Recruitment failure in the white sturgeon population occupying the Transboundary Reach of the upper Columbia River (Grand Coulee Dam, WA, U.S.A to Hugh Keenleyside Dam, British Columbia, Canada) was first documented during studies conducted in the early 1990’s in the Canadian portion of the Reach (referred to as the Keenleyside Reach) (Hildebrand and English 1991; R.L.&L. 1994; Hildebrand et al. 1999).  These studies determined that juvenile age-classes (under ten years of age) were lacking within the population.  Similar results were obtained in the U.S. section of the Reach (referred to as the Roosevelt Reach) in 1998 (Devore et al. 2000; Kappenman et al. 2000).  Recent sturgeon studies in the Keenleyside Reach (Golder Associates Ltd. 2003, 2005a; Arndt 2003) and Roosevelt Reach (Lee and Underwood 2002; Lee and Pavlik 2003; Howell and McLellan 2005, 2006, 2007, in prep.) show a continuation of poor recruitment through a failure to catch large numbers of juvenile sturgeon representing multiple year classes.

The onset of the recruitment decline in the Transboundary Reach white sturgeon population coincided with the construction of Columbia River mainstem dams in Canada commencing with Hugh L. Keenleyside (HLK; 1968), and followed by Mica (1976) and Revelstoke (1984).  Reproductive failure of this population therefore appears directly related to the effects of river regulation (R.L. & L. 1994).  The exact mechanisms limiting recruitment are unknown but are currently the focus of ongoing studies in the Transboundary Reach.

The Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative (UCWSRI), an international organization with members from state, provincial, and federal fisheries agencies and First Nations tribes in British Columbia and Washington State produced the Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Plan (UCWSRP) in 2002 (UCWSRI 2002).  The UCWSRP outlined various short, mid and long-term measures required to prevent the extinction of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia River above Grand Coulee Dam (UCWSRI 2002).  Efforts in 2011 will focus on continuing to examine limiting factors for sturgeon in the Transboundary Reach and maintaining the interim conservation sturgeon hatchery releases.

FY2011 Work:

In 2011, we plan to complete sub-yearling (juvenile) assessment monitoring, telemetry monitoring, benthic invertebrate sample processing, and early life history assessments.  We plan to implement a study to assess the efficacy of using calcein as a long-term marking tool for sturgeon monitoring.  We plan to capture wild caught sturgeon larvae and rear them at Sherman Creek Hatchery in an effort to protect the genetic diversity of the upper Columbia River sturgeon population. We will continue genetics analyses to monitor genetic marker data that will allow managers to assess the efficacy of the hatchery protocols in maintaining the widest genetic component of the wild population. We plan to complete reports 2008, 2009 and complete an article for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Sub-yearling (juvenile) Assessments:  Previous juvenile sturgeon studies in the transboundary reach were conducted to estimate survival and to assess distribution, condition, growth, age, and behavior of wild and hatchery origin juvenile sturgeon.  In 2011, we plan to continue sub-yearling (juvenile) white sturgeon stock assessment sampling in the U.S. portion of the upper Columbia River to detect natural recruitment as well as evaluate the conservation aquaculture program releases.  

Telemetry Monitoring:  Telemetry investigations will be performed to identify spawning areas in the U.S., as well as to identify important seasonal habitats and patterns of sturgeon movement in the Transboundary Reach as part of the cooperative UCWSRI Transboundary Telemetry and Data Management Project.

Benthic Invertebrates:  In 2011, we plan to process invertebrate samples assessing food resources in the larval sampling areas.

Early life history collections:  In 2011, we plan to collect wild larvae samples for hatchery rearing and to assess the ecology and fate/survival of white sturgeon posthatch life stages.  

Public Outreach and Project Coordination:  We also plan to continue public outreach and coordination efforts through the project.  In May, 2011 we will invite school kids to Lake Roosevelt to learn about sturgeon during Student Discovery Week and we plan to reach out at events (such as the Lake Roosevelt Forum Conference) to inform the public about the decline of the Lake Roosevelt/Upper Columbia River white sturgeon.  The project will also coordinate amongst project participants and the UCWSRI to integrate white sturgeon research efforts in the upper Columbia River and the broader Columbia River Basin white sturgeon research community.