1. COLUMBIA BASIN KELTS: ABUNDANCE, DOWNSTREAM PASSAGE, AND REPEAT SPAWNING

2. Introduction Part I: Life After Spawning Kelt Identification Kelt Abundance and Population Structure Kelt Migration  Travel Rates  Dam Passage  In-river Survival

3. Introduction cont. Part II: Iteroparity and Management Repeat Spawning Rates Restoration Options/Strategies Research and Management Needs

4. Iteroparity in the Pacific Northwest Several anadromous, iteroparous salmonid species (e.g., steelhead, sea-run cutthroats, dolly varden, arctic char, and inconnu (sheefish).

5. Steelhead Repeat Spawning Up to four repeat spawning events possible Consecutive and skip-spawners present Female dominated life history High repeat spawning variation (1% to 75%, X=10%) - Differences in run types (winter vs. summer) - Geographic differences (Coast vs. Inland) - Annual differences

6. Repeat Spawning: Columbia Basin Columbia River: ranges from < 1% to 17% RiverIteroparityDams (rkm)Reference Kalama17%0 (118)Leider Hood10%1 (273)Busby Yakima1.5%4 (539)Hockersmith Snake< 1%4-8 (520-1,500)Wertheimer

7. Kelts: The Forgotten Life History Kelts:  Post-spawned salmonid capable of iteroparity  Inherent life history trait  Limited by environmental (natural and anthropogenic) and biological constraints Benefits of protection:  Recognition of life history diversity  “Best of the Best”  Female dominated runs  Preserve plasticity

8. Kelt Identification Geographic and temporal over-lap of maturation types Visual methods est. between 2-25% kelt abundance Need for rapid, accurate, and non- invasive method - morphology - Steroids - Ultrasound Ultrasound is the superior method

9. Kelt Abundance LocationYear% Kelts Bypass No. Kelts Bypass (% wild) ESA- Component In-river kelt Abundance LGR200096%4,015 (54%)17%15,123 200194%12,135 (42%)21%NA 2002*92%9,519 (50%)7%NA McN200175%1,988 (57%)?NA 200271%2,002 (60%)?14,057 JDD200192%2,022 (76%)?NA 200267%2,212 (59%)?NA * RSW installed at LGR

10. Kelt Population Structure

11. Kelt Population Structure cont.. Hatchery Versus Wild Kelt Run Timing

12. Kelt Population Structure Cont. Female Kelt Run LGR = 84% McN = 87%* JDD = 86%* * Excludes unknowns Female versus Male Run Timing

13. Kelt Population Structure Cont.. LocationGoodFairPoor LGR52%31%17% McN66%23%11% JDD49%28%23% Good Poor

14. Kelt Population Structure Cont.. LocationBrightInterDark LGR36%47%17% McN65%33%2% JDD45%50%5% Bright Dark

15. Kelt Migration: Columbia Basin Roy Beaty

16. 1.5 Grams Kelt Migration:  Radio-telemetry

17. Kelt Migration: Travel Rates Reach No-Spill 2001 Spill 20012002 Little Goose (60 km) 0.43-0.60 Lower Mon. (47 km) 0.41-0.51 John Day (123 km) N/A1.31.5 The Dalles (38 km) 1.62.03.3 Bonneville (73 km) 2.0 2.9 Free-Flowing (53 km) 3.13.74.7  Travel times were positively associated with river discharge  Significantly faster in 02 (normal year) relative to 01 (drought).  Travel times were significantly faster in free-flow reach

18. Kelt Migration: Passage Kelt Migration: Dam Passage

19. Kelt Migration: B2CC Dam Passage

20. Kelt Migration: Dam Passage Bonneville Dam (B2) Forebay Residence Time % exited B2 Kcfs 2004 = ~105 2002 = ~109 2004 (N=235) 2002 (N=50)

21. Kelt Migration: Survival (2001) I-205 (184) BONJDAICH 3% 4% 10%12%15%24%37%64% Dam tailrace (R km) Cumulative travel time (hrs) Contact Attrition Contact history TDAMCNLMNLGSLGR (696) 658656600610601348 264 150 -43% -13%-62%-16%-22%-37%-35%-34%

22. Kelt Migration: Survival * Release Year (n)RKM# of dams & Pools Cumulative LGR a 2001 (197) 2002 (167) 2003 (212) 69673.6% (7/197) 13.2% (22/167) 34.4 (73/212) McN a 2001 (52) 2002 (273) 2004 (123) 465359.6% 62.3% 73.0% JDD a 2001 (154) 2002 (10) 2004 (393) 345263.6% 80.0% 92.0% *good and fair kelts only…poor condition kelts rarely survive outmigration a Wertheimer and Evans (2005)

23. Kelt Repeat Spawning Rates

24. 222 112 62 8 John Day The Dalles Kelt Repeat Spawning Rates 3 John Day = 6.2% (140/2,265) McNary = 5.3% (32/603) Lower Granite 0.9% (54/5,885)

25. Kelt Repeat Spawning Rates Tag Site* Year Sample (n)Bonneville Return (%) “Skip Spawn” LGR 2002 2003 2004 1,629 670 1,263 1.1% 0.4% 1.0% 63% 40% 50% McN 2002 2004 352 115 5.2% 3.9% 71% 40% JDD 2002 2003 2004 569 331 280 7.8% 2.8% 5.4% 41% 38% 29%

26. Kelt Restoration Options/Strategies: Hydro-system configuration & operation Transportation Kelt Reconditioning   

27. Kelt Restoration Options/Strategies Spill is an efficient passage option for kelts Surface oriented bypass structures (e.g., sluiceways) are effective ways to pass kelts. Increased flows result in increased travel rates and higher survival. Removable Spillway Weirs

28. Kelt Restoration Strategies Transportation Snake River (LGR 02): Trans = 2.5% (19/751) In-river = 0.8% (8/1,066) Columbia River (JDD 02): Trans = 11.9% (34/286) In-river = 10.1% (25/247) * values are minimum and returning fish are predominately female

29. Kelt Restoration Options/Strategies Reconditioning -Kelt ID and capture -Feeding and treatment -Maturation appraisal -Release for natural spawning  Short and Long-term

30. Reconditioning Results YearTreatmentSample (% YN run) SurvivalRematuration 2000 a - Long-term - 512 (37%) - 18% - 12% 2001 b - Long-term - 508 (18%) - 39% - 21% 2002 b Short-term Long-term 400 (9%) 420 (9%) 83% 34% 12% 19% 2003 c Short-term Long-term 208 (10%) 482 (22%) 90% 62% n.a. 57% a Evans et al. (2001) ; b Hatch et al. (2003); c Fast (pers. comm.)

31. Yakima R. Steelhead Escapement with Reconditioning 7.3%14.4% 2.4% Percentage increase in escapement due to reconditioning. Date provide by Dave Fast (YN)

32. Research and Management Needs  Collected baseline data on Upper Columbia River kelts; abundance, survival, dam passage, and iteroparity rates * Action Agencies = NOAA Fisheries and PUDs  Establish a reconditioning program for Lower Snake River kelts *Action Agencies = NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Army Corps, and BPA  Include kelts and repeat spawners in both regional and local recovery plans; including fish outside of the Columbia River Basin.

33. Summary Kelts are abundant, good condition, predominately female, and wild. If available, passage is predominately via spillway or alternative surface oriented routes. Out-migration success is negatively correlated with passage distance and positively correlated with water conditions. Iteroparity increases down river, skip-spawning rates decrease. Several kelt management options exist (e.g., hydro system configuration/operation, transportation, and reconditioning). Kelts should be a component of regional steelhead recovery efforts.