This research, monitoring and evaluation project was established in 2007 as a collaborative accord between the
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
(WDFW), and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). In January 2007, BPA requested of this project an amended
collaborative proposal; one that emphasized salmonid status and trend monitoring. Tribal and state partners agreed to
collaborate on the project proposal, budget, statement of work and annual report; but, retained their individual contracts
with BPA. Prior to this collaboration, the CTUIR and WDFW conducted separate studies under BPA project numbers
200003900 & 199802000; see http://data.umatilla.nsn.us/, http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/, and ...
The Walla Walla subbasin supports ESA listed populations of steelhead and bull trout, and a reintroduced population of
spring Chinook. These populations are depressed relative to historic levels. Spring Chinook were extirpated from the
Walla Walla in the early 20th century. For the past 25 years the CTUIR and others have implemented numerous
passage, flow, and habitat to improve salmonid production in the Subbasin.
The Tribes Walla Walla Spring Chinook program began in 2000 with the outplanting of hatchery adults collected from
the Ringold Hatchery, Carson National Fish Hatchery, and the Umatilla River at Three Mile Falls Dam. Direct stream
release of hatchery reared juveniles began in 2005 using Carson stock from the Carson National Fish Hatchery.
Monitoring & Evaluation of the Spring Chinook Program began in 2000. The work included assessment of spring
Chinook and steelhead natural production, and evaluation of fish passage based on adult steelhead and bull trout. In
2007 CTUIR, WDFW, and BPA developed a collaborative M & E program in the Subbasin based on salmonid VSP
Parameters of abundance, productivity, diversity, and spatial structure. The expanded project was designed to provide
high level indicators of fish population status and trends for spring Chinook, steelhead, and bull trout. This information
is used to inform the CTUIR first foods management, and to address BPA fish and wildlife program strategies.
The purpose of this M & E project is to address the adaptive management requirements of the Spring Chinook
Program, and to maintain the baseline monitoring needed by the existing management system. This effort includes an
ecosystem-based scientific framework for adaptive management and performance evaluation based on measurements
of success and monitors of risk to other species and populations. The techniques and designs used for implementation
and detailed methodology can be found online at www.monitoringmethods.org. This collaborative effort is funded by
the Columbia River Fish Accords. Our M & E objectives were developed based on the requirements of the Walla Walla
Spring Chinook Hatchery Master Plan (HMP), BPA’s Fish Management Sub-strategies, the Reasonable and Prudent
Alternatives (RPA’s) of the Columbia Power System Biological Opinion, and the existing comprehensive fish restoration
program. Existing plans for the Umatilla River, Grande Ronde River, Johnson Creek, and the Okanogan River were
reviewed to develop the structure and content requirements for the objectives and technical methodology. Project work emphasizes Mill Creek, Walla Walla and Touchet rivers, and is coordinated with local stakeholders
whenever possible (e.g., ODFW, USFWS, USACE, USFS, the Walla Walla Subbasin Watershed Council, Snake River
Salmon Recovery Board (SRSRB), local irrigation districts and other public and private groups).
CTUIR project offices are located at the William A. Grant Water and Science Center at Walla Walla Community
College, while the WDFW South East Washington District Offices are located in Dayton, Washington. Previously,
CTUIR and WDFW conducted separate studies and reported to BPA in separate annual reports, under project numbers
199802000 and 200003900. Previous project reports, data and metadata are found at the CTUIR website
www.data.umatilla.nsn.us/fisheries/index.aspx, or WDFW website at www.wdfw.wa.gov, or the BPA website
(https://www.bpa.gov/efw/FishWildlife/Pages/default.aspx).