Comment on proposed FY 2006 budget

The Spokane Tribe of Indians is seeking renewal of funding for the Lake Roosevelt Sturgeon Recovery Project in 2006. The budget currently identified is consistent with Bonneville’s approved budget. This will allow us to maintain the current level of data gathering, which is restricted to the northern third of the reservoir, but will not allow us to collect white sturgeon data throughout the reservoir.

Accomplishments since the last review

1. Worked cooperatively with a transboundary white sturgeon recovery team to develop the Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Plan. 2. Raised and released approximately 6000 juvenile white sturgeon into the U.S. portion of the upper Columbia River and Lake Roosevelt (100% PIT tagged). Fish/eggs were transferred from the Kootenay Sturgeon Hatchery, British Columbia. Beginning in 2005, we will begin to collect US broodstock to raise an additional 2 families of sturgeon through the US interim white sturgeon conservation aquaculture program. We plan to release up to 8000 white sturgeon through the 2005 fiscal year. 3. Began sampling white sturgeon populations to address critical uncertainties identified by the recovery plan, including adult population status, juvenile population status, spawning duration, frequency and success, predation effects on white sturgeon eggs, larvae and juveniles and telemetry to assess sturgeon movement and whether one or more populations exist in the upper Columbia River/Lake Roosevelt area. 4. Developed the Upper Columbia River White Sturgeon webpage (a joint US-Canadian project) to facilitate public outreach and education. In 2005 we plan to continue public outreach and education with activities directed towards children and to complete development of a US based white sturgeon pamphlet to distribute throughout the Lake Roosevelt area. 5. Completed 2003 Annual Report (reviewed by WDFW, STOI and both US and Canadian members of the Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative). The 2004 Annual Report is in progress and will be reviewed with the same level of scrutiny.

FY 2006 goals and anticipated accomplishments

1. We plan to continue to work cooperatively with the Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative, a transboundary white sturgeon recovery team, to monitor progress toward white sturgeon recovery in the upper Columbia and to address changes needed to the Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Plan through time. 2. We plan to raise up to 8000 juvenile white sturgeon, which will be 100% PIT tagged and released into the U.S. portion of the upper Columbia River and Lake Roosevelt. Fish/eggs will be collected from the US portion of the transboundary reach (or transferred from the Kootenay Sturgeon Hatchery, British Columbia as necessary depending on spawner population size). 3. We will continue to sample white sturgeon populations to address critical uncertainties identified by the recovery plan. Parameters to be assessed include adult population status, juvenile population status, spawning duration, frequency and success, predation effects on white sturgeon, telemetry to assess sturgeon movement and whether one or more populations exist in the upper Columbia River/Lake Roosevelt area. We hope to move towards examining these parameters throughout Lake Roosevelt as well as identifying hydrology and habitat needs and limitations for the entire Upper Columbia/Lake Roosevelt population. Current funding limitations make this unlikely. 4. Maintain the Upper Columbia River White Sturgeon webpage (a joint US-Canadian project) and continue to facilitate public outreach and education. 5. 2004 Annual Report (reviewed by WDFW, STOI and both US and Canadian members of the Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative) will be complete and the 2005 Annual Report should be in progress and will undergo the same review process.

Subbasin planning

How is this project consistent with subbasin plans?

Consistency: The project is consistent with and implements the Upper Columbia Subbasin Aquatic Goals, Objectives and Strategies 1A1a-b, 1A5a and d, 1B2 c and k, 2A1a and d, 2A2a, d and e, 2C1a and c-f, as well as Province Level Objectives 1C1-4, 1C6 and 2A1-4. Additionally, the project is consistent with and implements the Spokane Subbasin Aquatic Goals, Objectives and Strategies 1A1b, 1B2a, e and j, 1B3i, 1B4h, 1B5c, 1B6a, 1C3a, 2Aab and c, 2A2a, c and e, 2A3g, 2C1a-b, 2C2a and c, as well as Provincial Level Objectives, 1C1-4, 1C6, 2A2-4, 2B1 and 2C2.

How do goals match subbasin plan priorities?

Priority: The project goals and milestones are a priority in the Upper Columbia Subbasin because the objective ranking framework in the Management Plan puts assessment and implementation of habitat strategies, protection of the genetic integrity of focal and native fish species, maintenance, restoration and enhancement of wild populations of native fish and subsistence species to provide harvestable surplus, and restoration of resident fish species through artificial reproduction as top priorities in the subbasin plan. The project goals and milestones are a priority in the Spokane Subbasin because the objective priority framework in the Management Plan puts strategies aimed at assessment of resident fish loss, development of projects aimed at the protection, restoration and enhancement of habitat, maintenance and implementation of restoration activities consistent with the Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Plan and assessment of conservation aquaculture needs to assist with enhancing/re-establishing native fish populations as priorities in the subbasin plan.

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