Fall Chinook Work Group - douglaspud.org Reach Documents/FCWG... · 4/7/2020 · Fall Chinook Work...

Fall Chinook Work Group Final Meeting Minutes 7 April 2020

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Fall Chinook Work Group Tuesday, 7 April 2020

Conference Call

Technical members Claire McGrath, NMFS Joe Skalicky/Don Anglin, USFWS Jeff Fryer, CRITFC Paul Ward, YN Holly Harwood, BPA Brett Swift, American Rivers Tom Kahler, DPUD Steve Hemstrom, CPUD Bill Tweit, WDFW Paul Hoffarth, WDFW Breean Zimmerman, WDOE Dani Evenson, ADFG Peter Graf, GPUD Todd Pearsons, GPUD

Attendees: Peter Graf, GPUD (phone) Geoff McMichael, Mainstem Fish Res (phone) Paul Hoffarth, WDFW (phone) Rod O’Connor, GPUD (phone) Todd Pearsons, GPUD (phone) Ryan Harnish, PNNL (phone) Jeff Fryer, CRITFC (phone) Dani Evenson, ADFG (phone) Tracy Hillman, Facilitator (phone)

Action Items: 1. Peter Graf will provide updates on the HRFCPPA Periods and Flow

Constraints. 2. Peter Graf will work with Grant PUD administrative staff on uploading

FCWG/HRWG documents to the Grant PUD website.


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Meeting Minutes I. Welcome and Introductions – Tracy Hillman welcomed attendees to the

conference call. Attendees introduced themselves. II. Agenda Review – The agenda was reviewed and approved. III. Review of Action Items - Action items identified during the 8 October 2019

meeting were discussed.

• Peter Graf will provide updates on the HRFCPPA Periods and Flow Constraints. Ongoing.

• FCWG members will review the draft 2019 HRFCPPA Report and provide edits/comments to Peter Graf by Friday, 1 November 2019. Complete.

• Peter Graf will work with Grant PUD administrative staff on uploading FCWG/HRWG documents to the Grant PUD website. Ongoing.

IV. HRWG Activities 2019-2020 Protection Program Updates – Peter provided a summary on fall Chinook spawning surveys conducted on Vernita Bar last year. He explained that reverse load factoring (RLF) began on 15 October 2019, which resulted in higher river flows at night (see Figure below).


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He then described fall Chinook spawning surveys conducted in 2019. They conducted four redd surveys on Vernita Bar in 2019 (see Figure below).

They observed one redd during the first survey. They observed 17 redds on the second survey, all of which were below the 50 kcfs elevation. Because five redds are required for the Initiation of Spawning, Peter said the Initiation of Spawning below the 50 kcfs elevation was set on 23 October 2019. During the third survey, they observed 15 redds, all of which were in the 50-55 kfcs elevation zone. This survey established the Initiation of Spawning date for the above 50 kcfs elevation as 30 October 2019. On the fourth survey, they counted 185 redds, all of which were in the >50 kcfs elevation zone. Based on these data, the critical elevation was set at 65 kcfs (see Table below).


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Peter showed the number of redds counted on Vernita Bar over time (see Figure below). He said the number of redds counted in 2019 was a little higher than in 2017 and 2018.


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Peter also talked briefly about run timing. He used percent passage of adult fall Chinook at McNary Dam to assess run timing and noted that the run in 2019 began later than in most years but had an average run time later in the season (see Figure below).

Peter said the critical elevation of 65 kcfs will be held through emergence. He said there were no flows below the 65 kcfs elevation. Recent flows have been relatively low because of releases from Grand Coulee and Chief Joseph dams. These projects are also being managed to address flows for lower Columbia chum salmon and Chinook salmon.


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Peter noted that flow management operations during the 2019-2020 season have been successful to date. He indicated there have been no flow violations during the 2019-2020 protection period (see Figure below). Minimum flow requirements will continue through mid-May 2020 and flow fluctuation constraints will be maintained through mid-June 2020.


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Peter then described the temperature conditions on Hanford Reach in 2019-2020. Water temperatures during spawning and incubation were normal for the period (see Figures below). Likewise, temperatures during emergence and early rearing are similar to average conditions.


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Lastly, Peter showed the status and projected dates of the HRFCPPA periods (see Table below). Rearing is projected to end on 11 June.


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Peter said he will continue to provide updates on the HRFCPPA Periods and Flow Constraints. He indicated that all temperature and flow data are displayed on the Grant PUD website: https://www.grantpud.org/water-quality. 2019 Fall Chinook Escapement Review – Paul Hoffarth reported that 64,644 fall Chinook (includes both adults and jacks) escaped to the Hanford Reach last year. He shared the following table, which shows the number of fall Chinook going to hatcheries, harvest, and numbers spawning naturally.

Count Source 2019

Adult Jack Total

Adul

t Fis

h Co

unts

McNary1 128,862 18,993 147,855

Wanapum2 15,746 1,805 17,551

Priest Rapids3 25,311 3,008 28,319

Adjustment4 5,625 668 6,293

Ice Harbor5 17,245 4,738 21,983

Prosser6 774 39 813

Hatc

herie

s

Priest Rapids Hatchery 17,699 2,643 20,342

Priest Rapids Hatchery Channel 0

Angler Broodstock Collection 1,551 2 1,553

OLAFT Broodstock Collection 627 0 627

Ringold Springs Hatchery 2,183 695 2,878

Harv

est Hanford Sport Harvest 11,822 1,327 13,149

Yakima River Sport Harvest 145 62 207

Wanapum Tribal Fishery 0 0 0

Esca

pem

ent Yakima River (Lower)7 248 12 260

Hanford Reach + Priest Pool 60,822 7,670 68,492

Priest Pool Return 3,313 535 3,848

Hanford Reach Escapement 57,509 7,135 64,644

https://www.grantpud.org/water-quality


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Paul noted that about 45% of the fish passing McNary escaped to the Hanford Reach. He added that all the hatcheries were able to meet their broodstock needs. Paul said WDFW tries to meet escapement levels with terminal harvest. The Harvest Management Plan allows for a 10% harvest allocation at low escapements (<34,500 fish). At escapements greater than 34,500 fish, harvest allocation increases. Paul said about 13,000 Chinook were harvested on the Reach last year. Dani Evenson asked what the minimum number of Chinook passing McNary Dam needs to be in order to meet spawning escapement goals. Paul indicated that the minimum number over McNary Dam needs to be about 87,000 Chinook.

2020 Estimated Fall Chinook Escapement – Paul Hoffarth reported, based on his recent forecast, that about 92,700 natural and hatchery-origin fall Chinook should escape to the Hanford Reach this year (see Table below). This includes about 20,000 Priest Rapids Hatchery fish, about 7,000 Ringold Hatchery fish, and roughly 65,000 natural-origin fish. Paul reminded the FCWG that these are just “ball-park” estimates. He said 2020 is looking to be similar to last year.

Estimated return to escapement (stream), sport fishery, and hatcheriesAdult return estimates do not include strays except the combined totals

Stream Sport Fishery

Priest Rapids

Ringold Springs Stream Sport

FisheryPriest Rapids

Ringold Springs

Age Age 2 Age 3 Age 4 Age 5 Age 6 Total Adult 86.4% 11.8% 1.8% 0.0% 75.1% 13.6% 11.3% 0.0%Return 5,515 7,627 32,998 24,727 0 70,868 65,352 56,446 7,721 1,184 0 49,068 8,883 7,401 0

Age Age 2 Age 3 Age 4 Age 5 Age 6 Total Adult Priest Rapids Stream Sport

FisheryRingold Springs

Priest Rapids Stream Sport

FisheryRingold Springs

Return 2,379 10,623 8,383 1,186 0 22,572 20,193 73.4% 18.1% 8.2% 0.3% 75.7% 16.7% 7.3% 0.3%Female (%) 0% 19% 59% 67% 74% 14,824 3,655 1,656 59 15,285 3,376 1,477 54Female (#) 0 2,008 4,971 794 0 7,773 Female = 5,706 NM = 3,195 Female = 5,884 NM = 3,295

Age Age 2 Age 3 Age 4 Age 5 Age 6 Total Adult Ringold Springs Stream Sport




Return 391 4,504 2,592 59 0 7,545 7,155 59.7% 20.9% 11.5% 7.9% 68.3% 9.0% 5.3% 17.4%Female (%) 0% 19% 53% 60% 67% 4,271 1,494 822 568 4,890 643 376 1,246Female (#) 0 869 1,376 35 0 2,280 Female = 1,361 Female = 1,558

Age Age 2 Age 3 Age 4 Age 5 Age 6 Total Adult Stream Sport Fishery

Priest Rapids



Ringold Springs

Return 8,286 22,754 43,973 25,972 0 100,985 92,700 61,596 10,199 16,575 4,330 53,088 10,736 23,931 4,944

Jack estimates based on recent/long term averageAll other estimates based on broodyear regressions NOR Hatchery Combined pHOSEstimates calculated using adult to adult CWT expansions, not adjusted by otolith data (yet) 56,446 5,149 61,596 0.084

2020 URB Forecasted Returns to the Hanford Reach

2020 Fall Chinook Returns to the Hanford Reach by Origin 2020 Adult Fall Chinook Returns to the Hanford Reach by LocationHanford Reach Natural Origin Fall Chinook Based on 10-year Mean Based on 2019 Return

Hanford Reach Fall Chinook (natural + hatchery) Based on 10-year Mean Based on 2019 Return

Priest Rapids Hatchery Origin Fall Chinook Based on 10 yr mean (- 2013) Based on 2019 Return

Ringold Springs Hatchery Origin Fall Chinook Based on 10-year Mean Based on 2019 Return


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2020 CRITFC Tagging Activities – Jeff Fryer described his proposed tagging activities on the Reach in 2020 (see Attachment 1). He said COVID-19 has the potential to greatly impact juvenile tagging this year. Currently, DOE will not allow Hanford access to non-essential personnel. There are also issues with maintaining a sufficient social distance within the tagging trailer, on boats, and commuting to the job site. Other possible issues include timing of Priest Rapids Hatchery releases. However, the good news is that Biomark intends to PIT tag 10,000 juvenile fall Chinook this year. Jeff said they will continue business as usual if COVID-19 is no longer an issue. However, if the disease is still an issue, they will try to run the tagging operations while implementing social distancing guidelines. This could reduce the number of fish coded-wire-tagged this year. Alternatively, they could focus only on PIT tagging this year given that Biomark has thus far committed to do the PIT tagging. PIT tagging would require the capture of relatively few fish when compared to the requirements for a CWT project. Jeff said they have some major issues related to COVID-19 to consider if they run the project this year (see presentation). Jeff added they will make a go/no go decision on 20 May. Another option, if COVID-19 appears to be receding as a risk, is to delay the work one week, starting on 4 June rather than 28 May. This would run the project through 15 June. Dani Evenson noted that tagging this year will be an issue in most places. There are several entities that have cancelled their tagging operations because of COVID-19. However, she said many groups are looking at creative ways to deal with tagging and monitoring in light of social distancing guidelines.

V. Priest Rapids Hatchery Activities Todd Pearsons said the final 2018-2019 hatchery M&E report is available on the Grant PUD website. He said they are currently working on the 2019-2020 report. The draft report should be available for review this fall. Todd indicated that last year broodstock were collected from three sources: hatchery trap, Priest Rapids Dam trap, and from the fishery. They were successful in acquiring all the broodstock needed for the program. He noted that all the juveniles on station are doing well. Todd said the fish are being tagged while abiding by social distancing guidelines. That is, they are using two tagging trailers and two taggers per trailer. Thus, they are limiting exposure to COVID-19. Fish are


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being tagged with CWTs and adipose fin clipped. He noted that the USFWS will not be PIT-tagging fish because of the virus. Todd indicated they are in the fourth year of a five-year study evaluating release timing on fish survival (SARs). He said they intend to release fish at 50 fish/pound. Fish within the five ponds will be released at different times. Fish in one pond will be released on 22 May, fish in a second pond will be released on 27 May, fish in the third pond will be released on 9 June, and fish in the remaining two ponds will be released after 18 June. Todd noted that fish will be released at night to reduce predation.

VI. Studies on the Reach Dani Evenson reported that Real Time Research (RTR) will be conducting a study to evaluate what factors affect bird predation on juvenile salmonids. Tracy Hillman noted that Jeff Fryer asked if RTR could provide a presentation during this meeting. Based on discussions with Peter Graf, it was determined it would be better to have RTR present during the October meeting. This would allow better coordination and earlier notification about the presentation to all members and interested parties. Dani said funding for future studies may become more competitive as the amount of funding available from the Northern Fund is likely to be less than in previous years. This is because the Northern Fund is market driven. That is, as the market goes down, available funds go down.

VII. Next Meeting: The FCWG will next meet on Tuesday, 6 October 2020.


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Attachment 1

Presentation by Jeff Fryer on Tagging Juvenile Fall Chinook on the Hanford Reach in 2020


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Fall Chinook Work Group - douglaspud.org Reach Documents/FCWG... · 4/7/2020 · Fall Chinook Work...

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