Comment on proposed FY 2006 budget

This project has been level funded for several years. Due to increased fuel prices (field work is over 200 miles from the office) and necessary equipment repair/upgrades, I feel this project is entitled to a modest increase from previous years.

Accomplishments since the last review

Due to the length of this project, no actual results are listed here. Please refer to any annual report on the BPA website for specific values. Nutrient Enhancement- We added nutrients to increase lake productivity for juvenile sockeye salmon in Redfish Lake -1995,1997,1998,2001,2002 Pettit Lake-1997,1998,1999,2004 Alturas Lake-1997,1998,1999 We have monitored sockeye salmon smolt migrations from Alturas Lake since 1994 and Pettit Lake since 1995. Survival and growth rates were estimated from time of release the previous year. Smolts were measured, weighed, and a portion were PIT tagged. Limnological parameters including temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, secchi depth, light compensation depth, water chemistry, chlorophyll a, primary productivity, heterotrophic bacteria, autotrophic picoplankton, phytoplankton, and zooplankton assemblage characteristics (species composition and densities) were sampled at least monthly (weekly during nutrient enhancement) at Redfish, Pettit, Alturas, and Stanley lakes during January-March and May-November. Monitoring of spawning residual and anadromous sockeye populations in Redfish Lake has occurred since 1993. Trends in these populations are evaluated with monitoring data collected by weekly snorkel surveys. Hydroacoustics were used to estimate entire lake O. nerka populations annually since 1993. Stream spawner counts were used to monitor adult kokanee escapement to inlet streams on Redfish, Alturas, and Stanley lakes annually since 1993. During years following high densities of O. nerka based on hydroacoustics, a weir was installed on Fishhook Creek kokanee to allow no more than 1,200 spawning females to pass above the weir.

FY 2006 goals and anticipated accomplishments

Using the results from a variety of sampling techniques listed above, we will make reccomendations to the Technical Oversight Committee on stocking rates for juvenile sockeye salmon reared in the captive broodstock program for each nursery lake. We will continue monitoring biological and limnological attributes associated with with succesful juvenile sockeye salmon survival to smolt. We anticipate nutrient enhancement in Pettit and Alturas lakes, as well as reducing competition (kokanee) in Redfish and Alturas lakes.

Subbasin planning

How is this project consistent with subbasin plans?

Smolt-to-Adult Return Rate Raw measure (secondary): Number of adults from a given brood year returning to a point (e.g., LGR dam) divided by the number of smolts that left this point 1-3 years prior, integrated over all return years. Juvenile freshwater survival rate (egg-to fry/parr/smolt, parr-to smolt) Derived or raw measure: Derived if estimated using information from independent programs (e.g., redd counts, fecundity estimates, and parr estimates collected in separate studies for the same tributary could be used to estimate an egg to parr survival rate). Raw measure if estimated in studies (e.g., use of instream incubation boxes to estimate survival-to-emergence (an index of egg-to-fry survival), or release of wild adult spawners to fenced-off stream areas followed by estimates of fry or parr abundance from those spawners to estimate egg-to-fry, or egg-to-parr survival rates). Juvenile Survival to first mainstem dam Raw measure (secondary): Survival rate measure estimated from detection of PIT tagged smolts at first mainstem dam, or model derived survival rates based on detections at first and second mainstem dams (e.g., using SURPH, Steve Smith NOAA). Smolts or parr are tagged in the tributary rearing areas. Age–at–Return Raw measure (primary): Age distribution of spawners on spawning ground determined from length or scale analysis from carcass surveys. Age–at-Emigration Raw measure (primary): Age distribution of emigrants (e.g., proportion of emigrants at fry, parr, pre-smolt, and smolt stages) from tributaries determined from rotary screw trap or weir collection, scale collection,or inferences from size. Size-at-Return Raw measure (primary): Size distribution of spawners on spawning ground determined from length or scale analysis from carcass surveys. Size-at-Emigration Raw measure (primary): Size distribution (length, weight) of emigrants (e.g., proportion of emigrants at fry, parr, presmolt, and smolt stages) from tributaries determined f

How do goals match subbasin plan priorities?

2.2 Guiding Principles Protect, enhance, and restore habitats to sustain and recover native aquatic and terrestrial species diversity and abundance with emphasis on the recovery and delisting of Endangered Species Act listed species. Aquatic Objective 3B: Compare freshwater conditions among populations to more accurately define habitat rehabilitation needs.

Other comments

Due to this questionnaire being released during the peak of smolt migration I was unable to answer each question as completely or with as much thought as I would liked to have.