Issue paper: Master plan for Northwest Oregon Hatchery
Project
June 7, 2000 | document 2000-8
- Introduction
The Master Plan, submitted by the Nez Perce Tribe (NPT), is intended
to provide information for a plan to artificially incubate and rear
spring chinook salmon populations in the Imnaha and Grande Ronde
rivers. These populations are listed as threatened under the Endangered
Species Act (ESA) and are at high risk of extinction. The Nez Perce
Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), are co-managers of the
current preservation/conservation and restoration programs for Imnaha
and Grande Ronde spring chinook salmon. These programs currently are
using conventional and captive broodstock techniques to meet their
intended purposes. These programs redirect production occurring under
the Lower Snake River Compensation Plan (LSRCP) from mitigation to
preservation/conservation and restoration. Both the Imnaha and Grande
Ronde preservation/conservation and restoration programs are described
in ESA Section 10 permit applications and the co-managers refer to the
fish production from these programs as the Currently Permitted Program
(CPP).
Recently, co-managers have determined that it is impossible to
produce the CPP at Lookingglass Hatchery, the LSRCP facility intended
for production, and that without additional facilities, production must
be cut from these conservation and restoration programs. The Master
Plan describes alternatives considered to meet the facility needs of
the CPP so the preservation/conservation and restoration program can be
fully implemented.
Co-managers considered three alternatives: modify Lookingglass
Hatchery; use existing facilities elsewhere in the Basin; and use new
facilities in conjunction with a modified Lookingglass Hatchery. Each
alternative was evaluated based on criteria developed for rearing fish
for a conservation program. After this review, the Nez Perce Tribe
determined the only alternative that meets the needs of the program is
the alternative to use new facilities in conjunction with a modified
Lookingglass Hatchery.
- Relationship to the Council’s Fish and Wildlife Program
The initial measure for establishing the Northeast Oregon Hatchery
was originally identified for funding in the Northwest Power Planning
Council’s (Council) 1987 Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife
Program. First steps in this process began in 1988 when the NWPPC
authorized the Nez Perce Tribe (NPT), the Bonneville Power
Administration (Bonneville) and the Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife (ODFW) to submit a master plan for review
This project is currently authorized by Columbia Basin FWP (NWPPC
1994) Measure 7.4L1 which directs the Bonneville to "fund planning,
design, construction, operation, maintenance and evaluation of
artificial production facilities to raise chinook salmon and steelhead
for enhancement in the Hood, Walla Walla, Grande Ronde and Imnaha
rivers and elsewhere."
As part of the Council’s Fish and Wildlife Program, the Northeast
Oregon Hatchery Program (NEOH) was the initial planning effort by the
fishery co-managers to restore anadromous fish runs in Northeast
Oregon. Part of NEOH planning was an effort to restore spring chinook
into the Grande Ronde Subbasin. After a time this effort evolved into
one of the 15 high-priority supplementation projects approved by the
Council in March 1996. Unfortunately, co-managers could not agree on an
appropriate production strategy for Grande Ronde spring chinook, given
the ESA issues, Oregon’s Wild Fish Policy, Lower Snake River
Compensation Plan requirements, Treaty and trust responsibility issues,
and other considerations. An independent scientific panel was formed
and asked to review the proposed strategies and provide a determination
on what would be appropriate. The panel recommended that an endemic
broodstock be developed for supplementation uses in the Grande Ronde
Subbasin.
In discussions between the co-managers on how to implement an endemic
broodstock approach for Grande Ronde spring chinook, two strategies
were proposed: captive broodstock and conventional broodstock. The
co-managers agreed on the strategy for implementation of the captive
broodstock component and initiated an emergency program in 1994. The
captive broodstock component became the Grande Ronde Captive Broodstock
project; the project the Council approved for emergency funding in the
fall of 1997. It consists of an expansion at Bonneville Hatchery for
the needs of the captive broodstock component, and improvements to
Lookingglass Hatchery. As this project evolved, other projects under
NEOH evolved with it and were modified to encompass the development of
the conventional broodstock component of the overall endemic broodstock
approach for Grande Ronde River, which was initiated in 1997. The needs
for the endemic component became the Grande Ronde Basin Endemic Spring
Chinook Supplementation project and was approved by Council on June 10
1998. The approved action recommended funding for the construction of
adult collection weirs and juvenile acclimation facilities at three
sites — Catherine Creek, Upper Grande Ronde River and Lostine River.
In 1998, the NPT focused on how they might more realistically phase
in rebuilding goals with limited regional funding and broodstock
limitations as it related to the development of the master plan. The
original concept for the NEOH Master Plans called for "new" production
that would be additional to the LSRCP production currently occurring at
Lookingglass Hatchery. However, with the continuing decline of salmon
runs and the subsequent overload this caused on Lookingglass (i.e. with
the additional burdens placed on the facility), as a tool to forestall
extinction of Northeast Oregon chinook, the NPT concentrated their
planning efforts on alleviating stress at the facility and
restructuring where existing production would occur. The goal was not
new production, but address the current levels of production (i.e.
currently permitted program) under LSRCP using new and improved
techniques.
- Description of Subbasin and Status of Salmon
The Imnaha River Subbasin is located in northeastern Oregon and
encompasses an area approximately 980 square miles. The mainstem Imnaha
River flows in a northerly direction for 80 miles from its headwaters
in the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area (elevation about 10,000 feet), to its
confluence with the Snake River at river mile (RM) 192, (elevation 945
feet). The entire Imnaha Watershed is within the area established for
sole Nez Perce occupancy under the Treaty of 1855. The Imnaha River is
part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
The Imnaha River Subbasin once supported healthy runs of spring
chinook salmon, approximately 6,700 adults. Returns to the Imnaha River
subbasin have declined precipitously during the past three decades.
Peak escapement of spring chinook salmon to the Imnaha River was
estimated at 3,459 adults in 1957. Recent returns of natural origin
fish have declined to levels below 150 individuals.
The Grande Ronde River Subbasin encompasses an area of about 3,950
square miles in the northeast corner of Oregon and a small portion of
southeast Washington. The mainstem Grande Ronde River extends 212 miles
from its headwaters in the Blue Mountains (elevation 7,700 feet) and
the Wallowa Mountains (elevation 10,000 feet) to its confluence with
the Snake River in Washington at RM 169 (elevation 820 feet). The
subbasin is characterized by two major river valleys, the Wallowa and
Grande Ronde, surrounded by rugged mountain ranges. Major tributaries
include Joseph Creek, Wenaha River, Lookingglass Creek, Wallowa River
and Catherine Creek.
The Grande Ronde River historically supported diverse and healthy
runs of spring chinook salmon. Escapement of naturally produced chinook
salmon to the Grande Ronde River was estimated at 12,200 fish in 1957.
Historically, the major spring chinook salmon production areas within
the Grande Ronde Subbasin were the Minam, Wenaha, Wallowa, Lostine (a
tributary to the Wallowa River) and upper Grande Ronde rivers. Present
escapement level and recent trends indicate that Grande Ronde spring
chinook salmon are in imminent danger of extinction. Progeny-to-parent
ratios have been below 1.0 (replacement) for the past eight completed
brood years. Current adult escapement levels for the Lostine River have
been between 34-152 from 1994 to 1998. Escapement levels of the Wenaha
and Minam rivers (designated Wilderness areas with pristine habitat)
show similar declining trends. Trend analyses of spring chinook salmon
redds in index areas on the Wenaha, Lostine, and Minam rivers
illustrate the negative trend in redd counts and the low spawner
escapement levels.
- Summary of the Proposed Production Project
The Proposed Alternative would construct new facilities and modify
existing facilities for a preservation/conservation, integrated
restoration production program for spring chinook salmon in the Imnaha and
Lostine rivers. These facilities would make it possible to meet the
already-approved production program for spring chinook salmon in the
Imnaha and Lostine rivers. The proposed alternative includes the
following.
- Construction of a new incubation and rearing facility in the Imnaha
River and modifications of the existing Gumboot facility to
accommodate the Imnaha component of the Lookingglass Hatchery
production.
- Construction of a new incubation and rearing facility in the Lostine
River to accommodate the Lostine component of the Lookingglass
Hatchery production.
- Modification of Lookingglass Hatchery to accommodate the Catherine
Creek and Upper Grande Ronde component of the Lookingglass Hatchery
production.
- Project management structure and process
The proposed incubation and rearing facilities on the Imnaha and
Lostine rivers would be managed in conjunction with the existing adult
collection/juvenile acclimation and release facilities, with the intent
to restore and increase natural production of anadromous fish resources
in the Imnaha River and the Lostine River, respectively. Co-managers of
the Imnaha and Lostine Complexes would be the Nez Perce Tribe and
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Co-managers agree to work
cooperatively to achieve project goals. Co-managers agree to operate
these facilities in a prudent and cost effective manner. The Nez Perce
Tribe would function as the lead agency for the Imnaha River and
Lostine projects and therefore, would be primarily responsible for
planning, operation and maintenance, and monitoring and evaluation of
the facilities described in the master plan. Bonneville would be
primarily responsible for construction of the facilities.
- Potential production goals
The production goal for Imnaha spring chinook salmon is 490,000 smolts
and the goal for Lostine spring chinook salmon is 250,000 smolts as
authorized by NMFS through Section 10 of the ESA.
The CPP reflects the redirection of the LSRCP program from mitigation
to a focus on preservation/conservation and restoration. To develop
alternatives to implement full production of the CPP, NPT and ODFW first
developed management goals and objectives for the program. The co-managers
defined goals as the endpoint toward which effort is directed. Objectives
are smaller, measurable steps taken to attain the goal. Objectives are
measurable but are not necessarily time-limited. The time necessary to
achieve objectives and transition from one goal to the next will depend on
improvements made in the major limiting factor for program success -
smolt-to-adult survival rates. It is unknown at this time just how long
these improvements will take. Current SARs for wild/natural Snake River
spring/summer chinook salmon generally average 0.36 percent, with
hatchery-reared chinook salmon from Lookingglass Hatchery averaging 0.13
percent. Following are the goals and objectives for the program.
1. The short term goal focus on the preservation/conservation of
populations and is assumed to take one to two salmon generations or 5 to
10 years. The short-term goal has two components that attempt to prevent
extinction of Imnaha and Lostine spring chinook salmon, and provide
potential for recovery once out of basin (smolt-to-adult) survival
improves.
The short-term goal has two objectives:
- Maintain an annual escapement of chinook salmon from natural and
artificial production of no less than 700 adults in the Imnaha River;
and 250 adults in the Lostine River. Time necessary to reach
objective – Imnaha River has met the objective in 3 of the last 5
years. It is expected that the Lostine will reach its objective 4-5
years after implementation of full production.
- Maintain genetic attributes and life history characteristics of the
naturally spawning chinook aggregate.
2. The mid-term goal will focus on restoration of the populations.
Initiation of actions to meet the mid-term goal is dependent on results
of monitoring and evaluation. The mid-term goal has one part that
emphasizes the restoration of the natural populations of Imnaha and
Lostine spring chinook salmon above ESA delisting levels and provide an
annual sport and tribal harvest.
The mid-term goal has three objectives:
- Achieve an annual escapement of 2,000 adult chinook salmon in the
Imnaha (ESA delisting level) and 500 in the Lostine from natural
production. The ESA delisting level for the Grande Ronde is 2,500
naturally produced adults of which the Lostine River spawning
aggregate is a component.
- Maintain genetic attributes and life history characteristics of the
naturally spawning chinook aggregate.
- Provide tribal and sport harvest opportunity consistent with
recovery efforts.
3. The long-term goal is the original intent of the mitigation
purpose, which would be permanent for the foreseeable future. At this
point the program would take on LSRCP program goals. The long-term goal
has one part that emphasizes the Imnaha and Grande Ronde spring chinook
salmon escapement and harvest to historic levels.
The long-term goal has four objectives:
- Utilize natural and artificial production to provide benefits
expected from the Lower Snake River Compensation Plan – 3,210 adults
for the Imnaha River and 1,625 adults for the Lostine River returning
annually.
- Maintain natural self-sustaining population of 3,820 in the Imnaha
and 1,716 in the Lostine River.
- Maintain genetic attributes and life history characteristics of the
naturally spawning chinook aggregate.
- Provide harvest of naturally and artificially produced adults
additional to natural spawning, nutrient enhancement, and hatchery
broodstock goals.
- Experimental goals and approach
The master plan outlines a conceptual framework that describes a
monitoring and evaluation approach that will help co-managers determine
whether they were successful in preserving and recovering chinook salmon
in the Imnaha and Lostine rivers. Program success will be gauged primarily
by changes in abundance and distribution of the supplemented chinook
salmon spawning aggregates. Information gathering strategies are proposed
to monitor and evaluate the results of the Northeast Oregon Hatchery
(NEOH) supplementation program specific to the Imnaha and Lostine rivers
so that operations can be adaptively managed to optimize hatchery and
natural production and minimize ecological impacts. The conceptual
monitoring and evaluation plan provides a framework that will guide
development of a detailed monitoring and evaluation plan that integrates
new activities with ongoing monitoring and evaluation efforts.
The plan is grouped according to three categories: Stock Status,
Biological Interactions and the Natural Environment. Stock Status refers
to both the hatchery and wild components. This category comprises genetic,
life history and population viability subcategories. Monitoring and
evaluation activities associated with these subcategories will be directed
at detecting genetic and life history differences between wild and
hatchery fish and changes in population abundance over time. Biological
processes that affect stock status will be investigated under the
Ecological Interactions category. This category involves both
intraspecific and interspecific interactions, which includes competition,
reproduction and disease transmission between wild and hatchery chinook
populations and other species of fish. The third category of interest is
the natural environment. Abiotic factors capable of influencing or
limiting production, abundance and survival of wild and hatchery fish are
considered. Streamflow, water temperature and quality and habitat carrying
capacity have the potential to affect stock status and program success in
the Imnaha and Lostine rivers.
- Fishery Benefits
Spring chinook salmon populations in the Imnaha and Grande Ronde rivers
are at high risk of extinction because of low productivity and a low
abundance of spawners. The primary benefit expected from this program is
a reduction in the demographic risk of extirpation, which will ensure the
persistence of these populations. Although there are inherent risks to
wild populations from artificial propagation, the greatest short-term
risk to these populations is the risk of extinction. The
preservation/conservation and restoration programs described in the
master plan would provide an increase in the number of natural spawners
to forestall extinction while the primary factors affecting the
productivity of these populations are corrected.
Spring chinook salmon restoration in the Imnaha River has demonstrated
that the hatchery program has provided a substantial survival advantage
above natural rates and has increased the total number of returning
chinook salmon adults and number of natural spawners in the basin.
If this program and others are successful at stabilizing and preserving
the genetic resources of the Imnaha and Lostine chinook salmon
populations, and other factors are addressed to improve productivity, the
hatchery programs should help accelerate the restoration of these
populations.
Other expected outcomes include ecological and social benefits:
increased nutrients in the ecosystem from salmon carcasses, increased
potential to achieve restoration and delisting under ESA, improved
ability to meet LSRCP mitigation goals if productivity improves, and
increased potential to reestablish tribal and sport fisheries. The
program will also provide a better understanding of the role
supplementation can play in the recovery of chinook salmon populations.
- Facilities
1. Imnaha
The proposed alternative would construct a new incubation and rearing
facility in the Imnaha River Subbasin and modify or expand the existing
Gumboot adult collection and acclimation facility to accommodate spawning
and potentially egg incubation.
a. Adult Collection Facility
Adults will be collected at the existing LSRCP weir facility at Gumboot
Creek. The facility is located approximately 29.5 miles south of Imnaha,
Oregon at RM 49 and at an elevation of 3,760 feet. Access is provided by
U.S. Forest Service Road 3955. A main power line parallels the Imnaha
River at the site. Trapping began at this site in 1982 and the facilities
were completed in 1988. The facility was constructed with two weirs
(electric and a picketed lead), fish ladder, and adult holding pond, which
is also used for juvenile acclimation and release. Adults moving upstream
in the Imnaha River are currently impeded by a Daishin floating weir and
diverted to the fish ladder. They swim up the ladder and are trapped in an
adult holding area until sampled.
Currently, after sampling occurs, fish selected for broodstock are
transported 3-4 hours to Lookingglass Hatchery. Under the proposed
alternative, fish selected for broodstock will not be transported off
station but would be moved into the juvenile acclimation pond on site.
Dimensions of the pond are 25’4" x 125’ x 5’7". Although the pond was
originally constructed to accommodate adult holding as well as juvenile
acclimation, it has not performed this function satisfactorily. In
addition, the existing weir and fish ladder have not performed their
function satisfactorily, which has resulted in an inability to fish the
entire run, as well as some adult mortality in 1999. The existing weir is
not able to fish effectively during high flows and typically more than a
quarter of the adult return passes by the facility before the weir is
installed. This is a concern for broodstock collection protocols and
monitoring and evaluation of the program. Some modifications will be
necessary at the facility. The feasibility of locating a weir to intercept
adults elsewhere in the subbasin will be examined during the design phase
of this project. The potential for developing a pathogen-free water source
to incubate eggs at the facility will also be analyzed during the design
phase.
b. Incubation and Rearing Facility
The proposed site is on the Marks property located approximately 6
miles upstream from the town of Imnaha, Oregon at RM 24.25 and at an
elevation of approximately 2400 ft. This site was selected from 10
potential sites on the Imnaha through the screening process conducted by
the NEOH Technical Work Group.
c. Acclimation and Release Facility
The existing acclimation and release facility at Gumboot does not have
sufficient space to accommodate the entire production of 490,000 smolts
at one time. As a result, current operations "double-load" or
consecutively run two groups of fish through the facility, which reduces
acclimation time for each group to about two weeks (preferred acclimation
time is about 4 weeks). Co-managers are considering two options under the
proposed alternative to address this situation:
- Continue to double-load (acclimate two groups) in the existing
facility or direct stream release small groups of fish upstream of
the acclimation facility. Since fish will be reared for the majority
of their life on Imnaha River water at the new incubation and rearing
facility, acclimation in the upper watershed prior to release may not
be critical.
- Modify the existing facility (construct additional ponds) or
construct new facilities to accommodate full acclimation of the full
program.
Co-managers agreed that the most beneficial location for additional
acclimation facilities would be upstream of the existing facility because
most of the spawning habitat is upstream. However, winter conditions in
the Imnaha Subbasin are typically severe, making access and operation of a
facility in this location difficult. During the preliminary design phase
of this process, the biological benefit of each option will be compared to
the cost to determine the preferred option.
2. Grande Ronde
The proposed alternative would construct a new incubation and rearing
facility in the Lostine River Subbasin. The existing Lostine River adult
collection and acclimation facilities are part of the Grande Ronde Basin
Endemic Spring Chinook Supplementation project that was approved by
Council on June, 10 1998 and constructed by Bonneville in 1997 and 1998.
a. Adult Collection Facility
Adults would be collected at an existing temporary, picket-style weir
installed in the Lostine River approximately one mile upstream of the
confluence with the Wallowa River. The weir spans the complete river
channel at a near 45-degree angle to river flow. It consists of tripods
constructed from 2" diameter steel pipe, connecting steel stringers, and
aluminum pickets. The trap/holding facility consists of a V-trap structure
encased on three sides by aluminum panels to create a holding pen. The
weir is a movable facility that is installed in April to June of each year
and dismantled and removed in September or October. In an effort to
collect adults during high flows an auxiliary weir is located
approximately 1 mile upstream from the existing facility and being
operated as the principal site.
b. Incubation and Rearing Facility
The proposed site for this facility is on the Lundquist property at
River Mile 12, at an elevation of about 3,680 feet and approximately 6
miles upriver from the town of Lostine. This site is directly upstream
from the preferred site selected during the NEOH screening process of 4
possible sites on the Lostine River. This site is above all irrigation
diversions on the Lostine River and is immediately upstream of the Lostine
Acclimation facility.
c. Acclimation and Release Facility
The existing acclimation and rearing facility is located on the private
property of Stuart Coleman, slightly downstream of the proposed
incubation and rearing facility. Smolts will continue to be acclimated at
the facility until the incubation and rearing facility is operational.
After the incubation and rearing facility is operational, fish can be
released directly from their rearing containers. The existing facility may
become a component of the incubation and rearing facility or be
dismantled.
- Capital Costs
- Schedule for Development
Planning so far has cost $3,162,000. Construction of the Imnaha and
Lostine rivers incubation and rearing facilities is estimated to cost
$13,860,000. Annual operation and maintenance costs after all new
facilities are fully developed would cost approximately $928,000. The
monitoring and evaluation costs are estimated to cost about $760,000.
These cost figures are based on estimates from Montgomery Watson
engineers, biologist, project leaders and are described in the master
plan. Cost of preliminary and final designs for the proposed facilities is
estimated to be about $1,964,000.
- Harvest Management
Salmon destined for the Snake River Basin are not managed as individual
stocks until they reach the mouth of the Snake River. Columbia River
fisheries recognize and manage all Snake River Basin tributary runs as an
aggregate.
Since 1974, tribal and non-tribal commercial fisheries targeting
upriver spring chinook occurred only in 1977, although incidental catch
does occur in winter fishery targeting sturgeon and steelhead (February 1
– March 21). Since 1993, incidental catch of upriver spring chinook salmon
in these fisheries has averaged 11 salmon annually. Incidental harvest of
upriver spring chinook occurring in non-Indian lower river sport and
commercial fisheries were limited by the Columbia River Fish Management
Plan (CRFMP) to a combined rate of 4.1 percent and in no event was the
harvest rate to exceed 5.0 percent. The 4.1 percent upriver chinook
harvest limitation allowed mainstem harvest opportunities for lower river
stocks that are timed somewhat earlier than upriver stocks in most years.
From 1978-1996, the combined incidental harvest of upriver spring chinook
in lower river fisheries averaged 2.4 percent of the upriver run; the 5
percent rate was exceeded twice, in 1988 (6.9 percent) and 1990 (5.4
percent).
As described in the CRFMP, the Columbia River treaty tribes’ Ceremonial
and Subsistence (C&S) harvest of adult upriver spring chinook salmon
would not exceed 5.0 percent on runs of 25,000 to 50,000 fish, and would
not exceed 7.0 percent on runs of 50,000. Since 1974, Treaty Indian
commercial fisheries targeting spring chinook occurred only in 1977. From
1978-96, the total harvest averaged 5.9 percent of the upriver run. The
tribes enacted regulations closing all or portions of the spring C&S
fishery in 1989 and from 1994-1996. The U.S. v. Oregon Technical
Advisory Committee (TAC) reported that, with the exception of 1997, the
recent five-year (1994-98) average harvest rates for these fisheries have
been 5.6 percent of spring chinook salmon.
Because so few fish return to these subbasins, harvest within either
subbasin is not considered a limiting factor. Tribal harvest is not
significant. Sport harvest of spring chinook has been prohibited in the
Imnaha River since 1979 and in the Grande Ronde River since 1973.
- Key Questions and Issues
1. Concepts
The Council could decide that there are still significant concerns, and
risks that are still unacceptable and need to be further addressed at this
step level. This could be due to the relationship of this project to Lower
Snake River Compensation Plan (LSRCP) and the needs to ensure that the
project and the LSRCP Program work closely together on common goals and
joint uses of the facilities, or its relationship to other projects (e.g.
endemic and captive propagation projects) that have been initiated in the
basins. Is there a need for the Nez Perce Tribe to take the lead, during
step two, to ensure that the appropriate strategy for facility
modifications at Lookingglass Hatchery are made part of this planning
effort, and that this effort addresses the other components to the
currently permitted program in the subbasins?
The proposal outlined is attempting to improve current hatchery
practices through the implementation of NATURES and other hatchery
guidelines that attempt to be consistent with the life history of the
cultured fish and the environmental conditions of the specific watershed.
This concept is based on principles that minimize unintentional human
influence on the cultured fish. This seems also to be based on the need to
rehabilitate the artificial production initiatives in the subbasins in an
effort to assist the natural runs. By targeting natal stream water sources
for the new facilities should the NPT emphasis the use of the treated
surface water to take full advantage of their efforts to address needs of
the life history of the cultured stock and the environmental conditions of
the watershed?
The Nez Perce Tribe and the ODFW undertook an intensive planning
process using existing knowledge of the habitat and the fish runs. The
planning process involved the review of other alternatives and rebuilding
strategies. The master plan has focused and elaborated on a proposed
alternative. Given this, is there any reason not to move forward with this
proposed artificial production initiative? Do the potential benefits from
the project outweigh the associated risks? Are the risks associated with
doing nothing equal to or greater than what might be expected from the
proposed project? Are there other less risky alternatives the fishery
managers should consider that would meet their management goals for the
spring chinook? Could the production of spring chinook needed to meet the
management goals outlined in the master plan be produced somewhere else at
less cost and with no substantial increase in risks? Is there some other
way to achieve the production objectives (management goals) in the
subbasins for spring chinook that is less costly?
2. Genetic Risk
Is there a significant increase in genetic risk(s) to the wild/natural
stocks of spring chinook from the proposed alternative? If there are, what
other actions to those proposed in the master plan could the fishery
managers take to further reduce the genetic risk(s)?
3. Subbasin Planning
The Council anticipates that subbasin plans will be developed over the
next three years for the basins in the Columbia River. These plans will be
consistent with APR purposes, policies, and recommend actions. The Nez
Perce Tribe has addressed many of the principles and guidelines of the
Artificial Production Review (APR) into their planning process. Should a
decision on this master plan be delayed until there is a comprehensive
subbasin planning process, guided in part by basin and province-level
goals and objectives, and the overarching policies of the APR?
4. Harvest Management
An important element in any production program should be how
artificially produced fish will fit in with existing harvest
management constraints and conditions as outlined above. Projections with
regards to where, how and when artificially produced fish will be
harvested and utilized must be clearly delineated. Examples of questions
that could be asked are: Will harvest conditions limit the success of the
program? Will contributions to a mixed stock fishery exacerbate an
existing problem with wild stocks? How will fish be utilized when harvest
rates are low? How will fish be protected when harvest rates are high? How
will the fish be harvested in the subbasin, Columbia Basin and ocean? Do
the artificially produced fish mesh well with other hatchery programs in
the region? Should a harvest management plan should be developed that
examines these issues and outlines possible actions under differing
conditions?
Northeast Oregon Hatchery Master Plan – Step 1 Review
Process
Week Description
- 1 (April 17, 2000, Monday)
NPT/Bonneville submits Master Plan to
NWPPC
- NWPPC staff review
- 3 (May 1, 2000, Monday) Bonneville/NWPPC
initiates Peer Review
- 4 (May 10, 2000, Wednesday) NWPPC staff Comments
regarding Master Plan and draft Issue Paper to Fish
and Wildlife Committee (packet)
- 5 (May 16, 2000, Tuesday) NWPPC Fish and Wildlife
Committee reviews the Master Plan and draft Issue
Paper
- 7 (May 31, 2000, Wednesday) Fish and Wildlife
Committee Recommendation to Council (packet)
- 8 (June 7, 2000, Wednesday) NWPPC considers
releasing Master Plan and Issue Paper for review and
comment
- 11 (June 28, 2000, Wednesday) NWPPC takes
comments on Master Plan at Council Meeting
- 12 (July 7, 2000, Friday) Peer Review findings
submitted to NWPPC
- 14 (July 19, 2000, Wednesday) NWPPC takes public
comments at Council Meeting
- 16 (August 4, 2000, Friday) Due date for all
written comments on Master Plan
- 17-19 NWPPC staff prepares a summary of comments
and potential alternatives for decision
- 19 (August 23, 2000, Wednesday) NWPPC staff
provides summary of comments and potential
alternatives to Fish and Wildlife Committee to consider
recommendation (packet)
- 20 (August 29, 2000, Tuesday) Fish and Wildlife
Committee considers potential alternatives for
recommendation
- 22 (September 13, 2000, Wednesday) NWPPC staff
provides Decision Memo with Fish and Wildlife
Committee recommendation to Council (packet)
- 23 (September 20, 2000, Wednesday) Council
considers approval of Master Plan
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