Upper Columbia Spring Chinook Salmon, Steelhead, and Bull Trout Recovery
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- 5.3.3Hatchery Objectives
- Research and Monitoring Objectives
- 5.3.4Recent Hatchery Actions
- 5.3.5Hatchery Recovery Actions
- Research and Monitoring Actions
- Short-term Actions Reduce or eliminate presence of out-of-basin stock on spawning grounds. Long-term Actions
- Short-term Actions Maintain existing practice of not releasing hatchery-produced steelhead into the Entiat subbasin. Long-term Actions
- Long-term Actions Eliminate stocking brook trout within waterways associated with or connected to bull trout habitat. Research and Monitoring Actions
- Short-term Actions None Long-term Actions
- 5.3.6Responsible Parties
5.3.2Limiting Factors and ThreatsHistoric hatchery practices affected the abundance, productivity, spatial structure, and diversity of populations in the Upper Columbia Basin (see Section 3.5). Beginning with the GCFMP, adults were intercepted at Rock Island Dam and planted in various tributaries in the Upper Columbia Basin. This planting of adults reduced genetic diversity and possibly also affected abundance and productivity of native populations of spring Chinook and steelhead.98 The use of out-of-basin stocks also contributed to a reduction of population diversity in areas where they contribute to natural spawning. Both the Entiat and Leavenworth National Fish Hatcheries are intended to function as “segregated” programs producing spring Chinook that are not part of the ESU. Although recent monitoring indicates straying contributes to “high risk” levels in some years and there is concern that the Entiat stock may have introgressed with, or replaced, the locally derived spring Chinook population (Ford et al. 2004). The Winthrop National Fish Hatchery recently moved to the use of local stock. The extent that out-of-basin stock has introgressed with local stock remains unknown in the Methow subbasin. Although state-operated programs currently emphasize use of locally derived stocks in the tributaries, they can still pose a risk, depending on the implementation of hatchery practices (such as broodstock management, timing of trapping, adult collection locations, juvenile release locations, straying, etc.). For example, the supplementation program in the Chiwawa Basin may be affecting the age-at-return of spring Chinook. Currently, 56% of the naturally produced fish return at age five, while only 15% of the hatchery produced fish return at age five. The return of younger-aged hatchery produced fish may affect reproductive potential and ultimately productivity of naturally produced fish. There is also concern that the large proportion of Wells Hatchery steelhead spawning naturally in the Methow and Okanogan subbasins may pose risks to the DPS’s diversity by decreasing local adaptation (NMFS 2004). The reproductive success of hatchery fish produced in supplementation programs that spawn naturally in the wild remains unknown. The primary threat associated with some past and present hatchery programs within the Upper Columbia Basin may be the introgression of out-of-basin stock into local populations, especially within the Entiat and Winthrop subbasins. This threat may have reduced the diversity of spring Chinook and steelhead in the Upper Columbia Basin. Additional threats include using out-of-basin stock to expand the spatial distribution of extant populations within subbasins99 and the blocking of fish passage at adult collection facilities. The effects of hatchery practices in the Upper Columbia Basin on productivity are currently unknown. Research on reproductive success of hatchery produced fish that spawn in the wild is needed to assess effects on productivity. 5.3.3Hatchery ObjectivesThe following objectives for hatchery programs apply to both the federal and state-operated facilities in the Upper Columbia Basin. This list is not to be considered all inclusive. The identified objectives are intended to be consistent with other plans and are intended to reduce the threats associated with hatchery production in the Upper Columbia Basin while meeting other obligations. Short-Term Objectives
Long-Term Objectives
Research and Monitoring Objectives
The recovery objectives are also sensitive to the Mitchell Act, which calls for the conservation of the fishery resources of the Columbia River; establishment, operation, and maintenance of one or more stations; and for the conduct of necessary investigations, surveys, stream improvements, and stocking operations for these purposes. The recovery objectives also consider agreements between tribes and federal agencies, including the coho reintroduction feasibility studies conducted by the Yakama Nation, the Chief Joseph Dam Hatchery Program, and U.S. v. Oregon. One goal of the Chief Joseph Dam Hatchery Program is to reintroduce extirpated spring Chinook into select waters in the Okanogan subbasin. This is an experimental program designed to restore naturally produced spring Chinook and to provide a stable ceremonial and subsistence fishery and recreational fishery in the Okanogan subbasin. Another goal is to restore steelhead in their historical habitats in the Okanogan subbasin and create harvestable surpluses for tribal ceremonial and subsistence fisheries and for recreational harvest. 5.3.4Recent Hatchery ActionsChanges in hatchery programs have and will continue to reduce risks to naturally produced spring Chinook and steelhead in the Upper Columbia Basin. There are several processes that have changed the way that hatchery programs in the Upper Columbia Basin are implemented. What follows is a brief summary of those processes. The HGMP process is designed to describe existing artificial production programs, identify necessary or recommended modifications of those programs, and help achieve consistency of those programs with the Endangered Species Act. The HGMP process addresses anadromous salmon and steelhead programs and bull trout.102 The Artificial Production Review and Evaluation (APRE) process seeks to document progress toward hatchery reform in the Columbia Basin. The NPCC used consultants and Columbia Basin fishery managers to analyze existing programs and recommend reforms. A draft report has been submitted to the Council and the region. The APRE process includes both anadromous and non-anadromous fish in its analysis. The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) was established in 2000 to provide grants to the states and tribes to assist state, tribal and local salmon conservation and recovery efforts. The goal of the PCSRF is to make significant contributions to the conservation, restoration, and sustainability of Pacific salmon and their habitat. The PCSRF’s enhancement objective is to conduct activities that enhance depressed stocks of naturally produced anadromous salmonids through hatchery supplementation, reduction in fishing effort on depressed naturally produced stocks, or enhancement of Pacific salmon fisheries on healthy stocks in Alaska. This includes supplementation and salmon fishery enhancements. In 1988, under the authority of U.S. v. Oregon, the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, federal fishery agencies, and the treaty tribes agreed to the Columbia River Fish Management Plan (CRFMP), which was a detailed harvest and fish production process. The CRFMP expired in 1998 and is currently operating under an interim agreement. The fish production section reflects current production levels for harvest management and recovery purposes. Current ESA Section 10 Permits for listed summer steelhead (Permit #1395); listed spring Chinook (Permit #1196), and non-listed anadromous fish (Permit # 1347) also direct artificial production activities associated with the habitat conservation plans. Douglas PUD, Chelan PUD, and WDFW are co-permittees; therefore, provisions within the permits and associated Biological Opinions are incorporated into the hatchery programs undertaken in the HCPs. Under current settlement agreements and stipulations (FERC processes), the three mid-Columbia PUDs pay for implementation of hatchery programs within the Upper Columbia Basin. These programs determine the levels of hatchery production needed to mitigate for the construction and continued operation of the PUD dams. These are conservation programs designed to contribute to the recovery of listed spring Chinook and steelhead. Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) were signed by Douglas and Chelan PUDs, WDFW, USFWS, NOAA Fisheries, the Yakama Nation, and the Colville Confederated Tribes. The overriding goal of the HCPs is to achieve no-net impact (NNI)103 on anadromous salmonids as they pass Wells (Douglas PUD), Rocky Reach, and Rock Island (Chelan PUD) dams. One of the main objectives of the hatchery component of NNI is to provide species specific hatchery programs that may include contributing to the rebuilding and recovery of naturally reproducing populations in their native habitats, while maintaining genetic and ecologic integrity, and supporting harvest. The Biological Assessment and Management Plan (BAMP) was developed by parties negotiating the HCPs in the late 1990s. The BAMP was developed to document guidelines and recommendations on methods to determine hatchery production levels and evaluation programs. It is used within the HCP as a guiding document for the hatchery programs. All of these processes have affected the hatchery programs within the Upper Columbia Basin in one way or another. For example, the Winthop National Fish Hatchery changed their production to be integrated with the listed component, while options for changes in operations at the other two federal facilities are being discussed. NOAA Fisheries has concluded that the locally derived fish produced in hatcheries are essential for recovery of spring Chinook and steelhead DPSs. Additional changes resulting from various processes includes production of tributary-specific stocks of hatchery steelhead that reduce the potential effects of hatchery fish on naturally produced fish, re-initiation of sport harvest on hatchery steelhead to reduce potential effects of hatchery fish on naturally produced fish, and development of standardized monitoring and evaluation plans for hatchery programs in the Upper Columbia Basin. Although these actions are intended to contribute to recovery of listed species, additional actions are needed to meet recovery objectives. 5.3.5Hatchery Recovery ActionsRecovery actions listed below for each population are intended to reduce threats associated with hatchery practices in the Upper Columbia Basin. These actions primarily address threats associated with VSP criteria for productivity, diversity, and spatial structure. Actions and mitigation associated with hatcheries throughout the Upper Columbia River Basin should not preclude the recovery of Upper Columbia spring Chinook, steelhead, and bull trout. Additionally, future hatchery facilities will support recovery goals, and minimize and mitigate any impacts (including goals within other Hs). This list should not be considered all inclusive and specific actions will be determined and negotiated by the responsible parties. Spring ChinookWenatchee PopulationWithin the Wenatchee subbasin, spring and summer Chinook, sockeye, steelhead, and coho salmon are planted for various mitigation programs (Table 5 .11). The Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery (LNFH) and the Rock Island Fish Hatchery Complex (RIFHC) propagate fish in the Wenatchee subbasin. Short-term Actions
Long-term Actions
Research and Monitoring Actions
Entiat PopulationCurrently, the spring Chinook program at the Entiat National Fish Hatchery is the only hatchery program within the Entiat subbasin (Table 5 .12). Short-term Actions
Long-term Actions
Research and Monitoring Actions
Methow PopulationArtificial production of anadromous fish in the Methow subbasin includes spring Chinook, summer Chinook, steelhead, and coho salmon (Table 5 .13). The Winthrop National Fish Hatchery (WNFH) and the Methow Fish Hatchery Complex (MFHC) propagate fish in the Methow subbasin. Short-term Actions
Long-term Actions
Research and Monitoring Actions
Okanogan PopulationCurrently, there are releases of summer Chinook, steelhead, and experimental programs for spring Chinook and sockeye (in Canada) in the Okanogan subbasin (Table 5 .15). Spring Chinook were extirpated from the Okanogan subbasin before the 1930s. Although there has not been a formal mitigation program for spring Chinook, there is currently an experimental spring Chinook propagation program in the Okanogan subbasin through a cooperative agreement between NOAA Fisheries, USFWS, Colville Tribes, and WDFW. This is an interim segregated program designed to support tribal ceremonial and subsistence fishing and provide information for a proposed, long-term integrated recovery program. Short-term Actions
Long-term Actions
Research and Monitoring Actions
SteelheadWenatchee PopulationThere are currently no federal programs that propagate steelhead in the Wenatchee subbasin. WDFW, through the RIFHC, release steelhead as compensation for mitigation for both Rock Island and Rocky Reach dams (Table 5 .11). All steelhead produced in this program are listed under the ESA. Short-term Actions
Long-term Actions
Research and Monitoring Actions
Entiat PopulationNo hatchery-produced steelhead are currently released in the Entiat subbasin. Discontinuous stocking of the Entiat and Mad rivers occurred from 1937-1967, with annual stocking of the Entiat River from 1967-1999. The BAMP identified this subbasin as a “reference” stream, which caused the cessation of hatchery steelhead releases in the Entiat Subbasin in 1999; although the HCP Hatchery Committee has not determined at this time if this will occur. Researchers and managers intend to compare productivity between streams that receive hatchery supplementation with streams, such as those in the Entiat, that do not. Recent discussions with local stakeholders, however, have raised questions concerning the use of the Entiat as a reference stream. The designation of a reference stream will not preclude fishing. Short-term Actions
Long-term Actions
Research and Monitoring Actions
Methow PopulationHatchery produced steelhead have been a dominant part of the spawning population in the Methow subbasin for many years. However, the objectives of the hatchery programs have recently changed from a strictly harvest augmentation role to the added role of recovery. Harvest is still an important objective, but emphasis has shifted in an effort to increase natural spawners. The WNFH, operated by the USFWS, produces a small number (100,000 fish) of steelhead in the Methow subbasin (Table 5 .13). This stock is taken from the Wells Fish Hatchery (WFH) and is listed under the ESA. The Wells Fish Hatchery, operated by WDFW, collects steelhead from the run-at-large at the west ladder trap at Wells Dam. Starting in 2003, naturally produced fish were also collected from the east ladder trap to incorporate a larger number (33%) of naturally produced steelhead into the broodstock. Adults are spawned and reared at the WFH. WDFW annually transports and releases 350,000 steelhead smolts into the Twisp, Chewuch, and Methow rivers (Table 5 .13). Short-term Actions
Long-term Actions
Research and Monitoring Actions
Okanogan PopulationSteelhead released into the Okanogan subbasin are spawned and reared at the WFH, operated by WDFW. Juvenile hatchery produced steelhead are transported to the Okanogan subbasin and scatter planted in the Similkameen River (50,000), Omak Creek, Salmon Creek, and the Okanogan River (50,000) during spring (Table 5 .15). In 2003, the Colville Tribes initiated a local broodstock program, collecting steelhead returning to Omak Creek. Eggs are incubated and juvenile steelhead are reared at the Colville Trout Hatchery (CTH). This is a recovery program with the goal of releasing 20,000 smolts in the Okanogan subbasin. Short-term Actions
Long-term Actions
Research and Monitoring Actions
Bull TroutThere are currently no hatchery programs for bull trout in the Upper Columbia Basin. However, there is a possibility that hatchery programs for other species may have affected the abundance, productivity, spatial structure, and diversity of bull trout in the Upper Columbia Basin. Wenatchee Core AreaThere is no bull trout hatchery program in the Wenatchee Core Area. However, the stocking of brook trout negatively affects the abundance, productivity, spatial structure, and diversity of bull trout in the core area (USFWS 2002). Short-term Actions
Long-term Actions
Research and Monitoring Actions
Entiat Core AreaThere is no bull trout hatchery program in the Entiat Core Area. However, the stocking of brook trout negatively affects the abundance, productivity, spatial structure, and diversity of bull trout in the core area (USFWS 2002). Short-term Actions
Long-term Actions
Research and Monitoring Actions
Lake Chelan Core AreaThere is no bull trout hatchery program in the Lake Chelan Core Area and the presence of bull trout in the core area remains unknown. Bull trout have not been observed in the core area for decades. Short-term Actions
Long-term Actions
Research and Monitoring Actions
Methow Core AreaThere is no bull trout hatchery program in the Methow Core Area. However, the stocking of brook trout negatively affects the abundance, productivity, spatial structure, and diversity of bull trout in the core area (USFWS 2002). Short-term Actions
Long-term Actions
Research and Monitoring Actions
Okanogan Core AreaThere is no bull trout hatchery program in the Okanogan Core Area and the presence of bull trout in the core area is unknown. Bull trout have not been observed in tributaries in the core area for decades. However, bull trout have been occasionally observed in the mainstem Okanogan River (BioAnalysts 2003). Short-term Actions
Long-term Actions
Research and Monitoring Actions
5.3.6Responsible PartiesWDFW, USFWS, NOAA Fisheries, the Yakama Nation, and the Colville Tribes are primarily responsible for regulating hatchery activities in the Upper Columbia Basin. 5.3.7Coordination and CommitmentsThis plan assumes that an Implementation Team, made up of representatives from various federal and state agencies, tribes, counties, and stakeholders will engage in discussions associated with hatchery actions. This Team will be involved in all issues related to hatchery policies and recovery actions, and will work within the framework of the HCPs for Chelan and Douglas PUDs, Section 7 consultations, the Mitchell Act, HGMPs, U.S. v. Oregon, and federal trust responsibilities to the tribes. If necessary, the Implementation Team may establish a technical committee made up of hatchery managers and scientists to provide technical advice to the Team, review monitoring and research actions associated with hatchery practices, and identify gaps and additional research needs. The PUDs (state facilities) and federal government (federal facilities) are the primary entities responsible for funding the hatchery programs in the Upper Columbia Basin. Habitat conservation plans and binding mitigation agreements ensure that these programs have secure funding and will continue operating into the future. 5.3.8ComplianceHatchery activities are currently monitored through processes like the HCPs, HGMPs, and Section 7 and 10 consultations. WDFW, USFWS, and tribes are primarily responsible for monitoring the progress and success of hatchery programs in the Upper Columbia Basin. These programs also have evaluation goals and check-ins that provide production targets for the various programs. This recovery plan encourages greater coordination among federal, state, and tribal programs and integration of monitoring programs. Directory: planning planning -> Condominium Name Index to Map Sheets Name Address Map planning -> Guidelines for implementation of Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities planning -> Conservation Assessment for the Rocky Mountain Tailed Frog in Oregon and Washington As planning -> Project name planning -> Appendix C: Federal and Minnesota Case Law Summaries planning -> Toward the development of a strategic technology plan planning -> Program Review and Forecast Guideline for Getting Started on Prof background and Context planning -> Introduction Current State Download 2.14 Mb. Share with your friends:
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