Spring Chinook Salmon Supplementation in the Imnaha River Basin, Oregon

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Spring Chinook Salmon Supplementation in the
Imnaha River Basin, Oregon
This project was funded by the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service under the Lower Snake River
Compensation Plan
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Estimated Escapement to the Imnaha River
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Mitigation and Production Goals
Spring Chinook Salmon Imnaha River Basin
490,000 Smolts 24,500 Lbs. 3,210 Adults 0.65
Smolt-to-Adult Survival
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Management Objectives

• Establish an annual supply of broodstock capable
  of meeting production goals.
• Restore and maintain natural spawning
  populations.
• Re-establish historic tribal and recreational
  fisheries.
• Establish a total return number of spring chinook
  salmon that meets the LSRCP compensation goal.
• Operate the hatchery program so that the genetic
  and life history characteristics of hatchery fish
  mimic those of the wild fish, while achieving
  management objectives.

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Research and Evaluation Objectives

• Estimate annual adult return, smolt migration
  characteristics, and smolt-to-adult survival.
• Evaluate the influence of various rearing
  strategies (size, acclimation, density) on smolt
  migration characteristics, smolt-to-adult
  survival, and age composition.
• Compare life history characteristics (age
  structure, run timing, sex ratios, smolt
  migration, fecundity) of natural and hatchery
  fish.
• Determine progeny-to-parent ratios of natural and
  hatchery origin fish to access program
  effectiveness.
• Compare genetic characteristics of natural and
  hatchery populations (NMFS).

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Broodstock Development History

• Wild fish were collected for broodstock beginning
  in 1982
• Majority of broodstock were wild through 1988
• Wild and hatchery fish were used for broodstock
  from 1989-1998 (14 to 71 wild)

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Management of Wild Returns and Natural Escapement

• We kept most all wild fish collected for
  broodstock from 1982- 1986
• Reduced percentage of wild retained for
  broodstock to 50 or less, except 1995
• Few hatchery fish were released to spawn
  naturally until 1990
• The percentage of fish released to spawn
  naturally that were hatchery origin has ranged
  from 31-77 since 1990

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Mitigation S-A-S Goal
15.4 13.2 8.5 10.5 16.0
12.6 15.7 11.0 12.0
15.1 17.5 Fish/lb
Escapement includes estimated CWT fish that
spawned naturally in the Imnaha River
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Evaluation Summary

• High pre-spawning mortality and egg loss have
  influenced hatchery effectiveness for many brood
  years.
• Poor smolt-to-adult survival for most brood years
  has limited success. We have achieved the
  original goal of 0.65 in only a few broodyears.
• We have not seen significant differences in life
  history characteristics between natural and
  hatchery fish, except in age composition.

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Evaluation Summary

• Natural progeny-to-parent ratios have been
  consistently below replacement since the 1983
  brood year while hatchery ratios have been above
  replacement for most years.
• Although we have not seen a consistent increase
  in population size or number of natural spawners,
  we have have seen a substantial hatchery benefit
  in reducing the rate of decline.
• Spawning distribution above and below the weir is
  highly variable but there does not appear to be a
  shift towards more spawning below the weir.

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Program Summary
The hatchery program has been successful in
developing a viable broodstock management program
using wild fish, maintaining life history
characteristics, and providing a survival
advantage which will result in a longer period of
persistence for the Imnaha population. However,
we have been unsuccessful in recovering the
natural population to historic levels and
restoring fisheries.
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The Future

• If system survival improvements are not achieved,
  natural productivity will remain low and we will
  be unable to meet any long term management
  objectives.
• Modify Lookingglass Hatchery, make improvements
  at the Imnaha facility and construct new
  facilities under NEOH to improve program
  effectiveness.
• Develop a better understanding of why natural
  productivity is so low and what level of
  improvement can be expected when passage
  improvement measures are implemented.
• Develop more precise methods to estimate returns,
  which are essential to use the sliding scale
  approach effectively.
• Continue evaluations of natural production, life
  history and hatchery effectiveness to provide
  information for adaptive management.
• Work to provide a better understanding of the
  influence of hatchery fish spawning in nature on
  natural productivity.

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Escapement to River
De-listing Goal 2,500 Natural
50 700 1,400

• No broodstock taken
• Initiate captive broodstock program

• Strict limits
• hatchery in nature
• natural in broodstock
• natural kept for hatchery

• Demographics Important
• No constraints on hatchery in nature or
  natural in broodstock.
• Keep up to 50 natural fish for broodstock.

• Genetic Conservation Important
• Limit hatchery in nature
• Ensure minimum natural in broodstock to contain
  hatchery risk.
• Minimize natural taken for broodstock.

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Summer Steelhead in the Imnaha River Basin,
Oregon
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Compensation and Production Goals
Number of smolts 330,000 Kilograms of smolts
29,938 Smolt-to-adult survival rate
0.61 Number of adults 2,000
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Management Goals

1. Establish an annual supply of brood fish that
can provide an egg source capable of meeting
compensation goals. 2. Restore and maintain the
natural spawning population. 3. Reestablish
sport and tribal fisheries. 4. Establish a total
return of adult fish resulting from LSRCP
activities in Oregon that meets the compensation
goal. 5. Minimize impacts of the program on
resident stocks of game fish.
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Hatchery Broodstock History
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Smolt Releases
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ProgenyParent Ratios
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Summary of Accomplishments and Challenges

The fishery has not been restored to historic
levels although catch rates are better now than
in the past. Smolt-to-adult survival rates are
below mitigation goals in most years. There has
been no trend in increasing natural adult returns
even though large numbers of hatchery fish have
been released for natural production. High
proportion of returns to Little Sheep Creek are
hatchery fish which has resulted in significant
surpluses in some years.
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Summary (continued)

Life history and genetic characteristics of
hatchery fish have remained similar to wild fish.
Variable and sometimes high rates of
residualism in Little Sheep Creek. Significant
contribution to mainstem tribal and recreational
fisheries. Progeny-to-parent ratios consistently
greater than 1.0 for hatchery fish and
consistently below 1.0 for wild/hatchery natural
spawners in Little Sheep Creek.
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Future Direction
1. Continue to supplement Little Sheep Creek and
augment fisheries with annual releases of 330,000
smolts. 2. Continue monitoring hatchery
effectiveness, natural production and life
history in Little Sheep Creek. 3. Identify
conservation management units (complete genetic
characterization study). 4. Develop
supplementation strategy and evaluation approach
among comanagers that is consistent with ESA
recovery.
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Summer Steelhead in the Grande Ronde River
Basin, Oregon
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Compensation and Production Goals
Number of smolts 1,350,000 Kilograms of
smolts 122,472 Smolt-to-adult survival rate
0.68 Number of adults 9,184
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Management Goals
1. Establish an annual supply of brood fish that
can provide an egg source capable of meeting
compensation goals. 2. Restore and maintain the
natural spawning population. 3. Reestablish sport
and tribal fisheries. 4. Establish a total return
of adult fish resulting from LSRCP activities in
Oregon that meets the compensation goal. 5.
Minimize impacts of the program on resident
stocks of game fish.
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Hatchery Broodstock History
Number of
Stock Source
Spawned Females
Brood Year
1976
Ice Harbor Dam
35
1977
Little Goose Dam
48
1978
Little Goose
43
1979
Pahsimeroi, ID (embryos)
40-50
1980
Wallowa Hatchery
85
1981
Wallowa Hatchery
142
1982
Wallowa Hatchery
111
1983
Wallowa Hatchery
216
1984
Wallowa Hatchery
385
1985
Wallowa Hatchery
318
1986
Wallowa Hatchery
812
1987
Wallowa Hatchery
602
(Deer C., Lookingglass C.)
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551
1988
Wallowa Hatchery
1989
Wallowa Hatchery
400
1990
Wallowa Hatchery
457
1991
Wallowa Hatchery
(CW)
473
(316)
1992
Wallowa Hatchery
594
1993
Wallowa Hatchery
495
1994
Wallowa Hatchery
680
1995
Wallowa Hatchery
(CW)
290
(106)
592
1996
Wallowa Hatchery
1997
Wallowa Hatchery
544
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Harvest
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Summary of Accomplishments and Challenges
Restored recreational fisheries with catch rates,
effort and harvest that exceed historical levels.
Significant contribution to tribal and
recreational fisheries throughout the Columbia
and Snake rivers. Smolt-to-adult survival rates
below mitigation goals in most years. High rates
of straying into the Deschutes River.
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Summary (continued)
ACCLIMATION STUDIES We found that acclimated
smolts survived at 1.5 times the rate of smolts
released directly into the stream. SIZE AT
RELEASE We found that smolt-to-adult survival and
adult production efficiency was greater for
smolts released at 4 fish/lb compared to 5
fish/lb. We found no difference in age
composition of adults.
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Summary (continued)
RESIDUALISM They were the smallest fish in the
release group. Predominately males. Concentrated
near release sites. However, exhibited
significant movement downstream and upstream of
release sites. Some survived until the next
spawning season and smolted or matured.
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Summary (continued)
VOLITIONAL RELEASE Significantly more fish
remained in raceways during April releases
compared to May releases. Most fish migrated from
raceways during May releases and non-migrants
were primarily small males (potential
residuals). RECONDITIONED KELTS Up to 45
survival in second year of study. Successfully
reconditioned both males and females after one
year. Egg viability similar to hatchery returning
adults. Very labor intensive and considerable
disease challenges.
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Future Direction
1. Discontinue use of Wallowa Stock and
transition to local broodstock. Develop a
comprehensive plan for broodstock development and
management. 2. Identify conservation management
units (complete genetic characterization
study). 3. Develop a better understanding of
status and life history relationships of
anadromous and resident O. mykiss. 4. Continue
efforts to maintain and monitor recreational
fisheries. 5. Proceed cautiously with
supplementation efforts (view supplementation as
experimental).
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Spring Chinook Salmon in the Grande Ronde Basin,
Oregon
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Based on index redd counts only and a 3.26 fish
per redd conversion to escapement
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Mitigation Goals
Spring Chinook Salmon Grande Ronde Basin
900,000 Smolts 45,000 Lbs. 5,820 Adults 0.65
Smolt-to-Adult Survival
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Original Management Objectives

• Establish adequate broodstock to meet annual
  production needs.
• Restore and maintain natural spawning populations
  of spring chinook salmon in the Grande Ronde
  Basin.
• Reestablish historic tribal and recreational
  fisheries.
• Establish an annual return of 5,820 hatchery
  fish.
• Maintain endemic wild populations of spring
  chinook salmon in the Minam and Wenaha rivers.
• Minimize impacts of hatchery program on resident
  stocks of game fish.

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Initial Evaluation Objectives

• Document and assess fish culture and hatchery
  operation practices.
• Survival rates by lifestage
• Causes of mortality
• Releases
• Determine optimum rearing and release strategies
  that will produce maximum survival to adult.
• Time-of-release
• Size-at-release
• Determine total catch and escapement and assess
  if adult production meets mitigation goals.
• Determine the success of maintaining genetic
  integrity of endemic wild spring chinook salmon
  in the Minam and Wenaha rivers.

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Broodstock History
Brood year Source 1978 Rapid
River 1980-84 Carson / Willamette
Hatchery 1985-87 Carson / Lookingglass
Hatchery Rapid River / Idaho 1988 Rapid
River / Idaho 1989 Carson / Lookingglass
Hatchery Rapid River / Idaho 1990-97 Rapid
River / Lookingglass Hatchery
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• Spring Chinook Salmon Supplementation Efforts
• Carson or Rapid River stock smolts (1980-1988
  BY)
• Carson stock pre-smolts (1983 and 1985 BY)
• Carson stock adults (1987-1989)

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Percentage of Naturally Spawning Fish of
Lookingglass Hatchery Origin
1 of 3 fish
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Summary

• Using Carson and Rapid River stocks allowed us to
  achieve smolt production goals and develop an
  adequate broodstock.
• Smolt-to-adult survival rates have been
  consistently poor.
• Sufficient numbers of adults were not available
  to reestablish recreational fisheries. Tribal
  fishing opportunity was provided only in some
  years.
• Hatchery origin fish were straying into the
  Lostine, Minam, and Wenaha rivers and represented
  a high percentage of fish spawning in nature.
• The only rearing / release strategy that
  demonstrated success was the yearling smolt
  strategy.

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Policy Influences

• Oregons Wild-Fish Management Policy (1990)
• Listing as threatened under ESA (1992)
• Eliminate outplanting of Rapid River stock
  (Future)
• Reduce smolt production from 900k to 350k,
  uniquely mark all Rapid River smolts, trap and
  haul adults from Lower Granite Dam (1995)

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Management Questions

• What is the appropriate role of artificial
  propagation in Grande Ronde Basin spring chinook
  salmon management?
• What type of hatchery program is appropriate?
• Use of Rapid River stock
• Conventional supplementation with endemic
  stock
• Captive broodstock

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Critical Questions
What is the demographic status and the near term
risk of extinction of chinook salmon populations
in the basin? What genetic effects have
resulted from prior releases and straying of
non-endemic hatchery stocks? Does there remain
any genetic differentiation between natural and
hatchery populations and between natural
populations?
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Conclusions

• Prior supplementation failed as indicated by low
  natural escapement levels.
• Risk of extinction is high based on escapement
  trends, low abundance of spawners, and
  progeny-to-parent ratios.
• There is significant genetic differentiation
  between hatchery and natural populations and
  between the Minam, Wenaha, Upper Grande Ronde,
  Lostine, and Catherine Creek natural populations.
• Hatchery programs using endemic broodstock should
  be initiated immediately in Catherine Creek, the
  Upper Grande Ronde, and Lostine river
  populations.
• Given the uncertainties associated with use of
  artificial propagation to enhance natural
  production, we should use a diversified approach
  and maintain the Minam and Wenaha river basins as
  wild-fish management areas.

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Actions

• Initiated captive broodstock with collection of
  parr from Catherine Creek, the Upper Grande
  Ronde, and Lostine rivers in 1995.
• We began conventional supplementation programs in
  Catherine Creek, the Upper Grande Ronde, and
  Lostine rivers in 1997.
• Eliminated releases of Rapid River stock chinook
  salmon in the Grande Ronde basin in 1997.
  Continue to trap Rapid River stock at Lower
  Granite Dam until 2002 to reduce the risk of
  straying.
• Constructed acclimation and adult capture
  facilities on Catherine Creek, Upper Grande Ronde
  and Lostine rivers.

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Future

• Continue captive broodstock program for Catherine
  Creek, Lostine, and Grande Ronde river
  populations.
• Continue to implement conventional
  supplementation programs using the sliding scale
  framework in Catherine Creek and the Lostine
  River.
• Modify Lookingglass Hatchery to be capable of
  accommodating endemic broodstocks and smolt
  programs (including a water treatment system).
• Continue hatchery effectiveness,natural
  escapement and expand supplementation
  evaluations.
• Construct new facilities under NEOH.
• If we cannot improve survival and increase
  natural productivity so that progeny-to-parent
  ratios consistently exceed 1.0, recovery will
  never occur. Natural populations will go extinct
  and only hatchery fish will remain.

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Sliding Scale Management Framework
Goal No Hatchery
0 Threshold Escapement
High Demographic Risk
Manage Hatchery Genetic Risk

• Use captive broodstock
• No constraints on hatchery in nature
• No minimum natural in broodstock

• Phase out captive broodstock
• Conventional supplementation
• Constrain hatchery in nature
• Meet minimum natural in broodstock

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Northeast Oregon Spring Chinook Hatchery
Organization
LSRCP
Mitigation
goals Lookingglass Hatchery spawning and
rearing for all stocks Imnaha Adult Collection /
Juvenile Acclimation Facility
Comprehensive monitoring and evaluation
Conventional Supplementation Adult collection
juvenile acclimation Lostine River, Catherine
Creek, Grande Ronde River Stocks. ME NPT
199800702 CTUIR 199800703 ODFW 199800704
Captive Broodstock Parr collection
through adult spawning Lostine River, Catherine
Creek, Grande Ronde River Stocks. ME ODFW
199801001 NPT 199801006
NEOH New
facilities on Lostine and Imnaha rivers Improve
Lookingglass Hatchery and Imnaha facility Expand
ME efforts NPT 199805301 ODFW 199805305