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
Umatilla Basin Natural Production Monitoring and Evaluation (UBNMPE)

BPA project number   9000501

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
CTUIR

Sponsor type   OR-Tribe

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   Jerry Bauer, EWN 503/230-7579

Biological opinion ID   None

NWPPC Program number   7.1A.1, 7.4I.1, 7.4I.2

Short description
The general UBNMPE program goal is to evaluate the success of natural production of salmon and steelhead resulting from the Umatilla Fisheries Restoration Program. Specifically, the project will evaluate the implementation of the Umatilla Hatchery Master Plan with respect to adult salmon and steelhead passage, natural production, and Tribal harvest.

Project start year   1992    End year   2007

Start of operation and/or maintenance   1992

Project development phase   Implementation

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects
8403300 - Umatilla Hatchery O & M
8343500 - Umatilla Hatchery Satellite Facilities O & M
9101400 - Umatilla Hatchery Satellites - Design & Construction
8802200 - Umatilla River Basin Trap and Haul Program
8710001 - Umatilla River Basin Anadromous Fish Habitat Enhancement

Project history
Beginning in the early 1980's, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife began implementing a comprehensive plan to supplement steelhead and re-establish salmon runs in the Umatilla River Basin. This project will monitor and evaluate how well those runs are successful in reproducing naturally and how adult salmonids negotiate passage facilities. Knowledge from this effort will assist in management decisions to improve fall & spring chinook, coho salmon, and steelhead restoration efforts.

Biological results achieved
Successful natural production of spring and fall chinook, and coho salmon has been documented (adults spawned and progeny sampled) in 1992-1995. Indian and non-Indian spring and fall chinook, and coho salmon fisheries (one or all three) have been opened and monitored in the Umatilla River in three of the last six years. Adult passage facilities have been evaluated, and baseline data established for salmonid abundance, quality and quantity throughout the Umatilla Basin.

This project in itself will not directly achieve biological results but valuable information gained will be critical for fish managers to apply to other various projects which do directly effect biological results as related to Umatilla Basin fish restoration goals.

Annual reports and technical papers
Contractor submits an annual report which are available for each year since inception.

Management implications
This project's primary purpose is to evaluate the results of various ongoing projects in the Umatilla Basin to provide managers information necessary to further refine management actions. Some findings are already influencing management decisions, however, most information regarding the natural reproductive success of hatchery supplemented stocks is yet to be determined.

Specific measureable objectives
1. Estimate the amount of existing and potential spawning and rearing habitat for summer steelhead, spring and fall chinook, and coho.
2. Determine species distribution, composition, abundance and densities of fish throughout the Umatilla Basin.
3. Determine natural spawning success, spawning habitat utilization, prespawning mortality, and number of redds per adult anadromous salmonid passed above three mile dam by species.
4. Estimate natural smolt production and survival rates of anadromous salmonids at various life history stages.
5. Determine salmonid life history characteristics.
6. Determine the genetic and ecological effects of supplementation on native steelhead and resident trout in the Umatilla Basin.
7. Determine if hatchery supplementation enhances production of natural steelhead.
8. Estimate Tribal harvest of adult salmon and steelhead returning to the Umatilla River Basin.
9. Determine passage effectiveness of adult passage facilities

Testable hypothesis

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints

Methods
UBNPME project methods: 1) estimate the amount of existing and potential spawning and rearing habitat for summer steelhead, spring and fall chinook, and coho salmon in the Umatilla Basin; 2) determine species distribution, composition, abundance and densities of fish throughout the Umatilla Basin; 3) determine natural spawning success, spawning habitat utilization, prespawning mortality, and number of redds per adult anadromous salmonid passed above three mile dam by species; 4) estimate natural smolt production and survival rates of anadromous salmonids at various life history stages; 5) determine salmonid life history characteristics; 6) determine the genetic and ecological effects of supplementation on native steelhead and resident trout in the Umatilla; 7) determine if hatchery supplementation enhances production of natural steelhead; 8) estimate Tribal harvest of adult salmon and steelhead returning to the Umatilla River Basin; and 9) monitor passage of adult salmon and steelhead.

Brief schedule of activities
Continue to monitor and evaluate the adult fish passage and natural production success of the re-established salmon and supplemented steelhead populations in the Umatilla River Basin. Complete establishment of baseline data for future comparisons and evaluation of natural production, quantity of suitable salmonid habitat, rearing densities, spawning success and distribution. Research/evaluation is expected to occur from 1992-2007. After 2007, the project emphasis is expected to shift to monitoring only.

Biological need
The general UBNPME program goal and need is to evaluate the success of natural production of salmon and steelhead resulting from the Umatilla Fisheries Restoration Program. Specifically, the project will evaluate the implementation of the Umatilla Hatchery Master Plan with respect to natural production, genetic and ecological risk, and tribal harvest. Also see "Biological Result Achieved" above.

Critical uncertainties
The Umatilla Hatchery Master Plan identified the following four critical uncertainties that the UBNPME project will address:
1) What is observed natural production success and estimated natural production potential for each anadromous salmonid species in the Umatilla Basin?
2) Will supplementation enhance summer steelhead?
3) What extent will supplementation impact the genetic diversity and life history characteristics of native steelhead and resident rainbow trout?
4) Do newly constructed adult passage facilities provide for effective upstream migration?

Summary of expected outcome
Direct benefits are derived through adaptive management decisions based on the information gathered through the monitoring and evaluation processes. The information obtained through this project will have direct application to the management of anadromous stocks in the entire Pacific Northwest as well as the Umatilla Basin. Also see "Biological Result Achieved" and "Specific Measurable Objectives" above.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
Information derived from this project is disseminated through monthly meetings and quarterly and annual reports. Tribal, state and federal managers and researches discuss current findings and explore best options for management and research during the monthly River Operations Meetings and the Umatilla River Basin Research Oversight Committee Meetings. Managers have immediate access to this project results for timely adaptive management decisions. The information obtained through this project may also have direct application to the management of anadromous stocks in systems throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Furthermore, we cooperate on a weekly basis with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in many common activities and interests which include: natural production monitoring, habitat evaluation, pit tagging, freeze branding, estimation of abundance and survival of downstream migrants, harvest monitoring, stream temperature monitoring, passage evaluations, and mark retention studies. We cooperate with the U.S. Forest Service with habitat surveys and stream temperature monitoring. We also cooperate with the Bureau of Reclamation in passage facility operations, collecting and monitoring juvenile migrants, and water temperature monitoring.

Risks

Monitoring activity
Monitoring activities include 1) determine adult salmon and steelhead passage effectiveness using radio telemetry; 2) estimate existing and potential spawning and rearing habitat for salmon and steelhead; 3) monitor risks associated with land-use practices and artificial production practices that might jeopardize long term natural production; and 4) make appropriate recommendations for Umatilla Basin fisheries and habitat management adjustments based on research findings.

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   Bonneville Dam - Priest Rapids Dam

Recommendation    Tier 1 - fund

Recommended funding level   $700,000

BPA 1997 authorized budget (approved start-of-year budget)   $525,000