Comment on proposed FY 2006 budget

This budget is consistent with Bonneville's approved budget. However, FY 2006 will be the third year at level funding. Costs have steadily increased over this time period, particularly the cost for coded-wire tags, tagging supplies, and OPE. Continuation of the current level of work in FY 2007 will likely require some increase in funding. In the FY 2003 proposal for this project we projected an estimated FY 2007 budget of $245,000. Actual budget needs for FY 2007 have not yet been determined.

Accomplishments since the last review

Environmental Compliance This project was issued an environmental clearance memorandum on 11/4/04 for the work being performed under this project during 1/1/05 to 12/31/05. Mark/Tag Animals {Year is the year fish were tagged (brood year +1)} 2000 = Tagged 423,169 coho & 621,870 chinook (total = 1,045,039). Pre release tag retention checks for these BPA tagcodes averaged: 530 fish sampled, 41 days between tag and sample, 1.68% tag loss, 97.5% of prod. fish associated with a CWT group. 2001 = Tagged - 352,575 coho & 659,054 chinook (total = 1,011,629). Pre release tag retention checks for these BPA tagcodes averaged: 519 fish sampled, 54 days between tag and sample, 2.14% tag loss. 97.7% of prod. fish associated with a CWT group. 2002 = Tagged - 330,150 coho & 702,070 chinook (total = 1,032,220). Pre release tag retention checks for these BPA tagcodes averaged: 529 fish sampled, 55 days between t tag and sample, 2.07% tag loss. 99.0% of prod. fish associated with a CWT group. 2003 = Tagged – 303,233 coho & 756,647 chinook (total = 1,059,880). Pre release tag retention checks for these BPA tagcodes averaged: 502 fish sampled, 50 days between tag and sample, 3.00% tag loss. 99.2% of prod. fish associated with a CWT group. Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data {year is year adult fish were collected} 2000 = Collected -4,068 coho & 624 chinook tags from returning fish (total = 4,692). 14 of 26 tag codes w/ complete returns met 30 recoveries/group criteria. 2001 = Collected 7,033 coho & 1,710 chinook tags from returning fish (total = 8,743). 19 of 24 tag codes w/ complete returns met 30 recoveries/group criteria. 2002 = Collected 4,529 coho & 2,173 chinook tags from returning fish (total = 6,702). 18 of 23 tag codes w/ complete returns met 30 recoveries/group criteria. 2003 = Collected 4,910 coho & 1,982 chinook tags from returning fish (total = 6,892). 21 of 22 tag codes w/ complete returns met 30 recoveries/group criteria. Produce Annual Report Submitted annual report each year. Manage & Administer Project Administered project each year.

FY 2006 goals and anticipated accomplishments

During FY 2006 we anticipate marking the following: 300,000 fall chinook salmon in 3 Ad+CWT groups. 385,000 spring chinook salmon in 11 Ad+CWT groups. 275,000 coho salmon in 11 Ad+CWT groups. During FY 2006 we anticipate recovery of the following CWTs from returning adults: 250 fall chinook salmon. 500 spring chinook salmon. 2,000 coho salmon. Final plans for marking and recovery will be made in the fall of 2005. After ODFW’s annual production planning meetings, and updating of recent hatchery salmon survival rates.

Subbasin planning

How is this project consistent with subbasin plans?

The work of this project is not directly related to specific strategies and/or objectives in a subbasin plan. The groups of hatchery fish marked with an Ad+CWT by this program are released in the following 5 subbasins; Columbia Estuary, Columbia Lower, Willamette, Sandy and Umatilla. Within the subbasin plans, hatchery specific management is deferred to a Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan (HGMP) as called for under federal ESA management. Although mostly still in draft form, each HGMP describes monitoring and evaluation plans for the hatchery program, including marking and tagging of fish for post-release monitoring. The marking and tagging plans described in HGMPs for ODFW Columbia Basin hatchery programs include the Ad+CWT groups funded by this BPA project. In 1999 the NPPC published the “Artificial Production Review” (APR Council Document 99-15). This review established 10guiding principles for artificial production programs. Basin wide marking and tagging programs, including this project, contribute toward implementation of Guidelines 2 (evaluation) and 9 (harvest) of the APR. The ISAB also published a review of hatcheries in 1999 (Council Document 99-4). This BPA tagging program contributes toward implementation of 2 of the 20 guidelines identified in the ISAB review. Guideline 17 calls for a program to monitor performance of hatchery fish from release to return. Guideline 19 calls for regular audits of the performance of hatchery programs. Again the coded-wire tagging conducted by this BPA project, in conjunction with other marking and sampling programs, will contribute toward both of these guidelines.

How do goals match subbasin plan priorities?

Not applicable, see above consistence response.

Other comments

This project is part of the CWT program, which consists of four sub-projects. Three of these projects are the Annual Stock Assessment – Coded Wire Tag Programs; WDFW (198201304), USFWS (198201303) and ODFW (198201302, this project). These projects provide funding for coded-wire tagging. The fourth project, “Coded-Wire Tag Recovery Program” (198201301) is critical to the success of the three tagging projects, because this project is responsible for sampling fish from fisheries and spawning grounds, and processing, collating, and managing the resultant database. The goal of the Coded-Wire Tag Program is to insure comprehensive monitoring and evaluation of all Columbia Basin Hatchery salmon production. The CWT program (including this project) in conjunction with other CWT marking and sampling, funded by BPA and other federal, tribal, state and local organizations provide a comprehensive region wide monitoring program. The CWT recovery data generated by this region wide monitoring program are of great value to several other agencies whose actions have a large effect on the health of Columbia River salmonid populations. This information allows for the development of accurate run size forecasts used in modeling ocean and inside fisheries for the purpose of regulation development. Monitoring capability of harvest sharing between U.S. and Canadian fisheries required by the Pacific Salmon Treaty would also be diminished without this program. This is equally true for efforts to identify harvest of Columbia River salmonid stocks in Canadian and Alaskan fisheries. The Pacific Fishery Management Council requires these data to evaluate the effect of proposed ocean seasons on Columbia River salmonid stocks. The U.S. v. Oregon Columbia River Compact depends on the CWT program to manage fisheries in a manner to limit the handle and harvest of listed salmonids while targeting on harvestable hatchery reared fish.