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
Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery

BPA project number   8335000

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
Nez Perce Tribe

Sponsor type   ID-Tribe

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   , EWN 503/230-3914

Biological opinion ID   None

NWPPC Program number   7.4M.1

Short description
Design and construct hatchery supplementation facilities for the Nez Perce Tribe to assist in recovery and restoration of spring, summer, and fall chinook in the Clearwater subbasin.

Project start year   1983    End year   

Start of operation and/or maintenance   1996

Project development phase   Monitoring and Evaluation

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects
LSRCP Hatcheries, spring chinook broodstock in the Clearwater subbasin:
Clearwater Hatchery, IDFG.
Dworshak National Hatchery, USFWS.
Kooskia National Hatchery, USFWS.
IPC Mitigation Rapid River Hatchery, spring chinook broodstock, Salmon River subbasin.
Lyons Ferry Hatchery, fall chinook broodstock donor.
BPA & USFS funded habitat restoration projects in Lolo, Eldorado, Newsome, and Mill Creeks where NPTH production is planned.

Project history
Nez Perce Tribe proposed project to Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program. Amended to Program in 1983. Current planning and predesign initiated in 1987. State and Federal coordination resolved. NEPA process in progress with ROD targeted for 1996. Final design to begin 1996; continue until completed. Facilities to consist of two Central Incubation and Rearing Facilities (CIRF) and six satellite facilities, outplanting to "treatment" streams matched to "control" streams for testing supplementation, and one "experimental" stream to explore tests . Monitoring and evaluation implemented in 1994 to establish habitat and population baselines. Master Plan, Genetic Risk & Resource documents (2), Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, Supplement to the Master Plan, Broodstock Management Plan, multiple water evaluation reports, temperature, and flow data gathering, Preliminary Design Memorandums, Cultural Resource Surveys as background for developing the project. Land leases established at Cherrylane facility. Sweetwater Springs acquisition from IDFG being negotiated. USFS special use permits being finalized for satellite facility sites and weirs.

Biological results achieved
1993: Broodstock development begun using "surplus" hatchery production outplanted to Meadow Creek, Selway River 1993-94 to study and evaluate supplementation strategies. Adult returns expected to begin 1996-98.
1993-95: Juvenile monitoring shows initial survival following releases for two consecutive years.

Annual reports and technical papers
1984: Feasibility Study by CH2-M Hill.
1992: Master Plan Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery
1992: Genetic Risk Assessment Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery Master Plan.
1994: Draft Monitoring & Evaluation Plan
1994: Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery Predesign Study.
1995: Selway Genetic Resource Assessment
1995: Supplement to Master Plan
1996: Broodstock Management Plan (in progress).
1996: Final Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (in progress).
1996: NEPA Environmental Assessment and Record of Decision (in progress).

Management implications
Recovery of weak spring chinook stocks in Lolo, Newsome, Mill, Meadow, Boulder, Warmsprings, and Whitesand Creeks.
Recovery of fall chinook in lower mainstem Clearwater River, as a listed ESA stock.

Specific measureable objectives
Juvenile survival following release evaluated within the stream and at Snake River dams.
Adult spring chinook natural spawning returns to Lolo Creek >214; Mill Creek >44; Newsome Creek >108; Boulder Creek >109; Warmsprings Creek >12; Meadow Creek > 333; Totals >820.
Adult spring chinook hatchery broodstock returns to Lolo Creek >136; Mill Creek >36; Newsome Creek >68; Boulder Creek >67; Warmsprings Creek >16; Meadow Creek > 323 Totals >646.
Available spring chinook harvest >220 fish.
Adult fall chinook natural spawning returns to lower mainstem Clearwater River >2,140.
Adult fall chinook hatchery broodstock returns to Cherrylane Clearwater River >1,360.
Available fall chinook harvest >1,500 fish.

Testable hypothesis
* Supplementation technology can recover weak populations through introduction of parr and presmolts into natural streams.
* Modification of hatchery environment to mimic life stages of natural fish during incubation and rearing will enhance supplementation responses.

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints
Broodstock availability critical to project may be limited or absent in some years.
Captive broodstock supplementation may be necessary to establish or maintain broodstock in phase I or 2.
Smolt to adult survival, mortality due to hydrosystem impacts is beyond control of project.
Abundant habitat is available for outplants; carrying capacity and competition with natural production is not limiting.

Methods
Supplementation using one or more of the following products; adults, gametes, eggs, fry, parr, presmolt, sub-yearling smolts, and yearling smolts.
Captive broodstock may become necessary in the event populations decline to near extinction levels.

Brief schedule of activities
1996: Complete project DEIS, ROD, and Biological Assessment; Final Design, Begin Phased Construction of facilities.
1997: Cherrylane Central Incubation and Rearing Facility completed and operational. Cedar Flats and Yoosa/Camp Creek satellite design and construction in preparation for 1998 adult returns.
1998 through 2001: Design and construct Sweetwater Springs CIRF facility and satellites at Newsome Creek, Mill Creek, Luke's Gulch as needed.

Biological need
Recover weak populations rapidly, 2-4 generations (8-16 years) to population sizes supporting ESA delisting.
Prevent loss of biodiversity and inbreeding depression due to small population size.
Develop population sizes capable of sustaining Tribal and Non-Tribal Harvests.

Critical uncertainties
Supplementation success as planned may not be effective.
Bureaucratic process cannot be activated in a timely manner to provide facilities for hatchery production as needed to prevent extinction of listed stocks.

Summary of expected outcome
1,600 - 3,200 spring chinook adult recovery to tributary streams annually by year 2,015.
2,500 - 5,000 fall chinook adults recovery to lower mainstem Clearwater River by year 2,015.
2,000 - 4,000 summer chinook adults restored to M.F. Clearwater, Lochsa, & Selway Rives annually by year 2,015.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
State and/or Federal hatcheries will furnish broodstock from hatcheries when populations are abundant.
State and Federal agencies can provide short term support to fish production as necessary.

Risks
Extinction of existing species and populations if supplementation is not undertaken within the next year.
Supplementation may not be able to compensate for smolt to adult mortality occurring in the hydrosystem.
Involuntary change of genetic traits promoting natural survival.

Monitoring activity
* A comprehensive M&E Plan has been implemented, including biological parameters such as parr density, smolts survival, adult returns, redd counts.
* Treatment and control streams have been established.
* Genetic monitoring will be included.
* All costs are tracked.

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   Snake River

Recommendation    Tier 1 - fund

Recommended funding level   $6,660,000

BPA 1997 authorized budget (approved start-of-year budget)   $4,359,047