Puyallup River Fisheries Enhancement

The project supported rearing activities in upper Puyallup River acclimation ponds in calendar year 2010 and 2011.
Only three acclimation ponds out of our pool of eight were utilized in 2010 due to flood damage and available numbers of fish. Two ponds of five in the upper White (Greenwater and Huckleberry Army) and one in the upper Puyallup (Rushingwater) were utilized. We hope to get at least two of the ponds operational again in 2011, but unfortunately it will not happen before the rearing season due to seasonal access limitations and funding. Additionally, no coho were available to transfer and rear in the ponds due to the loss of coho fry at the WDFW Voights Creek hatchery during the January 2009 flood event. Acclimation rearing pond production for 2010 was as follows: Greenwater Spring Chinook 389,883; Huckleberry Army (lower pond) Spring Chinook 506,028. Two hundred thousand Fall Chinook were transferred from the Puyallup Tribes Clarks Creek hatchery to Rushingwater on the upper Puyallup River; all were implanted with CWTs for identification. Automatic feeders were checked 1-2 times a week to replenish feed and change batteries; as well as cleaning outlet screens. Fish were periodically captured to monitor length and weight.
Three acclimation ponds were also utilized in 2011 due to prior flood damage and available numbers of fish. Two ponds of five in the upper White (Greenwater and Huckleberry Army) and one in the upper Puyallup (Cowskull) were utilized. Due to substantial program cuts at Voights Creek, only a limited number of coho were available to plant in 2011. Acclimation rearing pond production for 2011 was as follows (Fig. 6 & 7): Greenwater Spring Chinook 376,150; Huckleberry Army (lower pond) Spring Chinook 525,650. Juvenile coho (99,200) were transferred from WDFW’s Voights Creek hatchery to the Cowskull acclimation pond on the upper Puyallup River; all were implanted with CWT’s and adipose clipped for identification. Automatic feeders were checked 1-2 times a week to replenish feed and change batteries; as well as cleaning outlet screens. Fish were periodically captured to monitor length and weight. An additional 10,000 fall Chinook, were transported and released into Hylebos Creek.

The fish enhancement efforts described above are intended to benefit stock rebuilding efforts throughout the watershed. It is hoped that they will also make a significant contribution to sport and commercial fisheries. Both Chinook programs utilize populations that are threatened under the ESA and the coho is considered an ESA candidate species. The coho stock used is from the WDFW Voights Creek Hatchery.