The purpose of the Idaho Steelhead Monitoring & Evaluation Studies (ISMES) project is to monitor and evaluate the status and trends of wild steelhead populations in Idaho. ISMES is the central repository of information for wild steelhead in Idaho. We will assess abundance, productivity, spatial structure, and diversity at the population and major population group scales. We will also assess abundance, productivity, and diversity for the Snake River Distinct Population Segment based on samples from Lower Granite Dam. To provide DPS-level monitoring, ISMES will continue to sample adult and juvenile steelhead at Lower Granite Dam. We will collaborate with Lower Granite Dam Genetic Stock Identification project (201002600) to break aggregate abundance estimates and age composition into major population groups and, in some cases, populations. Over time, productivity will be assessed. Intensive monitoring efforts will continue (at Fish Creek, Rapid River, ... Big Creek, lower Lochsa River, Crooked River, and North Forks Salmon River) as will coordination and support of other intensive steelhead monitoring work in Idaho.

We will estimate adult abundance, length distribution, sex ratio, and age composition; smolt abundance, length structure, and age composition; survival of juveniles from spawning stream to Lower Granite and smolt-to-adult return rate. Current extensive monitoring elements will also continue, including dispersed parr surveys to assess spatial structure, stream water temperature monitoring, as well as population-level genetic work. Genetic elements will emphasize maintenance of the genetic baseline used by project 201002600 as well estimating several measures of genetic diversity. Lastly, we will coordinate a multi-agency group to reconstruct the adult steelhead run into the Snake River basin. Project objectives incorporate the mandate from the Idaho Fish Accord to assess the status of wild steelhead in Idaho. The objectives are consistent with the Snake River monitoring and evaluation goals developed by the RPA Workgroup, with the strategies put forth by the Snake River basin fish managers (Anadromous Salmonid Monitoring Strategy, ASMS), and with the guidance from NOAA Fisheries (Crawford and Rumsey 2009).

This statement of work will be organized in accordance with the following objectives:
   Objective 1 - Monitor status and trends of wild steelhead at Lower Granite Dam. This effort is funded by Idaho Fish Accord funds.
   Objective 2 - Conduct intensive, high-precision (fish in, fish out) monitoring of steelhead in Fish Creek (Lochsa population), Rapid River (Little Salmon population), Big Creek (Lower Middle Fork Salmon population), lower Lochsa River (Lochsa population), Crooked River (South Fork Clearwater population), and North Fork Salmon River (North Fork Salmon population).
   Objective 3 - Support and coordinate intensive, high-precision (fish in, fish out) monitoring of wild steelhead at other locations in Idaho. The goal of this work is to collect information where wild steelhead are being passed above hatchery weirs and to maintain/enhance juvenile abundance and tagging efforts.
   Objective 4 - Conduct extensive juvenile steelhead monitoring in selected streams thru snorkel surveys and temperature monitoring.
   Objective 5 - Monitor temporal and spatial genetic patterns of steelhead populations in Idaho.
   Objective 6 - Account for the spatial distribution and final disposition of all adult steelhead (hatchery and natural production) crossing Lower Granite Dam.

Information regarding this project is publicly and easily accessible from project reports located on the IDFG web site (http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/science/) and searchable using public search engines. Data are available via the Idaho Fish & Wildlife Information System (https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/portal/)   Show More