Makah Tribe Regional Salmonid Research and Monitoring

The focus of this project was to continue monitoring the Lake Ozette Sockeye population to track and evaluate the performance of enhancement projects and the overall status of this population of ESA listed salmon. The major components were:
Task A) Lake Ozette Sockeye smolt trapping in the Ozette River during outmigration to generate an estimate of total sockeye smolt production. Hatchery and natural origin smolts will be enumerated separately, as will 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 when conditions permitted, and tended through the end of the sockeye smolt outmigration. The outmigration monitoring component of the project occurred in calendar years 2011 and 2012.
Task B) Adult sockeye run size entering Lake Ozette was monitored to estimate overall abundance. The adult sockeye run was recorded with an underwater video camera, which feds to a both time-lapse VCR recorder and a computer hard drive. Fish passages were recorded 24/7 for the duration of the run. Estimates for natural- and hatchery-origin adult sockeye were determined by reviewing images for adipose fin clip ratios. Predator encounters and general fish condition were also evaluated. The project supported adult monitoring in calendar years 2011 and 2012.
Task C) Adult sockeye escapement to Umbrella Creek was estimated by tagging and releasing a known number of adults at the Umbrella Creek weir and calculating total escapement by comparing tagged:untagged observations during surveys. Adipose clips and otolith marks were used to identify hatchery fish and their release groups and evaluate performance of hatchery programs. The resulting escapement estimate was subtracted from the total estimated run size entering the lake at the Ozette River weir (Task B) to derive an estimate of abundance for the beach spawning population. The Umbrella Creek weir operated from early October through December, and spawning surveys took place from mid-October through January.
Task D) Spawner surveys were conducted on Lake Ozette beaches and in the tributaries. Otoliths were collected to determine age and release group. Tissue samples were 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.

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.
• Capture a representative segment of returning adults for broodstock to both maintain genetic integration with natural spawners and stay within allowed collection limits.

This project will provide better estimates of Lake Ozette Sockeye population size for outmigrating smolts and returning adults, of both hatchery and natural origin, and allow evaluation of hatchery programs release strategies (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.