dworshak fisheries complex reports/2017 mar/mar...dworshak fisheries complex monthly activity report...

Dworshak Fisheries Complex Monthly Activity Report

February Highlights

Dworshak

SST BY16 - 2,429,911

SST BY17 - 1,756,841

SCS BY16 - 2,559,779

SCS BY15 - 1,501,951

Kooskia

Volume 6 Issue 5

Inside this issue:

Manager’s Message 1

Dworshak Hatchery

Production

2-3

Dworshak Meetings,

Training, Conferences

4

Dworshak Maintenance

& Operations

5

IFWCO Dworshak

M & E

5

Idaho Fish Health

Center

6

Outreach Photos 7

Kooskia NF Hatchery

Headlines

8-9

Information &

Education

10

Staff List 10

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Region 1

Managers Message - Steve Rodgers

BY 16 Chinook -

765,549

BY 15 Chinook -

692,225

What is a better use of our hatchery returning adults, for broodstock or for harvest? Fishery manag-

ers wrestle with this occasionally, particularly in low run return years. In those years where there

are not a lot of adults coming back, managers have tough decisions to make. Should they prioritize

broodstock collection over fisheries? Should they allow some harvest, gambling they may not meet

full hatchery production targets? Should they allow harvest in some areas but not others?

In general, broodstock collection as a first priority is supported by everyone. That is because many

of our fisheries would be severely diminished or non-existent without the hatchery programs that

support them. Decision-makers are willing to restrict or even cancel fisheries in a given year, if

that’s what it takes to provide enough broodstock for hatchery programs to generate fisheries in

future years. This is sort of the ‘long view’…do without in down return years on behalf of more fish

back later.

However, there are some compelling reasons to

consider harvest of hatchery fish over broodstock

collection. First, mitigation hatchery programs like

those at Dworshak and Kooskia National Fish

Hatcheries are designed specifically to provide fish

for harvest. Over time, communities have become

dependent on the economic boost those fisheries

produce. Telling our constituents that there won’t be a

fishery is a tough sell, even if they understand the

hatchery need to ensure future fisheries. Additionally,

many in the community are anglers themselves, and

no one likes the idea of not being able to fish. That’s a

hard pill to swallow.

What about treaties between the tribes and government? Those agreements promised the tribes’

access to the culturally and economically important salmon they historically depended on every year.

Is it fair to ask the Nez Perce to do without, as a result of actions taken to settle and develop the west,

and despite their treaty with the US Government?

Not only is it important to determine how many hatchery fish should be trapped on behalf of fish

production, but also to determine where those fish are removed from the fishery. Is the area heavily

fished by sport anglers, or tribal fishers, or both? Do hatchery fish in a given area have minimal or

significant impacts, positive or negative, on natural fish populations there?

What about the fact that hatchery fish produced in Idaho are largely harvested far downstream by

folks who were not impacted when Dworshak Dam was constructed in the same way the local

residents were?

The challenge of fishery management is complicated; especially when so many people depend on

the fish, in one way or another, to support them. Rest assured there will be years when there are not

enough fish returning to support full hatcheries and also local fisheries. Ocean conditions, weather

and climate change, hydro system operations, predators, and many other challenges will determine

the success of our hatchery fish returning home to spawn. Policy, politics, economics, societal

pressures, and other human whims will determine if hatchery fish are bound for the creel or the

hatchery trap or both. Bottom line: every fish counts.

Dworshak Stock - Spring Chinook Salmon (SCS)

Brood Year 2015 (BY15)

By the end of the month there were 1,501,951 BY 15 SCS fry in 10 raceways and 10 Burrow’s Ponds. Fry

averaged 25.8 FPP (fish per pound). Water temperature dropped over the month from 41.7 at the beginning

of the month down to 40.7 at the end of the month only allowing for 0.2” of growth during the month.

Mortality showed a slight increase from E.O.M. January (2,241) to E.O.M. Feb (3,191), a trend that we

hope will not continue to release next month. The overall fish health has looked pretty good on the SCS;

however, there are fish in several racways that appear to have their equilibrium compromised from the

Phoma outbreak. These fish swim on their sides, but are still swimming and are hard to catch. Overall, the

Chinook are looking good and on track to make size at release.

Dworshak Hatchery Production - Izbicki, Sommer, Bisbee

Dworshak Monthly Activity Report February 2017

Brood Year 2015 (BY 15)

No report submitted.

Coho Salmon (COS)

(Continued page 3)

Dworshak Stock- Summer Steelhead (SST)


At the end of February, there were 2,436,483 fish from takes 1-10 in System 1, 2, & 3 averaging 7.6 fpp

(range is 5.0-11.7 fpp). Mortality in the Systems remained at 0.3%. The increased mortality is mainly from

pinhead dropouts and fallout from November’s power outages. The low oxygen events made the fish more

susceptible to external parasites and we have had to do numerous formalin treatments this winter. Every

Burrow’s Pond in system 2 and system 3 has been treated with formalin to knock down Trichodina &/or

treat legions and fungus caused by Trichodina. Fish health checked a sample of the ponds before and after

treatment and found treatments to be effective and hopefully we are on the tail end of the stress related

mortality. All takes all takes are being fed Rangan floating 3.2 mm feed on demand feeders. Water

temperature dropped to 41.7 degrees so fish have slowed down a little but there are definitely on track to

make size at release.


Spawning continued in February. We began our air-spawn takes on with Take 3 on Feb 7, Take 4 on Febru-

ary 21, and Take 5 on February 28. We spawned 64 females during Take 3 and 63 females during Take 4 and

63 females during Take 5. Males 85 cm and larger are crossed with up to three different females to enhance

the three ocean component of the run.

We enumerated takes 1, and 2 in February. Enumerated eye up for our early takes averaged 90.2%. At the

end of February there were 609,811 eyed eggs/fry in production from takes 1 & 2, and 1,147,030 green eggs

from take 3-5.

Brood Year 2016 (BY16)

Brood year 2016 eggs hatched in January. As of the end of February fry were on chilled water at an average

of 37 degrees. We currently have 2,559,779 sac fry on station. Fry will remain in incubation on chilled

water until they are ponded in early May.

We began our air-spawn takes

with Take 3 on Feb 7.

Credit: Olson,FWS

Credit: Olson, FWS

Credit: Olson, FWS

Brood Year 2016

No report submitted.

Males 85 cm and larger are

crossed with up to three

different females to enhance

the three ocean component

of the run.

Wayne Hamilton slides

a ripe male down the

shoot during spawning.

Volume 6, Issue 5

SUMMARY

Dworshak Hatchery Production (Continued from page 2)

Figure 1. February 28, 2017: Total Fish/Eggs on Station.

Table 2. Total Production - Fish on Station February 28 2017.

SP BY Location Number Wt (lbs) FPP L in L mm

SCS BY 16 16 Incubation (Eggs) 2,559,779

SCS BY 15 15 Raceways/Sys III 1,501,951 58,223 26 5.1 130

SST BY 16 16 Systems 2,429,911 333,929 7 7.3 185

SST BY 17 16 Incubation (Eggs) 1,756,841

Total Fish/Fry on Station EOM 8,248,482 392,152

Dworshak Stock- Summer Steelhead (SST)

There are currently no fish in the nursery. Cleaning and repairs will be on going until BY2017 SST are moved in early March.


Dworshak NFH Meetings, Training and Conferences - Drobish

The Electrical dept. upgraded the electrical and installed a soft start on System three

pump. Improving efficiency and equipment life.

The truck lift at the feed building was removed, pit filled and concrete poured in its

place. The lift was not needed and had fallen into disrepair.

Nine exterior metal doors and frames have been removed and replaced. This included

all new locks and hardware.

We have stared the process of getting the inoperable water fountain in the front of the

main building redesigned and installed. More to come.

The limit or stop switch for the channel crowders had to be relocated so that the

crowder would travel to the end of the channel. Fish were able to get around the screen

before changes.

A new battery was purchased and installed in the pond crowder. It had been damaged

by the extreme winter temperatures.

Electrical dept. installed additional smoke/fire detectors in the basement of quarters 1

The heater in the visitors restroom was not working and repair parts were not available

so the unit was replaced.

Maintenance started the removal process of the vacuum degassers in A-bank of the

raceways.

The Maintenance department. completed 19 electrical, 46 mechanical PM work orders 13

hand written requests for a total of 78 work orders for the month of February, 2017.

Staff from the Idaho Fish

and Wildlife Conservation

Office, Dworshak NFH,

and Nez Perce tribal em-

ployees being shown the

juvenile fish facility at

Lower Granite Dam, WA.

DNFH Maintenance and Operations Activity Report - Koehler

On February 3rd, Jeremy Sommer, Jeremy Pike, Angela Feldmann and Tom Tighe

attended a 1 day seminar in Spokane. The focus of the seminar was “Negativity in the

Workplace”. The seminar focused on techniques and strategies to reduce/eliminate neg-

ativity in the workplace.

On February 6th, Lieutenant Colonel Delarosa, Alan Feistner, Greg Parker, Ann Setter,

Lucian Stewart toured the Dworshak Fish Hatchery with a focus on identifying infra-

structure/equipment which is no longer in operation that may be able to be removed to

reduce complexity, free up space in buildings and on the facility grounds for existing

equipment storage and operations.

Credit: Murray, FWS

Steelhead spawned for the

2017 brood stock.

Dworshak National Fish

Hatchery’s PIT Tag Detection

antenna inside the fish ladder.

Credit: Murray, FWS

Credit: Murray, FWS

Volume 6, Issue 5

Idaho Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office - Michael Murray

Work continued on a fall chinook review manuscript presently entitled “Upstream Migration and Spawning Success

of Chinook Salmon in a Developed, Seasonally Warm River System” with staff of the USGS, Idaho Power Compa-

ny, and NPT.

Staff continued to participate in brood year 2017 summer steelhead spawning activities. Beginning this year, IDFG

personnel spawn South Fork Clearwater River steelhead broodstock at DNFH on Wednesdays which is in addition to

Tuesday spawning for DNFH production. DNFH production staff assisted the office due to the office staffing short-

age.

Efforts began to revamp the hatchery evaluation annual report format to improve focus and relevance.

Staff conducted a site visit to Lower Granite Dam to better understand ongoing research activities and opportunities

for future collaboration and research.

Staff has been coordinating with the USGS to ensure a smooth start to the 2017 fall Chinook beach seining season

which will start on March 20. All equipment has been ordered and maintenance has been performed on the boats. A

second team to evaluate a specific aspect of the project has been added on Thursdays. In order to field a full crew, the

office is recruiting volunteers from hatchery production staff and potentially other agencies.

Coordination efforts are underway with Abernathy Fish Technology Center to evaluate and improve PIT Tag detec-

tion in the Dworshak National Fish Hatchery fish ladder. The office also coordinated with Abernathy personnel that

are leading a means of evaluating whether steelhead raised in Hagerman’s circular re-use tanks are shedding PIT tags

at an unusually high rate.

Staff in Salmon, ID coordinated with an ongoing Schoolyard Habitat project and worked to complete a pollinator ac-

tivity with school children. The children learned why butterflies are important pollinators and completed an art pro-

ject celebrating these pollinators, see attached photos.

Meetings attended

Lemhi Education Summit - to encourage youth into science and promote the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a

career choice

Working in Indian Country seminar - learn to operate and communicate more effectively while working with

Tribal Nations.

Leveraging the 5th Day - a community grant opportunity to provide students a full Friday of learning.

Staff attended two webinars on pollinators and delivered native forb seeds to Salmon School Garden Project for

STEM class growing. This is part of an ongoing Schoolyard Habitat Pollinator project.

Staff met with Salmon Valley Stewardship on Fish and Wildlife high school intern, who will be working through

the spring on pollinator projects, education and outreach and job shadowing. Projects the intern will be working

on include sage grouse trapping/tracking and recycling fishing line.

Staff attended the American Fisheries Society meeting in Boise, Idaho.


Fish health samples were

taken during three separate

steelhead spawn days in

February.

Steelhead juveniles:

Steelhead in System 1 were examined at the beginning of the month for routine exam.

Moderate levels of Sanguinicola and Epistylis were observed.

Steelhead from System 2 were examined on Feb. 28 for a routine monitoring exam.

Low levels Trichodina and moderate levels Epistylis were observed.

In the month of February, five fish were collected from System III for routine

monitoring. The fish that were collected had been previously diagnosed with external

parasite loads and had been treated with formalin prior to collection. No flashing was

observed and no external parasites were seen on the fish that were sampled. No internal

abnormalities were observed.

Steelhead Broodstock: Fish health samples were taken from the three separate steel-

head spawn days scheduled in February.

Spring Chinook juveniles: Sixty fish were collected for pre-release exam on Feb. 27.

Laboratory results are pending.

Coho juveniles: Two moribund fish were brought in to the lab the beginning of

February. Both fish had external lesions and F. psychrophilum (Coldwater Disease)

was detected from the kidneys. Because mortality remained low, no treatment was

recommended. The prerelease examination was conducted 28 February just prior to the

fish being transferred to Kooskia NFH.

Kooskia NFH

Spring Chinook juveniles: Sixty fish were collected for pre-release exam on Feb 16.

Laboratory results are pending.

Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery

Fall Chinook juveniles: Alevins were moved from Heath trays to tanks in the nursery

this month.

Spring Chinook juveniles: Low numbers of yearlings in raceways were reported to have

“strange swimming behavior”, but no pathogens were detected. Hatchlings will be

moved to nursery tanks in March.

Idaho Fish Health Center - Blair February 2017

Staff continued to

participate in brood year

2017 summer steelhead

spawning activities.

Credit: Olson, FWS

Dworshak NFH

Credit: Olson, FWS

Volume 6, Issue 5

Dworshak Fisheries Complex Outreach –

Pictorial Overview

From Salmon to the Palouse Prairie in Moscow,

students learn about pollinators through creative

art, egg development by seeing sac-fry up close,

and salmonid anatomy through hand-on learning

opportunities!


This activity report is implemented by the Tribal Fish Hatchery Manager, Kent Hills.

All information in this report was collected and or performed by the hatchery staff

during the preceding month.

Under SRBA and the Clearwater Annual Operating Plan, the Tribe, Service and Idaho

Fish & Game have agreed to implement other fish production actions related to KNFH

mitigation. Reports will include additional information about other species reared,

processed and released in relation to KNFH operations.

Kooskia Chinook Brood Year 2015

There are 692,225 smolts on station; this month the mortality 146. They have been on

Clear creek water at an average temperature of 36°. The fish are an average of 4.91

inches (125mm) long and consumed 2,465 pounds of fish feed. The Idaho Fish Health

Center collected 60 fish for the prerelease fish health assessment the fish were in good

health there was nothing to report, and the pathology report is pending.

Kooskia Chinook Brood Year 2016

We currently have 765,549 fry on station; this month the mortality was 4,704. The in-

cubation chiller operated on well water without problems the whole month with tem-

perature at 50 degrees. We were able to get Take 1, 2 and 3 into the outside nursery

tanks during the month and on the first of March we will put Take 5 out.

Kooskia Adult Trap Operations:

Trap closed all month.

Maintenance & Operations:

Feb 08: Started the Bio-filter in preparation for moving BY16 fry to the rearing

tanks.

Feb 09: Upon inspection, it was determined that the sludge removal system in the

bio-filter is failing to function, also the supports on the media landing on bay

three in the bio-filter are broken and need to be replaced.

Feb 10: Moved BY16 Take 1 to outside nursery rearing tanks. Tank #1 had 24,192

Tank#2 had 22,557 the total of BY16 take 1 fry moved was 46,749. They

had 1,592 temperature units the day they were moved.

Feb 11: Idaho Fish and Game held a hunter safety shoot at the hatchery there were 9

student shooters and about 20 spectators.

Feb 13: Set up the rest of the outside rearing tanks, repaired and tested the bio-filter

alarms.

Feb 14: Happy Valentine’s Day

(Continued on page 9)

Kooskia National Fish Hatchery - Hills

Credit: KNFH

Credit: KNFH

The total of BY16 Take 2

fry moved was 319,117.

They had 1,663 temperature

units the day they were

moved.

Coho smolts arrived at

Kooskia hatchery to accli-

mate to Clear Creek Water

Credit: KNFH

BY16 Take 2 is almost

buttoned up and should be

ready on Monday Feb 20.

Volume 6 Issue 5

Kooskia NFH - Hills (Continued from page 8)

Kooskia NFH Training and Conferences:

Maintenance & Operations (continued):

Feb 16: The Idaho Fish Health Center took 60 fish from the Chinook Brood Year 2015 for release assessment.

Feb 18: BY16 Take 2 is almost buttoned up should be ready on Monday Feb 20. Also the road to the intake is

continuing to get worse.

Feb 20: President’s Day- Moved BY16 Take 2 to outside rearing tanks.

Tank#3 had 22,611 Tank#4 had 23,242 Tank# 5 had 23,304 Tank#6 had 22,002

Tank#7 had 23,031 Tank#8 had 24,772 Tank#9 had 21,999 Tank#10 had 23,783

Tank#11 had 24,227 Tank#12 had 23,271 Tank#13 had 24,559 Tank14 had 24,824

Tank# 15 had 21,816 Tank#16 had 15,676

The total of BY16 Take 2 fry moved was 319,117. They had 1,663 temperature units the day they were

moved.

Feb 21: Quarters 4 water line.

Feb 23: Had power fail alarm at 4:30 a.m. at the Bio-Filter, Kent reset the main power breaker and power was

restored. A short time later the low pressure alarm was activated; this was due to the first power break.

Water was restored to Quarters 4.

Feb 24: Moved BY16 Take 3 to outside rearing tanks.




Tank#29 had 23,026 Tank#30 had 26,953 Tank#31 had 24,679

The total of BY16 Take 3 fry moved was 377,872. They had 1,654 temperature units the day they were

moved.

Feb 26: The raceways were cleaned, prepared and water was turned in preparation for the arrival of the Coho

smolts.

Feb 28: Coho smolts arrived at Kooskia hatchery to acclimate to Clear Creek Water, they are due for release

April 1st. There is approximately 289,000 Coho that are in raceways 1-6. The Eagle Creek Coho should

be arriving sometime next week. We did the end of the month sample count on the Chinook with an

average of 28 fish per pound and also did the end of the month feed inventory.

No meeting or trainings in February.

Dworshak Fisheries Complex Management:

Steve Rodgers, Dworshak Fisheries Complex Manager

Mark Drobish, Dworshak NFH Manager

Adam Izbicki (FWS) & Jeremy Sommer (NPT)

Dworshak NFH Assistant Hatchery Managers

Mike Tuell, SRBA Coordinator

Scott Koehler, Dworshak NFH Maintenance Supervisor

Doug Nemeth, Project Leader, Idaho Fish and Wildlife

Conservation Office

Mike Faler, Aquatic Conservation Lead

Dr. William Conner, Fall Chinook Research Lead

VACANT- Fish Production M&E Lead

Kent Hills, Kooskia NFH Manager

Vacant, Kooskia NFH Maintenance Supervisor

Dworshak NFH Production: Angela Feldmann,

Tom Tighe, Rob Bohn, Wayne Hamilton, Mike Bisbee,

Tui Moliga, Steve Coomer, Carter Lopez, Jayden

Hudson, Steve Jeffers, Jayson Thompson, Aidan Frye,

Jeremy Pike, Levi Carson, Dan Peters

Administration: Brian Devlin - Administrative

Officer, Vacant - Budget Technician

Dworshak NFH Maintenance:

Terry Weeks, Rick King, Rob Kellar, James Oatman,

James Paddelty, Melissa Wright, Kurt McCorkle

Idaho Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office:

Ray Jones, Aaron Garcia, Frank Mullins, Jody Brostrom,

Chris Griffith, Mike Murray

Complex Information and Education: Jill Olson

Kooskia NFH: Kenny Simpson, Kayla Warden,

Richard Ketola temporary maintenance employee.

Staff List

Volume 6 Issue 5 February 2017

Dworshak - Jill Olson

Facebook: Reach - 1,688 ; Engagements - 288 Website: Page Loads - 12; Unique - 12; First Time - 12 ; Returning - 0

Visitors: We recorded 99 visitors ( 57 adults and 42 kids) from seven states.

Tours: Staff and volunteers guided five tours for 103 students and 18 adults during the month of February.

Outreach: Aidan Frye returned to the Early Childhood Learning Center (Orofino Head Start) with sac fry on

February 15. Aidan met with two classrooms including 14 adults and 26 children. A good time was had by all!

Volunteer Hours: Eight Volunteers recorded a total of 60.25 hours for the month. The Idaho Youth ChalleNGe

cadets contributed 240 hours working with maintenance and production.

Kooskia - Kent Hills

Visitors: There were 165 visitors to the hatchery during this month; this figure is compiled by staff. Not many

visitors due to cold weather.

Outreach: There were no outreach activities to report during the month of February.

Information and EducationInformation and EducationInformation and Education

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