Steelhead Kelt Reconditioning

Program Update

Presented by:

Bill Bosch, Yakama Fisheries

Acknowledgements:

D. Fast, M. Johnston, T. Newsome

Prosser Hatchery Crew

Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission

Bonneville Power Administration

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission

01,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,000

1984

1987

1990

1993

1996

1999

2002

2005

2008

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Prosser Redds Roza

Yakima Steelhead Escapement Trends, 1984 – Present

Pro

sser

Cou

nts

Roz

a/R

edd

Cou

nts

Prosser Adult Abundance

01,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,000

1984

1987

1990

1993

1996

1999

2002

2005

2008

Yakima Steelhead Abundance Trends

Redd Abundance

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

Roza Adult Abundance

050

100150200250300350

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

Natural Smolt Abundance Estimates

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

0

1

2

3

4

5

1987

-88

1989

-90

1991

-92

1993

-94

1995

-96

1997

-98

1999

-00

2001

-02

2003

-04

2005

-06

2007

-08

2009

-10

Point Smoothed Linear (Point)

Yakima Steelhead Adult-Adult Productivity Trend (‘gross’ estimate of age-4 recruits per age-4 spawner)

Can Kelt Reconditioning be used to increase abundance and productivity?

Management Scenarios

1. Direct Release

2. No-Term

3. Short-Term

4. Long-Term

Chandler Kelt Collection, 2001-09

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Nu

mb

er o

f F

ish

Upstream Kelt

Range: 18-38% Mean : ~28%

Kelt Disposition, 2001-09

16.2%

41.7%18.4%

23.7%ReleasedImmediately

Mortalities

Short-Term

Long-Term

Short- and Long-Term Survival ofReconditioned Kelts to Release

0.0%

20.0%

40.0%

60.0%

80.0%

100.0%

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

LongTerm

ShortTerm

Yakima R. Steelhead Escapementwith Reconditioning

0500

1,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,0004,5005,000

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

Fresh Recond.

7.4%

11.3%

2.4%

Percentage increase in escapement due to reconditioning.

8.4%

4.4%5.5%

6.7% 7.9%

Survival Comparison of Short- and No-Term Reconditioned Kelts to ‘natural’ Iteroparity

0.0%

3.0%

6.0%

9.0%

12.0%

% o

f F

ish

Rel

ease

d

2002 2004 2006 2008 Mean

ST

NT

Yak

Roza

PIT Return Rates to Bonneville Dam

Relationship of Short-Term Kelt Survival to Ocean Conditions

2008

2002

Problem: Don’t know ocean conditions in advance

Survival Comparison of Short- and No-Term Reconditioned Kelts to ‘natural’ Iteroparity

0.0%

3.0%

6.0%

9.0%

12.0%

% o

f F

ish

Rel

ease

d

2005 2006 2007 2008 Pooled

ST

NT

Yak

Bonneville Adult Ladder Tag Detections

2008 2009

LT Release 246 140

PRO Detect 91 45

Detect Proportion 37.0% 32.1%

What happens to long-term kelts after release?

2001-2005 radio telemetry studies found 70% of recaptured tags at mouths of Satus and Toppenish Creeks

Knowns:• Grow substantially and remature their gonads• Produce viable gametes• Find mates• Locate appropriate spawning habitat• Construct and guard redds• Recaptures show evidence of spawning• Successful reproduction has been recorded in

Omak Creek

Reproductive Success

Questions??