Alternative Salmon Assessment Studies
Andrew Magel/KRITFC
Dr. Daniel Auerbach (left) and Avery Hoffman (right) fly a drone to survey the Kwethluk River in July 2024.
One of the most critical aspects of effective fisheries management is estimating spawner escapement, the number of fish returning to spawn. Traditional survey methods used to obtain these estimates, such as weirs and aerial surveys, can be subject to weather, such as high-water events, and high operational costs that hinder the consistent collection of this data. KRITFC is exploring the use of new, technologically based methods as an alternate approach to count salmon spawners.
Providing high-resolution imagery and having the ability to navigate remote waterways, drones have the potential for more accurate and efficient data collection. They are cost-effective compared to traditional spawner assessment projects, and their uses are multifold. While the data collected can be used to estimate salmon spawner abundance, it can also evaluate habitat quality and analyze larger environmental trends related to the fisheries.
Drones
During July of 2024, KRITFC and its partner, Washington State University conducted a drone study on the Kwethluk River to evaluate the feasibility of drone use for fisheries population monitoring and habitat stability. This was the initial phase in a broader project aiming to enhance data collection and improve the quality of escapement estimates. In just under two weeks, the drone survey method produced over 60,000 images of salmon spawners, habitat, and river conditions across 60+ miles of the Kwethluk River.
This series of images shows the power of drone imagery.The background image in this photo is actually multiple images of the Kwethluk River stitched together. The photo outlined in red shows the image at reach scale, while the photo outlined in blue is an example on what the images look like when zoomed in on a school of salmon. Observers can use these zoomed in images to derive their counts and identify salmon to the species level.
A key piece in KRITFC’s drone exploration program––and with all of our salmon monitoring projects––is to involve and employ local people to help build Tribal capacity and develop Tribal workforces for fisheries monitoring and management. We are developing a drone educational course for local Tribal citizens to achieve their FAA Part 107 drone pilot’s license, learn how to use drones to monitor fisheries, and have a pathway to employment in this field.
Analysis of the 2024 drone data and development of a 2025 drone educational course are underway. Check back to this page for more information and analyses as they become available.
Project reports and information:
Information last updated Nov. 8, 2024