Lower Snake River Compensation Plan; Oregon Summer Steelhead Evaluation Studies - 2013 Annual Progress Report

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: Clarke, L. R., M. W. Flesher, H. M. Stanton, D. L. Eddy, R. W. Carmichael

Publish Date: 2015

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

BPA Project #:

Contact Information

Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Name: Mike Flesher

Job Position: Assistant Project Leader

Telephone: 541-962-3764

E-Mail Address: Mike.Flesher@odfw.oregon.gov

Description

Abstract: The objectives of this report are to document fish culture practices, describe adult returns, and assess progress toward meeting LSRCP goals for Grande Ronde and Imnaha steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss). We report on juvenile steelhead rearing and release activities for the 2012 brood year (BY) released in 2013. Included are collection, spawning, and adult characteristics for the 2012 returns, returns from experimental releases, supplementation in Little Sheep Creek, and success toward achieving compensation goals. The Grande Ronde and Imnaha river steelhead hatchery programs were initiated in 1976 and 1982 in response to the rapid decline in Snake River steelhead abundance. Annual adult mitigation, brood year specific smolt-to-adult return and total smolt-to-adult survival rates, and annual smolt production goals were established to compensate for the estimated annual loss of 48% of adult production. Adaptive management has resulted in current interim smolt production goals of 800,000 (Wallowa stock released into the Grande Ronde) and 215,000 (Imnaha stock) smolts; less than the original goals of 1,350,000 and 330,000 smolts. Based on original smolt production goals it was assumed that 27,552 Wallowa stock and 6,000 Imnaha stock adults would be produced annually. Furthermore, 66.7% of these fish were expected to be harvested below the compensation area, defined as the watershed above Lower Granite Dam, resulting in compensation area adult return goals of 9,184 (Wallowa stock) and 2,000 (Imnaha stock). In general, the data in this report were derived from hatchery inventories and standard databases (e.g., Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission Regional Mark Information System (RMIS), ODFW mark recovery) or through standard measuring techniques. As such, specific protocols are usually not described. In cases where expansions of data or unique methodologies were used, protocols are described in more detail. Additional descriptions of protocols can be found in our work statements (Carmichael et al. 2012, Carmichael et al. 2013). Coded-wire tag (CWT) data collected from 2013 adult returns were used to evaluate smolt-to-adult survival rates in experimental rearing and release groups. In 2013, the only experimental treatments from which fish returned were second generation progeny from early returning (fall-collected) broodstock. In 2013, smolts were released at Wallowa Hatchery that were third generation progeny of early returning (fall-collected) broodstock for an experimental comparison with progeny of standard production broodstock. Methods for the fall broodstock experiment are described in Warren et al. (2011a). Analysis of specific survival studies will be completed and published in separate reports once all brood years have returned and CWT data are complete for each experiment. In addition, much of the data that we discuss in this report will be used in separate and specific evaluations of ongoing supplementation programs for steelhead in the Imnaha River basin. Lower Snake River Compensation Plan (LSRCP) ODFW- East Region Fish Research (ERFR)

Purpose: 1. Document summer steelhead 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 summer steelhead smolts. 3. Document summer steelhead adult returns by stock to each LSRCP broodstock collection facility. 4. Determine if the total production of summer steelhead adults meets mitigation goals, and index annual smolt survival and adult returns to Lower Granite Dam for production groups. 5. Participate in planning activities associated with anadromous fish production and management in the Grande Ronde and Imnaha river basins, and participate in ESA permitting, consultation, and rearing activities. 6. Monitor natural spawning of summer steelhead in selected areas within the Grande Ronde basin. 7. Determine the number of summer steelhead harvested annually and angler effort in recreational fisheries on the Grande Ronde, Wallowa, and Imnaha rivers.

Time Period of Content: 2013

Geographic Extent: Big Sheep Creek,Wallowa, Imnaha, and Grande Ronde Rivers

Status: Final

Use Constraints:

Format: pdf

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Is a physical copy maintained for reference at Headquarters? Unknown