Lower Snake River Compensation Plan; Oregon Spring Chinook Salmon Evaluation Studies - 2015 Annual Progress Report

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: Feldhaus, J. W., T. L. Hoffnagle, D. L. Eddy

Publish Date: 2017

Online Link: https://www.fws.gov/lsnakecomplan/Reports/ODFWreports.html

BPA Project #:

Contact Information

Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Name: Joseph Feldhaus

Job Position: Assistant Project Leader

Telephone: 541-962-3724

E-Mail Address: Joseph.Feldhaus@odfw.oregon.gov

Description

Abstract: This annual progress report summarizes spring-summer Chinook Salmon monitoring data collected by ODFW for the Lower Snake River Compensation Plan (LSRCP) facilities in 2015. Also summarized are the associated broodstock monitoring data collected at weirs in the Grande Ronde Basin that are operated by our co-managers, the Nez Perce Tribe (NPT; Lostine River) and Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR; Catherine Creek and Upper Grande Ronde River). The main objectives of this report are to document and evaluate spring-sumer Chinook Salmon culture performance for hatchery programs and achievement of management objectives in the Imnaha and Grande Ronde river basins (CTUIR and NPT have specific program goals for Chinook returns to Catherine Creek, the Upper Grande Ronde River, Lookingglass Creek, and the Lostine River that are discussed and evaluated in separate reports prepared by each co-management agency). Overall, these data are used to adaptively manage salmon culture practices in order to optimize egg-to-smolt survival rate, smolt quality, smolt-toadult survival rate, the recruits-per-spawner (R:S) ratio, and to monitor spawning in nature by hatchery-reared salmon. Lower Snake River Compensation Plan (LSRCP) ODFW- Eastern Oregon Fish Research (EOFR)

Purpose: LSRCP Chinook Salmon Program Objectives. Establish adequate broodstock to meet annual production goals. 2. Establish a consistent total return of Chinook Salmon that meets the LSRCP mitigation goal of 3,210 mature (ages 3–5) hatchery salmon in the Imnaha River Basin and 5,860 mature hatchery salmon in the Grande Ronde Basin with a 4:1 catch to escapement ratio (commercial catch 3:1 and sport catch 1:1) in the Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River System downstream from the Lower Snake River Project Area (Corps of Engineers 1975). The total production goal is 16,050 mature hatchery Chinook Salmon from the Imnaha hatchery program (12,840 mature salmon below LGD and 3,210 mature salmon above LGD) and 29,300 mature hatchery salmon from the Grande Ronde Basin hatchery programs (23,440 mature salmon below LGD and 5,860 mature salmon above LGD; Herrig 1990). 3. Re-establish historic tribal and recreational fisheries. 4. Minimize impacts of hatchery programs on resident stocks of game fish. 5. Prevent extinction of Imnaha River, Lostine River, Catherine Creek, and Upper Grande Ronde River Chinook Salmon populations and ensure a high probability of population persistence well into the future, once causes of basin-wide declines have been addressed 6. Operate the hatchery program so that the genetic and life history characteristics of hatchery salmon mimic those of wild salmon, while achieving mitigation goals. 7. Maintain genetic and life-history characteristics of natural Chinook Salmon populations in the Imnaha River, Lostine River, Catherine Creek, and Upper Grande Ronde River. 8. Maintain the genetic and life-history characteristics of the endemic wild populations of Chinook Salmon in the Minam and Wenaha rivers. 9. Provide a future basis to reverse the decline in abundance of endemic Chinook Salmon populations in the Imnaha and Grande Ronde river basins. Research Monitoring and Evaluation Objectives 1. Document Chinook Salmon rearing and release activities at all LSRCP facilities. 2. Determine optimum rearing and release strategies that will produce maximum survival to adulthood for hatchery-produced Chinook Salmon smolts. 3. Document Chinook Salmon returns of mature salmon to broodstock collection facilities in the Imnaha River, Catherine Creek, Upper Grande Ronde River, Lookingglass Creek, and Lostine River. 4. Estimate annual returns of mature hatchery salmon to the LSRCP compensation area and total hatchery salmon production, and determine success in meeting mitigation goals. 5. Estimate annual commercial, sport and tribal harvest of Imnaha River and Grande Ronde Basin hatchery Chinook Salmon and determine success in meeting mitigation goals. 6. Estimate annual smolt survival to Lower Granite Dam (LGD) for production and experimental groups. 7. Conduct index, extensive, and supplemental Chinook Salmon spawning ground surveys for all populations in northeast Oregon to assess spawn timing and spawning distribution, and estimate natural spawner escapement. 8. Determine the proportion of naturally spawning spring Chinook Salmon that are of hatchery origin in the Imnaha and Grande Ronde basin Chinook Salmon populations. 9. Determine annual escapement and spawner numbers to estimate and compare productivity (recruits-per-spawner) and survival rates for natural- and hatchery-produced Chinook Salmon in the Imnaha and Grande Ronde basins. 10. Compare life history characteristics (age structure, run timing, sex ratio, egg size, and fecundity) of hatchery and natural origin salmon. 11. Coordinate Chinook Salmon broodstock marking programs for Lookingglass Fish Hatchery. 12. Participate in planning activities associated with anadromous salmon production and management in the Imnaha and Grande Ronde river basins and participate in ESA permitting, consultation, and recovery planning.

Time Period of Content: 2015

Geographic Extent: Imnaha and Grande Ronde River basins

Status: Final

Use Constraints:

Format: pdf

Data Quality Information

Lineage-Source:

Data Information

Population	Indicators	Metrics
Catherine Creek Spring Chinook	Recruits per spawner (adult)	Age recruits; Broodstock removed; Recruits; Total adult return
Lookingglass Creek Spring Chinook	Recruits per spawner (adult)	Age recruits; Broodstock removed; Recruits; Total adult return
Minam River Spring Chinook	Recruits per spawner (adult)	Age recruits; Broodstock removed; Recruits; Total adult return
Upper Grande Ronde Spring Chinook	Recruits per spawner (adult)	Age recruits; Broodstock removed; Recruits; Total adult return
Wallowa/Lostine River Spring Chinook	Recruits per spawner (adult)	Age recruits; Broodstock removed; Recruits; Total adult return
Wenaha River Spring Chinook	Recruits per spawner (adult)	Age recruits; Broodstock removed; Recruits; Total adult return

Entity and Attribute Information

Attributes Description: Field attribute information is available in the attached file(s).

Is a physical copy maintained for reference at Headquarters? Unknown