Response for project 198902401: Eval Um Juvenile Sal Out Migra
Comment on proposed FY 2006 budget
The budget, while consistent with that approved by the Council, is not adequate to meet current ODFW administrative costs including increased indirect rates (from 22.96% to 30.15 %) for the 05-07 biennium. An additional $26,963 is needed in 2006 to cover this federally approved increase and ensure contract deliverables are met. The inability to obtain additional funding for 2006 will directly affect our operating budget, resulting in the loss of our seasonal field staff, seasonal vehicle, and half of our field supplies budget. It will also result in our project biologist position (NRS-1) being reduced from full to part-time. The scope of our activities and possibly entire objectives will have to be reduced and possibly eliminated from the project. To maintain our current level of services in FY06, an additional $26,963 is required. This money would be allocated as follows: Operating budget (PS&SS): $247,377 PIT tags: $11,236 Indirect Rates: $74,584 Total Budget Required: $333,198 If held to the approved budget of $306,235 our operating budget would be significantly reduced. Specific details are outlined below. Operating Budget (PS & SS): $226,661 PIT tags: $11,236 Indirect Rates: $68,338 Total Budget: $306,235
Accomplishments since the last review
| Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation | Submitted 4(d) take application & report. | |
| Coordination | Coordinated with local and regional management groups, projects and researchers and integrated information from these groups into assessments of the Umatilla Subbasin fisheries program. | |
| Coordination | Attended monthly River Operators Group meetings, UMMEOC meetings and development of the Annual Operating Plan for the Umatilla Hatchery & Subbasin. Coordination associated with completion of the Umatilla Subbasin Plan & RM&E Plan | |
| Manage and Administer Projects | Produced BiOp Metrics Report and submitted Statement of Work & budget. | |
| Produce Plan | Completion of the Comprehensive RM&E Plan for Umatilla Subbasin Summer Steelhead and Chinook Salmon (Sept 2004). Submitted the draft Subbasin Plan (May 2004). | |
| Produce Design and/or Specifications | Developed detailed plans & designs for installation of a permanent adult ladder detector at Three Mile Falls Dam. Engineered drawings are currently being completed (2005). | |
| Produce Annual Report | Compiled annual report. | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Operated and maintained PIT tag detection equipment at Three Mile Falls Dam. Edited and managed tag files of fish detected at Three Mile Dam and mainstem Columbia River sites. | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Monitored hatchery and natural salmonids via smolt trapping and PIT tag interrogation at TMFD. Fish were identified to species, race and origin and biological data collected. Conducted trap efficiency tests, data entry, compilation and quality control. | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Collected size, age, condition, health and smolt status data for hatchery and natural migrants sampled at West Extension Canal and the rotary screw trap. | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Collected information on environmental variables, flow enhancement (reservoir releases & exchange pumping) and canal operations. Conducted species-specific test releases to document movement & passage delays within West Extension Canal. | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Conducted reach survival tests with large and small grade summer steelhead and sub-yearling fall Chinook salmon. | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Conducted transport evaluation tests. | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | 19 species of resident fish were documented in the lower Umatilla River: 10 nonendemic / 9 endemic. Chiselmouth, largescale suckers, and bridgelip suckers were the dominate species observed during the monitoring season. | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Lamprey emigration timing spans from November to March. 28,585 (± 13,595) juvenile lamprey were estimated to have emigrated from the Umatilla River in 2001. Too few were captured in 2002 and 2003 to conduct mark-recapture tests. | |
| Mark/Tag Animals | Pit-tagged fish for trap efficiency tests and production release monitoring. | |
| Submit/Acquire Data | Uploaded tagging, interrogation and recapture files to the PTAGIS database. Extracted PIT tag summary reports. | |
| Analyze/Interpret Data | Migration patterns of hatchery fish were similar to patterns of natural fish, with the exception of CHF0. Mean in-basin survival of hatchery migrants has ranged from 57.8% in STS to 74.8% in CHF0. | |
| Analyze/Interpret Data | Comparisons between std-transferred and fall-transferred CHS revealed no signif. difference in in-basin survival between the two groups. Comparisons between acclimated and direct-released CHF0 suggest improved in-basin survival for direct-released fish. | |
| Analyze/Interpret Data | Annual smolt abundance has ranged from 24,748 (+/-4,980) to 77,016 (+/-7,821) in NSTS, 7,406 (+/-3,612) to 50,922 (+/-14,779) in NCHS, and 8,084 (+/-1,042) to 28,133 (+/-13,391) in NCHF migrants. The average annual smolt production for NSTS is 49,488. | |
| Analyze/Interpret Data | Mean smolt-yield-per-spawner is 28 for natural summer steelhead, 44 for spring chinook salmon and 55 for natural fall chinook salmon. Migration timing of natural migrants has varied between species and years. | |
| Analyze/Interpret Data | Mean fork length of natural salmonids was 101.2 mm for CHS, 75.3 mm for CHF and 173.2 mm for STS. STS are leaving at a broad distribution of ages (age 1-4), with 80% emigrating at age 2. NCHS emigrate between Jan and Jun and NCHF between Apr and Dec. | |
| Analyze/Interpret Data | Monitoring in late Jun & Jul during the critical low flow/high temp period has shown this to be the time when natural CHF0 migrate out. In 2002 an estimated 91% of CHF0 left the river in water temp. > 17.5 C and flows <300 cfs. | |
| Analyze/Interpret Data | Efficiency of the juvenile bypass is influenced by water temp., river flow and canal diversion rate. Relationships are species specific and variable from yr to yr. All species except STS are influenced by water temp, river flow and canal diversion. | |
| Analyze/Interpret Data | Reach survival tests revealed a trend of improved survival with decreased river mile of release. Results of this study have initiated a change in hatchery release strategies. STS are now being released lower down in the system. | |
| Analyze/Interpret Data | Transport evaluation tests revealed transported fish had a higher overall detection rate at Umatilla and Columbia River dams than in-river migrants suggesting survival of transported fish may be higher. Results are currently inconclusive. |
Highlights of principal project accomplishments since 2001 include: ·In most years migration patterns of hatchery fish were similar to patterns of natural fish. The one exception to this was seen in sub-yearling fall chinook salmon. ·Annual smolt abundance has ranged from 24,748 (+/-4,980) to 77,016 (+/-7,821) in natural summer steelhead, 7,406 (+/-3,612) to 50,922 (+/-14,779) in natural spring chinook salmon, and 8,084 (+/-1,042) to 28,133 (+/-13,391) in natural fall chinook. ·The average annual smolt production for natural summer steelhead is 49,488. ·Mean smolt-yield-per-spawner is 28 for natural summer steelhead, 44 for spring chinook salmon and 55 for natural fall chinook salmon. ·Overall performance of hatchery species has been poor and variable from year to year. Mean in-basin survival of hatchery migrants has ranged from 57.8% in summer steelhead to 74.8% in sub-yearling fall chinook salmon. ·Comparisons btw standard transferred and fall-transferred spring chinook salmon revealed no significant difference in in-basin survival between the two groups. ·Comparisons between acclimated and direct-released sub-yearling fall chinook suggest improved in-basin survival for direct-released fish. ·Migration timing of natural migrants has varied between species and years. ·Natural steelhead have shown no association with environmental variables. ·In 2002, 91% of sub-yearling fall chinook left the river in water temperatures greater then 17.5 C and flows less than 300 cfs. ·PIT tag equipment was upgraded at Three Mile Falls Dam juvenile bypass facility. ·Design specifications were developed for installation of an adult ladder detector at Three Mile Falls Dam. ·Reach survival tests revealed a trend of improved survival with decreased river mile of release. ·Survival of transported fish was higher than that of in-river migrants.
FY 2006 goals and anticipated accomplishments
| Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation | Submit 4(d) take application & report. | |
| Coordination | Coordinate with local and regional management groups, projects and researchers and integrated information from these groups into assessments of the Umatilla Subbasin fisheries program. | |
| Coordination | Attend monthly River Operators Group meetings, UMMEOC meetings and development of the Annual Operating Plan for the Umatilla Hatchery & Subbasin. Coordination associated with completion of the Umatilla Subbasin Plan and the RM&E Plan. | |
| Manage and Administer Projects | Acquire funding for installation of the adult ladder detector at Three Mile Falls Dam. Develop SOW. | |
| Manage and Administer Projects | Produce BiOp Metrics Report. Develop statement of work & budget. | |
| Produce Annual Report | Compile and submit annual report. | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Operate and maintain PIT tag detection equipment at Three Mile Falls Dam. Edit and manage tag files of fish detected at in-basin and mainstem Columbia River sites. | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Monitor hatchery and natural salmonids via smolt trapping and PIT tag interrogation at Three Mile Falls Dam. Identify to species, race and origin and collect biological data. Conduct trap efficiency tests, data entry, compilation and quality control. | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Collect size, age, condition, health and smolt status data for hatchery and natural migrants sampled at West Extension Canal and the rotary screw trap. | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Collect information on environmental variables, flow enhancement (reservoir releases & exchange pumping) and canal operations. Assess movement & passage delays within West Extension Canal. | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Document prevalence and size of resident fish species present in the lower river. Assist with pacific lamprey trapping & data collection. | |
| Mark/Tag Animals | Pit-tag fish for trap efficiency tests and coho salmon production release monitoring. Assist with tagging of various hatchery release groups. | |
| Submit/Acquire Data | Upload tagging, interrogation and recapture files to the PTAGIS database. Extract PIT tag summary reports. | |
| Analyze/Interpret Data | Calculate migration timing and in-basin survival of hatchery-released fish by species and release group. Compare outmigration performance of hatchery and naturally-produced smolts. Includes statistical analysis. | |
| Analyze/Interpret Data | Calculate smolt abundance, migration timing, and in-basin survival of natural salmonids. Assess timing variability between species & years. Monitor and interpret annual data & trends over time. Acquire spawner data. Compute smolt-yield-per-spawner. | |
| Analyze/Interpret Data | Length, age, condition, health and smot status data synthesis and statistical analysis. | |
| Analyze/Interpret Data | Examine relationships between environmental variables, fish transport, and flow enhancement efforts on fish migration & survival. Examine associations btw passage and canal operations & fish behavior. Data synthesis & statistical analysis. |
Highlights of FY06 goals: ·Develop plans to implement RM&E and Subbasin Plan Objectives. ·Acquire funding for construction of the adult ladder detector at Three Mile Falls Dam. ·Assess outmigration performance of hatchery-origin fish relative to naturally produced species (ie. migration patterns). ·Determine in-basin survival of hatchery smolts from various rearing and release strategies. ·Monitor smolt abundance and in-basin survival of naturally-produced species and trends in annual production. Compute smolt-per-spawner ratios as a measure of productivity and trends over time. ·Monitor juvenile life history characteristics of hatchery and natural migrants and assess trends over time. ·Investigate the effects of river, canal and fishway operations and environmental variables on juvenile migration and survival. ·Document the temporal distribution and diversity of resident fish species at lower river trap sites.
Subbasin planning
How is this project consistent with subbasin plans?
This project is consistent with and implements Management Objectives 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 15 and 16 as described in the Umatilla/Willow Subbasin Plan (Management Plan: pages 5-4 thru 5-6). This is accomplished through Research, Monitoring and Evaluation (RM&E) of juvenile outmigration performance, abundance, survival, and life history characteristics of hatchery and natural salmonids in the lower Umatilla River. Program activities are consistent with and directly address RM&E Objectives 1c, 2a, 2b, 3b, 5a, 7a, 10a, 12a, 12b, 14a, 15a, 15b, and 16a as presented in the Auqatic RM&E Plan (Appendix H: pages H1 to H31). In addition, this project addresses Aquatic Management Strategies 1 and 13 (Management Plan: pages 5-8 and 5-9) through monitoring of Flow Enhancement Effectiveness and Passage Conditions in the lower river and the impacts on juvenile migrants. The effectiveness of Artificial Propagation Strategies 1, 2, 3 and 4 (Management Plan: pages 5-44 and 5-45) is also addressed through juvenile outmigrant monitoring.
How do goals match subbasin plan priorities?
This project accomplishes priority work through monitoring and evaluation of 10 of the 16 Management Objectives identified in the Umatilla/Willow Subbasin Plan (pages 5-4 thru 5-6). This project also estimates smolt abundance for ESA listed Mid-Columbia River summer steelhead. The Management Objectives and Framework were not prioritized in the May 28th draft of the Umatilla/Willow Subbasin Plan. An addendum has since been completed, which includes the prioritization process, however it is awaiting review and currently unavailable.
Other comments
Accomplishments will help answer key resource management issues and crititcal uncertainties identified in the Umatilla Subbasin by providing information on Hatchery Effectiveness, Natural Production Success, Flow Enhancement Effectiveness, and Passage Conditions.