A unique well coordinated standardized monitoring and evaluation program(s) exists in the Upper Columbia River Basin.  Monitoring and evaluation programs are funded by a combination of  federal (BPA, BOR, USFWS), State, Tribal, and regional (PUDs) entities.  WDFW will be the research lead for the project and obtain all necessary environmental compliance permits for the project.  Colville Confederated Tribes will be the primary contractor for the Okanogan Basin.  While all these various program contribute data to estimate VSP parameters for steelhead and spring Chinook salmon, these programs also share common deficiencies related to precision and accuracy of the abundance estimates.  Existing M & E activities combined with recent advances in PIT tag technology provide an opportunity to improve the quality of the data generated in order to make proper management decisions concerning ESA listed species.  The overall objectives of the project are to: 1) estimate run escapement of hatchery and wild steelhead in each of the four primary populations, 2) estimate the precision of redd counts for both steelhead and spring Chinook and 3) evaluate the accuracy of the steelhead spawning ground survey design and determine the proportion of spawners outside the survey area.  In 2014, we also intend to conduct a steelhead radio telemetry study to independently validate estimates generated from PIT tags and to estimate steelhead population characteristics (overwinter survival, number of redds per female).  These tasks address in part or fully the critical uncertainties identified under Supplementation in the Columbia River Basin Research Plan (2006-03) and steelhead population characteristics (abundance, productivity, and ratio of hatchery fish) under the Fish and Wildlife Program.  Additionally, all of the studies in this proposal are directly consistent with RPAs for the FCRPS BiOp.

During the first year of the project, we installed four permanent antenna arrays (lower Methow, Salmon Creek, Chumstick Creek, and Chiwaukum Creek) and funded the development of an automated process (i.e., online queries) that would not only assist, but standardize how data from in-stream PIT tag arrays is analyzed.  We built and installed 30 temporary PIT antennas in all four primary populations to determine the proportion of steelhead spawning outside the survey area.   Approximately, 2204 steelhead were sampled and PIT tagged at Priest Rapids Dam.  Studies were initiated to estimate redd observer efficiency for both steelhead and spring Chinook in the Wenatchee and Methow subbasins.  We also refined the methodology used for estimating smolt abundance and variance.  In the second year, we installed new permanent PIT arrays in the Icicle River and Mission Creek and reinstalled arrays from OBMEP in Omak Creek, Ninemile Creek, and Antoine Creek.  Data loggers, modems, water temperature and depth gauges were also installed on all 10 permanent arrays.  Approximately, 2733 steelhead were sampled and PIT tagged at Priest Rapids Dam. QCI was subcontracted to develop and run models to estimate steelhead escapement at selected arrays and manage PIT tag and metadata associated with all PIT arrays.  We built 9 new temporary PIT antennas and 9 replacement temporary PIT antennas that were destroyed last year.   We also finalized our model to steelhead redd observer efficiency in the Wenatchee Basin and initiated similar work for steelhead in the Methow Basin.  

During the time period under this contract, we will install two permanent PIT arrays in the Lost River and Early Winters Creek in the Methow Basin and at least two permanent PIT arrays in the Okanogan Basin assisting the CCT. We will also build %five replacement temporary. % Studies focused on developing models to estimate spring Chinook redd observer efficiency in the Wenatchee and Methow Basins and steelhead in the Methow Basin will continue.  These studies should be complete in 2014.  Temporary arrays will be deployed throughout the four primary populations to better understand steelhead spawning distribution and the variation on the proportion of spawners that spawn outside the survey area.  A key component to all these activities is the steelhead stock assessment work at Priest Rapids Dam during which a random sample of steelhead (~10%) is PIT tagged.  By 2014, we expect to have the PIT tag array infrastructure installed and complete and fully develop spring Chinook and steelhead redd observer efficiency models.  

WDFW will be the research lead for the project and obtain all necessary environmental compliance permits for the project which includes FY12 contract #: 57340. Andrew Murdoch will be the point of contact for WDFW.  Colville Confederated Tribes (CCT) will be the primary contractor for the Okanogan Basin; FY12 contract #: 57340.  John Arteburn is the point of contact for the CCT.