Comment on proposed FY 2006 budget

The proposed budget is identical to the budgets for FY2004 and FY2005. Freezing the budgets in FY2003, FY2005 and FY2006 has and does not allow for increases in the cost of living and other wage increases, rising utility and fuel and other materials costs, and associated administrative costs let alone project costs that were unforeseen when proposals were last submitted in 2002. We have absorbed these cost increases for the last 4 years. It will become more difficult if not impossible to implement the project properly without concurrent funding increases. To cover these additional costs, CTUIR requests that the project budget be increased by 10% from $1,018,147 to $1,119,961. This project represents a long-term core component of the F&W Program and proposed 2006 increases represent a ramp up towards increased 2007 costs that the NPCC must recognize as necessary to maintain past investments in this "base program". In addition, the proposed budget includes $138,092 FY 2005 dollars for the USFWS to rear and mark 210,000 spring Chinook salmon at Little White Salmon Hatchery for later acclimation and release from project facilities. Any increase in the USFWS budget would need to be subtracted from this projects budget. Without the additional dollars, that could reduce the amount of on-the-ground work that could be done, particularly as it relates to maintenance and catastrophic needs.

Accomplishments since the last review

Held 3,902 adult summer steelhead, and fall and spring Chinook salmon in project facilities from 2002 through 2004 for spawning. Spawned 3,173 (1,614 females) adult summer steelhead, and fall and spring Chinook salmon in project facilities from 2002 through 2004. Approximately 6.51 million summer steelhead, and fall and spring Chinook salmon eggs were taken at project facilities from 2002 through 2004 and transported to Umatilla and other hatcheries for incubation, rearing and later release back into project juvenile acclimation/release facilities. Acclimated and released approximately 10.99 million juvenile summer steelhead, coho, and fall and spring Chinook salmon from project facilities from 2002 through 2005. Temporarily held 929 spring Chinook adults at SFWW from 2002 through 2004 for later out planting into the Walla Walla River basin. 856 actual fish released. Routine preventative and/or corrective maintenance was performed at seven adult holding/spawning and juvenile acclimation/release facilities. Compiled and completed quarterly progress reports from 2002 through 2004. Compiled and completed annual progress reports for 2002 and 2003.

FY 2006 goals and anticipated accomplishments

Hold approximately 1,100 adult summer steelhead, and fall and spring Chinook salmon in project facilities in 2006 for spawning. Spawn approximately 481 pairs of adult summer steelhead, and fall and spring Chinook salmon at project facilities in 2006. Take approximately 1.936 million eggs and transport them to Umatilla and other hatcheries for incubation, rearing and later release back into project acclimation/release facilities. Acclimate and release approximately 3.19 million juvenile summer steelhead, coho, and fall and spring Chinook salmon from project facilities in 2006. Temporarily hold up to 500 spring Chinook adults at SFWW in FY 2006 for later out planting into the Walla Walla River basin. Potentially hold temporarily up to 1,000 fall Chinook adults at Three Mile Dam in FY 2006 for later out planting into the Umatilla River basin. Provide routine preventative and/or corrective maintenance at seven adult holding/spawning and juvenile acclimation/release facilities. Compile and complete quarterly and annual progress reports for FY 2006.

Subbasin planning

How is this project consistent with subbasin plans?

This project is directly related to four artificial production strategies recommended in the Umatilla/Willow Subbasin Plan. Strategies 1 - 4 (section 5.3.2.5, page 5-44) identify several actions specific to this project. These include the acclimation and release of juvenile salmon and steelhead and the out planting of fall Chinook adults to supplement natural spawning. Acclimating juvenile spring Chinook directly relates to Strategy 1: Continue to supplement the recently reintroduced spring Chinook population with a hatchery program utilizing Carson stock brood returning to the Umatilla River to provide for natural production and harvest (page 5-44). Acclimating fall Chinook relates to Strategy 2: Continue to supplement the recently reintroduced fall Chinook population with a hatchery program utilizing upriver bright brood returning to the Umatilla River and Priest Rapids Hatchery to provide for natural production and harvest (page 5-44). Providing temporary holding for up to 1,000 fall Chinook adults for out planting directly relates to Action 2.3; Strategy 2 (page 5-44). Acclimating coho salmon relates to Strategy 3: Continue to supplement the recently reintroduced coho population with a hatchery program utilizing early run stock brood from Bonneville Hatchery to provide for natural production and harvest (page 5-44). Acclimating summer steelhead salmon relates to Strategy 4: Continue to supplement the indigenous summer steelhead population with a hatchery program utilizing native stock brood returning to the Umatilla River to enhance natural production and provide harvest opportunity (page 5-44). Holding and spawning adult spring Chinook, fall Chinook, coho, and summer steelhead are also directly related to Strategies 1-4. Adults are collected from approved broodstock sources, eggs are taken and transferred to Umatilla and other hatcheries for incubation and rearing, and the progeny are later transferred back to project facilities for acclimation and release.

How do goals match subbasin plan priorities?

The Draft Umatilla/Willow Subbasin Plan identifies the need to enhance the artificial production program in the subbasin (section 5.3.1, Aquatic Approach and Methods, page 5-4, and 5.3.2, Aquatic Objectives and Strategies, Hatchery Program; page 5-5). This project is identified in the Subbasin Plan as an integral part of the Umatilla artificial production program (section 5.3.2.5, Artificial Production; page 5-43).

Other comments

The project goals of increasing smolt-to adult survival and homing to the Umatilla River basin and providing eggs for the Umatilla production program are directly related the Council's mandate to protect, mitigate, and enhance fish and wildlife of the Columbia River Basin that have been affected by the development and operation of hydroelectric dams. The project does address the Council's Basin-level biological objectives listed in the 2000 Fish and Wildlife Program. More specifically, the project objective of increasing smolt to adult survival directly addresses those items listed in Section III.C.2.a.1 (Anadromous fish losses); halt declining trends in salmon and steelhead populations, restore naturally reproducing populations of salmon and steelhead, and increase adult salmon and steelhead runs. The successes being achieved in the Umatilla River to return once-extirpated salmon to a tributary to contribute towards natural spawning, broodstock collection, and Indian and non-Indian harvest objectives is being called a rare success in today's challenging times for Columbia River fisheries resources. It is hoped that some of the success principles such as hatchery supplementation of natural production can be employed elsewhere.