Comment on proposed FY 2006 budget

We are seeking renewal of the Idaho Natural Production Monitoring & Evaluation Project. The proposed budget appears to be consistent with the FY2005 budget. However, funding levels have been flat in the last several years. In the mean time, operating and personnel costs have risen. Costs will continue to rise in the next funding cycle. Further cost increases will affect the ability to conduct field work and meet current project objectives. Therefore, we request an increase of $90,000 in the next funding cycle for a total annual budget of $974,640.

Accomplishments since the last review

1) Maintained and extended the General Parr Monitoring data base, showing trends in juvenile salmonid densities in Idaho 1985-2004. 2) Produced a stock-recruit model describing the freshwater productivity of the Snake River spring/summer Chinook salmon ESU. 3) Developed techniques to more accurately age adult returns (>97% accuracy). Aging database includes 1998-2004 return years. Estimated smolt-adult return rates for the ESU aggregate with these data. 4) Assembled an archive of tissue samples from wild Chinook carcasses for genetic analysis. Sample coverage includes most populations from the Salmon and Clearwater basins, as well as two from northeast Oregon. 5) Placed PIT tags in juvenile steelhead from remote locations in Idaho not accessible by conventional sampling. Over 16k tags placed since 2002. Although not a project accomplishment per se, it is worthy of note that GPM data have been used in recent ESA reviews for bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout. This is an example of how INPMEP integrates with other projects and meets management needs on a regional level.

FY 2006 goals and anticipated accomplishments

1) Refine GPM methodology to incorporate probabilistic sampling while retaining key trend sites. Describe population-level and regional trends in juvenile abundance with existing data. 2) Investigate population-level contributions to freshwater productivity of the Snake River sp/su Chinook ESU. Identify potential causes of observed density-dependence. 3) Describe population differences in growth, using age data. 4) Initiate genetic analysis of the tissue archive. Initial focus will be a comparison among the major population groups within the Snake River sp/su Chinook ESU. 5) Continue to place PIT tags in steelhead juveniles from selected areas in the Salmon River drainage. Focus will be on potential production areas in headwaters of the Lemhi River watershed.

Subbasin planning

How is this project consistent with subbasin plans?

This project produces information relevant to problems discussed in the Clearwater and Salmon management plans. Indeed, INPMEP data supported the deliberations of the subbasin planning teams. For example, the Clearwater Sub-basin Inventory describes the GPM database as "... the most requested data by other agencies and consultants." (Sec7.1.2.1, p60). The Salmon Sub-basin Management Plan contains several strategies requiring data such as produced by INPMEP. We currently address Strategy 1A2 (p20) on a regional level (Accomplishment 3). INPMEP contributes towards Strategy 1B4 (p21) by M&E of wild populations. The INPMEP tissue archive will be invaluable for assessing current genetic status for Strategy 2A1 (p23; see Accomplishment 4, Goal 4). GPM is mentioned in Strategy 3A1 (p25). We currently are investigating Strategy 3A2 (p25) as documented in Accomplishment 2 and Goal 2. Objective 3C (p 25) is a main focus of INPMEP. We address Strategies 3C1-3. Lastly, INPMEP can contribute anadromous productivity information to Strategy 4A5 (p27) and Strategy 4C1 (p28). INPMEP information can be similarly applied in the Clearwater Sub-basin Management Plan. SAR estimates are mentioned in Objective A (p14). Objective A also calls the establishment of index stocks for monitoring (Strategy A2); the aggregate stock-recruit relationship (Accomplishment 2) and population-specific adult age data (Accomplishment 3) developed by INPMEP will be invaluable in this regard. GPM data is specifically mentioned as addressing Objective B (Strategy B3, p18). This project also provides data useful for evaluating biological responses to habitat improvement projects (Strategy B4, p18). Objective D (p21) calls for the use of natural production strategies. Strategy 3D4 (p21) includes monitoring and evaluation of natural production, which is the eponymous goal of INPMEP. Lastly, the Clearwater Sub-basin Management Plan addresses bull and westslope cutthroat trout conservation (Objectives E & F, p22-23). As previously noted, GPM data have been used for this purpose already.

How do goals match subbasin plan priorities?

No priorities were assigned in the aquatic portion of the Salmon Sub-basin Plan (Sec 6.1.1, p153). Data gaps were identified but not prioritized (Sec 4.1, p112). Research needs identified were not necessarily connected to objectives and strategies to be regarded as important (Sec 4.2, p118). Data gaps were discussed above. INPMEP gathers data appropriate for addressing several identified research needs. The tissue archive will be invaluable for addressing genetics questions (eg Needs 2 & 3 in Table 13, p120). Juvenile abundance and adult age structure are discussed in Needs 4 & 5. INPMEP also gathers these data. These issues are further discussed under Other RM&E Information Needs (p121). Lastly, Table 15 (p125-131) identifies 'Key Performance Measures' to evaluate strategies implemented, which is a de facto prioritization of information needs. INPMEP data can be applied to at least one of the performance measures listed for all the objectives listed in Table 15. In fact, for 80% of the objectives listed in Table 15, we currently estimate over half of the performance measures listed (and all in some cases). Similarly, no priorities were assigned in the Clearwater Sub-basin Plan Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation Plan (Sec4.3, p61). However, data gathered by INPMEP is suitable for many of the Proposed Research topics in the Aquatics Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation Plan (Sec 4.3.1, p 63-77). A majority of these items mention coordination with ongoing anadromous population status M&E programs, which is what INPMEP is. Our planned modifications of the GPM program will address research items I.2 (p63), I.3 (p63-64), II.1.b (p64), II.3 (p65), III.1 (p66), IV.2 (p69-70), and VIII.1 (p75). Age information, such as collected by INPMEP, will address Management Plan research items IV.2b (p69) and VIII.1 (p75). The INPMEP tissue archive will enable several genetics items to be addressed (V.1, p70; VIII.2, p75).

Other comments

The Salmon Subbasin Management Plan identifies data gaps to be addressed as strategies to achieve aquatic biological and environmental objectives (Sec 4.1; Table 10, p113-114). INPMEP produces SAR estimates(Strategy 1A2), population-specific age/length data for wild Chinook (Strategy 2A4, Method 2; Strategies C1-3, Outcome=refined adult age structure), and freshwater productivity information (Strategy 3A1).