Coho Monitoring and Evaluation 2016

The Nez Perce Tribe is implementing a two-phased approach to coho salmon reintroductions in the Clearwater River subbasin. The Nez Perce Tribe’s overall goal for coho salmon in the Clearwater River subbasin is to reintroduce and restore coho salmon to levels of abundance and productivity sufficient to support sustainable runs and annual harvest. Phase I of the Clearwater coho reintroduction program focuses on the establishment of a localized coho salmon stock capable of enduring the migration to the Clearwater River subbasin. Accompanying that goal is a desire to monitor and evaluate the results of the coho salmon restoration program so that operations can be adaptively managed to optimize hatchery and natural production, and minimize deleterious ecological impacts. Pursuant to this informed adaptive management approach, research data collection and analysis for the coho restoration M&E program endeavors to: 1) provide science-based recommendations for management and policy consideration; 2) demonstrate when the reintroduction program meets its restoration goals and 3) assist in the re-establishment of tribal and recreational fisheries.

A base level of hatchery-origin coho monitoring and evaluation has been started with Mitchell Act Grant funding. Five primary activities have been enabled by the Mitchell Act Grant:
1) CWT data collection, analysis and reporting
2) Juvenile migration and survival monitoring (PIT tag application, uploading, analysis, and reporting)
3) Adult return monitoring of abundance and distribution (adults, redds, broodstock, PIT tag array detections)
4) In-hatchery production survival and growth monitoring
5) Co-manager coordination and information transfer

This project supported the activities of a full-time monitoring biologist, and data collection by seasonal (Autumn) technical staff, including concurrent stream surveys and monitoring of adult traps. This project funded the operation and monitoring of the Lapwai Creek weir, the Kooskia National Fish Hatchery trap and the Dworshak National Fish Hatchery adult ladder seven days a week while adult coho were returning. It also funded weekly stream surveys for Lapwai Creek and Clear Creek, which involve counting redds and carcasses throughout the spawning season (October- November). Hatchery-funded activities include 1) CWT data collection, analysis and reporting; 2) Adult return monitoring of abundance and distribution (adults, redds, broodstock and PIT tag array detections) and 3) In-hatchery production survival and growth monitoring. With the increasing number of adult coho retuning to the Clearwater River, the seasonal staff positions funded by this project were necessary for the completion of all concurrent tasks.

The scope of activities performed at each worksite were as follows:

Worksite #1 Actual Work:
Dworshak National Fish Hatchery (DNFH) – Propose to trap returning coho adults and use as broodstock to provide eggs for the coho hatchery production groups under this project (using PCSRF funds). Reared _552,132_ coho (non-PCSRF funds) and marked _204,828__ of the coho with Coded Wire Tags (using PCSRF funds). When the smolts reach optimum growth levels they will be transported to Kooskia NFH for acclimation and release (using PCSRF funds).

Worksite #2 Proposed Work:
Worksite #2: Clear Creek- Proposed to trap returning coho adults and use as broodstock to provide eggs for the coho hatchery production groups under this project (using PCSRF funds). When the smolts reach optimum growth levels they will be transported to Kooskia NFH for acclimation and release (using PCSRF funds).

Worksite #3 Proposed Work:
Worksite #: Lapwai Creek- Proposed to trap returning coho adults and use as broodstock to provide eggs for the coho hatchery production groups under this project (using PCSRF funds). When the smolts reach optimum growth levels they will be transported to Kooskia NFH and Lapwai Cre

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.