This project operates fish passage facilities for downstream juvenile migrants and upstream adult migrants at five migration barriers (dams and irrigation diversions) on the Umatilla River and four on the Walla Walla River, to increase survival of salmon and steelhead. It also operates fish traps to trap-and-haul adults and collect broodstock for hatcheries, as well as coordinates flow enhancement during critical migration periods.

The ISRP appreciates the critical nature of these fish passage facilities and does not require a response to the proposal. However, the ISRP asks that the proponents carefully address several Conditions in future annual reports and proposals.

1. SMART objectives. The proponents should develop SMART objectives (see proposal instructions). Although the three main objectives are clear, they are not written as SMART objectives. An example of how Objective 1 might be written as a SMART objective is: 
   
   Objective 1: Fish passage facilities, including juvenile fish screens and bypasses and adult fish ladders, will be operated to meet NMFS (2011) fish passage criteria at five migration barriers on the Umatilla River and four on the Walla Walla River, through 2027. 
   
   
2. Fish passage criteria. Please present a table of the criteria defined in NMFS (2011) that these fish passage facilities must meet and a table of quantitative data showing how many days each facility was in compliance vs. out-of-compliance for these criteria during migration seasons each year. These data are critical for the ISRP and others to evaluate whether this project is meeting its objectives operationally and biologically. 
   
   
3. Measures of effectiveness. Please explain how the effectiveness of the juvenile bypass systems and adult fish ladders is measured, in terms of proportion of fish that were able to pass without delay and effects on their survival. If these metrics are collected or managed by another project(s), describe these linkages (see Condition 7), present a summary of what has been found to date, and reference reports. How is this information used to inform adaptive management of the project? 
   
   
4. Lamprey passage. The goal of Strategy 5 of the Umatilla Subbasin Plan is to “Improve fish passage conditions at all man-made passage impediments for resident and anadromous upstream and downstream migrants.” This includes upstream passage of Pacific lamprey, a species that is in decline. However, this species is typically unable to pass upstream through fish ladders designed for adult salmonids, and it is not clear whether lamprey can use juvenile bypass facilities when passing downstream. How will the proponents ensure protecting fish passage for lamprey, which are one of the First Foods for Native Americans in this region (Quaempts et al. 2018)? Adult lamprey migration is reported in Table 4, with regard to periods that flows are augmented for fish passage, but no information is given about whether facilities are effective for lamprey passage. 
   
   
5. Update to current Fish and Wildlife Program. The proponents report biological objectives listed in the 2000 Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program, but the current version is from 2014/2020. As applicable, please update the reference to objectives in the most current plan amendments. 
   
   
6. Response to past ISRP request. The response to Point #1 of the past ISRP review was not adequate, concerning how data or observations of the effectiveness of the facilities in promoting fish passage with high survival are used to make adaptive changes to operations. For example, if it is found that the juvenile bypass systems are not passing a high proportion of juveniles with minimal mortality, what management actions result from that finding? Moreover, is there a threshold or range that defines a “high proportion”? 
   
   
7. M&E matrix – support. As habitat projects and monitoring projects are not presented as part of an integrated proposal or plan, the need for a crosswalk to identify the linkages between implementation and monitoring is extremely important for basins or geographic areas. The ISRP is requesting a response from the Umatilla Basin Natural Production Monitoring and Evaluation Project (199000501) to summarize the linkages between implementation and monitoring projects in the basin. We ask your project to assist them in creating the summary and provide information to them about what is being monitored for your implementation project and where and when the monitoring occurs. A map or maps of locations of monitoring actions would be helpful in this regard.

1. Purpose: Significance to Regional Programs, Technical Background, and Objectives

This project conducts trap and haul and fish passage facility maintenance and operations in the Umatilla and Walla Walla Rivers. It provides the personnel and equipment for capturing hatchery broodstock for propagating Chinook, steelhead, and coho at hatcheries in the two subbasins. As the proposal states, it is not itself a habitat restoration project but is a member of a suite of projects that are attempting to restore natural production to both river systems.

The significance to regional programs, technical background, and objectives of the project are described in a straightforward way. The project's actions have evolved over the years and now include various fish passage O&M activities as well as trap and haul. In addition, some activities have been transferred to other projects.

Project personnel monitor flow and passage conditions, provide oversight for the operation and maintenance of fish passage and trapping facilities, maintain fish hauling equipment, offer technical input and coordinate passage improvement efforts and produce annual operating plans. The project also provides the broodstock for the Umatilla Hatchery programs. The two objectives are to increase the survival of migrating adult and juvenile salmonids and to collect and disseminate adult return information for the Umatilla River.

2. History: Accomplishments, Results, and Adaptive Management (Evaluation of Results)

Agricultural activities in the Umatilla and Walla Walla subbasins have created significant fish passage issues for adult and juvenile salmonids. In the lower Umatilla, modern fish screens were installed at the five major irrigation canals, juvenile bypasses and adult ladders were constructed, and adult and juvenile trapping facilities were built so that fish could be transported around river reaches during low flow periods. In the Walla Walla, irrigation diversions have been removed, fish passage facilities have been constructed, trap and haul efforts have been initiated, and minimum instream flow requirements have been established. This project is responsible for trapping fall Chinook, spring Chinook, coho, and summer steelhead broodstock for the artificial propagation programs in the Umatilla River.

Currently, principal activities include river flow regulation and enhancement, facility maintenance, broodstock collection, and overall coordination of the fish passage programs in the Walla Walla and Umatilla basins. Some adaptive management has occurred, as initially there was an emphasis on trap and haul. Now natural volitional up- and down-stream migration is preferred over transportation where natural migration results in higher overall survival rates.

Accomplishments of the project were described in qualitative terms; data on returning numbers of adults trapped and hauled or smolts counted at Threemile Dam were not presented. The proposal mentions observations made during fish migration seasons, but does not give any examples of what kind of observations are recorded or how the observations are used to guide management. The proposal also did not describe if any changes had been made to the trapping and hauling procedures, adult release points, or other techniques as a result of learning from past actions.

Because this project has been in place for about 25 years, it would have been helpful to identify efficiency improvements in O&M that have been implemented since the project's inception.

3. Project Relationships, Emerging Limiting Factors, and Tailored Questions

The project is closely linked to the Umatilla Basin Project Power Repay and the Umatilla Fish Passage Facilities O&M projects. Coordination with BOR’s Umatilla Basin Project, the Oregon Department of Water Resources, and local irrigation districts occurs in the Umatilla subbasin. In the Walla Walla subbasin, the project is closely associated with the Walla Walla River Juvenile and Adult Passage Improvements project. In the Walla Walla, the project interacts with ODFW, WDFW, USACE, Oregon Department of Water Resources, the Washington Department of Ecology, and local irrigation districts. Relationships with other projects in the two subbasins are adequately described.

The proposal does not address emerging limiting factors, but it would be helpful to know if trap and haul mortality has changed over the years, or if they have noticed any unusual sources of anadromous salmonid mortality at any of the new fish passage facilities. When low flows occur, poor water quality leads to poor survival and an increase in trapping and hauling fish. Such years may be a consequence of climate change.

4. Deliverables, Work Elements, Metrics, and Methods

Nine deliverables were described. They included: inspection of river conditions and facility operations, coordinating the Umatilla passage program, transportation of adult and juvenile fish, maintaining and operating fish hauling equipment, collecting and disseminating adult fish counts, providing broodstock for the Umatilla Hatchery programs, out-planting adults for natural production, and performing technical reviews of fish passage improvement efforts. Some of the methods used for data collection are fairly well described while others, for example determining adult fish condition, needed more detail.

One aspect of the work that needs additional description is how a random sample of returning adults is selected for broodstock (see p. 4 of the proposal). Are fish for broodstock selected over the entire run time? Are fish selected randomly with respect to sex, size and age, for example are jacks included in broodstock? If the run is small, are hatchery needs satisfied before surplus fish are allowed to spawn naturally, or does the hatchery simply get a fixed proportion of the escapement? It would have been helpful to address these questions in the proposal.

Specific comments on protocols and methods described in MonitoringMethods.org

One Protocol entitled Umatilla 3 Mile Falls Fish Passage Operation was listed. It has six monitoring methods. The video enumeration of adults, salmonid processing at migrant traps, fork length and mid-orbital to hypural length methods are fairly well described. The hypural plate method, however, should be refined. As it currently exists, no clear instruction is provided for identifying the posterior edge of the hypural plate. This can be consistently found by laying a fish on its side and bending the caudal fin up toward the head. A visible crease occurs at the trailing edge of the hypural plate. The methods used to determine fish abundance and condition could use some additional explanation.

===========QUALIFICATIONS FOLLOW================

This is a straightforward project that is needed for the operation and maintenance of fish passage facilities. Two qualifications should be addressed in contracting and in future reviews:

 

There should be a clear procedure describing how observations on fish passage mentioned in the proposal will be incorporated into management actions. The project sponsors should look for opportunities to use trap/haul and fish passage facilities to monitor juvenile migration. In addition, progress reports should explain how O&M procedures have changed as a result of learning from past operations.

Collection of adult salmon and steelhead selected for use as broodstock should continue to follow HSRG guidelines for the Umatilla and Walla Walla subbasins.

1. Purpose: Significance to Regional Programs, Technical Background, and Objectives

This project conducts trap and haul and fish passage facility maintenance and operations in the Umatilla and Walla Walla Rivers. It provides the personnel and equipment for capturing hatchery broodstock for propagating Chinook, steelhead, and coho at hatcheries in the two subbasins. As the proposal states, it is not itself a habitat restoration project but is a member of a suite of projects that are attempting to restore natural production to both river systems.

The significance to regional programs, technical background, and objectives of the project are described in a straightforward way. The project's actions have evolved over the years and now include various fish passage O&M activities as well as trap and haul. In addition, some activities have been transferred to other projects.

Project personnel monitor flow and passage conditions, provide oversight for the operation and maintenance of fish passage and trapping facilities, maintain fish hauling equipment, offer technical input and coordinate passage improvement efforts and produce annual operating plans. The project also provides the broodstock for the Umatilla Hatchery programs. The two objectives are to increase the survival of migrating adult and juvenile salmonids and to collect and disseminate adult return information for the Umatilla River.

2. History: Accomplishments, Results, and Adaptive Management (Evaluation of Results)

Agricultural activities in the Umatilla and Walla Walla subbasins have created significant fish passage issues for adult and juvenile salmonids. In the lower Umatilla, modern fish screens were installed at the five major irrigation canals, juvenile bypasses and adult ladders were constructed, and adult and juvenile trapping facilities were built so that fish could be transported around river reaches during low flow periods. In the Walla Walla, irrigation diversions have been removed, fish passage facilities have been constructed, trap and haul efforts have been initiated, and minimum instream flow requirements have been established. This project is responsible for trapping fall Chinook, spring Chinook, coho, and summer steelhead broodstock for the artificial propagation programs in the Umatilla River.

Currently, principal activities include river flow regulation and enhancement, facility maintenance, broodstock collection, and overall coordination of the fish passage programs in the Walla Walla and Umatilla basins. Some adaptive management has occurred, as initially there was an emphasis on trap and haul. Now natural volitional up- and down-stream migration is preferred over transportation where natural migration results in higher overall survival rates.

Accomplishments of the project were described in qualitative terms; data on returning numbers of adults trapped and hauled or smolts counted at Threemile Dam were not presented. The proposal mentions observations made during fish migration seasons, but does not give any examples of what kind of observations are recorded or how the observations are used to guide management. The proposal also did not describe if any changes had been made to the trapping and hauling procedures, adult release points, or other techniques as a result of learning from past actions.

Because this project has been in place for about 25 years, it would have been helpful to identify efficiency improvements in O&M that have been implemented since the project's inception.

3. Project Relationships, Emerging Limiting Factors, and Tailored Questions

The project is closely linked to the Umatilla Basin Project Power Repay and the Umatilla Fish Passage Facilities O&M projects. Coordination with BOR’s Umatilla Basin Project, the Oregon Department of Water Resources, and local irrigation districts occurs in the Umatilla subbasin. In the Walla Walla subbasin, the project is closely associated with the Walla Walla River Juvenile and Adult Passage Improvements project. In the Walla Walla, the project interacts with ODFW, WDFW, USACE, Oregon Department of Water Resources, the Washington Department of Ecology, and local irrigation districts. Relationships with other projects in the two subbasins are adequately described.

The proposal does not address emerging limiting factors, but it would be helpful to know if trap and haul mortality has changed over the years, or if they have noticed any unusual sources of anadromous salmonid mortality at any of the new fish passage facilities. When low flows occur, poor water quality leads to poor survival and an increase in trapping and hauling fish. Such years may be a consequence of climate change.

4. Deliverables, Work Elements, Metrics, and Methods

Nine deliverables were described. They included: inspection of river conditions and facility operations, coordinating the Umatilla passage program, transportation of adult and juvenile fish, maintaining and operating fish hauling equipment, collecting and disseminating adult fish counts, providing broodstock for the Umatilla Hatchery programs, out-planting adults for natural production, and performing technical reviews of fish passage improvement efforts. Some of the methods used for data collection are fairly well described while others, for example determining adult fish condition, needed more detail.

One aspect of the work that needs additional description is how a random sample of returning adults is selected for broodstock (see p. 4 of the proposal). Are fish for broodstock selected over the entire run time? Are fish selected randomly with respect to sex, size and age, for example are jacks included in broodstock? If the run is small, are hatchery needs satisfied before surplus fish are allowed to spawn naturally, or does the hatchery simply get a fixed proportion of the escapement? It would have been helpful to address these questions in the proposal.

Specific comments on protocols and methods described in MonitoringMethods.org

One Protocol entitled Umatilla 3 Mile Falls Fish Passage Operation was listed. It has six monitoring methods. The video enumeration of adults, salmonid processing at migrant traps, fork length and mid-orbital to hypural length methods are fairly well described. The hypural plate method, however, should be refined. As it currently exists, no clear instruction is provided for identifying the posterior edge of the hypural plate. This can be consistently found by laying a fish on its side and bending the caudal fin up toward the head. A visible crease occurs at the trailing edge of the hypural plate. The methods used to determine fish abundance and condition could use some additional explanation.

===========QUALIFICATIONS FOLLOW================

This is a straightforward project that is needed for the operation and maintenance of fish passage facilities. Two qualifications should be addressed in contracting and in future reviews:

 

Modified by Dal Marsters on 6/12/2013 9:27:26 AM.

The response helped to clarify operational procedures and decisions. The figures presented in the response suggested that a substantial reduction in the numbers of fish hauled has resulted in recent years. Still, the relationship with flow is not clear. There remain sections of the river, between Birch Creek and Threemile dam, which continue to dewater - if our interpretation is correct. Are we to assume that no fish mortality occurs in the trap and haul operation? One assumes that volitional migration versus truck and haul is to the fish's benefit, and that this is occurring at an increased frequency, thus towards fish benefits, but we find no attempt to document the extent to which the assumption holds or does not.

There is a very large expenditure on the flow projects in this basin, thus it seems worthy of more in-depth and on-site review and evaluation. In addition, the large expenditure calls for evaluation of biological benefits, as the ISRP has repeatedly requested. It is difficult to suggest a design for the evaluation of biological benefits without a better understanding of the flow and fish passage operations.

It is apparent the proponents have made a serious effort to address the comments and questions raised by the ISRP, and we appreciate it. However, the more we learn, the more we question. An overriding question has to do with evaluation of effectiveness (in benefiting fish) of one of the primary measures being undertaken, ostensibly to benefit fish, namely the pumping of water from the Columbia River into the Umatilla Basin to be shared equally, "bucket for bucket" to benefit irrigators and fish. We find no proposal in the Umatilla collection that addresses the evaluation of benefits to fish of this measure. Yet, the results of all the other measures being undertaken in the Umatilla Basin certainly are affected by the amount and timing of water made available by the pumping strategy.
Accordingly, we recommend that these proposals be reviewed in the near future as a package, the "Umatilla Initiative."

The ISRP's recommendation of "Not Fundable (Qualified)" for the set of projects that constitute the Umatilla Initiative is explained under project 198343600, Umatilla Passage O&M.

See comments on 199601100 - Walla Walla Juvenile and Adult Passage Improvements. Is there any evidence of improvement to fish numbers as a result of these efforts?