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 Hatchery Satellite Facilities - Planning, Siting, Design, and Construction

BPA project number   9101400

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
CTUIR

Sponsor type   WA-Consultant

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   Jay Marcotte, EWN 503/231-6962

Biological opinion ID   None

NWPPC Program number   7.4I.1, 7.4I.2

Short description
Umatilla Hatchery satellite facilities will be constructed for acclimation/release of salmon and steelhead smolts in the Umatilla River Basin.

Project start year   1983    End year   1997

Start of operation and/or maintenance   1998

Project development phase   Implementation

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects
8403300 - Umatilla Hatchery O & M
8343500 - Umatilla Hatchery Satellite Facilities O & M
8802200 - Umatilla River Basin Trap & Haul Program
9000501 - Umatilla Basin Natural Production M & E
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. Umatilla Hatchery Satellite Facilities will be an integral part of this comprehensive program.

Four juvenile acclimation/release facilities were completed from 1983 to 1995. An adult coho, CHF holding/spawning facility was completed in 1996 and a CHS holding/spawning facility will be completed in 1997. One or two additional juvenile release facilities are necessary to acclimate all current Umatilla River hatchery fish releases. All satellite facilities are operated by CTUIR.

Biological results achieved
Salmon runs were extinct in the Umatilla River Basin prior to implementation of the Umatilla fish restoration program. This plan, of which the Umatilla Hatchery Satellite Facilities are a key component, has resulted in annual returns of salmon and steelhead to the Umatilla River of 3,300 to 8,000 adults in the last 10 years. Four of six acclimation facilities are completed and operational. Since the acclimation facilities began operation in 1983, about 8.3 million coho, fall and spring chinook salmon and summer steelhead have been acclimated and released. The facilities have also been used to hold and spawn summer steelhead, coho and fall chinook salmon collected from Three Mile Dam on the Umatilla River.

Annual reports and technical papers
Umatilla Satellite and Release Sites Project: Final Siting Report, DOE/BP - 12031-1, May 1992; Umatilla Satellite and Release Sites Project: Final Concept Design Report, DOE/BP - 12031-2, May 1992

Management implications
The functions of the Umatilla Hatchery satellite facilities are essential to the implementation of the overall Umatilla Basin fish restoration program. Facilities allow managers to 1) release smolts in areas targeted for reestablishment of natural production; 2) acclimate/imprint smolts for increased survival; and 3) hold adults and acquire eggs for transfer to production facilities.

Specific measureable objectives
The goals and objectives of the project can be measured by: 1) the number of juvenile salmon and steelhead that are acclimated at the facilities; 2) the adult contributions to the ocean and Columbia River fisheries; and 3) the number of Umatilla River adult returns that are utilized for broodstock and contribute to harvest and natural production.

Testable hypothesis

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints

Methods
The specific project methods associated with the facilities include: 1) acclimate and release groups of juvenile summer steelhead, coho and chinook salmon; 2) collect summer steelhead, coho, spring chinook and fall chinook salmon from the trap at Three Mile Dam on the Umatilla River and transport them to holding facilities; 3) spawn fish and provide eggs to ODFW for incubation, rearing and later release in the Umatilla River Basin; 4) monitor juvenile and adult fish for physical data and health; 5) collect data and snouts from coded-wire tagged fish and send the snouts to ODFW for tag retrieval and decoding; 6) access coded-wire tag recovery information to determine the contribution of Umatilla River releases to the ocean, Columbia and Umatilla River fisheries; 7) operate, maintain and repair all equipment, buildings and grounds; and 8) monitor juvenile outmigration timing and size.

Brief schedule of activities
The Bonifer, Minthorn, Imeques C-mem-ini-kem, Thornhollow and Threemile Dam satellite facilities will continue to be used for acclimation of juvenile salmon and steelhead and for holding and spawning of adults. Remaining projects include one or two additional satellite facilities to accommodate increased juvenile acclimation and one adult CHS broodstock holding and spawning facility. Continue BPA funding for additional construction of remaining facilities (Pjct #9104100) and perform operation and maintenance (Pjct #8343500) at all satellite facilities. Complete construction of South Fork Walla Walla spring chinook adult holding facilities.

Biological need
Artificial production is needed in the Umatilla Basin to bring back extirpated and depressed anadromous fish runs. The satellite facilities specifically address juvenile acclimation/release and adult broodstock holding/spawning needs which are essential to achieving the overall Umatilla Basin natural and hatchery adult return goals.

Approximately 6 million salmon and steelhead smolts are released annually in the Umatilla River but not all are acclimated. Additional satellite facility capabilities are necessary to acclimate/release a remaining 2 to 3 million of these that are not acclimated or are not currently acclimated/released at the most desirable locations.

Critical uncertainties
Without juvenile acclimation/release facilities, smolt to adult survivals of hatchery releases would likely be decreased and adult returns would likely not target as well to desirable natural production locations in the Umatilla Basin. Without adult holding/spawning facilities, managers would be unable to utilize Umatilla returns to meet annual egg targets.

Summary of expected outcome
The reduced stress and increased imprintation of juveniles released from acclimation facilities in the Umatilla River Basin will increase smolt to adult survival back to the Columbia and Umatilla Rivers. The adult facilities are expected to eventually provide all of the eggs necessary to meet the Umatilla Basin artificial production goals. Total salmon and steelhead adult return goals to the Umatilla River Basin are approximately 48,000.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
This project is part of a comprehensive Umatilla River fish restoration plan developed by CTUIR and ODFW in cooperation with the Northwest Power Planning Council, BPA, USFWS, NMFS, various Irrigation Districts and private landowners. The project helps to increase smolt to adult survival and provides eggs for the program and directly increases survival of salmon and steelhead to the upper Columbia River Basin which is consistent with the Council's Fish and Wildlife Program, U.S. vs OR Columbia River Fish Management Plan, and the Pacific Salmon Treaty.

CTUIR operates the Umatilla Hatchery satellite facilities as a part of the Umatilla Basin artificial production program. Other facility operations to complete the program include Umatilla, Bonneville, Cascade and Carson Hatcheries operated by ODFW and USFWS. ODFW also provides juvenile fish transportation from the hatcheries to the satellite facilities. Other projects in the Umatilla River Basin Fisheries Restoration Program include fish passage and habitat and flow enhancement funded by the Bureau of Reclamation and BPA.

Risks

Monitoring activity
All juvenile release groups are marked to determine the contribution of Umatilla River releases to ocean, Columbia and Umatilla River fisheries and in the past to compare survival differences of acclimated and control (non-acclimated) groups.

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   $2,000,000

BPA 1997 authorized budget (approved start-of-year budget)   $4,640,000