Draft May 5, 2005
Johnson Creek Artificial Propagation Enhancement Project
Statement of Work and Budget FY2005

BPA Project Number:  1996-043-00
BPA Project Title: Johnson Creek Artificial Propagation Enhancement Operations and Maintenance
Contract Number:  4393
Contract Title: Johnson Creek Artificial Propagation Enhancement Operations and Maintenance Program
Performance/Budget Period: 1/1/2005 - 12/31/2005

Technical Contact Name: John S. Gebhards
Technical Contact Title: Project Leader
Company / Agency Name: Nez Perce Tribe
Street Mailing Address: P.O. Box 4391, 125 S. Mission
City, ST Zip+4: McCall, ID 83638
Technical Contact Phone / FAX: 208-634-5290 / 208-634-4093 FAX
Technical Contact email: johng@nezperce.org

Contracting Contact Name: Arleen Henry
Contracting Contact Title: Grant and Contract Accountant
Company / Agency Name: Nez Perce Tribe
Street Mailing Address: P.O. Box 365
City ST Zip+4: Lapwai, ID 83540
Contracting Contact Phone / FAX: 208-843-7317 / 208-843-7319
Contract Contact email: arleenh@nezperce.org

Financial Contact Name: Rex H. Graham
Financial Contact Title: Finance Director
Company / Agency Name: Nez Perce Tribe
Street Mailing Address: P.O. Box 365
City ST Zip+4: Lapwai, ID 83540
Contracting Contact Phone / FAX: 208-843-7317 / 208-843-7319
Financial Contact email: rexg@nezperce.org
Draft May 5, 2005

Contract Background Section:

This project is a small-scale supplementation initiative designed to increase the survival of a weak but recoverable spawning aggregate of summer chinook salmon.  The goal of this project is to prevent the extirpation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed Johnson Creek summer chinook and begin their recovery through supplementation.  This project is being permitted by the NOAA Fisheries to rear 100,000 chinook salmon smolts for release back into Johnson Creek over the next five (5) years.  This level of supplementation will be evaluated during this period to determine the success of the spawning supplementation adult salmon.  Supplementation under this project is planned for a minimum of Five (5) salmon generations or 25 years.

The Johnson Creek Artificial Propagation Enhancement Project meets the intent of RPA 177, which calls on BPA to implement and sustain National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries approved safety net projects.  This action funds the actual implementation and operation of safety net projects.  The obligation to fund the safety net program, including operation and maintenance (O&M), monitoring and evaluation (M&E), will continue indefinitely, as circumstances warrant (2000 FCRPS Biological Opinion).  This may include continuing supplementation projects that meet the intent of the safety net program.   The Johnson Creek Artificial Propagation Enhancement project, a safety net project, utilizes existing hatchery facilities to conduct salmon supplementation of 100,000 smolts per year.

This contract will provide funds to:
·        Conduct Salmon Supplementation of the Johnson Creek Summer Chinook Salmon, a safety net program;
·        Provide for administrative oversight of the project; and
·        Share project results through Reports and Presentations

In 2005, installation and operation of an adult chinook salmon weir and trap will continue with the collection of brood stock for use in the Johnson Creek artificial propagation enhancement project.  Juvenile salmon (smolts) from the 2003 brood year will be released back into Johnson Creek in March of 2005.  Juvenile salmon from the 2004 brood year will continue to be reared at the McCall Fish Hatchery.  These fish will be marked with CWT and VIE tags in the later part of the year.  An MOU between BPA, the USFWS, IDFG and NPT will be completed in 2005.  NOAA Fisheries ESA Section 10 permitting should also be completed in 2005.

-         Operate adult salmon trap on Johnson Creek.
-         Collect and spawn up to 40 pairs of adult salmon.
-         Release 100,000 brood year 2003 smolts back into Johnson Creek.
-         Rear 100,000 brood year 2004 juveniles at the McCall Fish Hatchery.
-         Finalize ESA Section 10 Permitting with NOAA Fisheries.
-         Finalize McCall Fish Hatchery MOU.
-         Complete final Step submittal to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council.
-         Prepare Brood Year 2003 Annual Report and 2005 Adult Trapping Report.

Since 1998, salmon supplementation has been occurring on Johnson Creek.  This action was taken to begin the recovery of the Johnson Creek spawning aggregate.  The JCAPE project has worked with IDFG and USFWS to rear a limited number of smolts each year at the McCall Fish Hatchery.  The JCAPE project is allowed to rear up to 100,000 Johnson Creek smolts to at the McCall Fish Hatchery.  A formal agreement between these agencies and BPA needs to be finalized in 2005 for the next five years.  Brood stock has been collected in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004.  Smolts from brood stock collection have been released in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.  The O&M program is currently rearing fish from brood stock from 2004.