This is a clearly written proposal that presents a multi-pronged approach to improving the kokanee fishery in Dworshak Reservoir. In the response, the sponsors adequately explained their basis for concluding that underwater strobe lights will effectively reduce fish entrainment at Dworshak Dam.



Project objectives focus on increasing kokanee size and abundance, reducing entrainment through Dworshak Dam, and enhancing reservoir productivity. The Clearwater Subbasin Plan (Problem 5, objective 1 - strategy 2) specifies the installation of strobe lights and defines research to minimize fish entrainment through Dworshak Dam. The Subbasin Plan defines research to investigate the effects of loss or lack of nutrients due to federal hydropower-related loss of anadromous salmonids, and evaluate nutrient enhancement alternatives (section 4.3.1 Aquatics: I. General, Proposal 1). The project methods appear reasonable, and the experimental design is defensible.



The proposal describes links to other related projects including 1) the USACE Walla Walla District's Dworshak Reservoir Nutrient Enhancement Project; 2) the Confederated Colville Tribes' Chief Joseph Kokanee Enhancement Project (# 199501100) that is focused on assessing and reducing kokanee entrainment, monitoring kokanee abundance, and testing the effectiveness of underwater strobe lights at reducing fish entrainment; and 3) the Idaho Fish and Game studies of bull trout in the North Fork Clearwater, which is determining bull trout temporal and spatial distributions within Dworshak Reservoir.