ENDEMIC BROODSTOCK DEVELOPMENT TUCANNON AND TOUCHET RIVERS

PROGRAM REVIEW

Joe BumgarnerWashington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Background ESA listings of steelhead (Snake, Mid-Columbia)

Bi-Op concluded that LFH stock steelhead constituted “jeopardy” to wild populations

Bi-Op recommended new broodstock(s) be developed

Tucannon and Touchet - Target Populations Local, easy access, existing facilities

5-Year feasibility (12th year)

WDFW Management Intent

Concept: Replacement of LFH stock in each river IF programs were successful

Tucannon (depressed, declining)

#1 : Conservation #2 : Harvest Mitigation

Touchet (depressed, stable)

#1 : Harvest Mitigation

“Test Phase”Production Goals

LocationNumber of

SmoltsSAR

Survival

Tucannon 50,000 0.5%Touchet 50,000 0.5%

+ LFH Stock Production

**Fish were not Externally Marked = Conservation

Management Objectives(Short Term)

Establish endemic broodstocks

Return adults and achieve SAR’s (= to LSRCP goals)

Remove the potentially depressing effect of a long-term out-of-basin hatchery stock on ESA listed populations

Program is compliant with ESA and WDFW Policies to protect and recover wild stocks

Evaluation Focus

Performance in Hatchery

Adult Returns to Each River Increase our understanding of the status and trends of

natural origin steelhead in each river

Smolt-to-Adult Survivals

Life History and Genetics

Broodstock Collection

Tucannon and Touchet River SteelheadPre-Program Stock Status

86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 980

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Tucannon FH Trap Touchet Spawning Index

Run Year

Num

ber o

f Fis

h

Lower Tucannon RiverTemporary Adult Trap

Adult Trap Issues

Fish able to easily pass both trapping sitesunder high spring time flow conditions

99 00 01 02 03 04 05 060

40

80

120

160

200Tucannon Wild Adults

Run Year

Num

ber o

f Fis

h

Previous Hatchery Influence?

LFH Stock steelhead released in both Tucannon and Touchet Basins for 20 years

Spatial and Temporal overlap in spawning

Possible Genetic Introgression

Is This Worth the Effort??

01Tu

cann

on

04Tu

cann

on

05Tucannon

99Touchet

00Touchet

01Touchet

02Touchet

03Touchet

04Touchet

05Touchet

99Ly

onsF

erry

05LyonsF

erry

02LyonsFerry

04LyonsFerry

98/99Lyons Ferry

02Tucannon

03Tucannon98/99 Tucannon

0.002

00Tucannon

98.566.0

Genetic Data(Chord-distance tree)

5-Year Assessment Fish Were Available for Broodstock

Distinct Stocks (similar)

Adult Traps Inadequate for Evaluations Transition to PIT Tags for Adult Return Evaluation

Issues at Hatchery (Spawning and Rearing) Unripe/not enough Males, Multiple Eggtakes Poor Feeding, Size Goals not achieved, High CV’s, etc….

12 Years Later Where Are We Today?

Tucannon: Implemented (2010)Interim Goal: 75K – 100% conservation

Long Term Goal: 150K 50K - conservation100K - harvest mitigation

Touchet: No Decision

Remaining Presentation

Hatchery Produtuction

Natural Stock Monitoring

Adult Return Comparisons (wild-hatchery)

Program Summary

Endemic Stock Steelhead Program Trap and Release Locations

Lyons Ferry Hatchery

Washington

Walla Walla River

Tucannon River

Columbia River

Touchet River

ICH

LMNLGO

LGR Idaho

Release Location

Traps/Rearing

LyonsFerry

Dayton Tucannon FH

Oregon

Adult Traps

Dayton Trap

Tucannon FH Trap

Release Strategies

Tucannon FH

Lyons Ferry Hatchery

Tucannon Touchet

8 Week Acclimation

Tucannon and Touchet Steelhead Broodstock History

Source Years# of Females

Spawned Ne

Tucannon River 2000-2010 13-16 23-36Tucannon River 2011 - Present 18-19 36-41

** 23 (6%) F1’s have been used

Touchet River 2000 - Present 12-18 18-36

Tucannon Stock (2009-2012)Run Timing and Broodstock Collection

1/24

1/29

2/3

2/8

2/13

2/18

2/23

2/28

3/5

3/10

3/15

3/20

3/25

3/30

4/4

4/9

4/14

4/19

4/24

4/29

5/4

5/9

5/14

5/19

5/24

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%TotalKeptTotal %Kept %

Date

Num

ber o

f Fis

h Cumulative

Touchet Stock (2000-2012)Run Timing and Broodstock Collection

1/29

2/3

2/8

2/13

2/18

2/23

2/28

3/5

3/10

3/15

3/20

3/25

3/30

4/4

4/9

4/14

4/19

4/24

4/29

5/4

5/9

5/14

5/19

5/24

5/29

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%TotalKeptKept%Total%

Date

Num

ber o

f Fis

h Cumulative

Broodstock Disposition

86%

11%1%

2%

86%

7%

2%5%

Tucannon Touchet

Spawned Pre-Spawn Mortality Not Used Returned to River

Egg to Release Survival

00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 110%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Green Egg to Smolt Eyed Egg to Smolt

Brood Year

Surv

ival

00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 110%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Green Egg to Smolt Eyed Egg to Smolt

Brood Year

Surv

ival

TouchetTucannon

Disease/Pathology

00010203040506070809101112 000102030405060708091011120%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Brood Year

Dete

ction

of I

HNV

(% o

f Fem

ales

)

Tucannon Touchet

Marking and Tagging

No Fin Clips

CWT and/or VIE (Generally 100% of Release)

PIT Tagged (2003+) N Purpose Tucannon 5,000-15,000 Adult Returns/Straying Touchet 5,000-10,000 Adult Returns/Straying

Tucannon Endemic Stock Releases

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 120

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

Smolt Fingerling Fry Smolt Goal

Release Year

Num

ber o

f Fis

h

Touchet Endemic Stock Releases

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 120

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

Smolt Fry 2-Year Smolt Goal

Release Year

Num

ber o

f Fis

h

Smolt Release Size

2001 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20122

3

4

5

6

7

Tucannon Touchet Size Goal

Release Year

Fish

/Lb

Release Size Goal = 4.5 Fish/Lb

Natural Stock Monitoring

Tucannon River PIT TaggingMY PIT Tags

1998 4651999 3642000 5632001 3332002 1,5062003 1,5562004 1,9842005 1,8352006 1,4172007 3002008 1,0872009 1,2002010 2,632

Smolt Traps and PIT Arrays

Oregon

Walla Walla River

Tucannon River

Columbia River

Touchet River

ICH

LMNLGO

LGR Idaho

PIT Arrays

Smolt Traps

Natural Origin SteelheadTotal Age Composition

Touchet

Age 3Age 4Age 5Age 6Age 7

Tucannon

Age 3Age 4Age 5Age 6Age 7

5% Repeat Spawners1% Repeat Spawners

Endemic and Natural Stock Adult Returns Tucannon River

Tucannon and Lyons Ferry StockRun Timing at Ice Harbor Dam

15-Jun 15-Jul 15-Aug 15-Sep 15-Oct 15-Nov0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Natural Stock Lyons Ferry Stock Endemic Stock

Cum

ulati

ve

Date

Tucannon and Lyons Ferry StockRun Timing into Tucannon River

Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

LFH Stock Endemic Stock Natural Stock

Cum

ulati

ve

Month

Tucannon River Releases – Survival by StockPIT Tag Detections to Ice Harbor (SAR)

02 03 04 05 06 07 08 090%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

Natural SARLFH SAREndemic SARSAR Goal

Migration Year

Surv

ival

Tucannon River Straying

Stock(Migration Years)

Number ofPITs Detected

at IHR Dam

Enter Tucannon

RiverRemain above

LGR DamUnknown Location

LFH – Tucannon River Release

(06-10)790 23% 55% 22%

Tucannon River Endemic

(04-10)752 29% 55% 16%

Tucannon River Natural(04-10)

165 29% 53% 18%

Tucannon River Basin Escapement50% of PIT Tags Past Ice Harbor

00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 110

200

400

600

800

1000

Natural Endemic

Run Year

Num

ber o

f Fis

h

Tucannon River - Net Gain

319Removed from

River for Broodstock(2000-2009)

Back to TucannnonRiver to Spawn

1,9506.1 R/S

Tucannon River Basin Escapement50% of PIT Tags Past Ice Harbor

00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 110

200

400

600

800

1000

Natural Endemic

Run Year

Num

ber o

f Fis

h

FMEP Fishery Guideline = 285Minimum Abundance Threshold

Tucannon Population Streams

WashingtonOregon

Walla Walla River

Tucannon River

Asotin Cr.

Clearwater River

Columbia River

Touchet River

ICH

LMNLGO

LGR

IdahoAlmota

Penewawa

Deadman

Alkali Flat LyonsFerry

What is the Tucannon Population?

00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 110

200

400

600

800

1000

Natural Endemic

Run Year

Num

ber o

f Fis

h

FMEP Fishery Guideline = 285Minimum Abundance Threshold

We’ve seen Tucannon River steelhead straying “OUT”

What about other steelhead populations straying “IN”?

PIT Steelhead Detected in Tucannon RiverSpring Entries Only (Feb-May)

Salmon Up Columbia Grande RondeClearwater

Hatchery Origin

Tucannon RiverReleases

(LFH + Endemic)

Salmon Up Columbia Imnaha Asotin

Wild Origin

TucannonRiver Origin

ColumbiaRiver TribsWalla WallaJohn DayDeschutes15 Mile CrUmatilla

OtherLyonsFerryStock

Endemic and Natural Stock Adult Returns Touchet River

Touchet and Lyons Ferry StockRun Timing at McNary Dam

01-Jun 01-Jul 01-Aug 01-Sep 01-Oct 01-Nov0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Natural Stock Lyons Ferry Stock Endemic Stock

Cum

ulati

ve

Date

Touchet River Releases – Survival by StockPIT Tag Detections to McNary (SAR)

04 05 06 07 08 09

-1%

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

Natural SARLFH SAREndemic SARSAR Goal

Migration Year

Surv

ival

Touchet River Strays

Stock(Migration years)

Number of PITs Detected at

McNary DamPass Above

IHR DamEnter Walla Walla River

Unknown Location

LFH – TouchetRiver Release

(08-10)286 84% 12% 4%

Touchet River Endemic

(08-10)145 50% 36% 14%

Touchet River Natural(08-10)

47 34% 28% 38%

Touchet River Summer SteelheadSpawning Ground Survey Index Area

86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 100

100200300400500600700800900

Natural Lyons Ferry Touchet

Run Year

Num

ber o

f Fis

h

Touchet River - Net Gain

299Removed from

River for Broodstock(2000-2008)

Back to TouchetRiver to Spawn

6792.3 R/S

Touchet River Summer SteelheadRecruits/Spawner – Index Area Only

87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 060

1

2

3

Brood Year

Recr

uits

/Spa

wne

r Geometric mean = 0.9

Tucannon River Summary

Implemented Tucannon Program in 2010 (Bi-Op RPA) Elimination of LFH stock

Smolt Production ↑ to 75,000 150,000 Goal (50K – Conservation, 100K – Harvest Mitigation) Additional Facilities at LFH Required

BPA Funding for ↑ monitoring (Bi-Op RPA) ↑ PIT’s and PIT Arrays to better estimate adult returns and

distribution for natural and endemic stock in Tucannon River

Tucannon River Summary (cont)

SAR’s and Adult Returns to LSRCP project area are meeting goals, but not to Tucannon River

Straying (“OUT” and “IN”) Hydro-system/natural behavior/environmental?

Population Definition and Abundance? Future Fishery Plans within Tucannon River at Risk?

Touchet River Summary Program has remained Status Quo

Poor SAR’s and Adult Returns 2-year smolt program Acclimation?

Based on performance to date – LFH stock replacement is not an option (WDFW)

Conservation Program?? Identified in Bi-Op

Questions

Tucannon RiverSmolt Length Distribution (2000-2011)

130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 2500%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

Age 1 Age 2 Age 3

Fork Length (mm)

Freq

uenc

y

Adult Returns to Tucannon FH

90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 110

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Natural Lyons Ferry Tucannon

Run Year

Num

ber o

f Fis

h

Touchet RiverAdult Returns to Dayton Trap

92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 110

200

400

600

800

1,000

Natural Lyons Ferry Touchet

Run Year

Num

ber o

f Fis

h

Tucannon and Touchet StocksParent:Progeny Ratios

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 20090

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Tucannon Touchet

Brood Year

Pare

nt:P

roge

ny R

atio

Tucannon Avg = 40Touchet Avg = 10

↑104

Tucannon Natural Smolts

96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 110

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

Migration Year

Num

ber o

f Sm

olts