The Chief Joseph Hatchery Program (CJHP) represents a new approach to managing and evaluating hatchery programs. The entire RM&E program is guided by rigorous, science-based planning and evaluation. The level of effort required is consistent with other regional RME programs and CCT RM&E projects such as OBMEP.  The CJHP RME program focuses on fish population status and trend and effects monitoring in contrast to OBMEP which is a habitat monitoring project.

Success of the CJHP program is not based on the ability to meet the same fixed smolt output or the same escapement goal each year. Instead, the program is managed for variable smolt production and natural escapement. Success is based on meeting targets for abundance and composition of natural escapement and hatchery broodstock. For these reasons, the program is operated in a manner where actions are monitored and activities are routinely evaluated. Managers accountable for successes and or failures have well-defined response alternatives that guide annual program decisions.

Viable Salmonid Potential and Intrinsic Potential metrics provide parameters for either reestablishing, recovering and or maintaining a "viable" population.  Generally, we will be monitoring the summer/fall Chinook population for maintenance of no less than 500 returning adults.  Spring Chinook have been designated as "contributory" to the recovery of the ESU under the Upper Columbia ESA/ESU Recovery Plan.  Reintroduction goals generally will follow a "replacement rate of >1 (lambda) initially to demonstrate positive growth of the population.  Since this population reintroduction is being done under the ESA's 10J process, a Hatchery Genetic Management Plan (CCT 2013, in process) will be used to define overall population goals. Habitat productivity and capacity calculations are modeled to provide guidance for habitat restoration projects aimed at establishing a 500 fish minimum population, however this number is not agreed to until the 10J and HGMP process are completed.

The Colville Tribes began designing the Chief Joseph Hatchery Program (CJHP) in the spring of 2001. One of the guiding premises that the planning team adopted was that production of salmon and steelhead at hatchery facilities reflects a considerable regional investment. It was further recognized that facility operation and production activities can have beneficial and or adverse biological and ecological implications extending far into the future. Thus, the Chief Joseph Hatchery is the first of its kind to be structured under recommendations emanating from the Congressional Hatchery Reform Act, the 4- Step Planning and Master Plan process and independent science review. Finally, resurrecting unmet trust obligations to the tribes’ ceremony, subsistence, health and culture, represent a foundational element of the CJHP program.

Accordingly, the project has defined objectives, operations, data collection protocols and analytical and reporting processes that span fish culture and research, monitoring and evaluation (RM&E) activities. These are being implemented in a manner that preserves the wild genetics of naturally spawning salmon while meeting related regional and program objectives. This requires rigorous designs and the use of learned knowledge in the operation of the hatchery, its science-based monitoring program and harvest, adult fish management and habitat projects. After an eight- month field season we analyze data using the CJHP Database, the All-H Analyzer and In-Season Management Tool.  This includes thousands of modeled calculations as well as use of statistical analysis embedded in the monitoring elements designs.  We work collectively with the region’s natural resource experts, scientists and stakeholders to present how data are managed and analyzed. In 2012, the Fish and Wildlife Program hosted the third CJHP APR. Over thirty five participants and sixty-seven collaborators were involved.

In 2012 and 2013, the resultant program has, and is, implementing hundreds of RM&E activities and testing key on-station hatchery monitoring and operations as production comes on line. RM&E activities, under this contract, focus on hatchery and harvest data collection, tagging programs, adult abundance/management and juvenile survival monitoring, and collection of genetic information. Various fish production and culture analysis provides important context while a full description of all production activities are documented in the Hatchery Operations Manual (CCT, 2013, in process).

Remaining parts of the program work collectively to complete the presentation of how data are managed and analyzed, and how the RM&E program administers and facilitates the CJHP Annual Program Review (APR). In 2012, the CCT/CJHP hosted the second Annual Program Review. Over thirty five participants and sixty-seven collaborators were involved.  This four-day workshop will be held each year.

To date, CJHP program efforts have led to improvements in juvenile emigration and survival baseline data sets. Testing of the Okanogan River Adult Weir has advanced design, broodstock and adult management protocols. Other actions are strengthening database development, report programming and APR value. Additionally, a new harvest monitoring program was developed and implemented in coordination with the State of Washington, the Anadromous Division of the CCT Fish and Wildlife Department and the ESA Natural Resources Enforcement division.

Finally, to support hatchery production and RM&E monitoring and evaluation actions, the CCT has completed major infrastructure and program development activities. This includes professional staffing, equipment procurement, funding and budget processes, construction and prevailing administrative procedures.


More information can be found at: http://colvilletribes.com/CJHP/2012_ARP.php