FY 2017 Makah Tribe Regional Salmonid Monitoring

The focus of this project continued to be research, monitoring and evaluation components of the Lake Ozette Sockeye population, and to track and evaluate the performance of the overall status of this population of ESA listed salmon. Each of the tree components of this project provides a different and essential focus. The major components were:

Task A) Lake Ozette Sockeye smolt trapping in the Ozette River during outmigration provides an estimate of total sockeye smolt production. Hatchery and natural origin smolts were enumerated separately, as are all other salmonid species encountered. These smolt abundance estimates are necessary to measure marine and freshwater survival and productivity and relative contribution by hatchery-origin sockeye. The smolt trap was installed in the Ozette River on 3/23/2020 and was fished through 6/11/2020 through the end of the sockeye smolt outmigration.

Task B) Spawner surveys and sample collections were conducted on Lake Ozette beaches and in many of the Ozette tributaries. Surveys for spawning sockeye in Lake Ozette tributaries and on the beaches are conducted between October and January. Otoliths are collected from carcasses, during beach carcass counts to determine age and release group. The WDFW laboratory in Olympia, WA will read otoliths for age and thermal marks, although this work is not funded through this project. Tissue samples will also be collected from recovered carcasses and archived for future genetic evaluation of the integrity of the spawning aggregations, potential interbreeding with kokanee, and possible effects of hatchery practices.

Task C) Adult sockeye run-size entering Lake Ozette was monitored to estimate overall abundance. The adult sockeye run is recorded with an underwater video camera and/or sonar imagery. Fish passages are recorded 24/7 and population estimates are subsequently compared to estimates from both the adult weir at Umbrella Creek and the stream spawner surveys. Predator encounters and general fish condition are also evaluated.
An ARIS, a sonar imagery tool, is anticipated to be used in the adult run monitoring. Effort to develop and establish the protocols for sonar imagery usage in the Lake Ozette watershed, for comparison and analysis of data sets from video imagery has been on-going and is expected to be in operation during the survey season of this proposal. Adult sockeye run-size entering the Lake Ozette and the monitoring of the overall annual abundance may then be done with the ARIS, satisfying the Lake Ozette Sockeye Recovery Plan Site Specific Action #8 “Modify sockeye adult enumeration techniques at the Ozette River weir to reduce any predation mortality on adult and juvenile sockeye”. The ARIS may also be used to assist with Task B, beach spawning surveys in Lake Ozette.

This task also includes a component of technical assistance. Mike Haggerty Consulting was hired by the Tribe to provide technical assistance for Lake Ozette sockeye data analysis needs. This project proposes to continue to provide this support to provide technical assistance as necessary to review monitoring methodologies, QAQC input, ecological information, etc. This is necessary to ensure that we are producing the best quality monitoring available with our limited resources, since this information is used to develop abundance and productivity estimates which are necessary to gauge the status of recovery.

This project will allow Makah Fisheries Management to:
• Estimate the total number of adult sockeye entering Lake Ozette and separate the total into different spawning aggregation estimates.
• Determine the relative contribution of hatchery origin spawners in tributaries and monitor stray rates at all spawning locations.
• Estimate total sockeye smolt outmigration and relative hatchery contribution and survival in freshwater.
• Monitor smolt outmigration of other resident Lake Ozette salmonid populations.
• Identify all hatchery returns by release group and thus facilitate evaluation of performance and impacts of various hatchery programs.
• Collect and archive genetic samples for future monitoring and comparison.
• If the weir is replaced with the ARIS: analysis of adult fish migrating without the weir and associated predatory component.

This project provides all components of data that determine estimates of the Lake Ozette Sockeye population size for outmigrating smolts and returning adults, of both hatchery and natural origin. It further facilitates the evaluation of the hatchery program’s release strategy investigation (i.e. which release stage is most effective in producing adult returns to the Ozette system). Accurate status information for both hatchery and natural components of the Lake Ozette Sockeye Recovery Strategy will lead to more effective recovery planning to assist this ESA-listed stock in regaining healthy VSP characteristics.

All of these components contribute to the overall monitoring of Lake Ozette Sockeye recovery efforts, per Hatchery Genetic Management Plan (HGMP) protocols and Hatchery Scientific Review Group (HSRG) recommendations. Monitoring populations and performance of both hatchery and natural origin sockeye is vital to planning restoration projects and evaluating overall population status. This information will allow adaptive management of programs to enhance recovery, detect and address possible negative effects, and ultimately contribute to delisting of Lake Ozette Sockeye as an ESA listed threatened species.