BPA Fish and Wildlife FY 1998 Proposal

Section 1. Summary
Section 2. Goals
Section 3. Background
Section 4. Purpose and methods
Section 5. Planned activities
Section 6. Outcomes, monitoring and evaluation
Section 7. Relationships
Section 8. Costs and FTE

see CBFWA and BPA funding recommendations

Section 1. Summary

Title of project
Umatilla Hatchery Satellite Facilities O&M

BPA project number   8343500

Short description
Collect, hold and spawn summer steelhead, coho, fall and spring chinook salmon and provide eggs to ODFW hatcheries for incubation, rearing and later release into the Umatilla River Basin. Acclimate juvenile salmon and steelhead prior to release into the Umatilla River Basin.

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

Section 2. Goals

General
Supports a healthy Columbia basin; maintains biological diversity; maintains genetic integrity; increases run sizes or populations

Section 3. Background

Stream area affected

Stream name   Umatilla River
Stream miles affected   100+
Subbasin   Umatilla

History
In the early 1980's, CTUIR and ODFW began implementing a comprehensive plan to supplement steelhead and re-establish salmon runs in the Umatilla River Basin. Umatilla Hatchery satellite facilities are an integral part of this program. Four juvenile acclimation and release facilities were constructed from 1983 to 1995 and an adult coho and fall chinook holding and spawning facility was built in 1996. A spring chinook adult holding/spawning facility will be completed in the spring of 1997. One or two additional facilities are needed to acclimate all Umatilla River 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 River 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. Since the satellite facilities have been in operation, approximately 12 million coho and fall and spring chinook and summer steelhead juveniles have been acclimated and released. The facilities are also used to hold and spawn coho and fall and spring chinook salmon and summer steelhead. Approximately 6.7 million eggs have been taken and provided to ODFW hatcheries for incubation, rearing and later release back into the Umatilla River.

Project reports and papers
CTUIR submits monthly reports and an annual report (Project 8343500) to BPA. The annual reports are available for each year since project inception.

Adaptive management implications
The functions of the Umatilla Hatchery satellite facilities are essential to the implementation of the overall Umatilla Basin fish restoration program. The facilities allow fish managers to: 1) release juveniles in targeted areas for re-establishment of natural production, 2) acclimate/imprint smolts for increased survival and homing, and 3) hold and spawn adult salmon and steelhead and provide eggs for the Umatilla River production program.

Section 4. Purpose and methods

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 and released at the facilities, 2) the adult contribution to ocean, Columbia and Umatilla River fisheries, 3) the number of Umatilla adult returns that are utilized for broodstock and contribute to harvest and natural production, and 4) the number of eggs that are taken and provided to ODFW hatcheries.

Critical uncertainties
Critical uncertainties include smolt to adult survivals related to habitat availability, ocean conditions and mainstem Columbia and Umatilla River passage. Risks include potential damage to other stocks.

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

Hypothesis to be tested
N/A

Alternative approaches
None were identified.

Justification for planning
N/A

Methods
The specific project objectives associated with the facilities include: 1) acclimate and release groups of juvenile summer steelhead, coho and chinook salmon, 2) determine general trends in juvenile outmigration timing, 3)collect summer steelhead, coho, spring and fall chinook salmon at Three Mile Dam on the Umatilla River and transport them to holding facilities, 4) spawn steelhead and chinook and coho salmon and provide eggs to ODFW hatcheries for incubation, rearing and release in the Umatilla River, 5) monitor juvenile and adult fish for physical data and health, 6) collect information and snouts from coded-wire tagged fish and send the snouts to ODFW for tag retrieval and decoding, 7) access coded-wire tag information from appropriate sources and determine smolt to adult survival of all coded wire tag groups released into the Umatilla River as well as contribution to ocean, Columbia and Umatilla River fisheries, and 8) perform daily routine maintenance and repair of all equipment, buildings and grounds.

Section 5. Planned activities

Constraints or factors that may cause schedule or budget changes
None identified

Section 6. Outcomes, monitoring and evaluation

SUMMARY OF EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Expected performance of target population or quality change in land area affected
The reduced stress and increased imprintation of juvenile salmon and steelhead released from acclimation ponds in the Umatilla River Basin will increase smolt to adult survival back to the Columbia and Umatilla Rivers. It is also anticipated the adult facilities will provide some coho and all of the steelhead, fall and spring chinook 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.

Present utilization and convservation potential of target population or area
The Umatilla River restoration program, of which the satellite facilities are an integral part, 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.

Assumed historic status of utilization and conservation potential
Runs of fall and spring chinook and coho salmon in the Umatilla River were essentially eliminated in the early 1900's. The single indigenous naturally spawning anadromous stock left in the basin is a run of approximately 1,100 to 2,800 STS.

Long term expected utilization and conservation potential for target population or habitat
Total adult salmon and steelhead return goals to the Umatilla River Basin are approximately 48,000. The Umatilla Hatchery Master Plan identifies adult return goals for each target species.

Contribution toward long-term goal
The project will eventually provide some coho and all of the steelhead, fall and spring chinook eggs needed for the Umatilla River artificial production program and will increase smolt to adult survival back to the Umatilla River.

Indirect biological or environmental changes
None identified

Physical products
Since 1983, approximately 12 million juvenile salmon and steelhead have been acclimated and released into the Umatilla River Basin. The number of fish acclimated annually has risen from 20,000 in 1983 to over 4 million in 1996. In addition, approximately 4,800 broodstock have been collected and held for spawning and approximately 6.7 million eggs have been taken and transported to ODFW hatcheries.

Environmental attributes affected by the project
None identified

Changes assumed or expected for affected environmental attributes
None identified

Measure of attribute changes
N/A

Information products
Monthly and annual reports provide information on juvenile acclimation, adult holding and spawning, juvenile and adult physical health, juvenile outmigration, maintenance and repair of facilities and adult survival and contributions.

Coordination outcomes
The project requires a great deal of cooperation and coordination among many diverse interest groups. Over the years, this cooperation and coordination has improved as all parties have gained additional knowledge and experience.

MONITORING APPROACH
The project's outcomes can be partially measured by the number of smolts that are acclimated and released and the number of eggs that are taken. These goals have been met but are secondary to the goal of increasing adult returns to the Umatilla River. All groups of fish released in the Umatilla River are representatively coded-wire tagged and smolt to adult survivals are determined as well as contribution to ocean, Columbia and Umatilla River fisheries.

Provisions to monitor population status or habitat quality
Several projects work closely together to monitor population status. The Umatilla River Basin Trap and Haul Program provides a comprehensive monitoring opportunity for assessing adult returns to the Umatilla River and the Umatilla Basin Natural Production M & E Program conducts extensive spawning ground and juvenile outmigration surveys to assess natural production success.

Data analysis and evaluation
Data collected by this project and others is shared with the UHM&E program and is also summarized in an annual report to BPA. The information is analyzed by CTUIR and ODFW managers and researchers.

Information feed back to management decisions
Based on information provided by this project and others, adaptive management decisions are made each year by basin co-managers. These decisions are incorporated into the Umatilla Hatchery and Basin Annual Operation Plan.

Critical uncertainties affecting project's outcomes
Mainstem Columbia and Umatilla River passage and habitat conditions need to be improved.

Evaluation
As previously mentioned, the projects performance or success can be measured by the number of smolts successfully acclimated and released and the number of eggs taken as compared to the production goals outlined in the Umatilla Hatchery and Basin Annual Operation Plan, In addition, all juvenile release groups are representatively coded-wire tagged and smolt to adult survivals and contributions to ocean, Columbia and Umatilla River fisheries are determined.

Incorporating new information regarding uncertainties
Again, information is collected and analyzed by CTUIR and ODFW and any information that changes the goals or operations of the project are incorporated into the Umatilla Hatchery and Basin Annual Operation Plan.

Increasing public awareness of F&W activities
The satellite facilities are highly visible and open to the public. Information is given to the public through private and public tours.

Section 7. Relationships

Opportunities for cooperation
This project is part of a comprehensive Umatilla River fish restoration plan developed by CTUIR and ODFW in cooperation with the Council, BPA, USFWS, NMFS, various Irrigation Districts and private landowners. The project helps to increase smolt to adult survival and provide 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 in cooperation with ODFW as part of the Umatilla Basin artificial production program. Other facility operations to complete the program included Umatilla, Little White Salmon, Cascade and Carson National hatcheries operated by ODFW and USFWS. Other projects include fish passage and habitat and flow enhancement funded by the Bureau of Reclamation and BPA. The Bureau of Reclamation and Irrigation Districts also provide preventative and heavy maintenance at all satellite facilities.

Section 8. Costs and FTE

1997 Planned  $365,379

Costs will be for continued O & M

How does percentage apply to direct costs
This percentage applies to all direct project costs within the CTUIR portion of the contract, but does not apply to subcontract funds.

Supplemental wildlife evaluation factors
PARTS TO BE SAVED: 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 broodstock holding and spawning facility. Continue BPA funding for additional construction of remaining facilities (Pjct #9104100) and perform operation and maintenance at all satellite facilities.