Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program
SOW Report
Contract 37711: 1988-065-00 EXP IDFG KOOTENAI RIVER FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS
Project Number:
Title:
Kootenai River Fishery Investigations
Stage:
Implementation
Area:
Province Subbasin %
Mountain Columbia Kootenai 100.00%
Contract Number:
37711
Contract Title:
1988-065-00 EXP IDFG KOOTENAI RIVER FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS
Contract Continuation:
Previous: Next:
32681: PROJECT 1988-065-00 KOOTENAI RIVER FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS
  • 42367: 1988-065-00 EXP IDFG KOOTENAI RIVER INVESTIGATIONS
Contract Status:
Closed
Contract Description:
The Kootenai River Fisheries Recovery Investigation is managed by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and is comprised of four major projects collectively called the Kootenai River Fisheries Recovery Investigations.  Most of the investigations are transboundary in nature and cooperative with various state, federal, provincial, and tribal agencies.  Notable past accomplishments include determination that the fish community in the Kootenai River since Libby Dam has changed to a greater representation of omnivores; the Kootenai River is nutrient poor and that the additions of Phosphorus has improved primary production, secondary production and most recently fish biomass; Kootenai River white sturgeon spawning migration can be accurately predicted by river temperature and stage;  micro habitat and spawning locations of sturgeon have been shown (10 or m of water, sand, temp of 8 C or more and velocities of 0.5 m/s) and that about 60 kcfs is necessary to scour sand from existing cobbles and gravels to provide more suitable spawning substrates; sturgeon spawn first at Shorty's Island and as the season progresses move further up stream but also with high discharge; sturgeon adults are perishing at about 9% a year with only about 10 new recruits a year and that within 20 years the population will be extinct, with mitigated flows sturgeon spawn but the spawning substrate is unsuitable for satisfactory incubation and rearing, PVA studies suggest that at least 210 recruits each year are now necessary to recover the population in 25 years; burbot travel rate, migration and spawning is dictated by discharge with high discharge>12 kcfs during winter impairing burbot spawning, also warmer winter temperatures are delaying migration and may have disrupted burbot maturation and spawning synchrony; bull trout numbers are stable but low spawning primarily in Calahan creeks; rainbow trout recruitment and growth is low and that there are at least two life history forms with adfluvial fish in the Deep Creek drainage and primarily fluvial fish above Bonners Ferry, Boulder Creek in Idaho is the most important tributary to rainbow recruitment but about 50% of the adults spawn in Montana tributaries.  These accomplishments and more are also found in more than 35 annual reports and about15 peer reviewed publications with several more in progress.  Also, included in the investigation is the feasibility of restoring Smith Creek to it's natural channel and rejoining the Kootenai River.

1) First is the white sturgeon measures were taken to rehabilitate the Kootenai River white sturgeon population, an endangered species, the goal is to rehabilitate sturgeon to a fishable level and remove them from the ESA list.  The FY8 goals and tasks will focus on assessing the management application of the "Pilot Project" site and woody material each is or will be in a high use spawning site with the objective of recovery for white sturgeon, the Pilot Project is the first phase of habitat enhancement of a sturgeon spawning site to improve incubation and rearing habitat.  Adult sturgeon will have VEMCO transmitters implanted and their activity around the proposed site will be determined to document Pilot Project use.   This will provide information for future habitat enhancement work. In Aug of 2006 the USACE initiated the Pilot Project by placing  large rock in the Kootenai River at this spawning site.  A stratified random sampling method will be used to statistically document the use of the Pilot Project for the second year and compared to other spawning locations, non-spawning locations and preferred spawning locations.  This will be done through a series of sampling techniques at each early life stage.  Also, juvenile sturgeon will be sampled to identify the success of recovery measures by the USACE as mitigation for sturgeon spawning and recruitment.  Further, juvenile wild and hatchery sturgeon will be sampled in July and August to determine hatchery sturgeon survival and contribution of wild sturgeon from previous mitigation measures by the USACE and BPA.  There will also be an evaluation of a very substantial laval release.

2) A burbot (a species of special concern) investigation in FY08 is designed to determine the management application of measures through a Conservation Strategy to rehabilitate burbot and it is undertaken each fall and winter.  This Goal to is to rehabilitate burbot to a fishable level.  Burbot are winter spawners and the most important measures are designed to improve spawning migration by reducing temperature and discharge in the river.  The capture of adults pre and post spawn and biopsies provides vital information on whether or not these measures result in spawning.  Larval tows are made and light traps are set to search for evidence of spawning success with the capture of larva.   An experimental release of burbot larva expected in a small pond in the Kootenai basin.  Burbot will be sampled at the larvae stage and growth measured. The purpose would be to rear burbot extensively and release them as fingerlings in the Kootenai River for a recovery measure.  

3) Ecosystem nutrient restoration to restore nutrients to the Kootenai River was first undertaken in FY05 with a goal to improve primary production lost to the nutrient sink affect of Lake Koocanusa.  The Kootenai River is the largest river in the world that nutrients are purposely being added to to restore primary production and fish growth and survival.  The main objective is to measure the response at the various trophic levels, this is a cooperative investigation with the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho.  The main tasks will involve not only calculating P and N releases and the precise ratio needed daily but biomonitoring of all food transfer levels from algae to the fish community.   Results in FY05, 06, and 07 showed great promise to improve primary production, secondary production, and fish biomass.  Under the nutrient restoration program, mountain whitefish are being studies in particular as an indicator species of ecosystem health before and after nutrients are added.  

4)  The fourth is a salmonid/habitat restoration studies to improve bull trout (threatened) and interior redband (petitioned) trout (rainbow trout) populations, and secondary species populations of mountain whitefish and cutthroat trout. The main goal is to devise methods to improve the rainbow trout fishery in the Kootenai River and help plan management.  nDNA will be examined to determine degree of relatedness of stocks, contribution of coastal and redband rainbow and cutthroat introgression.  Vital statistics of the rainbow trout population in the Kootenai River will be continued to determine the effects of management regulation changes and the effect of nutrient enhancement to the fecundity, recruitment, growth and survival of rainbow trout. Bull trout telemetry data will be evaluated to determine how habitat/river flow changes and temperature effect trout movement and well being.  Bull trout redd counts will also be made to monitor spawning or adult numbers as a measure of stock size improvements due to protective measures.  Bull trout nDNA will be examined to determine substocks regarding recovery goals and degree of relatedness with other Kootenai River populations and Lake Pend Oreille.  Rainbow trout will be implanted with radio transmitters and winter habitat will be determined in relation to stage and discharge.  Habitat availability will be determined to help assess if this may be a limiting factor.
Account Type(s):
Expense
Contract Start Date:
05/01/2008
Contract End Date:
04/30/2009
Current Contract Value:
$975,752
Expenditures:
$975,752

* Expenditures data includes accruals and are based on data through 30-Nov-2024.

BPA COR:
Env. Compliance Lead:
Work Order Task(s):
Contract Type:
Contract (IGC)
Pricing Method:
Cost Reimbursement (CNF)
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Viewing of Work Statement Elements

Deliverable Title WSE Sort Letter, Number, Title Start End Concluded
Compliance Documents will be produced B: 165. Nutrient Restoration Permits 04/30/2009 06/27/2008
Adult white sturgeon tagging and population trends C: 158. Kootenai River White Sturgeon Adult Sampling and Movements 03/31/2009 06/30/2008
Temporal and spatial extent of white sturgeon spawning events D: 157. Egg Mat Sampling 03/31/2009 06/30/2008
Embryo or free embryo release and larval white sturgeon sampling E: 157. Early Life History Studies 04/30/2009 06/05/2008
Year class strength/contribution of wild juvenile white sturgeon will be determined F: 157. Recruitment of juvenile white sturgeon 03/31/2009 09/30/2008
Depth at which white sturgeon eggs are released G: 157. Evaluate white sturgeon spawning in the water column 04/30/2009 05/07/2008
Physical conditions of Pilot Project measured H: 157. Examine Kootenai River bathemetric change from habitat work 03/28/2009 06/27/2008
Bull trout redd surveys I: 157. Bull trout redd surveys and population trends 04/30/2009 04/30/2009
Vital statistics of rainbow trout J: 157. Determine Rainbow trout population vital statistics 04/30/2009 04/30/2009
Analysis of trout movements relative to changes in flow during the winter K: 157. Habitat use relative to changes in flows (trout) 04/28/2009
Vital statistics of burbot completed L: 157. Estimate burbot from Bonners Ferry, ID to Kootenay Lk, BC & provide estimate of recruitment 04/28/2009 02/26/2009
Burbot and sturgeon sampling in BC coordinated and completed M: 189. Coordination of transboundary burbot and sturgeon studies with BCME 04/28/2009 02/26/2009
Evaluate effectiveness of extensive rearing of larval burbot N: 157. Evaluate burbot donor stock extensive rearing survival 04/28/2009 05/01/2008
Biomonitoring complete O: 157. Nutrient restoration biomonitoring 04/30/2009
Identify barriers or degraded habitat P: 157. Identify barriers or degraded habitat 04/30/2009 06/30/2008
Coordination of Restoration Efforts For The Kootenai River Q: 189. Coordination of nutrient restoration efforts with Kootenai Tribe of Idaho 04/30/2009 05/20/2008
Collect salmonid population data prior to barrier removal or habitat restoration R: 157. Collect salmonid population data prior to barrier removal or habitat restoration 04/30/2009 06/26/2008
Meetings attended and data provided S: 189. Agency and public coordination for fish work 04/28/2009 06/25/2008
Telemetry analysis T: 183. Produce comprehensive report or manuscript on white sturgeon telemetry 04/30/2009 11/28/2008
Physical microhabitat preferences of adult white Sturgeon U: 183. Produce comprehensive report or manuscript of adult sturgeon physical microhabitat use using b 04/30/2009
Funding Package - Submit draft to COTR V: 119. Manage and Administer Kootenai River Fisheries Recovery Investigation Project 02/28/2009 03/30/2009
White Sturgeon Annual Report Completed W: 132. White sturgeon Annual Report for the period 5/01/08 to 04/30/09 03/31/2009 06/30/2008
Burbot Annual Report Completed X: 132. Burbot Annual Report Draft Report for the period (5/1/2007) to 4/30/2208 04/28/2009
Nutrient Restoration Annual Report Y: 132. Ecosystem Rehabilitation Draft Annual Report for the period (5/1/2007) to (4/30/2008) 04/30/2009
Salmonid Annual Report Completed Z: 132. Salmonid Annual Report for the period 5/1/2007 to 4/30/2008 04/30/2009
Adult white sturgeon movements Set and Jet program AA: 183. Produce comprehensive report or manuscript on Set and Jet studies 04/30/2009 11/30/2008
Hatchery and wild juvenile white sturgeon dispersal and movements and release strategies AB: 183. Produce report or manuscript on dispersal and movements of hatchery reared and wild white sturgeon 04/30/2009 11/30/2008
Population viability and recovery criteria for Kootenai River burbot AC: 183. Produce a report or ms. on burbot population viability and recovery criteria 01/20/2009 02/27/2009
Bull trout telemetry and redd counts will be summarized AD: 183. Produce a report or ms. on bull trout telemetry and redd counts - movement and spawning locations 04/30/2009
Chronological change in burbot relative weights and proportional stock densities AE: 183. Produce a report or ms. on burbot relative weight and PSD 04/30/2009
West side tributary restoration feasibility studies AF: 189. West side tributary restoration feasibility studies 04/30/2009
nDNA makeup of rainbow trout and bull trout in the Kootenai River, ID AG: 162. Examine nDNA of rainbow and bull trout 04/30/2009

Viewing of Implementation Metrics
Viewing of Environmental Metrics Customize

Primary Focal Species Work Statement Elements
Burbot (Lota lota)
  • 2 instances of WE 183 Produce Journal Article
  • 2 instances of WE 157 Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data
Cutthroat Trout, Westslope (O. c. lewisi)
  • 1 instance of WE 157 Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data
Sturgeon, White (A. transmontanus) - Kootenai River DPS (Endangered)
  • 4 instances of WE 183 Produce Journal Article
  • 5 instances of WE 157 Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data
  • 1 instance of WE 158 Mark/Tag Animals
Trout, Bull (S. confluentus) (Threatened)
  • 1 instance of WE 183 Produce Journal Article
  • 2 instances of WE 157 Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data
Trout, Rainbow (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
  • 4 instances of WE 157 Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data
  • 1 instance of WE 162 Analyze/Interpret Data
Trout, Interior Redband (O. mykiss gairdnerii)
  • 1 instance of WE 157 Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data
Whitefish, Mountain (Prosopium williamsoni)
  • 1 instance of WE 157 Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data

Sort WE ID WE Title NEPA NOAA USFWS NHPA Has Provisions Inadvertent Discovery Completed
A 185 Periodic Status Reports for BPA 02/09/2007
B 165 Nutrient Restoration Permits 02/09/2007
C 158 Kootenai River White Sturgeon Adult Sampling and Movements 04/14/2008
D 157 Egg Mat Sampling 04/14/2008
E 157 Early Life History Studies 04/14/2008
F 157 Recruitment of juvenile white sturgeon 04/14/2008
G 157 Evaluate white sturgeon spawning in the water column 04/14/2008
H 157 Examine Kootenai River bathemetric change from habitat work 04/14/2008
I 157 Bull trout redd surveys and population trends 04/14/2008
J 157 Determine Rainbow trout population vital statistics 04/14/2008
K 157 Habitat use relative to changes in flows (trout) 04/14/2008
L 157 Estimate burbot from Bonners Ferry, ID to Kootenay Lk, BC & provide estimate of recruitment 04/14/2008
M 189 Coordination of transboundary burbot and sturgeon studies with BCME 02/09/2007
N 157 Evaluate burbot donor stock extensive rearing survival 04/14/2008
O 157 Nutrient restoration biomonitoring 04/14/2008
P 157 Identify barriers or degraded habitat 04/14/2008
Q 189 Coordination of nutrient restoration efforts with Kootenai Tribe of Idaho 02/09/2007
R 157 Collect salmonid population data prior to barrier removal or habitat restoration 04/14/2008
S 189 Agency and public coordination for fish work 02/09/2007
T 183 Produce comprehensive report or manuscript on white sturgeon telemetry 02/09/2007
U 183 Produce comprehensive report or manuscript of adult sturgeon physical microhabitat use using b 02/09/2007
V 119 Manage and Administer Kootenai River Fisheries Recovery Investigation Project 02/09/2007
W 132 White sturgeon Annual Report for the period 5/01/08 to 04/30/09 02/09/2007
X 132 Burbot Annual Report Draft Report for the period (5/1/2007) to 4/30/2208 02/09/2007
Y 132 Ecosystem Rehabilitation Draft Annual Report for the period (5/1/2007) to (4/30/2008) 02/09/2007
Z 132 Salmonid Annual Report for the period 5/1/2007 to 4/30/2008 02/09/2007
AA 183 Produce comprehensive report or manuscript on Set and Jet studies 02/09/2007
AB 183 Produce report or manuscript on dispersal and movements of hatchery reared and wild white sturgeon 02/09/2007
AC 183 Produce a report or ms. on burbot population viability and recovery criteria 02/09/2007
AD 183 Produce a report or ms. on bull trout telemetry and redd counts - movement and spawning locations 02/09/2007
AE 183 Produce a report or ms. on burbot relative weight and PSD 02/09/2007
AF 189 West side tributary restoration feasibility studies 02/09/2007
AG 162 Examine nDNA of rainbow and bull trout 02/09/2007