Clearwater Coho Restoration Project XI

The Clearwater River Coho Salmon Production Project XI continued the coho salmon reintroduction work in the Clearwater subbasin begun by the previous ten PCSRF projects by the Nez Perce Tribe. This PCSRF project is solely a portion of the larger Nez Perce Tribe Clearwater River Coho Salmon Production Project (CRCSPP) that seeks to restore a localized coho salmon stock capable of enduring the migration to the Clearwater River subbasin to population levels sufficient to support a sustainable run capable of annual harvest.

The work performed under this project at each worksite is as follows:

Worksite #1: Dworshak National Fish Hatchery (DNFH) – Trapped 310 returning Brood Year 2011 (BY11) coho adults and used as broodstock to provide eggs for the coho hatchery production groups under this project (used PCSRF funds). Reared 322,707 Brood Year 2010 (BY10) coho (used non-PCSRF funds) and marked 54,360 of the BY10 coho with Coded Wire Tags (used PCSRF funding). When the smolts had reached optimum growth levels they were transported to Kooskia NFH for acclimation and release (used PCSRF funds).

Worksite #2: Eagle Creek National Fish Hatchery (ECNFH)- From broodstock eggs from DNFH and Lapwai Creek, reared 540,572 BY10 coho smolts (used non-PCSRF funding), prior to transport of 269,976 BY10 smolts to Lapwai Creek and 270,596 BY10 smolts to Kooskia NFH for acclimation and release. (used PCSRF funds). Marked 62,451 BY10 coho with Coded Wire Tags and 9,959 with Pit Tags (using PCSRF funds) for a total of 72,410 coho marked.

Worksite #3: Kooskia National Fish Hatchery (KNFH) – Trapped 1,236 BY11 coho adults and used as broodstock to provide eggs for all of the coho hatchery production groups under this project (used PCSRF funds). Incubated and acclimatized 593,303 BY10 coho smolts from DNFH and ECNFH and pit tagged 4,989 of the BY10 smolts (used PCSRF funds and some other funds). Of the surviving coho smolts, released 593,303 BY10 coho smolts directly into Clear Creek right next to Kooskia National Fish Hatchery (used some PCSRF funds and other funds for this).

Worksite #4: Lapwai Creek – Trapped 441 BY11 coho adults and used as broodstock to provide eggs for all of the coho hatchery production groups under this project (used PCSRF funds). Acclimated and released 176,886 BY10 smolts from Eagle Creek NFH (used some non-PCSRF funds and other funds for this).

The goal of the project is to restore adult returns in the Clearwater River to support natural production as well as tribal and non-tribal harvest. The Nez Perce Tribe believe a population of 5,000 to 15,000 adults can meet the production and harvest goals; the long-term goal is 14,000 as identified in Wy-Kan-Ush-Mi-Wa-Kish-Wit (CRITFC 1996). In addition, this project expands the range of Coho in the Columbia River Basin into Snake River tributaries. Natural production of Coho salmon has been documented in Lapwai and Lolo Creek (tributaries to the Clearwater River) and the Tucannon River (tributary to the Snake River) as a result of the Clearwater River Coho Salmon Production Project releases.

Coho were extirpated in the Snake River basin by 1984; in the Clearwater as early as 1927 when Lewiston Dam was constructed (now removed). Clearwater Coho restoration began in 1995 and has continued with release of eggs, parr and smolts. In general, the smolt release goal ranges from 830,000 to 1.1 million annually through cooperative production supported by Tribal, State and Federal managers under U.S. v. Oregon. In 2009, adult returns reached a new high of 4,910 Coho documented over Lower Granite Dam. This continued level of adult returns provides localized broodstock which is one of the major goals of the Master Plan (2004) and reduces reliance on Lower Columbia River broodstock for recovery.