Clearwater River Coho Salmon Production Project X

The Clearwater River Coho Salmon Production X continued the coho salmon reintroduction work in the Clearwater subbasin begun by the previous nine projects. This PCSRF project is solely a portion of the larger Nez Perce Tribe Clearwater River Coho Salmon Production Project (CRCSPP) that seeks to restore a localized coho salmon stock capable of enduring the migration to the Clearwater River subbasin to population levels sufficient to support a sustainable run capable of annual harvest.

This project (Phase VIII) conducted work at four worksites:

Worksite #1: Dworshak National Fish Hatchery (DNFH) – Trapped 132 returning coho adults and used as broodstock to provide eggs for the coho hatchery production groups. In addition, 61,287 coho were marked with Coded Wire Tags. When the smolts had reached optimum growth levels, they were transported to Kooskia NFH for acclimation and release. Egg to smolt rearing was funded by other sources and was not part of this project.

Worksite #2: Eagle Creek National Fish Hatchery (ECNFH) - Marked 60,000 smolts with Coded Wire Tags and transported 176,886 smolts to Lapwai Creek and 211,626 smolts to Kooskia NFH for acclimation and release. Egg (from DNFH and Lapwai Creek) to smolt rearing was funded by other sources and was not part of this project.

Worksite #3: Kooskia National Fish Hatchery (KNFH) – Trapped 420 coho adults and used as broodstock to provide eggs for all of the coho hatchery production groups. Incubated and acclimatized 528,346 coho smolts from DNFH and ECNFH and pit tagged 4,987of the smolts. Of the surviving coho smolts, released 316,720 coho smolts directly into Clear Creek next to Kooskia National Fish Hatchery.

Worksite #4: Lapwai Creek – Trapped 384 coho adults and used as broodstock to provide eggs for all of the coho hatchery production groups. Acclimated and released 176,886 smolts from ECNFH.

The goal of the project is to restore adult returns in the Clearwater River to support natural production as well as tribal and non-tribal harvest. The Nez Perce Tribe believe a population of 5,000 to 15,000 adults can meet the production and harvest goals; the long-term goal is 14,000 as identified in Wy-Kan-Ush-Mi-Wa-Kish-Wit (CRITFC 1996). In addition, this project expands the range of Coho in the Columbia River Basin into Snake River tributaries. Natural production of Coho salmon has been documented in Lapwai and Lolo Creek (tributaries to the Clearwater River) and the Tucannon River (tributary to the Snake River) as a result of the Clearwater River Coho Salmon Production Project releases.

Coho were extirpated in the Snake River basin by 1984; in the Clearwater as early as 1927 when Lewiston Dam was constructed (now removed). Clearwater Coho restoration began in 1995 and has continued with release of eggs, parr and smolts. In general, the smolt release goal ranges from 830,000 to 1.1 million annually through cooperative production supported by Tribal, State and Federal managers under U.S. v. Oregon. In 2009, adult returns reached a new high of 4,910 Coho documented over Lower Granite Dam. This continued level of adult returns provides localized broodstock which is one of the major goals of the Master Plan (2004) and reduces reliance on Lower Columbia River broodstock for recovery.