The goal of this project is to assess the status of anadromous salmonid populations in the Asotin Creek watershed above George Creek.  The project is designed to enumerate adult salmonids entering Asotin Creek to spawn and estimate the juvenile migrant population and emigration patterns.  Data collected from this project in 2004-2006 suggests that Asotin Creek – above eight FCRPS dams on the Snake and Columbia Rivers – has a highly productive and resilient population of naturally-producing summer steelhead, and may be an important nursery of the Snake River summer steelhead evolutionarily significant unit (ESU).  In addition, since Asotin Creek is managed as a wild steelhead refuge by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW), population status monitoring of this unsupplemented population will provide reference data against which management actions can be assessed for this and other eastside subbasins.

For FY07, WDFW is requesting a 13-month budget with the contract term of January 1, 2007 through January 31, 2008, based on the funding recommendation for this project over the 2007 through 2009 fiscal years (36-month funding cycle).  The purpose is to move submittal of the final Annual Report to January 31st (rather than December 31st) of each year.  This will allow us to include all of the annual data – the biological year and calendar year are the same on Asotin Creek – in the Annual Report.  In addition, it is more efficient to write reports outside of the holiday season.  Lastly, the 13-month budget for FY07 will help keep the project viable (i.e., implementing the same work elements, data collection and reporting) by shaping the budget to provide for cost increases over the 2007 through 2009 fiscal years.

A unique feature of this project is the use of a resistance board floating weir and integrated fish traps.  We have been sharing this technology with other agencies and BPA-funded projects in the basin.  For the 2007 trapping season, the adult trap has been moved downstream 0.5 km (0.3 mi) from its 2005-2006 location.  

In October 2006, WDFW was presented a Conservation Partnership Award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in recognition of our work with the Asotin Conservation District to restore and protect the Asotin Creek watershed.  The award was presented by USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, Mark Rey, who oversees the Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service.