Sandy River to the Hood and White Salmon Rivers; (3) spring-run Chinook salmon originating from the Round Butte Hatchery (Deschutes River, Oregon) and spawning in the Hood River; (4) spring-run Chinook salmon originating from the Carson National Fish Hatchery and spawning in the Wind River; and (5) naturally spawning Chinook salmon originating from the Rogue River Fall Chinook Program. The ESU Wild Only Subpopulation does not include the 15 artificial propagation programs that are part of the Lower Columbia River Chinook ESU. Definition implemented by Columbia River DART: March 2015.

The Upper Willamette River Chinook ESU includes naturally spawned spring-run Chinook salmon originating from the Clackamas River and from the Willamette River and its tributaries above Willamette Falls. Also, spring-run Chinook salmon from six artificial propagation programs: McKenzie River Hatchery Program (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Stock #23), Marion Forks Hatchery/North Fork Santiam River Program (ODFW Stock #21), South Santiam Hatchery Program (ODFW Stock #24) in the South Fork Santiam River and Mollala River, Willamette Hatchery Program (ODFW Stock #22), and Clackamas Hatchery Program (ODFW Stock #19). Definition implemented by Columbia River DART: March 2015.

The Upper Willamette River Chinook ESU Wild Only Subpopulation includes naturally spawned spring-run Chinook salmon originating from the Clackamas River and from the Willamette River and its tributaries above Willamette Falls. The ESU Wild Only Subpopulation does not include the 6 artificial propagation programs that are part of the Upper Willamette River Chinook ESU. Definition implemented by Columbia River DART: March 2015.

The Snake River Fall Chinook ESU includes naturally spawned fall-run Chinook salmon originating from the mainstem Snake River below Hells Canyon Dam and from the Tucannon River, Grande Ronde River, Imnaha River, Salmon River, and Clearwater River subbasins. Also, fall-run Chinook salmon from four artificial propagation programs: Lyons Ferry Hatchery Program, Fall Chinook Acclimation Ponds Program, Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery Program, and Oxbow Hatchery Program. Definition implemented by Columbia River DART: June 2007.

Definition used by Columbia River DART through May 2007. Snake River Fall Chinook ESU consists of the production from spawning populations of fall chinook in the Snake, Tucannon, Clearwater, Salmon, Imnaha and Grande Ronde Rivers.

The Snake River Fall Chinook ESU Wild Only Subpopulation includes naturally spawned fall-run Chinook salmon originating from the mainstem Snake River below Hells Canyon Dam and from the Tucannon River, Grande Ronde River, Imnaha River, Salmon River, and Clearwater River subbasins. The ESU Wild Only Subpopulation does not include the 4 artificial propagation programs that are part of the Snake River Fall Chinook ESU. Definition implemented by Columbia River DART: June 2007.

Sockeye

The Snake River Sockeye ESU includes naturally spawned anadromous and residual sockeye salmon originating from the Snake River Basin, and also sockeye salmon from one artificial propagation program: Redfish Lake Captive Broodstock Program. Definition implemented by Columbia River DART: March 2010.

The Snake River Sockeye ESU Wild Only Subpopulation includes naturally spawned anadromous and residual sockeye salmon originating from the Snake River Basin. Definition implemented by Columbia River DART: March 2010.

Steelhead

The Snake River Steelhead DPS includes naturally spawned anadromous O. mykiss (steelhead) originating below natural and manmade impassable barriers from the Snake River basin, and also steelhead from six artificial propagation programs: Tucannon River Program, Dworshak National Fish Hatchery Program, Lolo Creek Program, North Fork Clearwater Program, East Fork Salmon River Program, and Little Sheep Creek/Imnaha River Hatchery Program (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Stock #29). Definition implemented by Columbia River DART: March 2010.

The Snake River Steelhead DPS Wild Only Subpopulation includes naturally spawned anadromous O. mykiss (steelhead) originating below natural and manmade impassable barriers from the Snake River basin. The ESU Wild Only Subpopulation does not include the 6 artificial propagation programs that are part of the Snake River Steelhead DPS. Definition implemented by Columbia River DART: March 2010.

The Upper Columbia River Steelhead DPS includes naturally spawned anadromous O. mykiss (steelhead) originating below natural and manmade impassable barriers from the Columbia River and its tributaries upstream of the Yakima River to the U.S.-Canada border. Also, steelhead from six artificial propagation programs: Wenatchee River Program, Wells Hatchery Program (in the Methow and Okanogan Rivers), Winthrop National Fish Hatchery Program, Omak Creek Program, and Ringold Hatchery Program. Definition implemented by Columbia River DART: March 2010.

The Upper Columbia River Steelhead DPS Wild Only Subpopulation includes naturally spawned anadromous O. mykiss (steelhead) originating below natural and manmade impassable barriers from the Columbia River and its tributaries upstream of the Yakima River to the U.S.-Canada border. The DPS Wild Only Subpopulation does not include the 6 artificial propagation programs that are part of the Upper Columbia River Steelhead DPS. Definition implemented by Columbia River DART: March 2010.

The Middle Columbia River Steelhead DPS includes naturally spawned anadromous O. mykiss (steelhead) originating below natural and manmade impassable barriers from the Columbia River and its tributaries upstream of the Wind and Hood Rivers (exclusive) to and including the Yakima River; excludes such fish originating from the Snake River Basin. This DPS does include steelhead from seven artificial propagation programs: Touchet River Endemic Program, Yakima River Kelt Reconditioning Program (in Satus Creek, Toppenish Creek, Naches River, and Upper Yakima River), Umatilla River Program (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Stock #91), and Deschutes River Program (ODFW Stock #66). This DPS does not include steelhead that are designated as part of an experimental population. Definition implemented by Columbia River DART: March 2010.

The Middle Columbia River Steelhead DPS Wild Only Subpopulation includes naturally spawned anadromous O. mykiss (steelhead) originating below natural and manmade impassable barriers from the Columbia River and its tributaries upstream of the Wind and Hood Rivers (exclusive) to and including the Yakima River; excludes such fish originating from the Snake River Basin. The DPS Wild Only Subpopulation does not include the 7 artificial propagation programs that are part of the Middle Columbia River Steelhead DPS. Definition implemented by Columbia River DART: March 2010.

The Lower Columbia River Steelhead DPS includes naturally spawned anadromous O. mykiss (steelhead) originating below natural and manmade impassable barriers from rivers between the Cowlitz and Wind Rivers (inclusive) and the Willamette and Hood Rivers (inclusive); excludes such fish originating from the upper Willamette River basin above Willamette Falls. This DPS does include steelhead from seven artificial propagation programs: Cowlitz Trout Hatchery Late Winter-run Program (Lower Cowlitz), Kalama River Wild Winter-run and Summer-run Programs, Clackamas Hatchery Late Winter-run Program (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Stock #122), Sandy Hatchery Late Winter-run Program (ODFW Stock #11), Hood River Winter-run Program (ODFW Stock #50), and Lewis River Wild Late-run Winter Steelhead Program. Definition implemented by Columbia River DART: March 2015.

The Lower Columbia River Steelhead DPS Wild Only Subpopulation includes naturally spawned anadromous O. mykiss (steelhead) originating below natural and manmade impassable barriers from rivers between the Cowlitz and Wind Rivers (inclusive) and the Willamette and Hood Rivers (inclusive); excludes such fish originating from the upper Willamette River basin above Willamette Falls. The DPS Wild Only Subpopulation does not include the 7 artificial propagation programs that are part of the Lower Columbia River Steelhead DPS. Definition implemented by Columbia River DART: March 2015.

Note on Migration Year 2000:
There was an release of unmarked subyearling chinook upstream of Snake River Trap which occurred in May 2000. As the result, there was some problem in proper identification of juvenile chinook at the trap (SNKTRP) beginning with May 22, 2000. Some subyearling fall chinook were tagged as 15Ws (Chinook, Unknown, Wild) and included in the wild yearling spring/summer chinook ESU totals via detections from the SNKTRP. Detections at SNKTRP after May 22, 2000 of wild yearling spring/summer chinook have been excluded from the "Chinook, Wild Spring/Summer Yearling" category.