Fluvial Bull Trout Migration and Life History Investigations, Upper Salmon River Subbasin

New Project Proposal, No. 28002

Sponsored by: Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

Presented by: Jeff Anderson, Fisheries Biologist

Upper Salmon River Interagency Technical Advisory Team

(USRITAT)

Upper Salmon River Key Watershed Bull Trout Problem Assessment, 1998

Prepared by:

Key USRITAT Findings:

• Fluvial bull trout are thought to exist in 17 sub-watersheds/streams

Key USRITAT Findings:

• Fluvial bull trout are thought to exist in 17 sub-watersheds/streams

• Fluvial bull trout are known to exist in only 5 of the 17 sub-watersheds/streams

Key USRITAT Findings:

• Fluvial bull trout thought to exist in 17 sub-watersheds/streams

• Fluvial bull trout known to exist in only 5 of the 17 sub-watersheds/streams

• Identified 50 sub-watersheds/streams where bull trout presence is unknown or little information exists concerning densities or population trends

B. E. Rieman, D. C. Lee, R. F. ThurowUSFS Rocky Mountain Research Station

Distribution, Status, and Likely Future Trends of Bull Trout within the Columbia River and

Klamath River Basins, NAJFM 1997

Authors:

Rieman et al. 1997, central Idaho mountains:

• In sub-watersheds where bull trout are present, their status is unknown in 167 of 567 sub-watersheds ( 30%)

Rieman et al. 1997, central Idaho mountains:

• In sub-watersheds where bull trout are present, their status is unknown in 167 of 567 sub-watersheds ( 30%)

• In potential historical bull trout sub-watersheds, their status is either unknown or no classification for presence/absence in 220 of 1147 sub-watersheds ( 20%)

Overall Project Goal:

Provide resource managers in the upper Salmon River subbasin with detailed bull trout population status and life history information

Objectives

• Identify the distribution and status of fluvial bull trout populations

Tasks

• Radio tag and track fluvial bull trout captured in the mainstem Salmon River, East Fork Salmon River, and Yankee Fork Salmon River

Objective 1: Identify the distribution and status of fluvial bull trout populations

Tasks

• Radio tag and track fluvial bull trout captured in the mainstem Salmon River, East Fork Salmon River, and Yankee Fork Salmon River

• Sample (snorkel or electrofishing surveys) in tributary streams where fluvial bull trout are found to exist

Objective 1: Identify the distribution and status of fluvial bull trout populations

Objectives

• Identify the distribution and status of fluvial bull trout populations

• Identify seasonal habitat use and migration patterns of fluvial bull trout

Tasks

• Radio tag and track fluvial bull trout captured in Salmon River tributaries

Objective 2: Identify seasonal habitat use and migration patterns of fluvial bull trout

Initial sample effort:

• Upper East Fork Salmon River

• Herd Creek

• Yankee Fork Salmon River

• Valley Creek

• Salmon River headwaters

Objectives

• Identify the distribution and status of fluvial bull trout populations

• Identify seasonal habitat use and migration patterns of fluvial bull trout

• Determine bull trout presence/absence, densities, population status, and spawning times

Tasks

• Sample streams using snorkel and electrofishing surveys

• Conduct bull trout spawning ground surveys

Objective 3: Determine bull trout presence/absence, densities, population status, and spawning times

Products• Detailed population status map by sub-watershed• Detailed map showing presence/absence of fluvial

bull trout by stream• Detailed map showing key migration corridors and

mainstem habitat use areas• Key spawning areas identified• Trend count areas established• Spawning times in relation to water temperature

documented by sub-watershed