Comment on proposed FY 2006 budget

We wish to renew the Umatilla hatchery M&E Project (199000500) for Fiscal Year 2006. The FY 2006 budget of $572,848 is consistent with our expectations, however the proposed budget is not currently adequate to meet increased administrative costs, including an increase in the federally approved indirect rate from 22.96% to 30.15% beginning in July, 2005. As a result of the increased indirect rates, project personnel have been reduced in the current contract period. The FY05 budget included $312,951 for personal services, $149,881 for services and supplies, $106,266 in indirect costs, and $3,750 for capital expenses. The new indirect rate will result in an increase in indirect costs to $139,544 and a projected FY06 cost of $606,126.

Accomplishments since the last review

Highlights of accomplishments since 2002 review: Estimated smolt-to-adult survival (SAS) for fall and spring Chinook salmon and summer steelhead for brood years 1991-1996. SAS of the 1995 and 1996 broods of yearling spring Chinook salmon increased above 0.73%, whereas SAS for summer steelhead and fall Chinook salmon have remained low and variable. Determined annual catch, harvest, and effort for summer steelhead, spring and fall Chinook salmon, and coho salmon recreatonal fisheries in the Umatilla River. The spring Chinook fishery has been successful, meeting or exceeding the 10% harvest goal in recent years. Compared life history traits of hatchery versus natural steelhead. Run timing and age structure were similar, but a higher proportion of natural steelhead adult returns are female. Determined annual ocean and in-river fisheries contributions for fall and spring Chinook salmon and steelhead. Provided annual run predictions essential for setting harvest seasons and quotas within the Umatilla River. Began monitoring two release strategies for subyearling fall Chinook salmon, and began a summer steelhead release site evaluation. Implemented adaptive management changes based on past evaluations, including shifting all yearling spring Chinook rearing at Umatilla hatchery to Michigan raceways, and increasing yearling spring Chinook salmon rearing to 600,000 smolts at Umatilla Hatchery due to results of survival and fish health monitoring activities. ODFW completed the draft “Comprehensive assessment of salmonid restoration and enhancement efforts in the Umatilla River Basin” and submitted it to ISRP and NPCC for review. Completed releases for the evaluation of a fall transfer, cold-water rearing stage for yearling spring Chinook salmon. Completed the draft of the “Comprehensive research, monitoring and evaluation plan for Umatilla Subbasin summer steelhead and Chinook salmon” to guide RM&E activities in the next decade.

FY 2006 goals and anticipated accomplishments

Highlights for 2006 FY Goals: · Complete releases for subyearling fall Chinook salmon release strategy monitoring · Complete adult return data for fall vs. winter transfer evaluation for acclimated yearling spring Chinook salmon · Create and submit manuscript on Michigan-Oregon (oxygen supplementation) rearing strategy for scientific publication · Develop plans to implement new RM&E objectives from Comprehensive RM&E Plan · Perform creel surveys for non-tribal recreational fisheries in the Umatilla River · Continue collecting monitoring data for Umatilla Hatchery program (smolt releases, adult returns, straying, harvest) · Continue analyzing data for Umatilla Hatchery Program (survival, straying, progeny-per-parent ratios, stock-recruitment, run predictions) · Continue coordination with tribal, state, and federal management agencies.

Subbasin planning

How is this project consistent with subbasin plans?

The Umatilla Hatchery M&E Project is an integral part of the Umatilla Subbasin Plan. The project is consistent with management objectives 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, & 16 in the draft Umatilla/Willow Subbasin Plan (pp. 5-4 to 5-6). The project contributes to objectives in the following manner: Objective 1: Monitor the status and trends of Chinook salmon and steelhead populations Objective 3: Compare productivity, abundance, and life history aspects of hatchery and natural salmonids Objective 5: Analyze hatchery reintroduction contributions to diversity and productivity of natural populations Objective 7: Monitor smolt production, smolt to adult return and hatchery adult return goals Objective 8: Use research and monitoring results to achieve optimal effectiveness of Umatilla hatchery programs Objective 9: Monitor for negative impacts to natural fish populations Objective 13: Evaluating contribution to fisheries by performing statistical creel survey and through CWT recovery analyses Objective 14: Planning, coordinating and performing RM&E activities Objective 15: Using local and regional RM&E protocols to exchange information Objective 16: Performing collaborative assessments, surveys, tagging, data analysis and results dissemination Included in the Umatilla Subbasin Plan was a comprehensive research, monitoring, and evaluation plan for Umatilla River summer steelhead and spring Chinook salmon developed jointly by ODFW and CTUIR (Appendix H). The 2005 scope of work for the Umatilla Hatchery M&E Project was structured after this plan and included all portions of the RM&E plan currently implemented and funded. We are currently prioritizing ongoing and new objectives in the RM&E plan and expect the FY2006 statement of work to continue to include all ongoing M&E activities in the plan. The Umatilla Hatchery M&E Project will continue to be guided by the RM&E plan in the future as new objectives are approved and funded.

How do goals match subbasin plan priorities?

There is no specific priority framework for management within the draft Umatilla/Willow Subbasin Plan currently available. The plan is based on geographic areas, and the Hatchery M&E project covers many of these geographic areas. The Umatilla Hatchery program is the foundation for spring and fall Chinook reintroduction and summer steelhead supplementation efforts in the Umatilla Subbasin. The Hatchery M&E Project is a critical component of the hatchery program used to monitor its performance, success, and guide future management activities through the adaptive management process.

Other comments

The Umatilla Hatchery M&E Project coordinates closely and shares data with several other projects, most importantly the Umatilla Smolt Outmigration and Survival Project and the Umatilla Natural Production Project. These projects share responsibilities on several of the management objectives (e.g. comparing natural and hatchery production) and therefore coordinate closely in all planning, implementaion, data aquisition, analysis, and reporting activities. The Umatilla Hatchery M&E Project has been recommended for continuation in the 2005-2007 Implementation Plan for the Federal Columbia River Power System (p. 62; USACOE, BOR & BPA, 2005). A draft of the Comprehensive Assessment of Salmonid Restoration and Enhancement Efforts in the Umatilla River Basin was submitted to the BPA and ISRP in May 2003 and received favorable reviews. We expect to submit a final version of the report to the BPA during the current funding cycle. The Comprehensive Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for Umatilla Subbasin Summer Steelhead and Chinook Salmon was submitted to the BPA and ISRP in September, 2004, and received favorable reviews.