Update on Chiwawa River Hatchery Facility October 5, 2006 Shaun Seaman and Steve Hays

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Update on Chiwawa RiverHatchery
FacilityOctober 5, 2006Shaun SeamanandSteve
Hays
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Purpose of meeting

• The habitat conservation plan (HCP) hatchery
  committee is interested in public input
• Public input is one of many points that are
  considered when making decisions on hatchery
  programs and facilities
• Provide background on Chiwawa program
• Discuss changes to current Wenatchee steelhead
  hatchery program

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Authorities

• Chelan PUDs hatchery programs coordinated
  through the HCPs.
• Decisions are made by the Committee that are
  consistent with the HCP, recovery of listed
  species, integrity of the natural populations,
  and harvest when opportunities arise.
• The HCPs set up committees to make decisions
  regarding our
• - hatchery facilities
• - numbers of fish produced
• - operations and
• - research, monitoring and evaluation

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History of Chiwawa hatchery facility

• Built in 1989 for spring Chinook
• Two ponds
• A weir on the Chiwawa River
• Two water sources Chiwawa and Wenatchee Rivers
• Smolt trap downstream of facility

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How Has Chiwawa Performed?

• We have monitored juvenile fish since 1990 and
  how many fish have spawned since the late 1950s.
• Hatchery-origin fish have contributed to
  spawning.
• Hatchery-origin fish have not negatively affected
  natural production.
• Recently, we have identified other areas of
  interest that will ultimately increase our
  understanding of the affects of hatchery fish on
  natural-origin fish.
• Chiwawa-origin fish are spawning in areas
  upstream of the Chiwawa River (Nason, upper
  Wenatchee, White Rivers).

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Proportion of Chiwawa Strays
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History of steelhead program

• Adults captured at Dryden and Tumwater dams
  (since 1997)
• Fish raised at Chelan Falls and Eastbank
  hatcheries
• Final rearing occurs at Turtle Rock Island on
  Columbia River (Oct.-April)
• Fish placed in trucks and transplanted to release
  locations in Nason Cr., Chiwawa and upper
  Wenatchee rivers).

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Current Situation

• Current monitoring program shows that steelhead
  from our program return to areas upstream of
  Rocky Reach Dam
• Our Hypothesis
• Rearing fish on target water source will increase
  homing fidelity
• Continued monitoring and evaluation is key to
  adaptively manage the program.

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Potential modifications to Chiwawa Hatchery

• Install additional ponds for steelhead
• Plumb water so that each water source can be used
  separately if needed
• Initially truck-plant fish into target areas
  upstream after rearing at Chiwawa
• Continue monitoring program in future years
• If monitoring indicates low fidelity, investigate
  additional options or alternatives

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Potential Benefits of Modifications

• Reduce spawning in non-target watersheds
• Increase chance of local fishery
• Minimize cost to rate payers
• Use of existing facility eliminates need for new
  facility in undisturbed location