Summary:  Adult traps have proven to be more effective at estimating adult returns than steelhead spawning surveys (see, e.g. Asotin Creek).  We propose to establish upstream migrant traps on at least two minor spawning aggregations (mSA) tributaries per year, and rotate them from stream to stream every three years, to:
(1) estimate adult steelhead abundance and ratios of hatchery and natural steelhead;
(2) collect tissue samples for inclusion in Snake Basin genetic characterization of steelhead for future run reconstruction estimates at Lower Granite Dam [coordinated with Project 2010-026-00: Chinook and Steelhead Genotyping for Genetic Stock Identification (GSI) at Lower Granite Dam];
(3) geographically locate and reference (gps) all redds while conducting spawning surveys in at least one stream to compare the abundance estimate with the trap estimate (We had originally planned to use redd count surveys on one stream (Almota Creek) to compare steelhead spawning survey estimates of escapement with trap estimates, and as a test to evaluate several different spawning survey designs and determine their precision and accuracy.  This portion of the project will not be completed due to the fact that the first two years of sampling had high turbid stream flows that did not allow for spawning surveys, and we have now been denied access by a key landowner.); and,
(4) conduct random draws of the data to test and evaluate several different spawning survey designs and determine their precision and accuracy.  

Status:  Natural adult abundance, and the proportion of hatchery steelhead, in the associated mSA tributaries are being compiled with similar estimates for core Asotin (BPA Project 2002-053-00) or Tucannon steelhead populations (Project 2010-034-00: Upper Columbia Spring Chinook and Steelhead Juvenile and Adult Abundance, Productivity and Spatial Structure Monitoring), and Lower Snake River Compensation Plan monitoring by WDFW, to provide more complete estimates of adult abundance and escapement composition (e.g. hatchery proportion and source) over a period of years.  

Purpose:  The designated Tucannon and Asotin steelhead populations extend beyond those drainages or areas sampled by the projects listed above.  The intent of this project is to collect new adult return information on these smaller mSA tributaries to add to the Asotin and Tucannon monitoring projects, and enable us to more accurately and completely estimate total population abundance.  
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Background:  Asotin and Tucannon steelhead are sole populations within the Lower Snake River Major Population Group (MPG).  Both populations include steelhead using small Snake River tributaries that have little or no fish monitoring.  All but one of the tributaries (Alpowa Creek) are considered minor spawning aggregations (mSAs), and most of these mSAs are not monitored for adult steelhead abundance or other Viable Salmonid Population (VSP) attributes.  Therefore, the proportions of adult natural origin steelhead escapement, or hatchery fish on the spawning grounds, within these mSAs, are unknown for these two steelhead populations (Asotin and Tucannon).  NOAA guidance on monitoring ESA recovery (Crawford and Rumsey 2009) lists abundance of naturally produced steelhead as the highest priority for monitoring.  It also calls for monitoring the ratio of marked to unmarked fish in spawning escapement; we will be removing hatchery steelhead at our traps when it appears that there will be over 5% hatchery fish on the spawning grounds.  The Tucannon and Lower Snake Subbasin Plans, and the Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan also emphasize improved monitoring, especially for adult escapements.