Washington’s Lower Snake River Compensation Plan Steelhead Program – A retrospective and program adaptive management overview Mark Schuck and Joe Bumgarner Snake River Lab, Dayton, WA

Funding provided by:

Program Origin The Lyons Ferry Hatchery program was authorized by the Water Resources Development Act of 1976 (PL ) to offset losses caused by the construction and operation of the four Lower Snake River dam and navigation lock projects. The Lyons Ferry Hatchery program was authorized by the Water Resources Development Act of 1976 (PL ) to offset losses caused by the construction and operation of the four Lower Snake River dam and navigation lock projects. Facilities were constructed by the USACOE Facilities were constructed by the USACOE Also constructed hatcheries in Oregon and Idaho Also constructed hatcheries in Oregon and Idaho

Ice Harbor Dam Steelhead (Dam Completed in 1961)

Lower Snake River Fish and Wildlife Compensation Plan Fall Chinook Fall Chinook –18,300 adults/year Tucannon Spring Chinook Tucannon Spring Chinook –1,132 adults/year to the river Summer Steelhead Summer Steelhead –4,656 adults/year to project rivers In-place and in-kind In-place and in-kind Resident fish – fishing opportunity Resident fish – fishing opportunity –67,500 angler days

Lyons Ferry Hatchery

Original Steelhead Production Location Stock ** Smolt goal Adult Goal Grande Ronde Wallowa300,0001,500 TucannonLFH175, SnakeLFH126, Walla Walla LFH180, TouchetLFH150, Totals931,0004,656 ** LFH stock derived from Wells Stock. Wallowa Stock is Snake River composite developed by ODFW from fish trapped at Little Goose Dam. Both stocks under review by NMFS.

Lyons Ferry Hatchery Tucannon Hatchery Curl AP Dayton AP Cottonwood AP Walla Lewiston ICH LMN LGR LGO

Production + Evaluation Monitor the success of LFH in meeting LSRCP compensation goals and identify production adjustments to accomplish that objective. Monitor the success of LFH in meeting LSRCP compensation goals and identify production adjustments to accomplish that objective. –Fisheries, SAR, and Abundance were primary performance metrics »Size & time of release, stock differences, acclimation, genetics, morphometrics, transportation, effects on natural populations, etc. It was envisioned as applied management (adaptive) of the program to ensure success. Work completed was therefore often reactive as conditions, study results or Management emphasis changed It was envisioned as applied management (adaptive) of the program to ensure success. Work completed was therefore often reactive as conditions, study results or Management emphasis changed

Harvest Pre-Program (Snake, Tucannon, Grande Ronde, Walla Walla, Touchet)

LGR LGO LMN Touchet River Walla Walla River Grand Ronde River Snake River Columbia River Snake River Tucannon River Clearwater River Asotin Creek ICH Smolt Releases

Ice Harbor Dam Steelhead

Smolt-to-Adult Survival to Project Area

Harvest Post-Program (Snake, Tucannon, Grande Ronde, Walla Walla, Touchet)

Adult Returns to Project Area LSRCP Goal = 4,656

Management Paradigm Changes ESA listing for Snake River steelhead by 1999 – all Snake anadromous ESA listed. ESA listing for Snake River steelhead by 1999 – all Snake anadromous ESA listed. –Concern about excessive hatchery returns Washington Wild Salmonid Policy Washington Wild Salmonid Policy Hatcheries come under scrutiny Hatcheries come under scrutiny –Hatchery/Wild Interactions –Can supplementation work? –Goals appropriate?

Program Changes Release Locations altered or discontinued Release Locations altered or discontinued –Adoption of wild management rivers (Asotin)

LGR LGO LMN Touchet River Walla Walla River Grand Ronde River Snake River Columbia River Snake River Tucannon River Clearwater River Asotin Creek ICH Smolt Releases

ICH LGR LGO LMN Touchet River Walla Walla River Grand Ronde River Snake River Columbia River Snake River Tucannon River Clearwater River Asotin Creek Smolt Releases 1999-Present

Program Changes Release Locations altered or discontinued Release Locations altered or discontinued –Adoption of wild management rivers (Asotin) Production numbers reduced. Production numbers reduced.

Mitigation Stock Releases (Lyons Ferry and Wallowa)

Program Changes Release Locations altered or discontinued Release Locations altered or discontinued –Adoption of wild management rivers (Asotin) Production numbers reduced. Production numbers reduced. Began testing feasibility of new broodstocks. Began testing feasibility of new broodstocks.

New Broodstocks – Test Programs Tucannon River Tucannon River Long-Term Intent: Supplementation/Mitigation »50,000 smolts annually, assess program success on adult returns to project area (PIT Tags). Touchet River Touchet River Long-Term Intent: Mitigation »50,000 smolts annually, assess program success on adult returns to project area (PIT Tags).

Program Changes Release Locations altered or discontinued Release Locations altered or discontinued –Adoption of wild management rivers (Asotin) Production numbers reduced. Production numbers reduced. Began testing feasibility of new broodstocks Began testing feasibility of new broodstocks Expanded Tagging – CWT and PIT Expanded Tagging – CWT and PIT »Since 2000 BY all groups w/ representative CWT »Since 2007 BY all groups PIT tagged

Run Timing at Ice Harbor

Tucannon Strays Stock (years) PITs Detected at IHR Dam Enter Tucannon River (%) Remain above LGR Dam (%) Unknown Location (%) Lyons Ferry (06-10) Tucannon Endemic (04-10) Tucannon Natural (04-10)

Program Changes Release Locations altered or discontinued Release Locations altered or discontinued –Adoption of wild management rivers (Asotin) Production numbers reduced. Production numbers reduced. Began testing feasibility of new broodstocks. Began testing feasibility of new broodstocks. Expanded Tagging – CWT and PIT Expanded Tagging – CWT and PIT »Since 2000 BY all groups CWT »Since 2007 BY all group PIT tagged Removal of Excess Hatchery Fish Removal of Excess Hatchery Fish

Traps/Barriers

Ice Harbor Dam Steelhead

Harvest Post-Program (Snake, Tucannon, Grande Ronde, Walla Walla, Touchet)

Adult Returns to Project Area LSRCP Goal = 4,656

Current & Potential Future Changes Tucannon Endemic Implementation Tucannon Endemic Implementation Monitor adult returns and straying for future production level changes Monitor adult returns and straying for future production level changes –Lower Snake River small stream tributary monitoring - TRT assignment to populations (Tucannon or Asotin?) Consolidation of Mitigation Stocks Consolidation of Mitigation Stocks

Potential Future Changes Touchet Endemic – Policy Decision Required Touchet Endemic – Policy Decision Required Establishing reference populations to determine hatchery effects Establishing reference populations to determine hatchery effects Can a large hatchery steelhead mitigation program be operated in this ESA environment? Can a large hatchery steelhead mitigation program be operated in this ESA environment? –Biological or social decision? –Where to fisheries fit in?

Questions

Artificial Production Policy: Promote the achievement of the natural production policy and provide fishery-related benefits by implementing artificial production programs as a component of a comprehensive habitat, hydro, harvest, and hatchery strategy, and by assuring artificial production programs meet the following characteristics: –Conservation Programs. Provide a net aggregate benefit to the diversity, spatial structure, productivity, and abundance of the target wild stock. –Harvest Programs. Enhance harvest opportunities in a manner consistent with watershed specific goals for wild stock management.

All Smolt Releases (All Stocks)

Run Timing at McNary

Tucannon PIT SAR’s to Ice Harbor

Touchet PIT SAR’s to McNary

Walla Walla & Touchet R. Strays Stock (years) PITs Detected at McNary Dam Enter Walla Walla River (%) Pass Above IHR Dam (%) Unknown Location (%) Lyons Ferry (07-10) Touchet Endemic (04-10) Touchet Natural (08-10)

Smolt-to-Adult Survival to Project Area