A Description of Pacific Lamprey Life History, Physical Habitat and Water Quality Criteria, and Their Current Status Downstream of the Hells Canyon Complex
Citation
"Phillip A. Groves, Phil A. Bates, James A. Chandler. 2001. A Description of Pacific Lamprey Life History, Physical Habitat and Water Quality Criteria, and Their Current Status Downstream of the Hells Canyon Complex. Hells Canyon Complex
FERC No. 1971"
Summary
Within this chapter, we summarize information about Pacific lamprey gathered from relevant peer-reviewed literature and data regarding fish passage collected at Columbia and Snake river hydroelectric projects. The information and data help us to describe the life history, distribution, and habitat and water quality requirements of these fish. Historically, Pacific lamprey are thought to have occurred throughout the Columbia and Snake river basins, mirroring ranges of migrating salmon. As with other anadromous species, hydroelectric development on the Columbia and Snake rivers has hindered upstream migration of adult lamprey. Pacific lamprey are poor swimmers, and adults tend to have difficulty successfully migrating upstream through [...]
Summary
Within this chapter, we summarize information about Pacific lamprey gathered from relevant
peer-reviewed literature and data regarding fish passage collected at Columbia and Snake river
hydroelectric projects. The information and data help us to describe the life history, distribution,
and habitat and water quality requirements of these fish. Historically, Pacific lamprey are
thought to have occurred throughout the Columbia and Snake river basins, mirroring ranges of
migrating salmon. As with other anadromous species, hydroelectric development on the
Columbia and Snake rivers has hindered upstream migration of adult lamprey. Pacific lamprey
are poor swimmers, and adults tend to have difficulty successfully migrating upstream through
hydroelectric fish passage facilities; in fact, fallback rates are very high (up to 50%). The
primary spawning and rearing habitats for Pacific lamprey are found in tributary streams, with
mainstem corridors used primarily during adult and juvenile migration periods. Pacific lamprey
tend to migrate upstream from late spring through late fall, overwinter, and then spawn in
tributary streams during the following spring. Water temperatures during spawning are generally
increasing from about 10 to 15 °C. Spawning has been observed in substrate consisting of fines
and gravel, at depths up to 4.0 m, and where water velocities are from 0.5 to 1.0 m/s. Pool
tailouts, riffles, and glides have all been identified as areas where spawning occurs. Ammocoetes
(larvae) spend 4 to 6 years burrowing into fine stream sediments and filter feeding on algae,
diatoms, and detritus. The juveniles are thought to prefer cool water (16.0 to 21.8 °C) but have
been collected when water temperatures were as high as 25 °C. Juvenile lamprey migrate
downstream after completing metamorphosis, or during its final stages, in late fall through
spring. While parasitic, Pacific lamprey are not associated with a specific host. And though
lamprey and salmon arose concurrently within the Columbia River Basin, lamprey are not
considered a significant source of predation on Pacific salmon. Passage and spawning data, used
for assessing trends in population status, are virtually nonexistent for Pacific lamprey. Neither
adult nor juvenile passage data have historically been collected specifically for Pacific lamprey.
What data have been collected are inconsistent.