This publication serves as a notice of intent to negiotate a sole source contract with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service for Life-History of Returning Adult Chinook Salmon to the Grays and Salmon Rivers, and Otolith Microchemistry of Juvenile Chinook Salmon in the Tidal Fresh Portion of the Columbia River Estuary.  Introduction
Salmonid otoliths are well suited for studies of life history, residency, and growth because they lay down daily growth rings that reflect the chemical concentrations of the ambient water (Fowler et al. 1995). Moreover, these concentrations are not subject to change and thus provide an archival record of the chemical composition of the waters that each individual has experienced during its life cycle (Campana and Neilson 1985). If the habitats occupied have distinguishable chemical signatures, it is possible to estimate fish growth and residency within each area and to reconstruct individual life history patterns, including the size or time of migration from one chemically distinct environment to another.
A critically important transition for juvenile anadromous salmonids occurs during their movement from freshwater rearing areas into brackish or marine waters. The concentration of strontium (Sr), a close chemical analog of calcium (Ca), increases dramatically from freshwater to seawater. Researchers have used the difference in abundance of SR to delineate when salmonids enter and start to rear in marine waters. Transects of anadromous salmonid otoliths, for instance, are characterized by low Sr/Ca ratios for periods of freshwater rearing and increased Sr/Ca ratios during periods of brackish and marine-water residency (Kalish 1990, Friedland et al. 1998, Zimmerman 2003).
In this study we will examine microchemistry profiles of otoliths from adult Chinook salmon in the Grays River (Wa) and Salmon River (Or) in order to measure life history parameters (such as size and time of estuary/ocean entry). We will further determine the contribution of juvenile life histories to adult Chinook salmon spawning within the Grays River and in a small coastal estuary (Salmon River, Oregon) to begin evaluating the hypothesis that diversity of juvenile salmon life histories contributes to population resilience (Objective 1.1).

Unfortunately, the element Sr can only measure salmon entry into the saline portion of an estuary; no suitable chemical indicators have been developed to assess whether the tidal fresh portions of estuaries represent important salmon rearing habitats. In Objective 1.2, we will examine the concentration of a variety of chemical elements in juvenile Chinook salmon otoliths to determine whether a sensitive tidal freshwater chemical signal may exist in the lower Columbia River (Objective 1.2).

1.1 Life history analysis of adult Chinook salmon (Grays and Salmon Rivers)
The objective of this study is to determine the contribution of juvenile fresh water life histories among returning adult Chinook salmon to the Grays River and Salmon River watersheds. Adult otoliths provided by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (Salmon River 2005, n~100; 2006, n~150) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (Grays River 2007, 2008, 2009, n~100 each year) will be prepared for micro-chemical analyses to determine size at estuary/ocean entry by back calculation and Sr/Ca inflection point. For the entire set of samples, we will calculate the proportion of various juvenile size classes (<45 mm, 45-60, 61-95, >95) and times (emergent fry, spring, summer, fall) of estuary entry among returning adult Chinook salmon from Salmon River and Grays River. The Grays River adult otolith samples will provide data for 3 return years, beginning with the first year of the Grays River Study in 2007. For Salmon River samples, we will first analyze adult otoliths collected in 2005 to compare with the results of samples previously analyzed for the 2004 return year. If additional funds become available, we will extend the Salmon River analyses to include ~150 adult otoliths from the 2006 brood year (Objective 1.1b). These samples would complete the full set of Salmon River otoliths that was collected to compare estuarine life histories among 2000 and 2001 brood outmigrants and returning adults.
Results will be provided to NOAA in a database with explanatory text along with graphics and slides for presentation for both Salmon River and Grays River analyses. The proportions of juvenile life histories among Salmon River adults will be compiled by return year and by brood year. The brood year for each fish sample will be determined from independent scale analyses completed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Corvallis Research Laboratory.

1.2 Otolith microchemistry of juvenile Chinook salmon in the tidal fresh portion of the Columbia River estuary.

The object of this portion of the study is to determine whether Barium (Ba) or other elements provide a useful indicator of salmon entry into the tidal freshwater portion of the Columbia River estuary. The WDF&W Fish Ageing and Otolith Laboratories will section and prepare for analysis ~ 120 juvenile Chinook otoliths collected at each of 6 main-stem habitat sites (i.e., from each of 6 hydrogeomorphic Reaches, C - H) from approximately Rkm 100 to just below Bonneville Dam. Sampling will occur in May and September to correspond to a high flow regime (May) and a low flow regime (September). In addition to Ba, other elements will be analyzed to screen for a tidal fresh signal, including Mg, Mn, Ca, Zn, Co, Cu, Sr, Pb. Laser Ablation Inductively coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) will be used to determine (element of interest)/Ca atomic ratios. Analyses will take place at the Keck Collaboratory for Plasma Spectrometry at Oregon State University. Methodological details can be found in Volk et al 2010, and Campbell 2010. For each otolith thin section, a laser transect in the dorsal posterior quadrant will be run from the core (primodia) to the edge of the otolith. Spatial differences between elemental (Ba or other) signals will be examined for evidence of a chemical tidal fresh water signal. All chemical analyses will be completed by September 30, 2010. Results will be provided to NOAA in a database with explanatory text along with graphics and slides for presentation. Results from this pilot study will be used to determine whether further analyses are warranted to develop a reliable indicator of salmon entry into tidal freshwater habitats. The period of performance is from date of award through 12/31/2010. This is not a requset for proposal, however, interested parties must respond to this announcement within fifteen (15) calendar days of its publication. All responses must be in writing and may be faxed to 206-526-6025 or email
([email protected]) . This is a simplified acquisition with an estimated value of less than $100,000.

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