This contract is for Year #12 (May 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021) of the Basinwide Supplementation Evaluation project (2009-009-00).  The goal of this project is to support recommendations of the Ad Hoc Supplementation Workgroup (AHSWG) for a basinwide evaluation of the effects of hatchery supplementation on productivity of extant naturally spawning anadromous fish populations in the Columbia River basin, as well as supplementation of systems to reintroduce a species where the native population was extirpated, via stocking of hatchery origin fish, translocation of out-of-basin natural origin fish, and/or natural reinvasion (AHSWG 2008).  Activities primarily involve conducting genetics studies in association with ongoing tribal projects.  These studies involve genetic stock identification of the fish and assessing relative reproductive success (RRS) of naturally spawning fish of natural origin versus hatchery origin.  Natural origin (NOR) fish are defined as ones which are the product of natural spawning within a stream.  The Project also funds studies of hatchery rearing methodologies in an effort to improve adult returns rates.  Hatchery origin (HOR) fish are defined as those which are derived from artificially fertilized eggs which, generally speaking, were then incubated and the fry reared in a hatchery environment for some period prior to release into the natural environment.

The contract for Year #12 includes the following Project Objectives:

Project Objective #1 - Perform molecular genetic analyses of supplemented spring Chinook populations:  Provide financing for genotyping of tissue samples collected from adult spring Chinook Salmon returning to the upper Yakima River as part of the Yakama Nation supplementation programs.  Data will be used to assess relative reproductive success (RRS) of hatchery origin (HOR) versus natural origin (HOR) fish (broodyears 2007-2016), as well as correlations of parent and progeny age-at-maturity.

Project Objective #2 - PO#2 - Perform genetic stock identification and relative productivity analyses of reintroduced spring Chinook Salmon populations:  Provide financing for a NOR versus HOR relative reproductive success (RRS) study of spring Chinook Salmon in Lookingglass Creek (Grande Ronde River basin) associated with a tribal reintroduction/supplementation program.

Project Objective #3 - Assist in sample collection and perform genetic analyses of salmon in tribal co-managed  reintroduction programs:  Assess progress of tribal sockeye salmon reintroduction efforts in the Deschutes River/Lake Billy Chinook/Metolious River/Suttle Lake basin and in the Yakima River/Cle Elum River/Cle Elum Lake basin.

Project Objective #4 - Analyze genotypic data to estimate effective number of breeders and relative natural productivity of NOR spring Chinook Salmon and Coho Salmon in the upper Warms Springs River

Project Objective #5 - Perform studies to assess factors affecting precocious maturation of male salmon smolts as minijacks:  Evaluate factors affecting rates of precocious maturation of male hatchery-reared spring Chinook Salmon juveniles as minijacks, and how precocious maturation affects adult return rates.

Project Objective #6 - Participate in regional forums for review of hatchery effects on natural populations:  Participate in regional forums for review of hatchery effectiveness and of hatchery effects on natural population Viable Salmonid Population (VSP) parameters, with presentations provided summarizing results from Project-funded studies.

Project Objective #7 - Prepare manuscripts for publication in scientific journals:  Prepare manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed scientific journals summarizing results from Project-funded studies.

Project Objective #8 - Identify opportunities for additional studies to support tribal supplementation and reintroduction M&E:  Identify opportunities where support from the Project could be profitably used to finance studies to complement tribal M&E of hatchery supplementation and/or reintroduction projects, through attendance at workshops and conferences (see PO#6, WE 161), and through direct meetings with tribal personnel.