74314 REL 23

2010-028-00 EXP ADULT STEELHEAD ABUNDANCE: TUCANNON-ASOTIN

12/1/2017

11/30/2018

157. Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data

Work Element Usage Report

F: 157 - WDFW Adult Enumeration: Weir Operation for Asotin & Tucannon Steelhead populations

The Asotin steelhead population as identified in the Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan for Southeast Washington (SRSRB 2006) has three Major Spawning Aggregations (MSA) and three minor Spawning Aggregations (mSA), while the Tucannon steelhead population consists of one MSA and four mSAs (Figure 1, Table 1). Ongoing adult and smolt monitoring are being funded in Asotin Creek (BPA project #2002-053-00), the Tucannon River, and the mainstem Snake River by the Bonneville Power Administration, Lower Snake River Compensation Program, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

Asotin and Tucannon steelhead are sole populations within the Lower Snake River Major Population Group (MPG). Both populations include steelhead using small Snake River tributaries that have little or no fish monitoring. We will be sampling Pataha, Alkali Flat, Deadman, and Penawawa Creeks (Tucannon tributary) and Almota Creek (Asotin tributary). All of these tributaries are considered mSAs are not monitored for adult steelhead abundance or other Viable Salmonid Population (VSP) attributes. Our goal is to establish upstream migrant traps on at least two tributaries per year, and rotate them from stream to stream every three years.

Despite the comprehensive nature of these programs, uncertainty exists regarding the abundance and distribution of adult steelhead in unsampled tributaries, the biological association of those adults with core steelhead populations and the proportion of hatchery spawners in Asotin and Tucannon populations. Gathering this information is not practical during spawning surveys for steelhead, but is feasible with adult trapping. Without collecting the proposed adult abundance information we are unable to determine the population abundance baselines for Asotin and Tucannon steelhead or measure the progress towards meeting Endangered Species Act recovery. The inability to estimate total abundance does not meet the priorities of Viable Salmonid Population monitoring for ESA recovery (Crawford and Rumsey 2009), as required by the FCRPS BiOp.

The proposed project would provide the following information for the Asotin and Tucannon populations: 1) adult abundance,

2) the proportion of hatchery origin spawners, origin of hatchery fish from coded wire tags or PIT tags,

3) population age structure,

4) proportional distribution of the populations in MSAs and mSAs, and

5) contribute to genetic characterization of Snake River Basin steelhead (Project 201002600).

Adult enumeration will allow for the collection of critical data needed to assess stock status and productivity (e.g. run size, timing, age composition, sex ratios, etc.). Adult escapement data will be used as a primary means of monitoring for VSP levels as recommended by NOAA and the Salmon Recovery Plan for SE WA, etc. We will use the results from these adult enumeration sites in conjunction with results from spawning surveys and other escapement data collected for other portions of the Asotin and Tucannon populations to describe fish abundance, escapement, distribution, and productivity at the population level. Adult enumeration will be used to assess stock status and aid in full population level run reconstruction estimates.

We may conduct spawning surveys in selected tributaries where weir operation is not possible or effective, or where information on spawning distribution is limited.

An error-checked dataset and metadata will be stored consistent with the database(s) and protocol documented in contract. This includes the following methods/metrics: adult escapement estimates based on trapping and/or redd count surveys for adult steelhead in small streams associated with the Tucannon and Asotin populations. Data will be publicly accessible, with stipulations for limitations of use and data generator attribution. Additional implementation notes and analysis will be in the Annual Report, or attached to the protocol as implementation notes.
The data file/s for 2018 will be stored in WDFW servers. SE WA WDFW staff will investigate use of WDFW region 5 TWS (Traps, Weirs and Spawning survey) database. In the annual report, WE 132, a link to the data set with the filename will be provided. If not web accessible, instructions on how to acquire the data will be provided.

$37,981

72.51%

12/01/2017

11/30/2018

11/30/2018

Concluded

n/a

n/a

Recurring