This contract provides the funding for the Nez Perce Tribe (NPT) to implement monitoring of summer steelhead and a Chinook salmon supplementation program (250,000 smolts) on the Lostine River, a tributary to the Grande Ronde River of Oregon. The Chinook supplementation activity is part of a greater project, the Grande Ronde Endemic Spring Chinook Salmon Supplementation project (GRESP), which also involves supplementation of the Upper Grande Ronde River and Catherine Creek and Lookingglass Creek.  The GRESP was established to prevent extirpation and increase the number of threatened Snake River spring/summer Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) returning to the Grande Ronde River. Starting in 2011 there was added the task of trapping/monitoring Lostine River summer steelhead.

With funding through this contract the Nez Perce Tribe operate a weir/trap for monitoring summer steelhead and for spring Chinook adult collection and monitoring on the Lostine River. The purposes of trapping Chinook are to collect broodstock for supplementation, provide adult return information for monitoring and evaluation of the program, and to manage escapement of natural spawners in the Lostine River.  This contract will provide for the 17th year of operation of the adult trap/collection facility.  Staff operate the weir (depending on water flows) from January through October.  The adult trapping facility is staffed appropriately to provide operations and maintenance of the facility, provide security and to care for fish captured in trap.  All fish trapped are sampled and removed frequently to prevent damage to the fish and limit disruption of fish migrations. These fish are managed for natural spawning and in the case of the Chinook for contribution to the hatchery broodstock.  Chinook are allocated to one of four disposition options:  1) release above the weir to spawn naturally, 2) retain for broodstock and transfer to Lookingglass Hatchery for holding and spawning, 3) out-plant to adjacent Wallowa River underutilized habitat, or 4) distributed to the tribe or local food banks.  The determination of which Chinook are selected for broodstock, released in the Lostine River or out-planted is made using a “sliding scale” management tool developed by the co-managers (BIA 1998) and permitted by ESA Section 10 permit 1149.  Adult Chinook released to spawn naturally are either released above the weir or, during the later summer months, transported by truck around a "dewatered" zone in the Lostine River and released upstream.  The low flows are a result of a naturally declining hydrograph exacerbated by withdrawal of water for irrigation from 14 different irrigation ditches.  

Chinook broodstock that are collected at the Lostine weir provide the egg source for the conventional production of spring Chinook smolts for the Lostine supplementation effort (the captive broodstock potion of the program will had its' last smolt release in 2011).  Chinook broodstock are transported to Lookingglass Hatchery for holding and spawning.  Lookingglass Hatchery is operated by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.  NPT staff assist with the spawning of adults and whatever other fish culture activities are necessary at Lookingglass Hatchery.  Egg incubation, early rearing, marking and final rearing occur at Lookingglass Hatchery. After approximately 18 months of rearing, smolts are transported back to the Lostine River to the Lostine Acclimation Facility.  

Operation of the Lostine Acclimation facility is also funded through this contract.  This contract will provide for the 15th year of operation of the juvenile acclimation facility.  Staff operate the acclimation facility from late-February to mid-April, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.  Staff responsibilities include feeding fish, picking mortalities and recording data, responding to alarms, and ensuring the pumps and generators continue to provide a continuous water supply to the acclimation tanks.  Typically during this time two groups of fish are acclimated totaling approximately 250,000 smolts.

In addition to the activities described above, staff provide security and maintenance for both facilities all year long, which involves cutting, pulling and spraying weeds, watering trees and shrubs planted for screening purposes, upkeep on tractors, trucks, fish transport tanks, etc. There is a newly constructed weir and trap in place and there are additional operations and maintenance activities that are required. There is also a fair amount of public relations work that occurs as both facilities are located on privately owned land that is leased by BPA for the purpose of operating these facilities.