Proposal title | Bull Trout Assessment - Willamette/Mckenzie |
Proposal ID | 199405300 |
Organization | Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) |
Proposal contact person or principal investigator |
Name | Jeffrey S. Ziller |
Mailing address | 3150 Main Street Springfield, OR 97478 |
Phone / email | 5417263515 / Jeffrey.S.Ziller@state.or.us |
Manager authorizing this project | Jeffrey S. Ziller |
Review cycle | FY 2001 Ongoing |
Province / Subbasin | Lower Columbia / Willamette |
Short description | Monitor distribution, population trends, and habitat use of bull trout populations in the Upper Willamette Basin. Continue to implement the Rehabilitation Plan for bull trout in Middle Fork Willamette (ODFW 1997). |
Target species | |
Year | Accomplishment |
1996 |
Surveyed over 100 miles of stream for the presence of bull trout. Young of the year bull trout have only been found in known spawning tributaries. |
1997 |
Information collected on this project has allowed ODFW to complete a risk assessment, rehabilitation plan and monitoring program for bull trout in the Middle Fork Willamette River. |
1998 |
Redd surveys conducted in Anderson and Olallie creeks and the mainstem McKenzie show an increasing trend in adult bull trout abundance. |
1998 |
With a downstream migrant trap, we monitored of timing and numbers of juveniles moving downstream in Anderson Creek. Data indicates good spawning success; however, habitat for young of the year bull trout may be limited. |
1998 |
Transfer of 1,497 juvenile bull trout from the McKenzie Basin to the Middle Fork Willamette Basin. |
1998 |
Monitoring of radio transmitters implanted in bull trout has allowed us to describe seasonal movements and habitat use in mainstem McKenzie, South Fork McKenzie, and Cougar Reservoir. |
1999 |
Estimate of the number of spawning adult bull trout in Anderson Creek and Roaring River using electronic fish counters |
1999 |
Transfer of 1,976 juvenile bull trout from the McKenzie Basin to the Middle Fork Willamette Basin. |
1999 |
Confirmed survival of juvenile bull trout transferred from the McKenzie Basin to the Middle Fork Willamette Basin in 1998 and 1999. |
1999 |
Population estimate of juvenile bull trout rearing in Anderson Creek. |
Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2001 cost | Subcontractor |
1. Determine distribution of bull trout in the Middle Fork Willamette and McKenzie river basins. |
a. Conduct surveys of potential spawning locations of bull trout in the Middle Fork Willamette and tributaries above Hills Creek Reservoir. Survey locations will be determined from historical ODFW survey data and the distribution of cold water, appr |
2 |
$1,375 |
|
|
b. Conduct surveys of potential spawning locations in the McKenzie River and tributaries above Trail Bridge Dam; tributaries of the mainstem below Trail Bridge Dam and in the South Fork McKenzie above Cougar Reservoir. Surveys will be conducted in coope |
2 |
$1,031 |
|
|
c. Determine juvenile bull trout rearing areas by locating fish with snorkeling and electrofishing techniques in habitat identified as suitable for bull trout. Criteria for suitable habitat will include stream segments with appropriate water temperatures |
2 |
$1,031 |
|
|
d. Locate adult bull trout rearing and spawning areas in the mainstem and South Fork McKenzie rivers by radio tagging up to 10 adult fish during the fall and winter and tracking their movements, at least bi-weekly, through the migration and spawning peri |
2 |
$3,437 |
|
2. Determine population size of bull trout in the McKenzie and Middle Fork Willamette basins. |
a. Estimate the number of bull trout in the Middle Fork subbasin using calibrated snorkel observations and the results of spawning surveys conducted in Task 1.1. Snorkeling will be conducted at night to enhance the effectiveness of the survey. |
12 |
$6,873 |
|
|
b. Estimate the number of juvenile bull trout migrating from Anderson Creek using a rotary screw downstream migrant trap and calculating trap efficiency. The migrant trap will be operated approximately 4 d/wk from February through May and at least 4d/mo |
2 |
$5,499 |
|
|
c. Estimate the number of bull trout residing in Olallie Creek by calibrated night snorkel counts. We will calculate a density estimate based on the calibrated counts and extrapolate for the total area below the springs on Olallie Creek. |
1 |
$4,124 |
|
|
d. Conduct bi-weekly counts of known spawning areas in Anderson Creek, Olallie Creek and mainstem McKenzie from September 1-October 15. |
2 |
$3,437 |
|
|
e. Continue using snorkeling gear to count adult bull trout in pools of the mainstem and South Fork McKenzie rivers as an index to pre-spawning bull trout abundance and distribution. |
2 |
$2,749 |
|
|
f. Utilize estimates of the number of spawning bull trout collected in Task 2.4. to obtain trend data on bull trout populations. |
2 |
$344 |
|
3. Determine life history characteristics of bull trout in the Middle Fork and McKenzie river basins. |
a. Summarize information collected in Objectives 1 and 2 to identify habitat characteristics of adult and juvenile bull trout rearing areas and spawning locations. Characteristics will include water temperature and flow, substrate type and size, stream |
2 |
$687 |
|
|
b. Identify the amount of habitat in the McKenzie and Middle Fork Willamette subbasins similar to habitat currently or historically colonized by bull trout in those basins. |
2 |
$344 |
|
|
c. Calculate the potential size of the Middle Fork Willamette and McKenzie river bull trout populations by extrapolating from the average density of bull trout found in Task 3.1 and the amount of habitat determined in Task 3.2. |
2 |
$344 |
|
4. Implement the Rehabilitation Plan for the bull trout population in the Middle Fork Willamette River (ODFW 1997). |
a. Transfer young of the year bull trout captured in the rotary screw trap from Anderson Creek to the Middle Fork Willamette River. Fry will be transported from February-April 1998 through 2002. The transportation vehicle is a 250-gallon tank with oxyg |
2 |
$13,746 |
|
|
b. Conduct snorkel surveys to monitor survival, distribution and growth of bull trout from the release site downstream approximately one kilometer. Estimate growth rates using length at release data and visual estimates of size from snorkel surveys. |
12 |
$6,873 |
|
|
c. Identify habitat characteristics of juvenile rearing areas including water temperature and flow, stream gradient, substrate size, distance to cover, and habitat complexity (e.g. amount of large wood, pools). |
2 |
$1,718 |
|
5. Determine the effectiveness of restrictive angling regulations for maintaining bull trout populations in the Willamette Basin. |
a. Estimate catch of bull trout by anglers in Cougar and Trail Bridge reservoirs and calculate potential mortality. Measure angler catches, the degree of angler compliance and knowledge of the restrictive angling regulations through creel surveys. Esti |
2 |
$687 |
|
6. Provide information acquired about bull trout to landowners and land management agencies within the McKenzie and Middle Fork Willamette basins and to other regional entities. |
a. Compile data collected in this study and relate to habitat surveys completed by USFS and ODFW. |
2 |
$3,437 |
|
|
b. Provide quarterly and annual reports of operations and interim findings to BPA and other interested parties. |
12 |
$3,437 |
|
|
c. Publish the results and recommendations in a refereed journal or equivalent. Additional informational and technical presentations will be conducted as requested. |
2 |
$6,873 |
|
|
d. Coordinate and participate in bi-annual meetings of the Upper Willamette Bull Trout Working Group to coordinate field activities and exchange information. |
2 |
$686 |
|
We have changed the crew leader for this project from an Experimental Biology Aide (EBA) to a Limited Duration Natural Resources Specialist I (NRS I). The duties of the crew leader for this project were consistent with those of an NRS I and not those of an EBA. The cost of an NRS I is approximately 29% higher than an EBA. To compensate, 3 months of EBA time were eliminated.
This information was not provided on the original proposals, but was generated during the review process.