Project Title: Determine lamprey species composition, larval distribution and adult abundance in the Deschutes sub-basin.
Project Number: 2002-016-00
Contract Number: 00009553
Project Sponsor: Department of Natural Resources, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation, Oregon
Project Leaders: Christopher Brun and Jennifer Graham
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation, Oregon
Parkdale Field Office
6030 Dee Hwy
Parkdale, OR  97041
cbrun@gorge.net
jgraham@wstribes.org
Contract Administrator: Adrian White
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation, Oregon
Finance Branch
P.O. Box C
Warm Springs, Oregon, 97761
(541) 553-3219
(541) 553-3256 (fax)
Contract Period: April 15, 2005 - April 14, 2006

In this statement of work we describe the work to be performed during FY 2005-2006 (April 15, 2005 - April 14, 2006) by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation, Oregon, Department of Natural Resources (CTWSRO) on the objectives identified in project 2002-016-00 (Determine lamprey species composition, larval distribution and adult abundance in the Deschutes sub-basin). This project was initially funded during FY2002

Project Goal:
The goal of this project is to determine the status of lamprey in the Deschutes sub-basin and determine limiting factors that may preclude restoring this species to historic abundance. Prior to implementation of this project basic life-history information including species composition and abundance was not known. The objectives of this continuing project are: to determine Lampetra species composition, larval distribution and habitat utilization; to estimate larval and metamorphosing emigrant abundance in the Deschutes R. tributaries- Warm Springs R. and Shitike Creek; and to estimate adult abundance and tribal harvest in the Deschutes R.  The objectives presented in this study address "critical uncertainties" identified by the Columbia Basin Pacific Lamprey Technical Work Group (CBPLTWG) and recommended to the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority (CBFWA).

Background:
Pacific lamprey Lampetra tridentata populations have dramatically declined in the Columbia River Basin (CRB) since the 1940's (Close et al.  1995). Poor mainstem passage is cited as a major cause of the decline (Vella et al 1999a; 1999b; Long 1968).  Degraded tributary habitat including reduced summer flows and elevated stream temperatures are believed to be responsible for the demise of lamprey in the Umatilla and John Day sub-basins (Close et al. 1995).

Pacific lamprey  are present in the Deschutes R.  They are utilized by members of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation, Oregon (CTWSRO) for subsistence purposes and religious ceremonies.  Tribal members collect adult Pacific lamprey at Sherar's Falls (Rkm 71) in the Deschutes R.  Concern has been raised by Tribal members about an apparent decline in adult lamprey abundance at Sherar's Falls.  The lack of sufficient numbers of lamprey at Sherar's Falls to satisfy subsistence and cultural needs has forced the Tribes to collect lamprey in other locations such as the Willamette R. at Willamette Falls.  The same situation is true for other CRB Tribes.  Reasons for the decline of lamprey escapement in the Deschutes R. are unknown.

Information about lamprey species composition, distribution, life history, abundance, habitat requirements, and exploitation in lower Deschutes R. tributaries is extremely limited (Kan 1975; Hammonds 1979; Beamish 1980).  In order to formulate an effective recovery plan for Deschutes R. lamprey, as well as other lamprey populations, baseline biological information must first be collected and analyzed.

Project Location:
The project is located within the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation as well as in lower Deschutes sub-basin perennial streams off the reservation.  The reservation covers 240,000 ha in central Oregon. It is located on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains.  The Reservation boundaries run from the crest of the Cascades to the north and west, the Deschutes R. to the east and the Metolius R. to the south.  The lower Deschutes R. flows below an impassable hydroelectric complex at river kilometer (Rkm) 161.  The Pelton - Round Butte complex is an impassable barrier to lamprey.

The work to be performed during the FY 2005-2006 contract period will concentrate on the lower Deschutes River to Rkm 161 and tributaries including Shitike Cr. and the Warm Springs River and it's tributaries.  The Warm Springs R. (44 51 29.79 lat. 121 04 0.62 lon.) is the largest river system within the Reservation.  The river flows for 85 kilometers and drains 54,394 hectares.  Major tributaries include Beaver Creek and Mill Creek.  It is the largest tributary to the lower Deschutes River. It enters the Deschutes at Rkm 135. Shitike Creek (44 45 43.61 lat. 121 13 40.87 lon.) is the third largest tributary to the lower Deschutes River.  It flows for 48 km and drains 36,000 hectares.  Shitike Creek enters the Deschutes R. at Rkm 151.  The project is located in Wasco and Jefferson Counties, Oregon, Hydrological Unit 17070303.

BPA-Furnished Property:
None required. No capital expenditures will be incurred during this contract period.  The NEPA review conducted in 2003 granted the CTWSRO lamprey project a categorical exclusion from further NEPA review based on an informal consultation with NOAA.  

Literature Cited:

Bond, C. L.  1979.  Biology of Fishes. Saunders, Philadelphia.

Beamish, R. J.   1980. Adult biologist of the river lamprey (Lampetra ayresi) and the Pacific lamprey (Lampetra tridentata) for the Pacific coast of Canada.  Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences  37:1906-1923.

Close, D. A., M. Fitzpatrick, H. Li, B. Parker, D. Hatch, and G. James.  1995.  Status of the Pacific lamprey (Lampetra tridentata) in the Columbia River Basin.  Project #9402600.  Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon.

Hammond, R. J.  1979.  Larval biology of the Pacific lamprey, Entosphenus tridentatus (Gairdner), of the Potlach River, Idaho.  MSW thesis.  University of Idaho, Moscow.

Kan, T. T.  1975.  Systematics, variation, distribution, and biology of lampreys of the genus Lampretra in Oregon.  Ph.D. dissertation.  Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.

Long, C. W.  1968.  Diel movement and vertical distribution of juvenile anadromous fish in turbine intakes.  Fishery Bulletin 66:599-609.

O'Neil, L .B.  1987. AbP-2 operator's manual. Instrumentation Systems Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Pajos, T. A. and J. G. Weise.  1994.  Estimating populations of larval sea lamprey with electrofishing methods.  North American Journal of Fisheries Management 14:580-587.

Richards, J .E.  1980.  Freshwater life history of the anadromous Pacific lamprey Lampetra tridentata. M.Sc. thesis, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

Richards, J. E., R. J. Beamish and F. W. H. Beamish. 1982. Descriptions and keys for ammocoetes of lampreys found in British Columbia, Canada. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 39: 1484-1495.

Vella, J., L. Asteuhrenberg, and T. C. Bjornn.  1999a.  Migration patterns of Pacific lamprey (Lampetra tridentata) in the lower Columbia River, 1997.  Annual Report of Research to the U. S. Army Corp of Engineers, Portland District, Portland, Oregon.

Vella, J., L. Asteuhrenberg, and T. C. Bjornn.  1999b.  Migration patterns of Pacific lamprey (Lampetra tridentata) in the lower Columbia River, 1996.  Annual Report of Research to the U. S. Army Corp of Engineers, Portland District, Portland, Oregon.