FY 2015 Research, Monitoring & Evaluation of Salmonid Escapement, Spawning, and Harvest Projections in Quillayute Basin

The project scope entailed 1) Redd surveys for summer and fall Chinook, coho, and steelhead in all tributaries of the Quillayute Basin: Dickey, Sol Duc, Calawah, and Bogachiel; 2) Adult sockeye monitoring in Lake Pleasant; and 3) Harvest monitoring of the gillnet catch at the river mouth including sampling for coded wire tags and other marks, collecting scales on Chinook and steelhead to establish ages, assessing fish health, and collecting other biological information.

Adult live count surveys occurred in pre-selected index streams (except sockeye in said lake). Supplemental streams were added on a rotational basis. Staff progressed through the river systems to survey adult escapement according to known return times. The crew accessed areas by helicopter, walking, bicycle, drift boats, rafts, ATV or truck. Sockeye redds were counted in streams but because sockeye mass-spawn, actual fish were counted in the lake. Harvest monitoring occured as described above.

Field work comprisee about 70% of time, with tissue sampling and analysis making up the balance. Efforts resulted in escapement and other observational data vital for use in planning future harvest, through interagency meetings and modeling, as well as evaluating in some cases the effectiveness of local restoration projects. The data were also used to develop tribal fishing regulations required under US v. WA.

This project

While salmon runs in the Quillayute are still non-ESA listed, certain stocks are in decline and there is a continued need to monitor the basin to understand status through stock assessment. This project will provide the necessary information for tribal harvest manager to develop escapement and subsequent productivity estimates for all salmonids that are of vital importance to the tribe. These estimates are used to develop adult forecasts, which are essential in developing annual fishing plans. A key aspect of these plans is an attempt to allow for a meaningful exercise of treaty fishing rights, while still allowing adequate escapement to promote the continued existence of populations being actively managed.

An ancillary benefit of doing the redd surveys is that it allows the field crew to identify potential future restoration projects and evaluate the successes of existing habitat projects. Observations might include the encroachment of noxious weeds, bank collapse from mass wasting, blocked fish passages, or log jams that may be failing. Habitat observations are shared with the staff attorney/environmental lead/grant writer, who represents the tribe at intergovernmental agencies (like North Pacific Coast Lead Entity), dealing with watershed health and salmon restoration. These groups develop plans and strategies for grants regarding water quality and quantity and salmon habitat restoration, by any participating government or stakeholder, including Quileute.