Clearwater River Steelhead Mitigation Program

Carl Stiefel and Brian Leth, IDFG

2012 LSRCP Program Review

Acknowledgments• Hatchery staffs

– Clearwater– Dworshak National

• Mark Crew• IDFG M&E staff• IDFG Regional Staff

Presentation Outline

• IDFG Management Objectives • Status of Natural Populations• Management Framework• Mitigation Goals and Approach • Broodstock History and Program Description• Production/Productivity and Harvest Data• Program Summary • Moving Forward

IDFG Management Objectives for the Clearwater River

– Restore and maintain natural populations in the Clearwater River

– Restore and maintain recreational and tribal fisheries

– Meet LSRCP adult mitigation objectives– Minimize impacts of the hatchery program

on natural populations

Snake River DPS listed as threatened in 1997

• 5 extant, 1 extirpated• None meet viability criteria

Clearwater River Major Population Group (MPG)-

• None of the six populations meet viability criteria.

• All natural populations – Moderate-high risk for A/P – Low -moderate risk for SS/D.

• Lack of population specific A/P estimates.

• North Fork Clearwater population – Blocked– Sustained as a hatchery program

Natural Steelhead Clearwater River MPG

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Clearwater River

Grand Ronde

Lower Snake

Hells Canyon

Salmon River

MT

ID

NV

OR WY

WA

Imnaha

Natural Populations in the Clearwater River

Dworshak

Natural Population  TributaryAvg. Pairwise

FST

Colt Cr

Lochsa R.

0.023Storm Cr 0.025Crooked Fork 0.018Lake Cr 0.025Fish Cr 0.018

Canyon Cr 0.013Selway R

Selway R.

0.024Little Clearwater R 0.023Whitecap Cr 0.024Bear Cr 0.025NF Moose Cr 0.018Three Links Cr 0.026Gedney Cr 0.016O'Hara Cr 0.011Clear Cr

SF Clearwater

0.011Crooked R 0.004Tenmile Cr 0.021John's Cr 0.010

Natural Populations in the Clearwater River

Dworshak

Natural Population  TributaryAvg. Pairwise

FST

Colt Cr

Lochsa R.

0.023Storm Cr 0.025Crooked Fork 0.018Lake Cr 0.025Fish Cr 0.018Canyon Cr 0.013Selway R

Selway R.

0.024Little Clearwater R 0.023Whitecap Cr 0.024Bear Cr 0.025NF Moose Cr 0.018Three Links Cr 0.026Gedney Cr 0.016O'Hara Cr 0.011Clear Cr

SF Clearwater

0.011Crooked R 0.004Tenmile Cr 0.021John's Cr 0.010

• Genetic information– Hatchery Production Area

• Not differentiated from hatchery stocks

– Natural Production Areas• Differentiated in upper

tributaries

Natural Populations in the Clearwater River

Dworshak

Natural Population  TributaryAvg. Pairwise

FST

Colt Cr

Lochsa R.

0.023Storm Cr 0.025Crooked Fork 0.018Lake Cr 0.025Fish Cr 0.018Canyon Cr 0.013Selway R

Selway R.

0.024Little Clearwater R 0.023Whitecap Cr 0.024Bear Cr 0.025NF Moose Cr 0.018Three Links Cr 0.026Gedney Cr 0.016O'Hara Cr 0.011Clear Cr

SF Clearwater

0.011Crooked R 0.004Tenmile Cr 0.021John's Cr 0.010

• Genetic information– Hatchery Production Area

• Not differentiated from hatchery stocks

– Natural Production Areas• Differentiated in upper

tributaries

• No hatchery releases in – Upper Middle Fork Clearwater R.

• Lochsa and Selway rivers

– Tributaries to Lower Clearwater R.• Potlatch R.• Lapwai Cr.

• Hatchery mitigation releases confined to

– Lower Clearwater R.– South Fork Clearwater R.

Management Framework

Clearwater River

Lower Mainstem Clearwater River Lolo

Creek

Selway River

SF Clearwater River

NF Clearwater River

Lochsa River

OR ID

MT

WA

0 3015 Miles

²

Potla

tch R

iver

• No hatchery releases in – Upper Middle Fork Clearwater R.– Lochsa and Selway rivers– Tributaries to Lower Clearwater R.

• Potlatch R.• Lapwai Cr.

• Hatchery mitigation releases confined to

– Lower Clearwater R.– South Fork Clearwater R.

Management Framework

Clearwater River

Lower Mainstem Clearwater River Lolo

Creek

Selway River

SF Clearwater River

NF Clearwater River

Lochsa River

OR ID

MT

WA

0 3015 Miles

²

Potla

tch R

iver

Harpster Dam

Dworshak Dam

Clearwater Hatchery Mitigation Goals

Clearwater Fish Hatchery

Adult Goal-Above Project Area 14,000Adult Goal-Below Project Area 28,000

Total Mitigation Goal 42,000

Assumed SAR .87%

Assumed SAS 2.61%

Smolt Release Target (Modeled Value) 1,750,000

Smolt Release Target (Actual) 840,000

Implementing Mitigation Program

– Focus for hatchery program is to achieve harvest mitigation objectives

– 335,000 smolts are AD-intact consistent with US vs. OR agreement

– Utilize both LSRCP facilities and Dworshak National Fish Hatchery

– Annual coordination and collaboration with federal and tribal partners

Clearwater River Broodstock History

• Dworshak stock– Wild fish returning to NF Clearwater R.– No out of basin fish

• Dworshak NFH primary source of eggs • Locally adapted SF Clearwater R. Stock

– Upper SF Clearwater collection failed• Fallout• Migration impediment

– Middle SF Clearwater R. collection initiated in 2010

• Volunteer angler contribution program • New infrastructure at Meadow Creek

Clearwater River Broodstock History

• Dworshak stock– Wild fish returning to NF Clearwater R.– No out of basin fish

• Dworshak NFH primary source of eggs • Locally adapted SF Clearwater R. Stock

– Upper SF Clearwater collection failed• Fallout• Migration impediment

– Middle SF Clearwater R. collection initiated in 2010

• Volunteer angler contribution program • New infrastructure at Meadow Creek

Description of SF Clearwater River LSRCP Hatchery Steelhead Program

Brood Year 2010 Brood Year 2012

IDFG’s goal is to phase out DWOR releases in SF Clearwater R. in favor of the locally adapted stock.

213,173

665,214

282,900

577,100

SFCLWDWOR

Release Locations for

Clearwater Fish Hatchery

Lower Mainstem Clearwater River Lolo

Creek

Selway River

SF Clearwater River

NF Clearwater River

Lochsa River

OR ID

MT

WA

0 3015 Miles

²Early Release location

Current Release location

Existing Hatchery Facility

Proposed Hatchery Facility

Potla

tch R

iver

• Clearwater FH– SF Clearwater Releases

• 843,000 DWOR smolts

• Dworshak NFH – Main stem Clearwater

and Lolo Cr.• 1,560,000

– SF Clearwater Releases• 540,000 DWOR smolts

Release Locations for

Clearwater Fish Hatchery

Lower Mainstem Clearwater River Lolo

Creek

Selway River

SF Clearwater River

NF Clearwater River

Lochsa River

OR ID

MT

WA

0 3015 Miles

²Early Release location

Current Release location

Existing Hatchery Facility

Proposed Hatchery Facility

Potla

tch R

iver

• Clearwater FH– SF Clearwater Releases

• 843,000 DWOR smolts

• Dworshak NFH – Main stem Clearwater

and Lolo Cr.• 1,560,000 smolts

– SF Clearwater Releases• 540,000 smolts

Hatchery Production and Survival Data

• Broodstock Performance• In-hatchery survival• Juvenile releases and survival• Adult production and productivity

Hatchery Production and Survival Data

• Broodstock is collected at:– Dworshak Fish Hatchery (USFWS)

• Final incubation and Rearing occurs at: – Clearwater Fish Hatchery (IDFG)

Hatchery Production and Survival Data In-Hatchery Survival

19931995

19971999

20012003

20052007

20092011

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Brood Year

Eyed

Egg

to R

elea

se S

urvi

val

Hatchery Production and Survival Data Juvenile Releases

19921993

19941995

19961997

19981999

20002001

20022003

20042005

20062007

20082009

20100

200,000400,000600,000800,000

1,000,0001,200,0001,400,0001,600,0001,800,000

Production Pre-smolt Production SmoltIntended Smolt Production Target Annual Smolt Production Target

Brood Year

Num

ber R

elea

sed

(Tho

usan

ds)

Disease / Pathology

• Disease has not limited the ability to meet smolt production targets.

• Eggs from IHN positive females culled prior to arriving on station.– IHN free water source– No IHN outbreaks to date in production.

• Diseases with low prevalence/impacts.– Coldwater Disease– External parasite (water temps > 14°C)

Hatchery Production and Survival Data Juvenile Survival to LGD

19931994

19951996

19971998

19992000

20012002

20032004

20052006

20072008

20092010

20110%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Migration Year

Surv

ival

to LG

D

Adult Production and Survival

Adult Return Estimate Methods

• Downstream of LGD– CWT recoveries reported to RMIS

• Upstream of LGD– Harvest

• Mail/phone creel survey• Facility contribution based on CWT recoveries

– Total adult returns• Hatchery traps in the SF Clearwater do not provide an adequate

escapement estimate.– Fall out– Migration impediment

• Dworshak SAR estimates used as a surrogate

Adult Returns-Total Adults Produced

1994-95

1995-96

1996-97

1997-98

1998-99

1999-00

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11 -

5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000 45,000

Adult Returns Return Goal

Run

Num

ber o

f Fis

h(T

hous

ands

)

Adult Returns-Lower Granite Dam

1994-95

1995-96

1996-97

1997-98

1998-99

1999-00

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11 -

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

Adult Returns Return Goal

Run

Num

ber o

f Fis

h(T

hous

ands

)

Adult Returns-Lower Granite Dam

1994-95

1995-96

1996-97

1997-98

1998-99

1999-00

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11 -

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

Adult Returns Return Goal

Run

Num

ber o

f Fis

h(T

hous

ands

) PIT return estimate

Smolt to Adult Survival (SAS)Su

rviv

al

19921993

19941995

19961997

19981999

20002001

20022003

20042005

20062007

0.0%

0.5%

1.0%

1.5%

2.0%

2.5%

3.0%

3.5%

SAS SAS (Assumed)

Brood Year

Smolt to Adult Return (SAR)Su

rviv

al

19921993

19941995

19961997

19981999

20002001

20022003

20042005

20062007

0.0%

0.5%

1.0%

1.5%

2.0%

2.5%

3.0%

3.5%

SAR SAR (Assumed)

Brood Year

Harvest and Escapement• Angler Effort and Harvest• Harvest Opportunity• Strays

Harvest Downstream of LGD

1994-95

1995-96

1996-97

1997-98

1998-99

1999-00

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-090

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

-

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Zones 1 - 5 Zone 6 Snake Below LGD Clearwater Harvest Rate

Run

Spor

t Har

vest

(Fis

h)

Harv

est R

ate

(%)

Harvest Downstream of LGD

1994-95

1995-96

1996-97

1997-98

1998-99

1999-00

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-090

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

-

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Zones 1 - 5 Zone 6 Snake Below LGD

Clearwater Harvest Rate Zone6 Tribal and Non-Tribal

Run

Spor

t Har

vest

(Fis

h)

Harv

est R

ate

(%)

Harvest Upstream of LGD for Clearwater Fish Hatchery Releases

1994-95

1995-96

1996-97

1997-98

1998-99

1999-00

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-110

2,0004,0006,0008,000

10,00012,00014,00016,000

0102030405060708090100

Sport Harvest Harvest RateRun

Num

ber H

arve

sted

(Tho

usan

ds)

Harv

est R

ate

(%)

1 4 7 10 13 160

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

Sport Effort Sport Harvest

Angl

er E

ffort

(Tho

usan

ds o

f Day

s)

Run

Spor

t Har

vest

(T

hous

ands

of F

ish)

Sport Angler Effort in Clearwater River• Sport Fishing Regulations Allowed For

• Since the 1994-95 Run• Season Duration >272 days• 227 RKM open to Angling

Pre-Hatchery Mitigation

DworshakHatchery Mitigation

Dworshak & LSRCPHatchery Mitigation

Minimum Stray Rate Estimate

19921993

19941995

19961997

19981999

20002001

20022003

20042005

20062007

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Below LGD Above LGD

Brood Year

Perc

ent o

f Ret

urn

Minimum Stray Rate Estimate

19921993

19941995

19961997

19981999

20002001

20022003

20042005

20062007-1%

0%1%2%3%4%5%6%7%8%9%

10%

Below LGD Above LGD

Brood Year

Perc

ent o

f Ret

urn

Summary of Clearwater Program

• Fish Culture operations– Produces 843,000 of the intended 1,750,000 smolts– Low prevalence of disease during rearing– High onsite survival

• Juvenile survival to LGD– Consistently >60% (Average 75%)

• Adult survival– The facility is at or near LGD adult return goal of 14,000 during

last decade– Consistently below total return goal of 42,000

Summary of Clearwater Program

• Harvest Benefits– Below LGD

• Average 600 fish annually (Range 25-2,500)– Above LGD

• Ensures a consistent robust fishery in the SF Clearwater each year• Harvest averaged 6,500 adult steelhead (range 600-14,000)• Averaged 140,000 anglers days in the Clearwater Basin (range 23,000-220,000)

– In combination with Dworshak NFH

• Harvest rates during more recent years average 70% (range 50-90%)

• Strays– Downstream of LGD

• Average<1%– Upstream of LGD

• Average<1%

Moving ForwardHatchery M&E

• Continued monitoring of hatchery production and productivity– Estimation methodology – PIT Tagging

• Estimating adult survival• Migration timing and inter-dam conversion• In-season fisheries management• Straying In-stream PIT Arrays

– Parental Based Tagging (PBT)• Adult accounting• Catch contribution

– Run Reconstruction • Cooperative effort between states and tribes

Moving ForwardNatural Population M&E

Monitoring efforts for natural steelhead populations– New work at LGD

• GSI (Campbell presentation to follow)• PIT tags and in stream arrays (Vogel presentation to follow)

– Population specific• Fish Cr.• Potlatch River

– Newly implemented• Lolo Cr. (NPT)• SF Clearwater (NPT & IDFG)

– Run Reconstruction • Cooperative effort between states and tribes

Moving ForwardManagement

• Continue to develop a locally adapted stock for the SF Clearwater River– Further reduce potential impacts to natural populations

• Construct new adult collection facility in SF Clearwater River– Completely phasing out DWOR releases in SF Clearwater R.

with locally adapted stock is not feasible without this weir• Explore options to increase smolts production to

achieve the programs intended targeted smolt production level

Moving ForwardManagement

• Continue to maintain conservation management areas for wild populations

• Hatchery program will continue to focus on harvest mitigation

• Continued coordination between state, tribal, and federal managers

• Continue to incorporate new information into the decision process

Questions?