The Columbia River at Hanford supports up to 
48 species of fish (Gray and Dauble, 1977) and 
serves as a migration route for upriver runs of 
Chinook (Oncorhvnchus tshawvtscha), coho 
(CL kisutch) and sockeye ((L nerka) salmon, and 
steel head trout (CL mykiss, formerly Salmo 
qairdneri). The Hanford Reach supports the last 
remaining mainstem spawning habitat for fall 
chinook salmon. Steelhead trout also spawn in 
the Hanford Reach. The salmon population is 
maintained by a combination of natural spawning, 
artificial propagation and regulated commercial 
and sport harvest of returning adults. 
Based on redd (nest) counts from the air, fall 
chinook salmon spawning in the Hanford Reach of 
the mainstem Columbia River has increased dra 
matically since 1980 (Figure 3). Recent obser 
vations by divers (Swan et al., 1988) showed 
salmon redds at depths below those visible by 
boat or aircraft and suggests that salmon 
spawning in the Hanford Reach may be even greater 
than previously estimated. The increase in 
salmon spawning has attracted increasing numbers 
of wintering bald eagles (Haliaeetus leuco- 
cephalus). 
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 
Years 
FIGURE 3. Numbers of (a) salmon redds (nests) 
and (b) wintering bald eagles (there were no 
counts from 1969-1974) at Hanford (adapted and 
updated from Rickard and Watson, 1985; Gray and 
Rickard, 1989). 
The sparsely vegetated islands in the Columbia 
River have historically been used as nesting 
habitat for great basin Canada goose (Hanson and 
Eberhardt, 1971; Fitzner and Rickard, 1982). 
From the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s the number of 
goose nests declined from a high of 250-300 to 
about 100 annually. From the late 1970s to the 
present, the number of nests has increased and 
appears to have stabilized at about 150-200. 
Initially, closure of the Hanford Reach was 
beneficial to the geese by providing freedom from 
human intrusion. However, the coyote, a natural 
goose predator, also benefitted, and is believed 
to be the major cause of the decline in numbers of 
goose nests into the mid-1970s. 
Initially there were no nesting great blue heron 
on the Hanford Site. However, there are now four 
active colonies (Gray and Rickard, 1989) consist 
ing of about 35-40 birds each and herons are 
present year round. 
Elk first arrived on the Hanford Site in 1972 
(Rickard et al., 1977). From a small founding 
population, the herd size grew to about 80 animals 
in 1987 (Figure 4). The rapid increase in elk is 
attributed to the lack of predation or human 
disturbance during calving, absence of onsite 
hunting, and the lack of competition from sheep 
and cattle for available forage. For the last 
three years, offsite hunting has limited further 
population increases by removing about 15 to 
20 animals annually from the herd. 
120 
100 - 
CD 
-O 
E 
3 
80 
60 
40 (- 
20 
0 
_ o Post Calving 
• Post Hunting 
.0 
о 
8* 
• • 
1975 
1980 1985 
Year 
1990 
FIGURE 4. Numbers of elk at Hanford after calving 
in spring and offsite hunting in fall (updated 
from Gray and Rickard, 1989). 
The mule deer population at Hanford is estimated 
at several hundred animals and appears stable even 
in the absence of onsite hunting. Coyote preda 
tion on fawns is believed to be an important 
factor that maintains the stable deer population 
(Steigers and Flinders, 1980). 
SUMMARY 
The Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) conducts an 
environmental monitoring program to assess poten 
tial effects of Hanford Operations on the local 
environs, onsite workers, and the offsite public. 
Monitoring for radiological emissions at Hanford 
has been ongoing for 45 years and includes air, 
surface and ground water, soil, vegetation, food 
stuffs, fish and wildlife. Measured and calcu 
lated radiation doses to the public have been 
consistently below applicable regulatory limits. 
The Hanford Site now serves as a refuge for key 
fish and wildlife species. 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
Environmental monitoring at Hanford reflects the 
cooperative efforts of numerous individuals 
representing the staffs of DOE, PNL, HEHF, and 
other contractor, state and federal organiza 
tions. Environmental monitoring has been 
conducted by PNL since 1965, and is supported by 
DOE under Contract DE-AC06-76RL0 1830 with 
Battelle Memorial Institute. 
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