Russell W. Perry Fred R. Monzyk Adam C. Pope John M. Plumb Tobias J. Kock 2016 <p>Survival estimates for juvenile salmon and steelhead fry in reservoirs impounded by high head dams are coveted data by resource managers.&nbsp; However, this information is difficult to obtain because these fish are too small for tagging using conventional methods such as passive-integrated transponders or radio or acoustic transmitters.&nbsp; We developed a study design and implementation plan to conduct a pilot evaluation that would assess the performance of two models for estimating fry survival in a field setting.&nbsp; The first model is a staggered-release recovery model that was described by Skalski and others (2009) and Skalski (2016).&nbsp; The second model is a parentage-based tagging <i>N</i>-mixture model that was developed and described in this document.&nbsp; Both models are conceptually and statistically sound, but neither has been evaluated in the field.&nbsp; In this document we provide an overview of a proposed study for 2017 in Lookout Point Reservoir, Oregon, that will evaluate survival of Chinook salmon fry using both models.&nbsp; This approach will allow us to test each model and compare survival estimates, to determine model performance and better understand these study designs using field-collected data. </p> application/pdf 10.3133/ofr20161211 en U.S. Geological Survey Development of a study design and implementation plan to estimate juvenile salmon survival in Lookout Point Reservoir and other reservoirs of the Willamette Project, western Oregon reports