Impact of salmon carcasses on Chinook salmon and watershed restoration in subbasins of the Clearwate

1
Impact of salmon carcasses on Chinook salmon and
watershed restoration in subbasins of the
Clearwater River

• Nez Perce Watershed Department Nez Perce
  Department of Water Resources
• Felix M. McGowan

2
Clearwater Subbasin
3
Nutrient Limitations in the Clearwater Subbasin

• Lack of adult returns.
• Limited nutrients in subbasin.
• Narrowly focused escapement goals.

4
Fish Species Affected

• Snake River Steelhead (Threatened)
• Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon (Threatened)
• Resident Bull trout (Threatened)
• Westslope cutthroat
• All other species in the watershed.

5
Project Objectives

• Coordinate efforts within the Clearwater Subbasin
  using the PAC.
• Develop seeding rates.
• Use information to aid in the development of
  salmon management plans.
• Contribute to the determination of regional
  salmon escapement goals for salmon and aquatic
  ecosystem restoration.

6
Study Design

• Paired watersheds
• Primary production
• Secondary production using macroinvertebrates
• Fish characteristics
• Water quality
• All information will be stored using GIS and
  available to managers, scientists, and general
  public in the basin.

7
Related Projects

• 22002 Washington Department of Fish Wildlife,
  et al.
• 22034 Washington Department of Fish Wildlife,
  et al.
• 83350 Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery
• 22047 NMFS Northwest Science Center

8
Cooperating Agencies

• Nez Perce Fisheries/Watershed Department.
• Nez Perce Water Resources Department
• University of Idaho Natural Resource Department.
• PAC will be consulted in 2002 to further expand
  the agency list.

9
Activities for 2002

• Coordinate activities through the PAC
• Obtain necessary permits
• Collection of baseline data

10
QUESTIONS ?