Coho Monitoring and Evaluation 2021

The Nez Perce Tribe is implementing a 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 Tribal harvest. Consistent with the Clearwater Subbasin Plan (EcoVista 2003), the Nez Perce Tribe (NPT) envisions an annual escapement of 14,000 coho to the Clearwater River Subbasin 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 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 (annual escapement of 14,000 coho to the Clearwater River Subbasin) and 3) assist in the re-establishment of tribal and recreational fisheries.



Information gathered under this M&E objective is intended to evaluate how well hatchery production techniques are working and whether certain practices can be modified to improve benefits achieved. The program objectives include both developing a localized coho salmon broodstock and optimal hatchery survival. Sampling under this objective is designed to address the following management assumptions:



• Locally adapted broodstock will be more effective in establishing natural production.

• Hatchery escapement meets identified broodstock goals.

• We can identify the most effective rearing and release strategies.



Project accomplishments by worksite:



WS #1 (Dworshak National Fish Hatchery) - Staff operated the Dworshak National Fish Hatchery ladder to collect returning adults.

Coded wire tag (CWT) data collection, analysis and reporting:

• All data was collected and recorded from returning adults.

• All detected CWT’s were collected from returning adults during spawning.

• All recovered CWT’S were read and uploaded into RMIS.

In-hatchery production survival and growth monitoring:

• All in-hatchery data was collected and recorded.

• All in-hatchery survival and growth data was consolidated after 2022 releases.



WS #2 (Clear Creek/Kooskia National Fish Hatchery) -Staff operated the Kooskia National Fish Hatchery trap to collect returning adults

Coded wire tag (CWT) data collection, analysis and reporting:

• All data was collected and recorded from returning adults.

• All detected CWT’s were collected from returning adults during spawning.

• All recovered CWT’S were read and uploaded into RMIS.

In-hatchery production survival and growth monitoring:

• All in-hatchery data was collected and recorded.

• All in-hatchery survival and growth data was consolidated after 2022 releases.

Spawning ground surveys were completed on Clear Creek (One full pass starting at the mouth of Clear Creek). Surveys were also completed on other nearby creeks associated with this worksite.



WS #3 (Lapwai Creek) - Staff operated the picket weir in Lapwai Creek to collect returning adults

Coded wire tag (CWT) data collection, analysis and reporting:

• All data was collected and recorded from returning adults.

• All detected CWT’s were collected from returning adults during spawning.

• All recovered CWT’S were read and uploaded into RMIS.

Spawning ground surveys were completed

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.