BPA Fish and Wildlife FY 1997 Proposal

Section 1. Administrative
Section 2. Narrative
Section 3. Budget

see CBFWA and BPA funding recommendations

Section 1. Administrative

Title of project
Effects of Transportation on the Homing Ability of Adult Salmonids

BPA project number   5515300

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
TBD

Sponsor type   Placeholder

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   ,

Biological opinion ID   RM&EP; Hypothesis B.1.4.

NWPPC Program number   

Short description
Using various tagging and collection techniques (radio-, flag, and PIT tagging), this study would investigate the effects, if any, of juvenile fish transportation on the homing ability of adult salmon.

Project start year   1997    End year   

Start of operation and/or maintenance   0

Project development phase   PLANNING

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects

Project history

Biological results achieved

Annual reports and technical papers

Management implications
The overall effect of juvenile fish transportation on juvenile fish survival, adult migration, and adult returns to hatcheries and spawning grounds is important to determine the appropriate role of transportation across a range of conditions. This study would address previously raised concerns regarding adult homing and provide a firm basis for transportation management strategies.

Specific measureable objectives

Testable hypothesis
Hypothesis B.1.4: Transportation of smolts from collector dams to either below Bonneville Dam or the estuary does not reduce ability of returning adults to home to spawning grounds.

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints
An additional component of this study would be placement of PIT-tag detectors in adult ladders at BON, PRD, and LGR. This would permit investigators to evaluate whether marked adults move into the mid-Columbia region, and to what degree, relative to arrivals at IHR, they may fall back at IHR and reach LGR from IHR. It would also permit evaluation of adult delay caused by transport of smolts.

Methods

Brief schedule of activities

Biological need
Some critical reviews of transportation have argued that transport of smolts from collector dams to the estuary impairs homing of returning adults, particularly from the collector dam to spawning areas or hatcheries. This study would be designed specifically to address concerns about the homing ability of adults following transportation as juveniles; at this time, there is no direct information indicating significant homing impairment.

Critical uncertainties
Do increases in juvenile fish survival resulting from transportation result in increased return rates to hatcheries and spawning grounds.

Summary of expected outcome
A multiple year assessment of the homing ability to hatcheries and spawning grounds of adult salmon which had been transported and released below Bonneville Dam (at either the traditional release site or nearer the estuary). Ideally, this assessment would be available for individual stocks as well as for fish which had been tagged at a variety of collection points. The assessment would also include information describing whether marked adults move into the mid-Columbia region, and to what degree, relative to arrivals at IHR, they may fall back at IHR and reach LGR from IHR. It would also permit evaluation of adult delay caused by transport of smolts.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation

Risks

Monitoring activity
This point (impairment of homing ability in fish which had been transported from collector dams tothe estuary) can be addressed in part by radio- and flag-tagging a sample of wild and hatchery fish at LGR. Radio tagging would be useful for tagged fish of known origin. For fish PIT-tagged as smolts at dams (e.g., 1995 transport vs. inriver study) jaw tagging and recovery of returning adults at hatcheries and on the spawning grounds would be informative.

Section 3. Budget

* For most projects, Authorized is the amount recommended by CBFWA and the Council. Planned is amount currently allocated. Contracted is the amount obligated to date of printout.

Funding recommendations

CBFWA funding review group   System Policy

Recommendation    Tier 2 - fund when funds available

Recommended funding level   $500,000