Willamette Biological Opinion Hatchery Research 2002-2005 Final Report

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: ODFW

Publish Date: September 2006

Online Link: None

BPA Project #:

Contact Information

Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Name: Jeremy Romer

Job Position: Assistant Project Leader

Telephone: 541-757-4113

E-Mail Address: jeremy.d.romer@odfw.oregon.gov

Description

Abstract: RECOMMENDATIONS 1. The number of hatchery Chinook spawning with wild fish upstream of Leaburg Dam should be reduced. The percentage of carcasses from hatchery fish in spawning areas upstream of the dam averaged over 30% in 2001–2004, with percentages exceeding 60% in the South Fork McKenzie River and areas downstream. The number of hatchery adults could be reduced by reducing the number of hatchery smolts released in the McKenzie River, by excluding hatchery adults from passing Leaburg Dam, by increasing the percentage of returning hatchery fish that home to the hatchery, or by a combination of these actions. 2. The number of hatchery and naturally produced Chinook spawning naturally, the number and distribution of redds and age at return of naturally produced Chinook should be determined annually for each of the Chinook populations in the Upper Willamette ESU. 3. Video recording systems should be installed at Bennett dams on the North Santiam and at Lebanon Dam on the South Santiam to count adipose clipped and non fin-clipped Chinook, and winter steelhead. 4. The extent and causes of pre-spawning mortality of Chinook in the North Santiam, South Santiam and Middle Fork Willamette rivers should be determined. High pre-spawning mortality in these rivers could limit natural production. 5. Rearing and release methods for hatchery spring Chinook smolts should be evaluated and modified to reduce straying by returning adults to streams other than where they were released. Rearing and release strategies for hatchery Chinook should be evaluated (e.g., outmigration and use of rearing habitat) for potential effects on wild juvenile chinook. 6. The number of naturally produced Chinook incorporated into hatchery broodstocks should be monitored by collecting and analyzing otoliths of non fin-clipped fish. 7. The number of Chinook fry consumed by hatchery rainbow trout in the McKenzie River could be substantial and needs to be determined. 8. Restricting the trout season in Foster Reservoir to late April or late May through October and delaying releases of hatchery trout would better protect wild steelhead smolts, and would be consistent with regulations for North Fork Reservoir (Clackamas River) where there is a fishery for stocked trout and naturally produced steelhead smolts are also present. 9. Samples should be collected from wild steelhead smolts in the North Santiam and South Santiam to determine the extent of natural reproduction by summer steelhead and genetic introgression with native winter steelhead.

Purpose: The National Marine Fisheries Service listed Upper Willamette River Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and Upper Willamette River steelhead (O. mykiss) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA; 64 FRN 14308; 64 FRN 14517). The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife operates fish hatcheries in the Willamette Basin with the funding, in large part, from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Concomitant with ESA listing, any actions taken or funded by a federal agency must be evaluated to assess whether they are likely to jeopardize the continued existence of threatened and endangered species, or result in the destruction or impairment of critical habitat. The National Marine Fisheries Service issued the Biological Opinion on the Impacts From the Collection, Rearing, and Release of Salmonids Associated with Artificial Propagation Programs in the Upper Willamette Spring Chinook and Winter Steelhead Evolutionarily Significant Units on July 14, 2000. The Biological Opinion concluded that "the proposed artificial propagation programs are likely to jeopardize the continued existence of listed Upper Willamette River Chinook." The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife implemented actions on behalf of the United States Army Corps of Engineers to assist with meeting the requirements of the reasonable and prudent alternative and measures prescribed in the Biological Opinion. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife submits this report in fulfillment of Task Order: NWP-OP-FH-02-01

Time Period of Content:

Geographic Extent: Molalla, North Santiam, South Santiam, Santiam, Calapooia, McKenzie, South Fork McKenzie, Fall Creek, and Middle Fork Willamette Rivers

Status: Final

Use Constraints:

Format: PDF

Data Quality Information

Lineage-Source: Task Order: NWP-OP-FH-02-01 Compliance with the Biological Opinion for Hatchery Programs in the Willamette Basin

Data Information

No data information was supplied.

Entity and Attribute Information

Attributes Description: Field attribute information is available in the database table field descriptions.

Is a physical copy maintained for reference at Headquarters? Unknown