Clearwater River Coho Restoration XVI

In 1994, the Nez Perce Tribe (NPT) initiated a coho reintroduction program as a result of agreements in the US v. OR forum that reprogrammed Lower Columbia River Mitchell Act hatcheries to produce coho salmon for release in the Clearwater River Subbasin. The focus of the project is to restore Clearwater River coho salmon population to levels of abundance and productivity sufficient to support a sustainable run capable of annual harvest. The NPT Clearwater River coho salmon production project is utilizing a phased approach for reintroduction and establishment of a localized coho salmon stock capable of enduring the migration to the Clearwater River. Coho were extirpated from the Snake River basin by 1984; in the Clearwater as early as 1927 when the Lewiston Dam was constructed (now removed).

The Clearwater River Coho Salmon Production Project XVI continued the coho salmon reintroduction work in the Clearwater subbasin begun by the previous 15 PCSRF coho 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 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.

Currently, the NPT is utilizing four different hatchery facilities for the development of a localized Clearwater River coho stock. For the past five years the NPT has collected enough broodstock (adults returning to the Clearwater River) to provide all the eggs for the hatchery production groups. The juvenile production level for the past eleven years (2005-2016) has ranged from 850,000 to 1,300,000 released smolts.

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

Worksite #1: Dworshak National Fish Hatchery (DNFH) – Trapped ___20___ returning coho adults and used as broodstock to provide eggs for the coho hatchery production groups under this project (used PCSRF funds). Reared _552,132_ coho (used non-PCSRF funds) and marked __204,828__of the 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 _724,360__ coho smolts (used non-PCSRF funding), prior to transport of _286,175__ smolts to Lapwai Creek and _223,980__ smolts to Kooskia NFH for acclimation and release. (used PCSRF funds). Marked _60,078___ coho with Coded Wire Tags.

Worksite #3: Kooskia National Fish Hatchery (KNFH) – Trapped _1,362_ 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 _549,770_ coho smolts from DNFH and ECNFH and pit tagged __4,995_of the smolts (used PCSRF funds and some other funds). Of the surviving coho smolts, released _773,750_ 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 __443_ 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 _223,980__smolts from Eagle Creek NFH (used some non-PCSRF funds and other funds for this). Marked __4,998_ coho with PIT Tags and _30,040_coho with Coded Wire Tags.

Worksite #5: Cascade Fish Hatchery (CFH)- __485,031__ Lower Columbia River coho stock (Tanner creek) smolts were released into Lapwai Creek (using other funds). PCSRF funds were used to collect and spawn __612___coho adults.

The Nez Perce Tribe’s overall goal is to reintroduce and restore coho salmon to the Clearwater River Subbasin at levels of abundance and productivity sufficient to support sustainable runs and annual harvest. Consistent with the Clearwater Subbasin Plan and Wy-Kan-Ush-Mi Wa-Kish-Wit: Spirit of the Salmon Tribal Recovery Plan, the Nez Perce Tribe envisions an annual escapement of 14,000 coho to the Clearwater River Subbasin. Based on results from the existing Clearwater River Subbasin coho production program and experience in managing anadromous fish populations in the Snake River Basin, the Nez Perce Tribe believes this program will require a substantial hatchery production component and the establishment of highly productive naturally spawning coho salmon aggregates.

The Nez Perce Tribe developed management objectives aimed at achieving the overall goal of the program. These include:
• Establish a localized Clearwater River coho salmon broodstock.
• Establish natural spawning populations of coho salmon in the Clearwater River Subbasin.
• Utilize hatchery production to achieve optimal production effectiveness while meeting priority management objectives for natural production enhancement, harvest, diversity and minimizing impacts to non-target populations.
• Restore and maintain treaty-reserved tribal and recreational fisheries.
• Monitor and evaluate program activities and communicate program findings to resource managers.
• This project specifically provides fish for tribal treaty rights. It gives the treaty tribes access to Mitchell Act fish that were previously released downstream of Bonneville Dam, it provides fish for harvest in the Columbia River from the mouth up through Zone 6, it provides fish for harvest in the tributaries of the Snake River, and it provides fish for natural spawning and reintroduction of an extirpated stock in the Clearwater River.
• Reintroduction and natural production of coho is succeeding in the Clearwater Basin. Because coho spawn in smaller tributaries in the fall, these fish have proven to be a critical source of nutrients in the streams and a source of food for our tables. There have been many coho redds counted in Clearwater tributaries since 2011 – most of those in Lapwai and Clear creeks where juveniles are released. The spawners are a highly visible testament in our local communities that we can have salmon, that restoration programs have a tangible benefit