Wallowa Lake Sockeye Reintroduction: Operation and Maintenance

The Nez Perce Tribe (lead), in collaboration with ODFW, IDFG, and federal partners, initiated a Sockeye reintroduction project in 2022 to develop broodstock for reintroduction to Wallowa Lake. This proposal will support implementation of the broodstock development, rearing and release of fish from the project, and begin transition from a pilot project to a full hatchery production program. In addition, the project will support planning and permitting essential to implementation. This is a Priority 1 project that will reintroduce and restore a population of salmon necessary for the exercise of treaty-reserved tribal fishing rights.



Wallowa Lake was one of two lakes that supported Sockeye Salmon populations in Oregon; the fish were extirpated from Wallowa Lake in the early 1900s. Recent events, including progress toward dam rehabilitation, fish passage, and water management improvements, make reintroduction feasible. While a comprehensive reintroduction plan is developed, a pilot project was initiated in 2022 to develop broodstock for reintroduction to Wallowa Lake. Beginning in 2022, surplus ESA-listed Redfish Lake Sockeye captive brood production (50,000 eyed-eggs) were raised at Oxbow hatchery and ~47,000 surviving smolts were released into the Columbia River from Bonneville Hatchery in May 2024. Adults returning to Bonneville Hatchery in 2026 will be used to produce subsequent generations; these fish will provide opportunities for releasing adults and/or juveniles back to Wallowa Lake. We will also pursue alternative broodstock sources and rearing/release strategies, with a goal to develop a naturalized broodstock from fish returning to Wallowa Lake. The ultimate objective is to establish a naturally-produced, self-sustaining, harvestable population resilient to in-basin and out-of-basin threats, including climate change.



The initial phase of the pilot project (Phase I) has been consulted on and is permitted through Section 10 Permit 1454-2R - ESA consultation WCRO-2022-03627. Phase I of the pilot project is being funded by ODFW. ODFW has committed to this release for four years 2024-2028, contingent on continued legislative funding.



Phase II will involve trapping adults at Bonneville Hatchery and their disposition. This phase will begin in the summer of 2026. NPT, ODFW, and IDFG have agreed upon the primary disposition of adult returns. They will be prioritized for use as broodstock to produce subsequent generations. Returning adults surplus to broodstock needs would be available as directed in the reintroduction plan. NPT staff (in coordination with ODFW, IDFG, and NOAA) are developing a Proposed Action for adult trapping and disposition as well as a production plan for using trapped adults to produce juveniles for reintroduction into Wallowa Lake (Phase III). Specific worksites for Phase III are yet-to-be determined. This proposal will support NPTs role in implementation of Phase II and III, as well as NPT staff time to further develop the reintroduction plan, coordinate with co-managers on broodstock development, and work with state and federal agencies on necessary permitting and consultation.



Worksite #1: Wallowa Lake Basin - Wallowa Lake is a large oligotrophic lake fed by the Wallowa River. The inflowing river has deposited a substantial alluvial plain that has been used by sockeye and kokanee for spawning.

Planned worksite activities: This project will support the transport of adults collected at Bonneville Hatchery to Wallowa Lk. for direct release into the lake. In addition, we plan to spawn adults, rear progeny to either a fry, parr, or smolt life stage, and release those juveniles into Wallowa Lake or in the lake outlet below the dam. Specific facilities are to-be-determined. All released fish, both adults and juveniles, will be identifiable to brood year and release strategy using parental-based tagging. Additional marking of juveniles (e.g.

The primary benefit of the program is that sockeye salmon will be restored to sufficient numbers in the Wallowa Lake Basin to support natural production, as well as tribal and non-tribal harvest. This level of production would provide for the Wallowa Lake broodstock to be naturally, self-sustaining and to provide a run sustaining hatchery supplementation. This program with require a substantial hatchery production component and the establishment of highly productive naturally spawning sockeye salmon to become self-sustaining. In addition, reintroduction of Snake River Sockeye in Wallowa Lake will increase spatial structure of an ESA listed (Endangered) species - Snake River Sockeye Salmon. Restoring salmon to Wallowa Lake and caring for the waters of this valley is of deep cultural importance to the Nimiipu. This project will aid in fulfilling the Tribes duty and obligation to carefully manage Wallowa Lake, its watershed, and its fish. The ecological benefits of reestablishing anadromous fish could be substantial; the system has lacked what used to be significant marine-derived nutrients for more than a century. The project benefits will extend to several communities, tribal and non-tribal, that care for Wallowa Lake and its fish. Accordingly, this project will help to further integrate tribal knowledge and perspectives into Wallowa Lakes management and provide several outreach opportunities as the program progresses.