Project 199801004Principal Investigator: Stephen J. Rocklage

Co-authors: Billy D. Arnsberg and Dale S. Kellar

Nez Perce TribeDepartment of Fisheries Resources Management

P.O. Box 365Lapwai, ID 83540

Monitoring and Evaluation of Yearling Fall Chinook Salmon Released Upstream of Lower

Granite Dam

Project Goal

The goal of this project is to monitor and evaluate health and condition, post-release survival and behavior and adult returns of yearling and subyearling fall chinook salmon released from the fall chinook acclimation (FCAP) facilities upstream of Lower Granite Dam and feedback to co-managers to provide adaptive management opportunities.

GrandeRondeRiver

ImnahaRiver

SalmonRiver

Hells CanyonDam

Lower Granite Dam

TucannonRiver

Snake River

Little Goose Dam

Pittsburg LandingFacility

LyonsFerryHatchery Clearwater

River

DworshakReservoir

W A

O R I D

Big CanyonFacility

Captain JohnFacility

SnakeRiver

SnakeRiver

Pittsburg Landing Acclimation Facility

Captain John Rapids Acclimation Facility

Objectives Document health, condition and tag/mark retention of yearling fall chinook salmon at the FCAP facilities Determine post-release behavior, outmigration characteristics, and survival of fall chinook salmon released from the FCAP facilities

Document fall chinook salmon spawner abundance and distribution

Determine smolt-to-adult survival of fall chinook salmon released from the FCAP facilities

Participate in local and regional management planning, coordinate activities and share information

Feedback results to co-managers for adaptive management opportunities

Juvenile Rearing

Lyons Ferry Hatchery/LSRCP – WDFW (200124) Fall Chinook Acclimation Facilities – NPT (199801005, 199801007, 199801008) Oxbow Hatchery – IDFG Umatilla Hatchery – ODFW

Snake River Fall Chinook Enhancement Program – Activity Responsibilities

Juvenile Health and Condition

Idaho Fish Health Center – USFWS at Ahsahka M&E of Yearling Fall Chinook Salmon Upstream of Lower Granite – NPT (199801004) Lyons Ferry Hatchery/LSRCP Fall Chinook Evaluation Program – WDFW (200121)Juvenile Post-release Monitoring

M&E of Yearling Fall Chinook Salmon Upstream of Lower Granite – NPT (199801004) Lyons Ferry Hatchery/LSRCP Fall Chinook Evaluation Program – WDFW (200121) NPT Hatchery M&E – NPT (198335003)

Snake River Fall Chinook Enhancement Program – Activity ResponsibilitiesAdult Enumeration (Run Reconstruction and SARs)

Lower Granite Dam Adult Trap – NOAA Fisheries Lyons Ferry Hatchery/LSRCP Fall Chinook Evaluation Program – WDFW (200121) NPT Hatchery M&E – NPT (198335003) NOAA Fisheries TAC – US v. Oregon

Adult Migration and Spawning

Spawning Distribution of Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon – USFWS (198301003) M&E of Yearling Fall Chinook Salmon Upstream of Lower Granite – NPT (199801004) NPT Hatchery M&E – NPT (198335003) Idaho Power Company Bureau of Land Management

Estimated Survival (+/- 95% C.I.) of Yearling Fall Chinook Released from the FCAP Facilities to Lower

Granite Dam, 1998-2003.

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.019

98

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Sur

viva

l | Pittsburg

Big Canyon

Captain John

Estimated Survival (+/- 95% C.I.) of Yearling Fall Chinook Released from the FCAP Facilities to

McNary Dam, 1998-2003.

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.019

98

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Sur

viva

l | Pittsburg

Big Canyon

Captain John

Median Migration Rate of Yearling Fall Chinook Released from the FCAP Facilities to McNary Dam,

2000-2003.

0

5

10

15

20

2000 2001 2002 2003

Mig

ratio

n R

ate

(rkm

/d)

|

Pittsburg

Big Canyon

Captain John

Median Arrival Date of Yearling Fall Chinook Released from the FCAP Facilities to McNary Dam,

2000-2003.

5/1 5/6 5/11 5/16 5/21

2000

2001

2002

2003

Pittsburg Big Canyon Captain John

90% Arrival Date of Yearling Fall Chinook Released from the FCAP Facilities to McNary Dam, 2000-

2003.

5/1 5/11 5/21 5/31

2000

2001

2002

2003

Pittsburg Big Canyon Captain John

Estimated Contributions of Fall ChinookAdult Returns to Lower Granite Dam, 1975-2003

0

3,000

6,000

9,000

12,000

15,00019

75

1979

1983

1987

1991

1995

1999

2003

Num

ber

of A

dult

s | Other Hatchery

FCAP ClearwaterFCAP SnakeLyons Ferry Hat.Wild/Natural

Estimated Smolt-to-Adult Survival (SAR) of Yearling Fall Chinook from FCAP

Brood Year

Number Released

Return Number to

Lower Granite

Dam

Minimum SAR % to

Lower Granite

Dam

Number of Other

RecoveriesTotal %

Contribution

Pittsburg Landing

1994 114,299 230 0.20 126 0.31

1995 147,316 1,017 0.69 607 1.10

1996 141,814 599 0.42 261 0.61

1997 142,885 700 0.49 779 0.56

Big Canyon

1995 148,628 918 0.62 480 0.94

19951 50,711 249 0.49 33 0.56

1996 48,065 291 0.61 60 0.73

19962 131,072 1 < 0.01 0 < 0.01

1997 153,222 550 0.36 605 0.40

19971 76,386 160 0.21 191 0.25

Captain John

1996 133,205 689 0.52 232 0.69

1997 157,010 1,568 1.00 1,720 1.101Surplus 2Runts, BKD

Summary of Accomplishments

Estimated survival rates of yearling fall chinook from the FCAP facilities in 1998-2003 range from 74% - 97% to Lower Granite Dam and 38% - 84% to McNary Dam.

Determined post-release characteristics such as migration rate and arrival timing to Lower Snake and Columbia River dams.

Conduct mark retention quality control sampling on yearlings (CWT, AD, VIE) and subyearlings (CWT).

Compiled health assessment data in cooperation with the Idaho Fish Health Center.

Annually submit CWT release data to RMIS database.

Assisted project 199801003 to monitor radio tagged adult fall chinook allowing description of migration patterns and distribution above Lower Granite Dam.

Assisted in conducting fall chinook spawning ground surveys in the Clearwater and Salmon River basins, 1999-2000.

Began conducting spawning ground surveys on Grande Ronde and Imnaha Rivers in 2003. Conduct spawning ground surveys on Salmon River in cooperation with project 198303500 and the BLM.

Taking lead in drafting of Snake River Fall Chinook M&E Plan. Led co-managers in negotiating and drafting SRFCS marking plan, which was revised through the US v. Oregon proceedings.

Summary of Accomplishments