1. Okanagan River Salmon Management

2. History zChinook, coho, chum, sockeye present in Canadian sections of Okanagan River historically zConstruction of dams on Columbia River and flood control measures on Okanagan River in Canada resulted in dramatic declines of salmon to this system

3. History zFirst Nations actively fished Okanagan salmon stocks in U.S. and Canada zOkanagan Falls site of important First Nation fishery in Canada

4. Present Day zSockeye salmon only salmon species of any abundance remaining in Okanagan River zOkanagan sockeye are 1 of 2 sockeye stocks in Columbia River system

5. Present Day zChinook salmon observed sporadically during sockeye enumeration counts in some years zUncertain whether observed specimens are Okanagan stock or strays from other U.S. systems zCoho / chum stocks deemed to be extirpated

6. Present Day zFirst Nations continue to harvest sockeye during years of abundance zSignificant interest among local First Nations and DFO to re-build these stocks to historic levels

7. Management zDomestic minimum escapement objective for Okanagan sockeye set at 29,365 adults as peak visual counts on the spawning grounds zTranslates to 58,730 sockeye adults in wells dam count units

8. Management zEscapement goal based on analysis of spawning and rearing areas undertaken by Dr. Kim Hyatt of Dept. Of Fisheries & Oceans (DFO) - Canada. zEscapement goal has been peer reviewed and accepted by Canadian Scientific Review Process (PSARC)

9. Management zAnnual enumeration of sockeye in Okanagan R. system undertaken via boat floats (DFO, ONFC, WDFG) zVisual counts undertaken at wells dam zBio-sampling undertaken during enumeration counts on spawning grounds

10. Management zFirst Nation harvest only salmon fishery that occurs in Okanagan R. in Canada zCdn. First Nation harvest regime based on projection of run size through wells dam in any year yWells dam count < 10,000…….No harvest yWells dam count >10k but <60k…..5% of sx that have passed dam as of July 1 yWells dam count >60k…..10% of harvest past wells dam as of July 1

11. Management zFirst Nation sockeye harvest in Canadian section of Okanagan River authorized in 2001 was 780 fish. zFirst Nations prefer to harvest earliest component of annual sockeye return due to quality of fish

12. Management zFirst Nation harvest undertaken using traditional harvesting gear (ie: dipnets, hook/line, gaffs, spears) zHarvest monitoring undertaken by ONFC staff

13. Management Challenges zTransboundary provisions of the Pacific Salmon Treaty insufficient to adequately deal with Okanagan River salmon stocks originating in Canada zExisting Columbia River salmon harvest plan (Columbia River Pact) probably insufficient to address Canadian Okanagan salmon issues. ‘Pact’ should be responsive to meeting Okanagan R. Sockeye escapement objectives.

14. Management Challenges zFormation of a Columbia River Transboundary Panel under the Pacific Salmon Treaty (PST) should be considered to address future management of Okanagan salmon

15. Okanagan Basin Technical Working Group (OBTWG) zTripartite group comprised of representatives from DFO, MoWLAP, and ONFC. zGeneral objectives for this group are to identify and ‘steer’ initiatives designed to rebuild fish stocks, including salmon, in the Okanagan River basin in Canada

16. OBTWG zExamples of initiatives include fish habitat restoration & enhancement projects, stewardship programs, identifying areas of potential co- operative management programs (i.e. stock assessment), fish enhancement programs, etc.

17. OBTWG zWorking group is very responsive to identifying areas of fish and habitat enhancement and restoration activities that could be jointly undertaken by Canadian and U.S. parties in Canada zWorking group is a key contact for U.S. Agencies wishing to undertake fish mitigation programs in Canada

18. OBTWG zWorking group is interested in joint partnership programs dealing with enhancement and restoration of Okanagan River aquatic resources. z‘Partners’ must be acceptable to all agencies represented on the OBTWG.

19. OBTWG zPresently reviewing potential ‘partnership’ with South Okanagan- Similkameen Conservation Program (SOSCP)