Salmonid Spawning Runs and Estimated Ova Production in Normandale Creek of Lake Erie

The Normandale Creek study area (2,531 m²)provides spawning and nursery grounds for lake-run coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri), and brown trout (Salmo trutta), In 1973–74, 59 adult salmonids (58% rainbow trout, 39% coho salmon, and 3% brown trout) ascended the stream between 31 October and 12 May. Upstream movements were significantly related to peak stream discharge (r = 0.21) and highly significantly related to discharge occurring on the day following the peak freshet (r = 0.34). Despite a highly significant correlation (r = 0.29) between flow and water temperature, the latter factor is not significantly related with upstream movement of adult fish. Coho salmon spawned at water temperatures of 1 to 10° C between 2 November and 19 December, rainbow trout at 1 to 15° C between 9 November and 14 May, and brown trout at 7° C between 4 and 5 November. Of 86 nests constructed, 60% were disturbed by re-use or sand deposition. From a calculated deposition of 90,403 ova, it is estimated that some 22% survived to emergence.