The construction of Grand Coulee and Chief Joseph dams on the Columbia River in 1939 and 1956 blocked anadromous fish passage. The area above the two dams is often referred to as the "blocked area". The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation (CCT) work cooperatively with the co-managers of Lake Roosevelt to enhance fishing opportunities as partial mitigation for the loss of anadromous fish (resident fish substitution). The Chief Joseph Kokanee Enhancement Project (CJKEP) is one such resident fish substitution project. This project was amended into the council's Fish and Wildlife program during the 1995 amendment process and its first year of implementation began in 1996. The goal of the CJKEP is to protect and enhance the naturally producing kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka populations above Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee dams in an effort to support the tribal subsistence and non-tribal recreational sport fisheries.

Since its inception, the CJKEP has strived to identify and address factors limiting naturally produced kokanee populations. Previous research focused on entrainment studies on Grand Coulee Dam, habitat studies to quantify kokanee spawning potential, basin wide genetics studies to understand stock structure, water quality monitoring in key tributaries, and predation impacts. Kokanee adult escapement estimates in CCT Reservation tributaries have documented a consistent downwardly trend since the early 1990’s.  Escapement in the Sanpoil River averages less than 20 adults a year, and the population is considered extinct. However, a wild kokanee population exists in Lake Roosevelt and contributes between 50-80% (depending on the season) of the overall kokanee harvest. The wild kokanee average between 380 and 590 mm total length (15 - 23 inches), making it a high quality, desirable fisheries resource.

A recent genetics study, using microsatellite DNA techniques, conducted by Kassler et al. (2010) indicated that the wild kokanee stock in Lake Roosevelt is distinct from sources found in the upper Columbia River in Canada, and is unique to Lake Roosevelt. However, the source of the population is unknown. To date, large numbers of wild kokanee have not been detected spawning in tributary streams, leading biologists to hypothesize the wild populations are utilizing deep water spawning habitat at depths below the drawdown elevations (> 17 m). Water quality and habitat surveys conducted in the Sanpoil River drainage in 2009-10 found areas that had conditions indicative of high quality kokanee spawning. Model results suggested the Sanpoil River could support a spawning escapement of 238,464 to 1,703,315 kokanee. The spawning habitat is currently being underutilized in the Sanpoil River. In order to determine the reasons for the underutilization, a predation impacts study was initiated in 2010 to quantify non-native predator (walleye and smallmouth bass) consumption of kokanee and rainbow trout out-migrating from the Sanpoil River to Lake Roosevelt. The bioenergetics model indicated walleye and smallmouth bass consumed 94.7% of the kokanee fry and 40.1% of the kokanee yearlings planted.  These unsustainable values prompted a predator reduction study in 2011 to experiment with decreasing predator densities in the Sanpoil Arm to increase kokanee survival.

To reach the primary goal of enhanced wild kokanee populations in the blocked area, the 2013 CJKEP has implemented two primary objectives:
Objective 1. Increase the abundance of naturally produced kokanee in tributaries on the CCT Reservation and “North Half”. To accomplish this objective the project will:
A. Stocking: Experiment with egg and yearling kokanee plants in the Sanpoil River and Barnaby Creek. The project has coordinated with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Spokane Office to provide CCT with 1 million, otolith marked eggs. WDFW will utilize their captive brood stock (Lake Whatcom stock) to obtain the eggs. The project has also coordinated with the co-managers of Lake Roosevelt and who have agreed to stock 20,000 yearling (5-7 per lb) in the Sanpoil River. These fish are adipose fin marked (indicate hatchery origin), as well as coded wire tagged for predator consumption monitoring.  CCT has also added a request to Canada to purchase an additional 500,000 kokanee eggs from the Meadow Creek run found in Kootenay Lake (availability of this stock varies per year).
B. Stock Evaluation: Each stocking method will be evaluated for survival from stocking to out-migration, timing of out-migration, harvest in the fishery, and adult escapement. Barnaby Creek stocking and evaluation is dependent upon the completion of the habitat stability project above the new culvert.
C. Predator Reduction: Conduct a non-native predator reduction program. Walleye and smallmouth bass will be targeted with gill nets and boat electrofishing during the key outmigration periods (May - July) at the reservoir/ river interface of the Sanpoil River. A pilot study was conducted in 2011-12 that experimented with timing, location, gill net mesh size, and gill net orientation. We will repeat the study in 2013. The results from the three year experiment will be used to develop a program that limits by-catch of native fish while increasing catch of non-native predators.
Objective 2. Locate wild kokanee spawning grounds within Lake Roosevelt. To accomplish this objective the project will:
A. Build on data to be collected in the fall of 2011-12. The Project used hydroacoustic surveys to look for aggregations of fish below 3 m in the Sanpoil Arm in 2011 and lower 5 km of Lake Roosevelt in 2012. No fish were found spawning in the Sanpoil Arm in 2011, data has yet to be collected for 2012. The focus area for 2013 with be from Swawilla Basin to lower Keller Ferry.  Hydroacoustic surveys will be used to locate aggregations of fish. The aggregations of fish will be identified by underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV), snorkeling, scuba diving, or gill netting.
Results from the above projects will assist the CCT with managing kokanee populations found within the blocked area.