AUTHORIZATION & RELATIONSHIP TO THE COLUMBIA BASIN FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM: The Grande Ronde Supplementation -
Lostine River Spring Chinook Operations and Maintenance program is a cooperative project between the NPT, ODFW, CTUIR, and USFWS. This program was initiated in 1994 as a conservation measure in response to severely declining runs of chinook salmon in the Grande Ronde Basin. The program utilizes supplementation with conventional and captive brood production to prevent extirpation and begin rebuilding of ESA listed spring chinook.

The Lostine River Chinook program relates to many of the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program (FWP) objectives and measures (NPPC 1994). Measure 7.2D.1, encourages incorporating effective husbandry practices and Measure 7.2D.3 includes the investigation of hatchery rearing operations and release strategies to improve survival of propagated fish. In addition, this project furthers the development of FWP Measure 7.4D (Captive Brood Stocks), 7.4F (Portable Facilities for Adult Salmon Collection and Holding, and for Juvenile Salmon Acclimation), and 7.40 (Small-Scale Production Projects). The monitoring and evaluation research outlined in this proposal is consistent with FWP Measure 7.1C (baseline data collection from naturally spawning populations). Measure 7.2A.6 which stresses the need for evaluating the genetic and ecological impacts of outplanting hatchery fish on wild populations, Measure 7.4L.1, which mandates evaluation of supplementation projects to increase production. Finally, Measure 7.4D.3 encourages the study of hatchery rearing and release strategies to improve survival and adaptation of cultured fish. The strength of these mandates is intensified by the inclusion of the Lostine River spring chinook population as listed under the Endangered Species Act on May 22, 1992. The facilities and activities associated with this program have been authorized under ESA Section 10 and Section 7 Permits and Biological Opinions. These documents include ESA Section 10 Permit 973, Permit No. 1011 (ODFW 1996), Modification on Permit No. 1011, Permit No. 1149 (BIA 1998) and Permit No. 1164, FWS Section 7 Biological Opinion 501.1100, 1-4-98-F4 (bull trout), and NMFS Section 10 Biological Opinion (1998).

PROJECT SUMMARY:

The Grande Ronde River subbasin historically supported large runs of wild chinook salmon. Adult returns to the Grande Ronde in the late 1950's were estimated at more than 10,000 fish per year. Escapement levels have since declined to what co-managers have determined is an emergency situation. The Upper Grande Ronde River , Catherine Creek and the Lostine River were historically three of the most productive spawning and rearing areas in the Grande Ronde basin. In 1958, 893 spring chinook redds were counted in the Lostine River. In contrast, 16 redds were counted in 1994 and 11 reds in 1995.

In 1994, fisheries co-mangers, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). Nez Perce Tribe (NPT), and Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) implemented a supplementation program utilizing indigenous stock in the Upper Grande Ronde, Catherine Creek, and Lostine River. This project was identified by tribal, state and federal managers as one of the top 15 high priority projects warranting immediate implementation. The NPT , in coordination with ODFW, is responsible for operating supplementation facilities (adult collection and holding and juvenile acclimation and release) on the Lostine River.

Lostine River Acclimation Facility

The Lostine River acclimation facility was constructed in 1998 and is approximately twelve miles upstream from the mouth. Facility design capacity is approximately 250,000 fish at 20 fish/lb with a density index of 0.28. The facility consists of a water supply intake, supply pipeline, four raceways, drain/release pipes and in-line PIT tag detection devices.

Lostine River Adult Monitoring and Collection Facility

Beginning in 1997, the project has operated the adult weir facility located approximately one mile upstream from the mouth for the collection of broodstock and baseline data on adult chinook escapement to the Lostine River. The adult weir facility consists of a collapsible panel weir which spans the entire width of the river and a trap unit to ensure fullest collection of returning adult chinook. Adult success has ranged from 13 to 1,091 adult chinook annually with about 65% of the run being trapped each of the last five years.

COORDINATION:

The Nez Perce Tribe, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, developed the Grande Ronde Supplementation - Lostine River Spring Chinook Operations and Maintenance program cooperatively. All activities involving the program (operation and monitoring/evaluation), i.e., spawning ground surveys, adult trapping, spawning, incubation, juvenile rearing, juvenile tagging and marking, and smolt release will be coordinated among the co-managers. Documents cooperatively prepared describing program operations include: ESA Section 10 permit applications (ODFW 1996, ODFW 1998, BIA 1998) and LSRCP Annual Operating Plans (AOP).

Forums that the co-managers participate in to coordinate operations are LSRCP Evaluation Coordination Committee, Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority, Conservation Planning Oversight Committee, Captive/Conventional Broodstock Technical Oversight Team and the U.S. v. Oregon Production and Policy Committees. All activities are permitted under the Section 10 Permit process. Funding and program oversight  is through BPA. Other entities involved in the project include USFWS, NMFS, NPPC, and CBFWA. Coordination also occurs with landowners leasing property for facilities and cultural resource, construction and engineer consultants involved in developing and operating the adult and juvenile facilities. Coordination internally for Nez Perce Traibe includes attending all relevant Inter and Intra-agency meetings as required to coordinate activities and share information. Included are internal coordination meetings to abide by the Nez Perce Tribe policies and procedures as required (Human Resources, Finance, Resolutions, Administrative Actions, ect.) and with all other policy personnel directions.

PROJECT GOALS AND 2008 OBJECTIVES

The overall goal of this supplementation program is; 1) to prevent extinction, 2) to provide a future basis to reverse the decline in stock abundance, and 3) to ensure a high probability of population persistence. The Nez Perce Tribe is responsible for implementation, coordination, and facilitation of the Lostine River component of the Grande Ronde Supplementation projects. Activities conducted under this project are associated with operations and maintenance.

O&M Goal:    Operate and maintain adult collection and juvenile acclimation and release facilities necessary to implement the Lostine River portion of the Grande Ronde Supplementation - Lostine River Spring Chinook Operations and Maintenance program and achieve the overall program goal of increasing adult returns.

To achieve this goal the current juvenile acclimation and adult collection/monitoring facilities described above are required. The Operations and Maintenance of these facilities require coordination with involved co-managers to provide activities intended in the Annual Operating Plan, the installation of required operational equipment, provide twenty-four hour operational management of these facilities, allow for scheduled tours of the facilities, providing for year round maintenance of the same facilities, produce required reports as requested by the funding source and provide professional assistance to co-managed facilities as requested. NPT's co-managers include USFWS, ODFW, NOAA/NMFS and CTUIR.