Comment on proposed FY 2006 budget

The proposed FY 2006 budget of $729,635 is adequate to continue the previously council recommended scope of work.

Accomplishments since the last review

2002 Pittsburg Landing, Big Canyon and Capt. John Rapids assembled and operated, 479.4K yearling and 2.398 million sub-yearling fall chinook salmon acclimated and released. 1,785 surplus hatchery spring chinook salmon adults and 4,175 surplus hatchery steelhead adults were transported to underseeded streams for natural spawning. 2003 Pittsburg Landing, Big Canyon and Capt. John Rapids assembled and operated, 437.6K yearling and 1.701 million sub-yearling fall chinook salmon acclimated and released. 2,003 surplus hatchery spring chinook salmon adults were outplanted in underseeded streams for natural spawning. 2004 Pittsburg Landing, Big Canyon and Capt. John Rapids assembled and operated, 414.5K yearling and 1.337 million sub-yearling fall chinook salmon acclimated and released. 1,008 surplus hatchery spring chinook salmon adults and 1597 surplus hatchery steelhead adults were transported to underseeded streams for natural spawning. 2005 Metrics incomplete for 2005 as program is ongoing. To date, 292,000 yearling fall chinook salmon acclimated and released. 1010 surplus hatchery steelhead adults transported to underseeded area streams for natural spawning.

FY 2006 goals and anticipated accomplishments

This is a supplementation project; in that hatchery produced fish will be released into the natural spawning habitat in an effort to return a greater number of spawners and hence natural production. The stock selected for release is the only Snake River basin origin hatchery stock in the Pacific Northwest and the hatchery propagating the stock has been designated as a gene bank for Snake River fall chinook. This is a long-term project, and will ultimately work towards achieving delisting goals established by NMFS. Deliverables for this project include: Acclimate and release 450,000 yearling smolts Acclimate and release 2,000,000 sub-yearling smolts Transport and release up to 5,000 surplus STT and SCS adult fish in underseeded streams.

Subbasin planning

How is this project consistent with subbasin plans?

The Hells Canyon Management Plan includes specific adult return objectives for anadromous species (See Appendix A, Hells Canyon Management Plan, p. 94). These anadromous species objectives require a combined application of artificial production strategies, habitat protection and restoration strategies, and mitigation of deleterious out-of-subbasin effects. The application of artificial propagation measures are intended to realize anadromous fish restoration, recovery objectives, mitigation, and harvest goals in Appendix A. This project is consistent with and implements Aquatic Ecosystem Objective 2A: Increase SARs of naturally produced spawning adults to at least 4 to 6% for spring chinook, 3% for fall Chinook, and 4% for steelhead, as measured at Lower Granite Dam, to increase natural production and harvest of fish population (as identified in Appendix A). Strategy 2A7: Maximize natural and artificial production effectiveness in the subbasin -- Continue existing and/or implement innovative hatchery production strategies in appropriate areas to support fisheries, natural production augmentation and rebuilding, reintroduction, and research (Management Plan page 18). Strategy 2A8: Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of implementation of artificial and natural production strategies including environmental strategies outlined in problems statements 8 through 15. Develop hatchery fish stocking and marking guidelines for all life stages to optimize the use of hatchery fish (Management Plan page 18). The Clearwater Management Plan includes specific adult return objectives for anadromous species (See Table 3, Clearwater Management Plan, p. 16). These anadromous species objectives require a combined application of artificial production strategies, habitat protection and restoration strategies, and mitigation of deleterious out-of-subbasin effects. The application of artificial propagation measures are intended to realize anadromous fish restoration, recovery objectives, mitigation, and harvest goals in Table 3. This project is consistent with and implements Biological Objective D: Utilize a mix of hatchery and natural production strategies for native, localized, and reintroduced populations to meet subbasin goals delineated in Table 3 within 25 years. Strategy 1: Maximize hatchery effectiveness in the subbasin -- continue existing and/or implement innovative hatchery production strategies in appropriate areas to support fisheries, natural production augmentation and rebuilding, reintroduction, and research (Management Plan page 21). Strategy 2: Apply safety net hatchery intervention based on extinction risk analysis and benefit risk assessments (Management Plan page 21). Strategy 3: Implement artificial propagation measures and continue existing natural production strategies (Management Plan page 21). Strategy 4: Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of implementation of hatchery and natural production strategies (Management Plan page 21).

How do goals match subbasin plan priorities?

Prioritized strategies addressing aquatic limiting factors have been divided into two groups, out of subbasin priorities and in subbasin priorities. Out of subbasin priorities include both upstream and down stream factors impacting the subbasin....These factors also impact wide geographic areas (such as the Pacific Ocean) and addressing them will involve an intensive, long-term political effort in which representatives for the Snake Hells Canyon need to participate, but have little ability to lead. As a result of this dilemma, artificial production of anadromous species has served and will continue to serve to mitigate for these out of subbasin impacts, including the expected continued shortfalls in achieving the SARs called for in Objective 2 and for the cultural needs and treaty rights outlined in Objective 18 (Management Plan Supplement, page 17). This project accomplishes priority work under the subbasin plan because it produces ESA listed fall Chinook salmon directly aimed at achieving goals identified in Appendix A (Hells Canyon Management Plan, p. 94). It is the only supplementation program in this subbasin. Further, artificial production from this project is agreed to and mandated under a court ordered agreement in U.S. vs. Oregon This project accomplishes priority work under the subbasin plan because it produces fall Chinook salmon directly aimed at achieving goals identified in Table 3 (Clearwater Management Plan, p. 16). Further more, artificial production from this project is agreed to and mandated under a court ordered agreement in U.S. vs. Oregon.

Other comments

The Snake River Fall Chinook Acclimation Project is an existing safety-net project and is addressed in the 2000 Biological Opinion Action 177: “This action funds the actual implementation and operation of safety-net projects. Depending on the planning results, specific measures may include funding modifications of existing facilities, or construction and operation of new facilities. The obligation to fund the safety-net program, including O&M, monitoring, and evaluation, will continue indefinitely, as circumstances warrant.”