| | | | | | | | | |
|---|
| A | 251056 | 165 | Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation | Produce environmental compliance | Obtain Federal, Tribal, State, and Local permits necessary to complete the project work elements. Inform BPA environmental compliance officer of all permits. | $2,184 | 0.16% | 04/01/2025 | 03/31/2026 |
| B | 251061 | 158 | Mark/Tag Animals | Acoustic tag age-0 juvenile White Sturgeon | In order to model encounter rates with experimental sampling gear, 100 age-0 juvenile White Sturgeon obtained from WDFW Sherman Creek Hatchery will be implanted with an acoustic tag (Vemco V3; 307 kHz; predation) and released in to the reservoir near Kettle Falls (rkm 1,136).
A Vemco Positioning System (VPS) comprised of a grid of 40 Vemco acoustic receivers will be deployed within the study area. The VPS will allow for calculations of fish positions in two dimensions (x,y). ARC acoustic release canisters will be attached to each receiver in order to allow for deployment without surface buoys (avoid vandalism and impacts to navigation) and allowing for mooring anchor and release lug retrieval. | $90,224 | 6.78% | 04/01/2025 | 11/14/2025 |
| C | 252176 | 158 | Mark/Tag Animals | Coded wire tag age-0 juvenile White Sturgeon | In an attempt to increase the one month survival rates of acoustic tagged age-0 juvenile White Sturgeon for modeling encounter rates with experimental sampling gear (WEs E, G and I), we will attempt to swamp predators by releasing ~1,000 age-0 juvenile White Sturgeon obtained from WDFW Sherman Creek Hatchery with a coded wire tag. The CWT tagging will occur at Sherman Creek Hatchery and the fish will be released into the reservoir near Kettle Falls (rkm 1,136) concurrent with the acoustic tagged fish (WE G). | $39,754 | 2.99% | 04/01/2025 | 11/14/2025 |
| D | 252177 | 190 | Remove, Exclude and/or Relocate Animals | Remove and Relocate Fish Predators from Acoustic Telemetry Array | Prior to conducting the age-0 gear encounter rate experiment (WE G), CTCR biologists and technicians will capture and remove or relocate potential age- Sturgeon predators. Predators will be captured using gill nets and cod traps fished within and around the outside of the telemetry array over a 2 week period prior to releasing the acoustic tagged fish. We will fish 80 overnight sets with 200' experimental gill nets and 80 overnight sets with cod traps. All non-native predators (e.g., Walleye and Bass) will be euthanized and discreetly discarded (sunk) in the reservoir. All native predators (e.g., Burbot) will be trans-located outside of the study area or held in a net pen within the reservoir until the experiment has been completed. | $188,325 | 14.15% | 04/01/2025 | 11/15/2025 |
| E | 252174 | 157 | Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Capture White Sturgeon larvae to monitor drift | Larvae collection
White Sturgeon larvae drift will be monitored to describe timing and estimate abundance. Larvae will be collected at China Bend (rkm 1,174). Up to 10 stations will be fished. Sampling will begin about one week after first detection of spawning at the Waneta spawn monitoring site (rkm 1,204) as established by contact with researchers in Canada. Because larvae drift most actively at night, sampling will occur between dusk and dawn.
Drift net gear and deployment techniques will follow those previously developed by the CTCR to collect larvae for conservation aquaculture and translocation experiments (Howell and McLellan 2018). Briefly, two frames, each equipped with four 1/16” mesh nets of length 3 m and mouth opening 76 cm x 61 cm [30 in x 24 in] arranged side-by-side will be fished on the river bottom at each station each night (Figure 18). Data loggers will also be moored on the bottom in the vicinity of the sampling area to measure water temperature at 15 min intervals. Sampling depth (m) will be determined for each deployment using onboard echo sounders.
Sample processing
At the China Bend site where catch and debris loading are often high, sample processing will be carried out on a 20’x30’ work barge equipped with a trough system designed to leverage larval drift behavior to the effect that they sort themselves from sample debris (Howell and McLellan 2019). During periods of low catch and/or low debris loading, sturgeon will be sorted from the catch by hand. During periods of high catch and/or debris loading, samples will be placed into the trough sorting system and be left to self-sort during the day. Captured larvae will be released or transported to either WDFW Sherman Creek Hatchery or Douglas Public Utility District Wells Hatchery to be reared for conservation supplementation or experimental release as age-0 juveniles (see WEs E, F, and G). | $232,010 | 17.44% | 04/01/2025 | 03/31/2026 |
| F | 251059 | 162 | Analyze/Interpret Data | Analyze White Sturgeon larvae drift data. | CTCR biologists will analyze the White Sturgeon larvae capture data to estimate drift timing and abundance. Larvae drift timing will be evaluated by describing the distribution of the catch across the expected larvae dispersal period. Abundance will be estimated by applying estimated mean capture efficiency from previous years to the total nightly catch. | $27,740 | 2.08% | 04/01/2025 | 03/31/2026 |
| G | 251060 | 157 | Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Gear encounter rate experiment - age-0 juvenile White Sturgeon | In 2022, we set out to assess the general behavior of age-0 juvenile White Sturgeon using acoustic telemetry with the objective of modeling gear encounter probabilities under various gear/fish density scenarios and the ultimate goal of evaluating the feasibility of developing an age-0 White Sturgeon sampling program for Lake Roosevelt. A longer term acoustic telemetry study was selected because it was unlikely that experimental enclosures provide a setting where realistic assessments of general behavior important for modeling gear encounter probabilities can be made.
In 2022, we conducted an acoustic telemetry study on small number (n=30) age-0 juvenile White Sturgeon under natural conditions in Lake Roosevelt. Thirty age-0 juvenile White Sturgeon were obtained from WDFW Sherman Creek Hatchery. Each fish was affixed with an acoustic tag (Vemco V3; 307 kHz) and released in to a reservoir embayment near Kettle Falls (rkm 1,136). An acoustic receiver array (Vemco Positioning System [VPS]) was deployed in the study area. Ideally, the VPS would provide fish positions in two dimensions (x,y) allowing for estimation of gear encounter rates under various gear/fish density scenarios. However, within 10 days we captured a Walleye during the 2022 FWIN survey that had three of our study acoustic tags in its gut along with a partially digested age-0 White Sturgeon. Therefore, it was unknown if the fish positions calculated from the VPS were those of age-0 juvenile White Sturgeon or predators.
In 2023, we repeated the study, but this time using V3 predation tags (n=50). A predation tag emits a different code after the fish has been consumed and its stomach enzymes dissolve a polymer coating in the predation tag sensor. The data are still being analyzed, but preliminary data suggests a high proportion of the age-0 White Sturgeon released with predation tags were consumed by predators within a week of release. In addition, another Walleye was captured during the 2023 FWIN with one of our acoustic tags in its gut along with a partially digested age-0 juvenile White Sturgeon. Therefore, a relatively limited amount of data on age-0 juvenile White Sturgeon movements was obtained.
In 2024, we repeated the study using the predation tags to gather more data on age-0 juvenile White Sturgeon movements for estimating gear encounter rates and to confirm the rates of predation. The data are still being analyzed, but preliminary data suggests a high proportion of the age-0 White Sturgeon released with predation tags were consumed by predators within a 10 days of release. In addition, two Walleye were captured with one of our acoustic tags in their gut along with a partially digested age-0 juvenile White Sturgeon. We also confirmed some Burbot were consuming age-0 juvenile Sturgeon. In addition, we detected acoustic tagged fish moving greater distances due to a revised receiver array design.
In 2025, we will repeat the study using the predation tags to gather more data on age-0 juvenile White Sturgeon movements for estimating gear encounter rates and to confirm the rates of predation. In order to gain more information on the movement rates, we will increase the number of tags to 100, try to swam predators by concurrently releasing 1,000 coded wire tagged (CWT) age-0 juveniles, and by reducing predator densities with the telemetry array prior to the releases using gill nets and cod traps. One-hundred age-0 juvenile White Sturgeon will be obtained from WDFW Sherman Creek Hatchery (WE E). Each fish will be affixed with an acoustic tag (Vemco V3; 307 kHz; predation) and released in to the reservoir near Kettle Falls (rkm 1,136). An acoustic receiver array (Vemco Positioning System [VPS]) will be deployed in the study area. The VPS will provide fish positions in two dimensions (x,y) allowing for estimation of gear encounter rates under various gear/fish density scenarios (WE H). | $362,615 | 27.25% | 04/01/2025 | 03/31/2026 |
| H | 251062 | 162 | Analyze/Interpret Data | Estimate gear encounter rates for age-0 White Sturgeon | Gear encounter rate will be modeled from behavior (i.e., swim speeds) determined from the acoustic telemetry by a qualified subcontractor. | $82,350 | 6.19% | 04/01/2025 | 03/31/2026 |
| I | 251063 | 157 | Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Conduct age-1+ juvenile monitoring | The CTCR WSEP will conduct sampling in the fall to capture age-1+ juvenile White Sturgeon with setlines and to detect (recapture) age-1+ juveniles possessing PIT tags using Biomark submersible PIT tag antenna systems. The purpose of the sampling is: 1) to estimate survival of experimental release of fall age-0 juveniles conducted from 2021-2023; 2) monitor for natural recruitment; and 3) contribute the Spokane Tribe of Indians' (STI) Lake Roosevelt Sturgeon Recovery Project (1995-027-00) with annual hatchery White Sturgeon monitoring.
Fall surveys will employ a single pass, unstratified, unequal probability Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified (GRTS) sampling design for an area resource (Stevens and Olsen 2004; Kincaid and Olsen 2013). An unequal probability GRTS design allows for specifying different levels of sampling intensity between areas (“multi-density categories”) without the need to employ true stratification. The sampling frame will be identical to that currently used for fall surveys and will extend from French Rocks (rkm 1,118) upstream to Little Dalles (rkm 1,179) encompassing the area of the reservoir where small juvenile sturgeon are most abundant based on the results of previous surveys. The frame is defined by two polygons (i.e., multi-density categories) in an equal area projection ESRI shapefile (Figure 16). Polygon boundaries follow the 387.1 m (1,270 ft) contour of Lake Roosevelt [i.e., 6.1 m (20 ft) below full pool elevation (393.2 m [1,290 ft]) extracted from ESRI shapefiles of reservoir bathymetry published by the US Bureau of Reclamation (Ferrari 2012). Inaccessible areas and areas of known rough ground are clipped from the polygon interiors to limit the potential for gear fouling. A total of 240 (plus 20% overdraw) sample sites will be pre-selected for setlines and 80 (plus 20% overdraw) sample sites will be pre-selected for PIT tag antennas using the spsurvey package (Kincaid and Olsen 2013) in Program R (R Core Team 2018).
Field methods
Sampling with small-hook setlines will be conducted during September and October in the upper reaches of Lake Roosevelt. Small-hook baited setlines that are demonstrably more effective at capturing small juvenile sturgeon than gill nets based on sampling conducted during fall of 2019 and 2020. Setlines (183 m length) will be equipped with 40 gangions spaced at 4.6 m intervals. Gangions will comprise a halibut clip, 6” monfilament leader, and hook (Gamakastu Octopus circle hook size 4). Hooks will be baited with small chunks of pickled squid. Pickled squid is the preferred bait due to its durability as well as being unattractive to species other than sturgeon resulting in low levels of bycatch. Lines will be set overnight for approximately 24-hours. All captured sturgeon will be measured for fork length (mm) and weight (g), and examined for the presence of scute marks, chemical marks, and PIT tag. A blood sample will be collected for spontaneous autopoltyploidy screening. CTCR Biologists will examine unmarked and untagged juveniles captured, euthanized, and frozen during setline sampling for the presence/absence of calcein and OTC marks.
Concurrent with the setline sampling, individual Biomark 3' submersible PIT tag antenna systems will be deployed overnight at each sample site. The PIT tag antennas will be anchored near the bottom at each site and baited with pickled squid. Bait will be placed in a bait cup attached to the antenna frame. Each PIT tag antenna system will be downloaded at the end of the survey and PIT tag detections will be assigned to sites by associating them with the dates/times of deployments.
Data from captured hatchery origin White Sturgeon will be shared with the STI and all data from captured wild (unmarked) sturgeon will be provided to and analyzed by CTCR (WE K). | $202,887 | 15.25% | 04/01/2025 | 03/31/2026 |
| J | 251064 | 162 | Analyze/Interpret Data | Analyze age-1+ juvenile monitoring data | CTCR biologists will estimate relative abundance of wild and experimental juvenile recruits. Relative abundance will be estimated as the proportion of positive efforts (Ep) and catch per overnight set. Comparisons of relative abundance will be conducted using appropriate statistical methods as dictated by the distribution properties of collected data. Comparisons of detections (recaptures) between setlines and PIT tag antenna systems will be compared. | $20,305 | 1.53% | 04/01/2025 | 03/31/2026 |
| K | 251065 | 157 | Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Determine rates of 8N, 10N, and 12N ploidy in hatchery and wild White Sturgeon | Blood samples collected during age-1+ juvenile monitoring and from broodyear 2024 age-1 juveniles being reared at Sherman Creek Hatchery will be analyzed in the CTCR’s lab in Spokane to determine proportions of fish of each ploidy. Within one week of field collection, staff will extract 1 µL of blood from the original blood sample using a micro-pipette. Immediately after extraction, the 1 µL blood samples and three drops of erythrocyte lysing reagent (Beckman Coulter Zap-oglobin II) will be added to 10 mL of dilution agent (Beckman Coulter Isoton® II) in a 20mL cuvette which will then gently inverted three times to mix the contents. The prepared samples will be analysed using a Coulter particle counter (Beckman Coulter Multisizer 3) equipped with a 100 µm aperture. The metric of interest in the Coulter analysis is the mode of particle volume in each lysed sample, where particles are represented by erythrocyte nuclei. The modal particle volume of 8N ploidy in White Sturgeon would be expected to be between 45-56 µm3 (Joel P Van Eenennaam, U.C. Davis, pers. comm.) and greater than or equal to 68 µm3 in 12N ploidy White Sturgeon (Fiske et al. 2019).
The hatchery White Sturgeon will be captured at large in the reservoir and could have been produced at one of the following hatcheries: Hill Creek (Canada), Kootenay Trout/Sturgeon (Canada), Columbia Basin (WDFW - USA), or Sherman Creek (WDFW - USA).
In addition, CTCR biologists and technicians will assist STI and WDFW in screening broodyear 2024 hatchery White Sturgeon reared at Sherman Creek Hatchery for ploidy using the methods described above. The CTCR will screen up to 1/3 of the total BY24 release (1,000 of the 3,000).
Fiske, J.A, J.P. Van Eenennaam, A.E. Todgham, S.P. Young, C.E. Holem-Bell, A.M. Goodbla, and A.D. Schreier. 2019. A comparison of methods for determining ploidy in white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus). Aquaculture 507: 435–442. | $21,114 | 1.59% | 04/01/2025 | 03/31/2026 |
| L | 251066 | 122 | Provide Technical Review and Recommendation | Provide Technical Review for other UCWSRI projects and reports | Review project proposals and reports through the Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative (UCWSRI) Technical Working Group (TWG). | $2,184 | 0.16% | 04/01/2025 | 03/31/2026 |
| M | 251067 | 119 | Manage and Administer Projects | Manage and administer the White Sturgeon Enhancement Project | Manage on-the-ground white sturgeon recovery work for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation to ensure project work elements and milestones are completed. Prepare scope of work, equipment inventories, and budget for fiscal year 2024 White Sturgeon Enhancement Project work. Prepare September accrual estimates as required by Bonneville Power Administration. | $36,404 | 2.74% | 04/01/2025 | 03/31/2026 |
| N | 252773 | 132 | Produce Progress (Annual) Report | Draft and upload Progress Report for the period January 2022 through December 2022 | Produce draft progress report and upload for calendar year 2022. The progress report summarizes the project goal, objectives, hypotheses, completed and uncompleted deliverables, problems encountered, lessons learned, and long-term planning. Examples of long-term planning include future improvements, new directions, or level of effort for contract implementation, including any ramping up or ramping down of contract components or of the project as a whole. | $2,000 | 0.15% | 04/01/2025 | 03/15/2026 |
| O | 251070 | 132 | Produce Progress (Annual) Report | Draft and upload Progress Report for the period January 2023 through December 2023 | Produce draft progress report and upload for calendar year 2023. The progress report summarizes the project goal, objectives, hypotheses, completed and uncompleted deliverables, problems encountered, lessons learned, and long-term planning. Examples of long-term planning include future improvements, new directions, or level of effort for contract implementation, including any ramping up or ramping down of contract components or of the project as a whole. | $9,101 | 0.68% | 04/01/2025 | 03/15/2026 |
| P | 251071 | 132 | Produce Progress (Annual) Report | Draft and Upload Progress Report for the period January 2024 through December 2024 | Produce draft progress report and upload for calendar year 2024. The progress report summarizes the project goal, objectives, hypotheses, completed and uncompleted deliverables, problems encountered, lessons learned, and long-term planning. Examples of long-term planning include future improvements, new directions, or level of effort for contract implementation, including any ramping up or ramping down of contract components or of the project as a whole. | $9,101 | 0.68% | 12/01/2025 | 03/15/2026 |
| Q | 251055 | 185 | Produce CBFish Status Report | Periodic Status Reports for BPA | The Contractor shall report on the status of milestones and deliverables in CBFish. Reports shall be completed monthly, quarterly, or as negotiated with the BPA COR. In each report, when the work reaches a terminal status, additional data (actual metrics, updated budgets, final locations, etc.) may be required upon submitting the report to the BPA COR. | $2,183 | 0.16% | 07/01/2025 | 03/31/2026 |
Help
Mitigation work
Reporting
Funding
Search
Log in
SOW Report
