Response for project 198335000: Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery O&M

Comment on proposed FY 2006 budget

The budget is not consistent with the budget previously approved by the Council or Bonneville Power. In the Three–Step Review Process it was recommended that Bonneville fund the construction of the facilities, and operation and maintenance related to the Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery (Project #8335000) for a ten year period (Mark Fritsch, Fish Production Coordinator Memorandum dated April 21, 2000, p. 1, 3 and 13). The FY 2006 approved funding level for NPTH O&M - $2,033,000.

Accomplishments since the last review

2002 – Construction of central incubation and rearing facility at Cherrylane (Site 1705). Construction of 6 satellite facilities – Cedar Flats, Lukes Gulch, Newsome Creek Acclimation Facility, North Lapwai Valley Acclimation Facility, Sweetwater Springs early rearing facility, and Yoosa/Camp Acclimation Facility. 2003 – Construction of central incubation and rearing facility at Cherrylane (Site 1705) and 6 satellite facilities completed. Fall Chinook • 619,500 “Green” eggs from Lyons Ferry Hatchery. • 199,632 sub-yearlings released into the Clearwater River. • 191,382 sub-yearlings released into Lapwai Creek. Spring Chinook • 413,411 “Green” eggs taken. • 225,430 parr released into Mill Creek/South Fork Clearwater. • 390,000 parr released into Meadow Creek/Selway River. • 68,917 pre-smolts released into Newsome Creek. • 156,310 pre-smolts released into the confluence of Yoosa and Camp creeks. 2004 Fall Chinook • 169,596 sub-yearlings released into the Clearwater River. • Transported 793 adults from Lower Granite to Site 1705. • Trapped 692 adults at Site 1705. • 1,306,229 “Green” eggs taken. Spring Chinook • Trapped 101 adults at Lolo Creek. • Trapped 76 adults at Newsome Creek. • Trapped 70 adults at Site 1705. • Transported 421 adults from IDFG’s Powell AF. • Transported 149 adults from Clearwater Hatchery. • 120,960 “Green” eggs - Lolo Creek stock. • 35,933 “Green” eggs - Newsome Creek stock. • 794,578 “Green” eggs - Powell/S. Fork Clearwater stock. • 309,555 spring chinook parr released into Meadow Creek/Selway River. • 69,137 spring chinook pre-smolts released into Newsome Creek. • 146,962 spring chinook pre-smolts released into the confluence of Yoosa and Camp creeks. 2005 Fall Chinook • 869,300 fall chinook sub-yearlings released into the Clearwater River. Spring Chinook • 391,920 spring chinook parr released into the Clearwater River.

FY 2006 goals and anticipated accomplishments

• Spring – Acclimate 500,000 BY05 fall chinook at Site 1705 – release into Clearwater River in mid June. • Spring – Acclimate 500,000 BY05 fall chinook at North Lapwai Valley AF – release into Lapwai Creek in late May. • Fall – Transport, to Site 1705, up to 880 fall chinook adults trapped at Lower Granite Dam. • Fall – Trap approximately 720 fall chinook adults at Site 1705. • Fall/Early Winter – Spawn fall chinook adults, which will yield approximately 1.3 million green eggs. • Spring – Acclimate 400,000 BY05 spring chinook at 1705 - release into Meadow Creek/Selway River in June. • Spring – Acclimate 75,000 BY05 spring chinook at Newsome Creek AF facility - release into Newsome Creek in October. • Spring – Acclimate 150,000 BY05 spring chinook at Yoosa/Camp satellite facility – release into Lolo Creek in October. • Spring/Early Fall – Trap and hold for spawning, up to 120 spring chinook collected from Lolo Creek. • Spring/Early Fall – Trap and hold for spawning, up to 60 spring chinook collected from Newsome Creek. • Summer – Transport and hold for spawning, approximately 550 spring chinook adults trapped at IDF&G’s Clearwater and Powell hatcheries. • Summer/Early Fall – Spawn spring chinook adults, which will yield approximately 950,000 green eggs.

Subbasin planning

How is this project consistent with subbasin plans?

The Clearwater Management Plan includes specific adult return objectives for anadromous species (See Table 3, Clearwater Management Plan, p. 16). These anadromous species objectives require a combined application of artificial production strategies, habitat protection and restoration strategies, and mitigation of deleterious out-of-subbasin effects. The application of artificial propagation measures are intended to realize anadromous fish restoration, recovery objectives, mitigation, and harvest goals in Table 3. This project is consistent with and implements Biological Objective D: Utilize a mix of hatchery and natural production strategies for native, localized, and reintroduced populations to meet subbasin goals delineated in Table 3 within 25 years. Strategy 1: Maximize hatchery effectiveness in the subbasin – continue existing and/or implement innovative hatchery production strategies in appropriate areas to support fisheries, natural production augmentation and rebuilding, reintroduction, and research (Management Plan, p. 21). Strategy 2: Apply safety net hatchery intervention based on extinction risk analysis and benefit risk assessments (Management Plan, p. 21). Strategy 3: Implement artificial propagation measures and continue existing natural production strategies (Management Plan, p. 21). Strategy 4: Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of implementation of hatchery and natural production strategies (Management Plan, p. 21).

How do goals match subbasin plan priorities?

This project accomplishes priority work under the subbasin plan because it produces Spring and Fall Chinook directly aimed at achieving goals identified in Table 3 (Clearwater Management Plan, p. 16). Furthermore, artificial production from this project is agreed to and mandated under a court ordered agreement in U.S. vs. Oregon

Other comments

The Nez Perce Tribal Fish Hatchery (NPTH) has been in the Council’s program since 1982, and was the first project to be addressed in the Three-Step Review Process. It is intended to mitigate for losses caused by hydropower development and operation in the Columbia River Basin.