Okanogan Summer Chinook Acclimation Pond (Bonaparte Pond)

All necessary permitting was completed. A Phase I Okanogan River summer Chinook HGMP was also completed. The summer Chinook HGMP includes an outline of the Bonaparte Pond production plan. A long-term agreement with OTID to use Bonaparte Pond was developed. Retrofits to the pond were completed, the facility was prepared for fish rearing, and approximately 100,000 fish were introduced into pond in November of 2002. The fish were released in April of 2003 (see note). The retrofitted acclimation pond performed to expectations during the 2002-2003 season. Based on Pond performance during this first season of operations, at the request of WDFW, additional minor retrofits were completed between 2002 and 2003. These retrofits included installation of baffles in the discharge pipes to create more laminar flow across the pond, as well as installation of less abrasive screening at the outlet structures.

Objective 1- Additional infrastructure needs identified for Bonaparte pond are being reprioritized to the Tonasket pond. The proposed change would allow for a bioengineering firm to design necessary infrastructure a the existing Tonasket pond. Objectives 2 and 3 are completed.

In June 2005, an RFP was developed to select a firm to modify the Oroville Tonasket Irrigation District sedimentation pond to rear Chinook salmon parr. The modification would include a drainage structure to provide fish an exit from the pond and delivery to the Okanogan River with minimal injury. In July 2005, a firm was selected and a contract has been developed for the design of the outlet structure at this pond. It is anticipated to be completed by December 15, 2005.

Increased summer Chinook juvenile production and subsequent increases in numbers of sub-yearling out-migration.