Although the sponsors have clearly demonstrated the recruitment limitations affecting white sturgeon in this river reach, they have not provided any further scientific justification for the initiation of a Three-Step Review. They note that: "the first step of the process includes a feasibility study component that includes a comprehensive evaluation of existing facilities, (including Sherman Creek Hatchery), to determine if renovation of an existing facility will meet our needs, or if a new facility must be built. ” Existing information provided to the ISRP did not yet clearly indicate the need for additional hatchery capacity beyond the existing capacity.

The sponsors indicate that "Sherman Creek Hatchery is currently meeting our aquaculture needs on an interim basis to support larval sturgeon rearing and to assist the upper Columbia/Lake Roosevelt fisheries co-managers in meeting goals to preserve and protect white sturgeon…Sherman Creek Hatchery has adequate space and production amenities to support current interim hatchery operations."They appropriately note that conservation aquaculture facility needs may change and that "identifying a dedicated facility that better meets evolving needs may become critical to meeting white sturgeon recovery goals," and that “recruitment failure hypotheses testing research and hatchery monitoring could potentially impact aquaculture production needs in the near future (within the 5 year funding cycle). "They note that "The ultimate goal of the LRWSCH 3-Step Project is not to specifically increase current production of white sturgeon, but to ensure the availability of an adequate aquaculture rearing facility in the long-term, as well as support potential changes to production goals in the near-term.”No information, however preliminary, is provided on how existing capacity would be inadequate to meet stocking goals, or what those preliminary goals might be as they relate to the need for a new hatchery. No basic numerical information is provided for the ISRP to understand how the need for a hatchery is present or imminent. This sort of information is requested in Step 1. 

Because of the uncompleted state of the revised White Sturgeon Recovery Plan (outside the control of the sponsors), it is also difficult to determine how critical a proposed hatchery is to meet recovery goals and specific production objectives at a larger scale. It remains unclear how this work is coordinated with WDFW Sherman Hatchery experimental work and the Colville Tribes. For a Step review, demonstration of agreement and integration among the various entities on management and restoration of Lake Roosevelt sturgeon should be presented. The current production at Sherman Creek, to be part of the Fish and Wildlife Program, also needs to be part of the Step Review and Master Plan development. 

 

Step 1 of the Step Review should include a full description of the actual and projected production capacity, including Sherman Creek Hatchery.

Revisit the need for additional white sturgeon rearing capacity after the genetic analyses are completed in the summer of 2012. The ISRP will review as part of the Step Review Process.

The sponsors provided a reasonable rationale for initiating a white sturgeon conservation hatchery Step Review. The ISRP response request is for justification that anticipated production cannot be met with existing capacity at Sherman Creek or other neighboring facilities.

Sufficient justification of the lack of recruitment is provided in support of a request to initiate the Three Step process. However, there is no justification for the planning of a hatchery based on the need for extra capacity. With a documented history of hatchery production at Sherman Creek and enhancement in the transboundary reach, recruitment limitation does not by itself seem adequate justification for planning another hatchery. Although detailed justification for the hatchery in terms of numbers of fish to be released, target goals, expected mortality rates to maturation, etc. are finalized in the Step process, it would seem appropriate if some of the basic numbers were developed in this proposal to confirm that there is a shortage of sturgeon rearing capacity at Sherman Creek and elsewhere for supplying the transboundary reach. It seems that more than 3,000 sturgeon were produced and released last year.

1. Purpose: Significance to Regional Programs, Technical Background, and Objectives

This is a proposal to fund a planning process potentially leading to another sturgeon hatchery in the upper Columbia Basin. 

Significance to regional programs: The linkages to the NPPC Fish and Wildlife Program, Lake Roosevelt Fisheries Guiding Document, the Upper Columbia River White Sturgeon Recovery Plan, the Spokane Subbasin Plan, and other management plans are reasonably presented and summarized. Conservation aquaculture is identified as a recommended strategy in the Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative, and many state and tribal agencies are participants along with US and Canadian national level agencies. There is no mention of whether this recovery initiative has been peer reviewed, and whether it has been formally approved by the participating entities. Until the recovery plan is fully vetted, its status as a forum for guiding and justifying an artificial production strategy seems premature. The sponsors’ response should describe the status of the recovery initiative.

Technical background: The summary of studies of white sturgeon status in the Columbia River above Grand Coulee and the hypothesis that recruitment limitation is due to an altered hydrograph owing to dams and reservoirs in Canada is adequately presented. The hypothesis of the primary limiting factor is consistent with white sturgeon investigations elsewhere, for example, the Snake River in Idaho. The background would be improved with additional information on the status of sturgeon conservation successes and failures using artificial production. Step 1 of a Master Plan should include this information.

The technical background (Problem Statement) is extensive and covers the status and recruitment failure of white sturgeon populations in this area well.

The overarching objective to provide a more normative age structure for white sturgeon along with conserving extant genetic diversity is reasonable and well stated. There is a need, however, to quantify these objectives. What are the goals for abundance and age structure? What is the goal for preserving genetic diversity? Many details would be expected in Step 1 or earlier; however, no information is provided here.

The potential for using wild-caught juveniles is an important opportunity and needs to be developed more fully.

2. History: Accomplishments, Results, and Adaptive Management (ISRP Review of Results)

The problem statement provides a summary of past investigations. The development of a sturgeon Master Plan is waiting for the completion of investigations of genetic diversity. It would be useful in the Master Plan Step 1 document to identify all the data that would ideally be available for development of the plan, and then identify the status and confidence in the data that is available in each category.

Available evidence indicates that the sponsors have coordinated closely with the CCT and WDFW to reach agreement on goals for a conservation hatchery. The organization appears to be in place for initiating a Step Review process. However, the relation to other specific hatchery efforts by other tribal and non-tribal entities in the basin is not well explained in the proposal. 

The problems with recruitment in the Lake Roosevelt population are well outlined in the proposal. Also, the ability to sample wild, young-of-the-year fish provide an unusual, and perhaps unique at present, capability to evaluate sturgeon artificial propagation from a different perspective than broodstock collection. This point should perhaps have been raised more prominently in the proposal.

3. Project Relationships, Emerging Limiting Factors, and Tailored Questions for Type of Work (hatchery, RME, tagging)

Overall, responses to questions were adequate. The sponsors proposed effort appears to be coordinated with other similar BPA projects.

There was no discussion of potential future emerging limiting factors such as from adverse interactions with non-native species or effects of climate change. This should be added.

It would have been useful to clearly state and provide some evidence that that rearing capacity for sturgeon was limited, and that no space is available at Sherman Creek and other facilities. Data are presented on the releases from other hatcheries in the reach, but insufficient discussion ensues of the inadequacies of those facilities to meet production goals.

4. Deliverables, Work Elements, Metrics, and Methods

The draft Master Plan and subsequent step elements generally appear consistent with the three step process. The proposal states in a number of places that a Hatchery Genetic Management Plan (HGMP) will be developed for issues not already covered in the recovery plan. This is inconsistent with the format of HGMPs that the ISRP has seen for salmon and steelhead. The HGMP is a stand-alone product that appropriately covers all elements of production.

The discussion of the Master Plan appears focused on evaluating artificial production alternatives. The Master Plan needs to begin with a foundation on the stock status of the populations, the quantitative objectives for recovery including abundance and genetic diversity, and then evaluate options for achieving the recovery including artificial production options. Once artificial production is established as a reasonable strategy, facilities to accomplish the strategy can be evaluated.

The Deliverables identified were all related to Step Review process.

Although the vast majority of the funding requested is for sub-contractors, there is no indication of who these contractors are or if they have been contacted or involved in project coordination.

Modified by Dal Marsters on 4/17/2012 12:57:22 PM.

SPONSOR RESPONSE TO ISRP COMMENTS: Resident Fish Categorical Review. 

Lake Roosevelt White Sturgeon Conservation Hatchery 3-Step (BPA Project 2007-372-00)

Sponsor: Spokane Tribe

ISRP recommendation: Response requested

Response Requested/Comments:  The sponsors provided a reasonable rationale for initiating a white sturgeon conservation hatchery Step Review. The ISRP response request is for justification that anticipated production cannot be met with existing capacity at Sherman Creek or other neighboring facilities.

Sufficient justification of the lack of recruitment is provided in support of a request to initiate the Three Step process. However, there is no justification for the planning of a hatchery based on the need for extra capacity. With a documented history of hatchery production at Sherman Creek and enhancement in the transboundary reach, recruitment limitation does not by itself seem adequate justification for planning another hatchery. Although detailed justification for the hatchery in terms of numbers of fish to be released, target goals, expected mortality rates to maturation, etc. are finalized in the Step process, it would seem appropriate if some of the basic numbers were developed in this proposal to confirm that there is a shortage of sturgeon rearing capacity at Sherman Creek and elsewhere for supplying the transboundary reach. It seems that more than 3,000 sturgeon were produced and released last year.

 

3. Project Relationships, Emerging Limiting Factors, and Tailored Questions for Type of Work (hatchery, RME, tagging)

It would have been useful to clearly state and provide some evidence that that rearing capacity for sturgeon was limited, and that no space is available at Sherman Creek and other facilities. Data are presented on the releases from other hatcheries in the reach, but insufficient discussion ensues of the inadequacies of those facilities to meet production goals.

RESPONSE:

Sherman Creek Hatchery is currently meeting our aquaculture needs on an interim basis to support larval sturgeon rearing and to assist the upper Columbia/Lake Roosevelt fisheries co-managers in meeting goals to preserve and protect white sturgeon.  Current hatchery operations are an interim measure intended to protect the remaining demographics and genetic diversity of the upper Columbia River white sturgeon population while researchers and managers assess factors limiting sturgeon and develop strategies to rebuild the natural age-class structure in the transboundary reach.  Sherman Creek Hatchery has adequate space and production amenities to support current interim hatchery operations.  However, as research under the Lake Roosevelt Sturgeon Recovery, White Sturgeon Enhancement, and Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative projects progresses, conservation aquaculture facility needs may change and identifying a dedicated facility that better meets evolving needs may become critical to meeting white sturgeon recovery goals.  Results of genetic research is imminent (summer 2012), and has the potential to change sturgeon conservation aquaculture production goals.  Further, recruitment failure hypotheses testing research and hatchery monitoring could potentially impact aquaculture production needs in the near future (within the 5 year funding cycle).  The ultimate goal of the LRWSCH 3-Step Project is not to specifically increase current production of white sturgeon, but to ensure the availability of an adequate aquaculture rearing facility in the long-term, as well as support potential changes to production goals in the near-term.  The first step of the process includes a feasibility study component that includes a comprehensive evaluation of existing facilities, (including Sherman Creek Hatchery), to determine if renovation of an existing facility will meet our needs, or if a new facility must be built.

 The need for this project is supported by the changes observed in the upper Columbia white sturgeon conservation aquaculture program in just the past 2 years.  Based on current genetics studies, the aquaculture program shifted from using eggs collected from adult white sturgeon broodstock to using wild larvae collected from known spawning areas in the river. Wild larvae are raised in discrete groups based on collection timing from the river, so the facility assessment and design must take into consideration the space required to rear fish under the revised operation plans.  The feasibility study proposed would develop a comprehensive list of positive and negative aspects for existing facilities, including potential structural, mechanical, and electrical alterations and associated cost estimates for renovations. Operation and maintenance cost estimates for each facility would also be assessed. Site selection would include examination of existing facilities and exploring undeveloped locations as an alternative if existing facilities prove unacceptable.  Sherman Creek Hatchery meets our current needs, but meeting the long-term needs of white sturgeon conservation aquaculture in the upper Columbia River is the goal of this project.

  

1. Purpose: Significance to Regional Programs, Technical Background, and Objectives

1a. Significance to Regional Programs: The linkages to the NPPC Fish and Wildlife Program, Lake Roosevelt Fisheries Guiding Document, the Upper Columbia River White Sturgeon Recovery Plan, the Spokane Subbasin Plan, and other management plans are reasonably presented and summarized. Conservation aquaculture is identified as a recommended strategy in the Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative, and many state and tribal agencies are participants along with US and Canadian national level agencies. There is no mention of whether this recovery initiative has been peer reviewed, and whether it has been formally approved by the participating entities. Until the recovery plan is fully vetted, its status as a forum for guiding and justifying an artificial production strategy seems premature. The sponsors’ response should describe the status of the recovery initiative.

RESPONSE:

The Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Plan (UCWSRP) produced in 2002 is currently under review to assess status of recovery efforts to date, and a revised Recovery Plan is in progress. The UCWSRP (2002) has been formally approved by the participating entities. Updates to the plan are currently in progress, and will be available for peer review during the summer of 2012.

 

1b. Technical background: The summary of studies of white sturgeon status in the Columbia River above Grand Coulee and the hypothesis that recruitment limitation is due to an altered hydrograph owing to dams and reservoirs in Canada is adequately presented. The hypothesis of the primary limiting factor is consistent with white sturgeon investigations elsewhere, for example, the Snake River in Idaho. The background would be improved with additional information on the status of sturgeon conservation successes and failures using artificial production. Step 1 of a Master Plan should include this information.

The overarching objective to provide a more normative age structure for white sturgeon along with conserving extant genetic diversity is reasonable and well stated. There is a need, however, to quantify these objectives. What are the goals for abundance and age structure? What is the goal for preserving genetic diversity? Many details would be expected in Step 1 or earlier; however, no information is provided here.

RESPONSE:

Current UCWSRI supplementation goals are based on the recommendations of Beamesderfer and Justice (2008):

Population targets

1. Use “current” abundance of adults in the Canadian-U.S. transboundary reach as a recovery target for combined natural and hatchery production. (Current based on abundance of 3,000 adults in 2003 at the time of initial COSEWIC listing as endangered.)
2. Use 1,000 adults in each of the Canadian and U.S. portions of the transboundary reach (2,000 total) as a target for the hatchery-reared component of the population.

Release numbers

1. Reduce annual Canadian transboundary release targets of yearlings from 12,000 to 4,000.
2. Continue annual U.S. transboundary releases of 4,000 yearlings.
3. Increase annual releases in the Revelstoke reach to 6,000 - 8,000 yearlings (number as permitted by priority to increase size at release of yearlings).
4. Release Canadian transboundary yearlings in the Keenleyside reach.
5. Increase size at release of subyearlings (to the extent practical) by utilizing increased rearing flexibility provided by changes in release numbers and family rearing strategies.
6. Use these release number targets for the next 3-5 years (2008-2012 broods).

Mating Strategy

1. Adopt partial factorial mating strategy where multiple half-sib families are created by crosses of multiple females and multiple males.
2. Utilize mixed family rearing to increase flexibility to bring all fish to comparable sizes for release and to reduce the potential for non-random hatchery selection.

Monitoring

1. Go to biennial juvenile sampling of the Canadian transboundary reach for monitoring of survival, growth, and condition.
2. Target a 5-10% average sample rate of juveniles for marks with conventional sampling methods.
3. Continue to PIT tag hatchery-reared fish to distinguish from natural-origin fish and to provide for continuing mark-recapture studies.
4. Explore opportunities to significantly increase sample rates using remote sensing technology for PIT tags.
5. Focus Revelstoke/Arrow monitoring on distribution habitat use, growth, and condition (rather than survival).

Recently, the LRWSRP altered its approach to supplementation by initiating a move to using naturally produced larvae collected from the Roosevelt Reach for supplementation efforts.  The motivations for this included: 1) recent research demonstrating that lake sturgeon offspring produced from direct gamete take were more related and exhibited lower genetic diversity than offspring produced from larvae collected while dispersing from spawning areas (Crossman et al. 2011); 2) collection of naturally produced eggs and post-hatch live stages for conservation aquaculture purposes was identified as a potential option in the UCWSRP; 3) plankton net sampling as part of LRWSRP early life history studies from 2004 to 2008 indicated that substantial numbers of post-hatch sturgeon could be collected alive and therefore potentially be reared in a hatchery environment; 4) broodstock collection would become more logistically challenging over time due to growth (i.e. length and weight) of the existing adult cohort; and 5) concerns over the potentially deleterious effects of sampling procedures on broodstock fish (i.e. capture, transport, spawning).

The 2010 pilot effort collected a total 2,744 larvae from the river and these were successfully reared at WDFW Sherman Creek Hatchery resulting in the release of 522 sub-yearling juveniles into the Roosevelt Reach on 1 December 2010.  Based on the success of the 2010 study, LRWSRP broodstock collection was suspended in 2011 in favor of a full scale larval collection effort.  Efforts in 2011 resulted in the release of 3,590 sub-yearling juveniles in December 2011 proving that larval collection is a viable alternative to direct gamete take from broodstock in terms of meeting annual release number targets.

Genetic goals for the transboundary reach conservation aquaculture program are currently under review.  Recently, the Spokane Tribe commissioned UC Davis researchers to undertake a study to determine how well the program has represented wild-type genetic diversity in its broodstock to date (Drauch Schreier and May 2011).  In this study, tissue samples from 95 sturgeon used as broodstock between 2001-2010 were compared with a previously compiled genotype database for 375 transboundary reach wild white sturgeon (Drauch Schreier et al. 2010).  The proportion of transboundary white sturgeon alleles detected within a single brood year ranged from 41% (2001) to 71% (2009) with the total sample representing ~87% of the populations genetics.  Re-sampling analysis showed a rapid increase in the number of alleles represented in the conservation aquaculture program with an increasing numbers of broodstock sampled until 20 adults, after which the rate of increase declined. The curve began to asymptote after 80 adults had been sampled.  In subsamples of ≥ 80 broodstock, between 80-92% of Upper Columbia River genetic diversity was represented.  Interestingly, three rare alleles were detected in broodstock samples that were not represented in the randomly sampled wild adults suggesting there is additional wild genetic diversity that has not yet been sampled in the Transboundary Reach.

In 2012, the Spokane Tribe contracted with researchers at UC Davis to conduct a genetics monitoring study comparing the effectiveness of the larval sampling strategy relative to broodstock collection at capturing wild type genetic diversity.  Results from this study and from previous work will provide a basis for evaluating the future of the transboundary white sturgeon aquaculture program in terms of its genetics goals.

 

2. History: Accomplishments, Results, and Adaptive Management (ISRP Review of Results)

Available evidence indicates that the sponsors have coordinated closely with the CCT and WDFW to reach agreement on goals for a conservation hatchery. The organization appears to be in place for initiating a Step Review process. However, the relation to other specific hatchery efforts by other tribal and non-tribal entities in the basin is not well explained in the proposal.

RESPONSE:

The LRWSCH 3-Step Project is linked with the Lake Roosevelt Sturgeon Recovery Project (BPA 1995-027-00), which was developed to assess white sturgeon population status in the upper Columbia River, and to determine the mechanisms causing recruitment failure of the population. Additionally, the LRSRP has conservation aquaculture activities ongoing at an interim facility to meet Recovery Plan goals to preserve the remaining demographic and genetic diversity of the population and to rebuild the natural age-class structure lost during the recruitment failures of the last 30 years (UCWSRI 2002). The UCWSRI provided funding to examine the population structure of white sturgeon in the upper Columbia River, that was aligned with lower and mid-Columbia River white sturgeon genetic assessments (Drauch Schreier et al. 2010), and the LRSRP completed a genetic assessment of broodstock used in conservation aquaculture activities in the upper Columbia River (both US and Canada; Drauch Schreier and May 2011). These, combined with the genetic assessment of the wild-caught larvae aquaculture program currently in progress, provide information critical to the feasibility studies and facility design components of the proposed dedicated white sturgeon conservation aquaculture facility for the upper Columbia River. Further, the LRSRP conducts annual adult and sub-yearling/juvenile stock assessments that monitor the status of hatchery fish in the study area.

The LRWSCH 3-Step Project will also be closely coordinated with the CCT White Sturgeon Enhancement Project (WSEP; BPA 2008-116-00), which is a new project intended to complement current recovery efforts conducted under the LRSRP in the upper Columbia River above Grand Coulee Dam (Roosevelt Reach). The projects will work closely to ensure cost effective and efficient completion of shared objectives. The LRSRP will remain the lead on completing long-term monitoring efforts, such as stock assessment, recruitment monitoring, and telemetry, as well as interim conservation aquaculture activities. The WSEP will assist with the stock assessment and recruitment monitoring. Also, the WSEP will lead the development and maintenance of an UCWSRI relational data management system that will support all of the upper Columbia sturgeon recovery efforts as well as maintaining aquaculture records. The LRWSCH 3-Step project will provide data to be incorporated into the databases, and the LRSRP and WSEP is tasked with monitoring the interim white sturgeon hatchery activities, and will likely retain that responsibility for the dedicated conservation aquaculture program.

The LRWSCH 3-Step project is linked to the Sherman Creek Hatchery Operations and Maintenance Project (BPA 1991-047-00). The interim hatchery activities proposed under the Lake Roosevelt Sturgeon Recovery Project occur at Sherman Creek Hatchery and the SCH Operations and Maintenance Project is a critical support piece in the collection and rearing of white sturgeon under the proposed project.

The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) project, Develop a Master Plan for a Rearing Facility to Enhance Selected Populations of White Sturgeon in the Columbia River Basin (BPA 2007-155-00) and the Yakama Nation project, Sturgeon Management (BPA 2008-455-00) are related to the establishment of aquaculture programs for supplementation of white sturgeon in the lower Columbia River impoundments (downstream of Priest Rapids Dam) and lower Snake River impoundments (downstream of Lower Granite Dam). Following the RME/AP Categorical Review, these two projects were tasked with the “development of a comprehensive management plan for white sturgeon through a collaborative effort involving currently funded projects.”  The Evaluate Sturgeon Populations in the Lower Columbia River Project (BPA 1986-050-00) and CRITFC Sturgeon Genetics project (BPA 2008-504-00) are to contribute to the development of the plan.  The comprehensive sturgeon management plan, recommended for development by the NPCC (NPCC Staff memo dated 6/30/2011; subject line; “Briefing on Lamprey and White Sturgeon; follow-up RME/AP activities), should include life history, status, and limiting factors descriptions, including a summary of current and past activities of projects in the region and data limitations and gaps that exist.  The plan should examine the extent to which previous and future work has or will benefit sturgeon and other fish and wildlife.  While the Comprehensive Sturgeon Management Plan is focused on the Columbia River from the mouth to Priest Rapids on the mainstem and upstream to Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River, the plan should also describe a comprehensive and integrated vision, goals, critical uncertainties, and risks related to uncertainties, research needs, strategies, and related provisions.  As such, the plan should include summary information for sturgeon areas above Priest Rapids and Lower Granite.

The Kootenai River Resident Fish Mitigation (BPA Project No. 1988-065-00) and Kootenai River White Sturgeon Aquaculture Conservation Facility (BPA Project No. 1988-064-00) are working to restore white sturgeon recruitment, similar to the LRSRP, WSEP, and LRWSCH 3-Step Projects. The efforts to understand factors limiting sturgeon recruitment in the Kootenai River formed the foundation for initial efforts in the upper Columbia River.  Specifically, the examination of hydro-operation and habitat impacts on recruitment. The continued gains in information by both of the Kootenai River Projects and the upper Columbia Projects will improve our understanding of recruitment failure and assist with identifying feasible responses, including informing conservation aquaculture activity direction.

This project also relates to work conducted by other, non-BPA funded projects in the Columbia River. The LRWSCH 3-Step Project is part of the UCWSRI. The LRWSCH 3-Step Project partners work collaboratively with researchers in both BC and WA to implement the UCWSRI Recovery Plan (2002) and achieve the Initiative’s goal to restore natural recruitment of sturgeon to a level where the population can support beneficial uses.

 

3. Project Relationships, Emerging Limiting Factors, and Tailored Questions for Type of Work (hatchery, RME, tagging)

There was no discussion of potential future emerging limiting factors such as from adverse interactions with non-native species or effects of climate change. This should be added.

RESPONSE:

The Lake Roosevelt White Sturgeon Conservation Hatchery 3-Step Project proposes progression through the Northwest Power and Conservation Council 3-Step review process to develop a dedicated conservation aquaculture facility for upper Columbia River white sturgeon populations. This project will assist with meeting long term goals to conserve and restore sturgeon populations in light of current limiting factors. The project will not provide insight into how emerging limiting factors will impact white sturgeon in the Transboundary Reach, but will potentially provide a fail-safe mechanism to protect sturgeon while LRSRP and WSEP researchers determine the best strategies to reduce impacts of limiting factors, both those currently impacting the population and emerging factors that may become more problematic in the future.

 

4. Deliverables, Work Elements, Metrics, and Methods 

Although the vast majority of the funding requested is for sub-contractors, there is no indication of who these contractors are or if they have been contacted or involved in project coordination.

RESPONSE:

The Lake Roosevelt fisheries co-managers (Spokane Tribe of Indians, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife) typically work collectively to define and direct aquaculture activities on the reservoir and in the upper Columbia River, and as such, are project sponsors (STOI) and subcontractors (WDFW, CCT) under this project.  Additional subcontractors responsible for specific aspects of moving through the 3-step process will be chosen based on expertise and knowledge in fields associated with white sturgeon and aquaculture facility design and will be selected following approval of funding.

 

Literature Cited

This page has citations that were not included in the proposal.  All other citations can be found in the literature cited section of the Lake Roosevelt White Sturgeon Conservation Hatchery 3-Step Project (BPA 2007-372-00) proposal.

Beamesderfer, C. and C. Justice.  2008.  Sturgeon Hatchery Release Targets. Report to the Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative Technical Working Group.