Creel Census. The project sponsors should consider alternative creel census approaches to the proposed approach and attempt to get data on all three ponds, rather than just one. There may be benefits to a plan with tribal representatives/biologists conducting the creel census and interacting with the public. The project sponsors can get help through the Fish and Wildlife Program to develop a creel census as was done through the Lake Rufus Woods project with assistance from John Skalski. They also can confer with the Nez Perce Tribe on how they are monitoring their trout ponds.

The use of a remote camera to measure angler visits is interesting but might be perceived as too intrusive. Its use includes both social and scientific issues that would need to be addressed by the project sponsors. Also, based on reviewers’ experience, analysis of the digital tapes still requires many hours of post-processing time. In addition, it is not clear that data on how many fish were kept, or their sizes, could be measured from these tapes. Nevertheless, it could answer questions about angler use, at least for one pond.

Sterility of stocked fish. The sponsor’s response on sterility of triploid fish is useful to aid in understanding, although not fully satisfying. One in 20 fish is perhaps not sterile, and only a few are needed to breed elsewhere and start a new population. The cost of eradicating this invading population in the future would be very large, and large enough to call for expensive measures to prevent fish from escaping. The fact that other agencies are doing the same thing is not a good reason, although it is clear that escapes from private ponds are a much larger problem.

It seems clear that additional ponds could be used to offer more opportunities to more anglers, if the risk of release of reproductively viable fish could be addressed.

1. Provide assurances on QA/QC for triploidy in rainbows.

1.  
   • What percent of the fish are sterile, and how is this percentage verified?
   • Are the batches certified?
   • What is the process for ensuring triploidy?

1. The response should justify the need for any additional ponds.
   
   

Overall, the project appears reasonable and justifiable, even if there is not yet fully adequate information on total usage and angler satisfaction. We would like to see testing data for the triploid fish to ensure that 100% are sterile, since many non-native species invasions have occurred from ponds like these when they are flooded. Other problems include pond banks breaking and humans moving fish illegally.

There is not sufficient information provided to justify additional ponds, and there is no design presented in this current proposal to address this issue, though a survey is mentioned as one method to obtain information on existing and potential demand for additional stocking. If so, a qualified independent contractor needs to be identified and asked to provide a survey design to answer the supply/demand question under a funding request for this current proposal.

The current stocking protocol of so many fish of large size could create demand that would never be met with wild fish, even if they were restored. It might be better to provide smaller fish and make clear to anglers that a similar catch rate is unlikely to occur in natural streams except under pristine conditions. 

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

The proposal is reasonably justified as a recognized substitution strategy to compensate for lost anadromous fish. The rational for providing meaningful harvest opportunities that take pressure off of native stocks is a reasonable approach and is widely used in various lakes throughout northern Idaho.

Significance to Regional Programs: The stated goal is to reduce angling pressure on native resident fish populations, which are bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout. However, the goal of providing anglers the opportunity to harvest 5 fish per trip, of which one is over 16" could create expectations that cannot be met in the future by wild fish, even when their populations are restored. Given this expectation, put-and-take fishing from ponds would be a required commitment of funds for the foreseeable future. 

This concern with angler expectation could be addressed several different ways. One way would be to plant smaller fish that more closely resemble the size of wild fish in the adjacent geographic area. This would perhaps also result in cost savings due to a shortened rearing duration for hatchery-produced fish. If this approach is not deemed socially acceptable, then anglers visiting the ponds can be educated using appropriate signage that wild fish will be smaller than the fish stocked in the put-and-take pond. Either way, the put-and-take fishing from these ponds would be a required commitment of funds for the foreseeable future.

Problem Statement: The problem statement is adequate.

Objectives: The same concern about the long-term effects of the objective applies, as described above.

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

The general activities and accomplishments since the project's inception are well described. The main shortcoming is of course the lack of an effective creel census to scientifically and quantitatively verify the benefits of the program to date. 

Accomplishments: Past accomplishments are adequately described.

ISRP Retrospective Evaluation of Results

The proposal’s Major Accomplishments section describes many improvements to the CDA trout ponds that maximize their ability to sustain fish and provide quality rearing habitat. Ponds were augmented with wells to supplement existing spring flows in 2009 and 2010 and were fitted with wind-driven aeration devices with electric backup to increase dissolved oxygen levels at critical times.

Public access has been improved at each site sufficient to allow handicap access, and portable bathroom facilities are rented and placed at each site during the main fishing season. The ponds are also routinely groomed and mowed to provide safe access for anglers. Ponds are also regularly monitored and policed for garbage and trash, which is collected for disposal.

The ponds have been regularly stocked with hatchery-reared rainbow trout dating back to 1996. Beginning in 2009, all planted fish have been triploid stock to further minimize the potential for unintended interactions with native trout. 

Stocked triploid trout have ranged from 1.5 – 2 pounds with some larger fish being planted in advance of fishing derbies, which are held regularly. These stocking levels have supported no less than 6,563 angler visits since 2004, ranging from 396 – 1,148 visits annually (Table 1). Total project expenditures during the period FY2007-2011 were $224,114. During this time 40,140 lbs of fish were purchased and stocked at a total cost of $144,504 ($3.60/lb) and the costs for administering the project and completing improvements at the sites totaled $79,610.

3. Project Relationships, Emerging Limiting Factors, and Tailored Questions for Type of Work (hatchery, RME, tagging)

Response concerning project relationships adequately explains that related projects are focused on habitat restoration and native fish restoration. The CDA Trout Ponds are used for substitution mitigation and provide angling opportunities while many streams where native fish are recovering are not presently available for fishing.

4. Deliverables, Work Elements, Metrics, and Methods

The deliverables call for stocking 1.5-3 lb fish, and some 3-5 lb fish. If future wild fish resources are unlikely to reach the 3-5 lb range, then it would seem wise to limit the number of these fish stocked so as not to create future expectations that are unreasonable. Public dissatisfaction, based on erroneous assumptions of potential wild fish size, could erode public support for present restoration activities. Likewise, more 1-2 lb fish could be raised for the same cost of feed, and provide more angling opportunity for less cost.

The sponsors propose to "evaluate the need for additional put-and-take ponds within the Project area to facilitate a more even distribution of stocked fish across the system, making harvest opportunities more widely available and allowing for greater flexibility in applying stocking strategies to meet the stated objectives for this project. The evaluation may include an angler satisfaction survey determined through direct mailings to the Tribal membership and fishing permit holders to better gauge fishing pressure/demand and a consideration of economics." This description is very vague. Angler surveys will need to be developed with care, since anglers can be predicted to ask for more and larger fish under most circumstances.

Although there may well be considerable additional demand for additional fishing waters that exceeds current supply, it is especially important that this determination be made using an objective, scientifically rigorous design. That is not provided in this proposal. High usage during a fishing derby, as clearly documented, does not get at the issue of overall demand. Ideally, since most fisheries biologists are not accustomed to designing such studies, it is typically best if such a study is designed and implemented by an independent contractor experienced in such supply/demand surveys. This might involve a survey of the populace at large and a creel census. It would be highly beneficial if a qualified independent contractor were contacted and asked to provide a survey design to answer the supply/demand question under a funding request for this current proposal.

4a. Specific comments on protocols and methods described in MonitoringMethods.org

The sponsors state, "A better indication of harvest was obtained prior to 2006 when ponds were periodically sampled with a beach seine using mark-recapture methods (Burnham et al. 1987) to estimate the number of fish remaining 30-45 days following stocking events with a known number of fish. During six of these sample efforts, estimated harvest averaged 90.4% of stocked fish (Peters and Vitale 1998; Lillengreen et al 1996, 1998)." 

This approach may be better than their other methods, but it has some real shortcomings. For example, it is not reasonable to assume that because the number of stocked fish has decreased by 90% over the time period, that 90% were harvested by anglers. Fish reared in hatchery ponds typically drop in numbers from predation and other mortality factors, often unseen by those managing the pond. This example underscores the need for a reliable creel census.

Another concern relates to whether all triploids stocked are actually triploids, and hence sterile. Has this been tested? If even a few are not sterile, then they pose a risk of invasion into the system.

1.       Provide assurances on QA/QC for triploidy in rainbows (ISRP comment).

The fish vendor, Trout Lodge Inc., has provided documentation (see attached) concerning quality assurance and control for the triploid rainbow trout purchased and stocked/planted within the Trout Pond Project.  Trout Lodge Inc. states that since the inception of their procedure(s) they have a verified induction rate of ≥ 95 %.  While Trout Lodge’s response to the specificity of the process is not available, they do have protocols and procedures in place to adequately address concerns pertaining to the issue.  Laboratory testing is conducted at Washington State University in Pullman, WA using blood samples from hatched fry from known lots of eggs to verify the effectiveness of the triploid production process.  Since this testing is completed prior to delivery of fish, the vendor has agreed to not supply to the Coeur d’Alene Tribe any fish failing to meet this threshold (i.e., 95%+ induction rates).

Our attention to this issue is consistent with the practices employed by other management agencies in the area.  For example, the State of Idaho has planted over twenty-five thousand, six inch plus triploid fish from this vendor into major rivers (Coeur d’ Alene, St. Joe, St. Maries) during the 2002 season that are directly associated with the main water body of concern (Coeur d’Alene Lake) in our immediate area.  This data is available on the Idaho Fish and Game web page (http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/fish/stocking/speciesByDate.cfm?region=1).

We share the concerns raised by the ISRP regarding this issue and have conducted research to monitor current status and trends.  Our research examining the genetic structures of native cutthroat trout in watersheds in the Coeur d’Alene Subbasin and interior redband trout in tributaries of the upper Hangman Creek watershed have indicated that hybridization with non-native rainbow trout was either absent or relatively low (e.g., ≤ 3% introgression) resulting from past, infrequent episodic events (Small and Von Bargen 2005;  Corsi et al. 2010).  A greater threat appears to be associated with the largely unregulated stocking of private ponds rather than from the structured efforts described by this project or from the programs employed by other resource managers.  For example, in the Benewah watershed, despite the overall low rates of introgressive hybridization, several of the sampled individuals were highly hybridized (e.g., percent alleles of rainbow trout ancestry between 25 and 75%) which indicated the presence of fairly recent hybridization events (Corsi et al. 2010).  This may be best addressed through increased education efforts directed to private landowners, followed by periodic monitoring to track genetic trends in the naturally reproducing stream populations targeted by recovery efforts.  Additionally joint efforts coordinated with the State of Idaho may help identify, educate and possible eradicate harmful species of fish through information gathered from the “Private Fish Pond Permit” data base, which is required for any private fish pond plant and requires renewal every five years.

Small, M. P., and J. Von Bargen. 2005. Final Draft Report: Microsatellite DNA analysis of rainbow trout population structure in the Hangman Creek drainage with comparison to populations in the greater Spokane River drainage and hatchery rainbow trout collections. Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Science Division, Conservation, Genetic Lab. 19pp.

Corsi, M., L. Eby, and A. Lodmell.  2010.  Cutthroat trout population genetic structure and distribution of hybrids within and among Wolf Lodge, Lake, and Benewah Creeks in Coeur d’Alene Lake watershed, Idaho.  Report for Coeur d’Alene Tribe Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Program, Contract M2009-688.  University of Montana.  Bozeman, MT.

2.       The response should justify the need for any additional ponds (ISRP Comment).

An adequate response to the ISRP concern must consider the larger context for this project.  The Coeur d’Alene Tribe Fisheries Program has established a modest goal for this project of supporting no less than 1,000 angler visits to put and take fishing sites by stocking 9,000-11,000 lbs of triploid rainbow trout annually.  The goal is admittedly based less on scientific underpinnings than on local demographics, and cultural/sociological values informed by Tribal leaders and the membership, which currently stands at 2,328 enrolled members.  In addition, more than 2,100 non-enrolled tribal members live in the area.  Since time immemorial the Coeur d’Alene and other tribal peoples have relied upon the natural landscapes for material and spiritual sustenance and these groups are more likely than other people to look to the resources provided through this project to supplement their subsistence needs (Power 1999).  The larger population living within the county subdivisions located within and immediately adjacent to the external boundaries of the Reservation is closer to 11,509 (2010 census data).  With this project serving to provide partial mitigation for the loss of anadromous fish species within and adjacent to the Reservation, the stated objectives fall well short of even meeting the historical subsistence harvest estimate of 42,000 westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi) per year that were relied on to supplement the now extirpated anadromous fisheries (Scholz et al. 1985).  While habitat restoration initiatives promoted by the Tribe have demonstrated successes as of late, it is not realistic for the native fishery to provide significant, sustainable harvest opportunity in the foreseeable (10, 20 years?) future.  In the mean time, this project operates and maintains a minimal substitution fishery that partially redresses the losses for members of the Coeur d’ Alene Tribe as well as non-tribal anglers from the immediate surrounding area.

When viewed within this context we feel that the project goal is well justified. Nevertheless, it has been difficult to consistently achieve the stocking objectives when utilizing just the three primary put and take sites currently available (See Table 1 in the proposal).  For example, greater than 9,000 lbs. of fish have been stocked in only three of the last eight years, and by inference, the objective for supported angler visits has been met just 37% of the time.  Part of the challenge is dictated by conditions of high temperature and low dissolved oxygen that preclude stocking during warmer months of the year.  Measured water quality data described in annual reports consistently show dissolved oxygen levels approaching 6 mg/l as temperatures exceed 15°C in all ponds.  While these values exceed the incipient lethal levels for rainbow trout (3mg/l; Raleigh et al. 1984), past stocking during these timeframes has resulted in mortality.  Infrastructure improvements made at each of the ponds has helped to alleviate some of the limitations on stocking, however, we have still had to employ stocking rates generally in excess of 3,946 fish/ha in an attempt to achieve project objectives.  We have been somewhat limited to this approach even though other published literature suggests that stocking densities around 1400 fish/ha will provide good to excellent angler satisfaction ratings, and that anglers would be satisfied with their trip quality even if they were dissatisfied with their fishing success (Weithman and Katti 1979; Hicks et al. 1983; Miko et al. 1995).

Construction of new ponds would have the effect of facilitating a more even distribution of stocked fish across the system, make harvest opportunities more widely available and allowing for greater flexibility in applying stocking strategies to meet the stated objectives for this project.  Newly constructed ponds would be similar in size to the Worley pond (0.23 ha) and therefore allow for a twenty-five percent reduction in overall stocking density, and presumably relieve fishing pressure at the existing ponds as they come on-line.  New ponds would be in the planning stages during the 2013 season and constructed in 2014 and 2015, provided suitable locations could be identified.  Ponds would be depression (excavated) or diked construction ponds, or a combination of the two, as described within the USDA guidelines provided in publication number 590 (USDA 1990).  New pond construction would be accomplished with in-house staff and equipment already purchased by BPA to further minimize costs.  All of the existing ponds have been constructed in a similar manner.  Pond bank integrity is routinely monitored, and to date, no maintenance or repair work has been necessary pertaining to erosion and/or integrity issues.

Power, T. M. 1999. The importance of natural and environmental resources in the economy of the Coeur d’Alene Reservation. Report prepared for the Quality of Life sub-group, Environmental Action Plan Project, Tribal Natural Resources Department, Coeur d’Alene Tribe. Plummer, ID.

Scholz, A.T., D.R. Geist, and J.K. Uehara. 1985. Feasibility report on restoration of Coeur d’Alene Tribal Fisheries. Upper Columbia United Tribes Fisheries Center. Cheney, WA. 85 pp.

Raleigh, R. F., T. Hickman, R. C. Solomon and P. C. Nelson. Habitat suitability information: rainbow trout. U.S. Fish Wildlife Service, FWS/OBS-82/10.60.  64 pp.

3.       Other ISRP comments

Stocking Protocol

The ISRP has expressed concerns that the current stocking protocol of so many fish of large size could create demand that would never be met with wild fish, even if they were restored.  Ponds are stocked with fish that typically range in size from 1-2 lbs or 1-3 lbs, dependent on season.  The variability in this size range is due to the fact that less costly fish in the 1-2 lb. range become 3 plus pounds as they are reared in the hatchery setting for out-planting later in the season.  Additionally, high demand for 1-2 lb. fish limit their availability later in the season when water quality conditions once again become more favorable for stocking the ponds.  Some stocked fish have been in the range of 3-5 lbs., although these larger fish were limited to five to eight fish per pond per planting in advance of fishing derbies and special events held no more than once or twice annually.  The protocol we have used provides stocked fish that are generally within the range of wild fish measured at migration traps employed to monitor the status and trends for recovering populations.  The sizes of adult (pre-spawn) trout within these streams (Lake and Benewah creeks) have a mean weight of just over one pound with larger fish weighing over three pounds.  Granted, these wild fish are low in number, but there are currently fish in the 1-3 pound range consistent with the majority of the fish purchased for this project.  Historically wild fish were said to be of larger size than what is planted and currently available within the project area (i.e., Coeur d’ Alene Lake and tributaries).  For example, historic accounts reported catches of 7 to 9 lb. trout in the lower river reaches of the project area and fishing trips in the lower St. Joe River produced 50 to 100 “speckled trout” averaging 3 to 5 lbs.  Obviously, it would be incongruous to employ a stocking strategy that ignores contemporary controls on fisheries production in the system.  Therefore, we plan to continue using this stocking protocol with the caveat that greater discretion be applied to the use of larger fish.  Another potential improvement to the stocking protocol would be to reduce the stocking density as discussed above and as informed by a more rigorous creel survey.

Creel Survey

We acknowledge the ISRP concerns regarding the lack of an effective creel census to scientifically and quantitatively verify the benefits of the program to date.  While we agree that a well designed census would provide data to more effectively describe whether project goals and objectives are being met, we have struggled in the past with justifying the cost for this type of program when the emphasis has been to maximize fishing opportunities in the most cost effective manner given a very limited budget (annual expenditures have averaged $56K).  Despite the lack of creel data we feel confident that a large percentage of the planted/stocked fish are being removed by human harvest.  We are obviously more uncertain about how this translates to angler visits, fishing effort and catch rates – information that would be especially useful in informing stocking protocols and long-term management strategies.

Internally we have discussed various ways to address the creel needs of the project with one viable option recently presenting itself in the form of utilizing remote surveillance technology.  We approached the surveillance team at the Tribal Casino to get an expert opinion on the subject of setting up a system at the pond(s).  They were very informative and stated that they have helped various other Tribal departments with this subject of surveillance.  From there they informed us that they have two DX8100 Hybrid Video Recorders that could be surplus/donated to the Tribal Fisheries Program at no cost (the units having an approximate value of $16,000).  During an onsite visit to the Worley Pond, the casino staff suggested a pole mounted camera that would view the entire site.  Also, the recording unit requires a fairly secure housing that also protects the unit from the elements.  They suggested that the recorder be housed at the nearby Tribal Facilities Building, some four hundred feet to the north east of the pond site.  A heated housing unit for a camera may also be required to capture angler activities during more adverse weather conditions.  The Fisheries Program has since obtained permission to house the unit at this location, which is a secure site.  The Fisheries Program would utilize BPA purchased equipment to prep the site and install the required conduit from the Facilities building to the pond side, and construct a cement pad for a twenty five foot pole (also donated by the casino) to accommodate the camera (approximate cost of $1,972).  This cost could be borne under the existing contract with BPA for this project to get a more rigorous creel program underway during the 2012 calendar year.  The unit requires programming to optimize the recording parameters and the casino staff has committed to setting up and aiding in maintaining the unit(s) at no cost to the project, as well as training project staff with regard to unit operations.  In addition, the recording units and internal components are currently available for purchase in the event that repairs or replacement is needed in the future.

Deploying this system at one or more ponds would provide a means for obtaining an accurate, representative survey of angler utilization of the existing network of put and take fishing sites.  As suggested by the ISRP, we would anticipate identifying a qualified independent contractor to provide a survey design to answer the supply/demand question and provide a statistically valid estimate of utilization.  We would pursue this under a funding request for this current proposal, and suggest that it could be accommodated using the technology described above without a modification to the requested 2013-17 budget.