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• 241. [Article] Willamette Biological Opinion Hatchery Research 2008 Interim Activities Report

  Abstract -- Possible risks of artificial propagation programs have been well documented. Hazards include disease transfer, competition for food and spawning sites, increased predation, increased incidental ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Willamette Biological Opinion Hatchery Research 2008 Interim Activities Report Abstract -- Possible risks of artificial propagation programs have been well documented. Hazards include disease transfer, competition for food and spawning sites, increased predation, increased incidental mortality from harvest, loss of genetic variability, genetic drift, and domestication (Steward and Bjornn 1990; Hard et al. 1992; Cuenco et al. 1993; Busack and Currens 1995; and Waples 1999). Hatcheries can also play a positive role for wild salmonids by bolstering populations, especially those on the verge of extirpation, by providing a genetic reserve as well as providing opportunities for nutrient enrichment of streams (Steward and Bjornn 1990; Cuenco et al. 1993). The objective of this project is to evaluate the potential effects of hatchery programs on naturally spawning populations of spring Chinook within the Upper Willamette River ESU. ODFW submits this report in fulfillment of Task Order NWPOD-08-FH-05 (per Task 3). This report covers activities of July 2008–May 2009 that were implemented by ODFW on behalf of the Corps to assist with meeting the requirements of the reasonable and prudent alternatives and measures prescribed in the Willamette Project Biological Opinion (BiOp) of July 2008 (NOAA 2008). Although a strategy to implement actions identified on the BiOp has not yet been completed, the Corps provided interim funding to continue certain monitoring activities and initiate long-term planning as detailed below: Task 1 (a–f). Monitor straying of hatchery fish on natural spawning grounds in the North Santiam, South Santiam, McKenzie, and Middle Fork Willamette rivers to determine the distribution, abundance and proportion of hatchery and natural-origin fish spawning by: (1) conducting spawning ground surveys downstream of projects and upstream of Detroit and Foster reservoirs; (2) conducting re-surveys to assess variability in redd counts among crews; (3) estimating pre-spawning mortality; (4) estimating the percentage of hatchery-origin spawners using otolith analysis; (5) monitoring fin-clipped and unclipped fish passing Leaburg and upper Bennett dams. Task 2 (a–c). Monitor fin-clipped and unclipped fish entering hatcheries and collection facilities (i.e., record number, origin, length, date of return); determine origin using otolith analysis; collect tissue samples for genetic analysis. Task 4. Work with Corps and/or contractors to develop coordinated monitoring plan for Corps-funded hatchery programs based on requirements in the 2008 BiOp. Title: Willamette Biological Opinion Hatchery Research 2008 Interim Activities Report Abstract -- Possible risks of artificial propagation programs have been well documented. Hazards include disease transfer, competition for food and spawning sites, increased predation, increased incidental mortality from harvest, loss of genetic variability, genetic drift, and domestication (Steward and Bjornn 1990; Hard et al. 1992; Cuenco et al. 1993; Busack and Currens 1995; and Waples 1999). Hatcheries can also play a positive role for wild salmonids by bolstering populations, especially those on the verge of extirpation, by providing a genetic reserve as well as providing opportunities for nutrient enrichment of streams (Steward and Bjornn 1990; Cuenco et al. 1993). The objective of this project is to evaluate the potential effects of hatchery programs on naturally spawning populations of spring Chinook within the Upper Willamette River ESU. ODFW submits this report in fulfillment of Task Order NWPOD-08-FH-05 (per Task 3). This report covers activities of July 2008–May 2009 that were implemented by ODFW on behalf of the Corps to assist with meeting the requirements of the reasonable and prudent alternatives and measures prescribed in the Willamette Project Biological Opinion (BiOp) of July 2008 (NOAA 2008). Although a strategy to implement actions identified on the BiOp has not yet been completed, the Corps provided interim funding to continue certain monitoring activities and initiate long-term planning as detailed below: Task 1 (a–f). Monitor straying of hatchery fish on natural spawning grounds in the North Santiam, South Santiam, McKenzie, and Middle Fork Willamette rivers to determine the distribution, abundance and proportion of hatchery and natural-origin fish spawning by: (1) conducting spawning ground surveys downstream of projects and upstream of Detroit and Foster reservoirs; (2) conducting re-surveys to assess variability in redd counts among crews; (3) estimating pre-spawning mortality; (4) estimating the percentage of hatchery-origin spawners using otolith analysis; (5) monitoring fin-clipped and unclipped fish passing Leaburg and upper Bennett dams. Task 2 (a–c). Monitor fin-clipped and unclipped fish entering hatcheries and collection facilities (i.e., record number, origin, length, date of return); determine origin using otolith analysis; collect tissue samples for genetic analysis. Task 4. Work with Corps and/or contractors to develop coordinated monitoring plan for Corps-funded hatchery programs based on requirements in the 2008 BiOp. Close

• 242. [Article] Population Health Goals and Assessment Methods for Steelhead in the Klamath Mountains Province Report Number: OPSW-ODFW-2002-08

  Abstract -- On March 13, 1998, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced that steelhead in the Klamath Mountain Province (KMP) of southern Oregon and northern California would be protected ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Population Health Goals and Assessment Methods for Steelhead in the Klamath Mountains Province Report Number: OPSW-ODFW-2002-08 Abstract -- On March 13, 1998, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced that steelhead in the Klamath Mountain Province (KMP) of southern Oregon and northern California would be protected by special conservation plans designed in cooperation with the states of Oregon and California. The steelhead supplement to the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds (OPSW) is intended to maintain wild steelhead populations in Oregon at sustainable and productive levels that will provide substantial environmental, cultural, and economic benefits. Similarly, a Memorandum of Agreement between NMFS and the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) established the terms and conditions for the improved conservation and management of steelhead on the northern coast of California. Section ODFWIA1S of the OPSW commits the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to work with NMFS to establish “Population Health Goals” for wild steelhead in Oregon. Section 7 of the Memorandum of Agreement between NMFS and CDFG requires that a monitoring program be developed in order to assess the health of steelhead on the north coast of California. The purpose of this document is to propose population health goals for wild steelhead populations in the Oregon portion of the KMP and to propose a monitoring program designed to characterize the status of KMP steelhead in relation to population health goals. Potential or ongoing monitoring activities conducted by private parties or government agencies are not discussed unless directly relevant to monitoring proposed for KMP steelhead. The State of Oregon is in the process of developing a program to monitor the status of salmonid populations, and their habitats, along the coast of Oregon (ODFW 1998). Many elements of this program will be useful for monitoring the status of steelhead in the KMP. Integration of the two monitoring programs should result in a more effective use of public funds and also should ensure that data is gathered and stored so as to be available for wide-spread use. ODFW considered a number of measures that have been used to describe the status, or health, of animal populations. Six goals were eventually chosen because they appeared to be the most appropriate and practical means by which to judge whether wild steelhead populations in the KMP attain sustainable and productive levels as called for in the OPSW. Health goals may be modified in the future as additional information, assessment criteria, or monitoring technology, becomes available. ODFW believes that monitoring will result in improved assessment and management of steelhead resources. However, ODFW also believes that monitoring results need to be interpreted with care. Attainment of all of the proposed goals should indicate that the populations are generally healthy. Similarly, failure to attain any of the goals should raise immediate concern about the status of the populations. However, should some goals be attained, while others are not, the status of the resource will likely remain open to interpretation. Title: Population Health Goals and Assessment Methods for Steelhead in the Klamath Mountains Province Report Number: OPSW-ODFW-2002-08 Abstract -- On March 13, 1998, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced that steelhead in the Klamath Mountain Province (KMP) of southern Oregon and northern California would be protected by special conservation plans designed in cooperation with the states of Oregon and California. The steelhead supplement to the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds (OPSW) is intended to maintain wild steelhead populations in Oregon at sustainable and productive levels that will provide substantial environmental, cultural, and economic benefits. Similarly, a Memorandum of Agreement between NMFS and the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) established the terms and conditions for the improved conservation and management of steelhead on the northern coast of California. Section ODFWIA1S of the OPSW commits the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to work with NMFS to establish “Population Health Goals” for wild steelhead in Oregon. Section 7 of the Memorandum of Agreement between NMFS and CDFG requires that a monitoring program be developed in order to assess the health of steelhead on the north coast of California. The purpose of this document is to propose population health goals for wild steelhead populations in the Oregon portion of the KMP and to propose a monitoring program designed to characterize the status of KMP steelhead in relation to population health goals. Potential or ongoing monitoring activities conducted by private parties or government agencies are not discussed unless directly relevant to monitoring proposed for KMP steelhead. The State of Oregon is in the process of developing a program to monitor the status of salmonid populations, and their habitats, along the coast of Oregon (ODFW 1998). Many elements of this program will be useful for monitoring the status of steelhead in the KMP. Integration of the two monitoring programs should result in a more effective use of public funds and also should ensure that data is gathered and stored so as to be available for wide-spread use. ODFW considered a number of measures that have been used to describe the status, or health, of animal populations. Six goals were eventually chosen because they appeared to be the most appropriate and practical means by which to judge whether wild steelhead populations in the KMP attain sustainable and productive levels as called for in the OPSW. Health goals may be modified in the future as additional information, assessment criteria, or monitoring technology, becomes available. ODFW believes that monitoring will result in improved assessment and management of steelhead resources. However, ODFW also believes that monitoring results need to be interpreted with care. Attainment of all of the proposed goals should indicate that the populations are generally healthy. Similarly, failure to attain any of the goals should raise immediate concern about the status of the populations. However, should some goals be attained, while others are not, the status of the resource will likely remain open to interpretation. Close

• 243. [Article] Abundance, Productivity, and Life History of Fifteenmile Creek Steelhead; Annual Report 2016

  Abstract -- The Fifteenmile Creek watershed in North Central Oregon hosts a native population of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) that is without influence of previous hatchery augmentation. The Fifteenmile ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Abundance, Productivity, and Life History of Fifteenmile Creek Steelhead; Annual Report 2016 Abstract -- The Fifteenmile Creek watershed in North Central Oregon hosts a native population of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) that is without influence of previous hatchery augmentation. The Fifteenmile Creek steelhead are a subpopulation within the Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the Middle Columbia River steelhead and was listed as ‘threatened’ by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) first on March 25, 1999 and relisted as a DPS on January 5, 2006. Subsequently, a conservation and recovery management plan was developed for the Middle Columbia River steelhead DPS within Oregon state borders. The goal of the plan is to recover Middle Columbia River steelhead to a level that would allow the removal of threatened status, in addition to providing a long-term goal to recover the population sufficiently to provide sustainable fisheries and other ecological, cultural, social and economic benefits for future generations. The DPS-level recovery plan sets specific recovery goals for the areas within the DPS, which designates Fifteenmile Creek explicitly. The Fifteenmile Creek steelhead population is considered the most inland winter race of steelhead in the Columbia River Basin, as designated by NOAA fisheries. However review of this designation may be necessary at the next Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) Biological Opinion (BiOp) status-review because the run-timing of adult steelhead passing Bonneville Dam has been inconsistent with known winter-run steelhead in the area. The population was identified as “must have viable” status by the Interior Columbia Technical Recovery Team (ICTRT), and reaching viable status is essential for achieving DPS delisting. The ICTRT, Recovery Plan, and the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS-BiOp) have all identified this population as high priority for improving precision and accuracy of abundance, productivity, diversity, and spatial structure information. Title: Abundance, Productivity, and Life History of Fifteenmile Creek Steelhead; Annual Report 2016 Abstract -- The Fifteenmile Creek watershed in North Central Oregon hosts a native population of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) that is without influence of previous hatchery augmentation. The Fifteenmile Creek steelhead are a subpopulation within the Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the Middle Columbia River steelhead and was listed as ‘threatened’ by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) first on March 25, 1999 and relisted as a DPS on January 5, 2006. Subsequently, a conservation and recovery management plan was developed for the Middle Columbia River steelhead DPS within Oregon state borders. The goal of the plan is to recover Middle Columbia River steelhead to a level that would allow the removal of threatened status, in addition to providing a long-term goal to recover the population sufficiently to provide sustainable fisheries and other ecological, cultural, social and economic benefits for future generations. The DPS-level recovery plan sets specific recovery goals for the areas within the DPS, which designates Fifteenmile Creek explicitly. The Fifteenmile Creek steelhead population is considered the most inland winter race of steelhead in the Columbia River Basin, as designated by NOAA fisheries. However review of this designation may be necessary at the next Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) Biological Opinion (BiOp) status-review because the run-timing of adult steelhead passing Bonneville Dam has been inconsistent with known winter-run steelhead in the area. The population was identified as “must have viable” status by the Interior Columbia Technical Recovery Team (ICTRT), and reaching viable status is essential for achieving DPS delisting. The ICTRT, Recovery Plan, and the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS-BiOp) have all identified this population as high priority for improving precision and accuracy of abundance, productivity, diversity, and spatial structure information. Close

• 244. [Article] 2006 Oregon Chub Investigations Progress Reports 2006

  Abstract -- Oregon chub Oregonichthys crameri, small minnows endemic to the Willamette Valley, were federally listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 1993. Factors implicated in the decline ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: 2006 Oregon Chub Investigations Progress Reports 2006 Abstract -- Oregon chub Oregonichthys crameri, small minnows endemic to the Willamette Valley, were federally listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 1993. Factors implicated in the decline of this species include changes in flow regimes and habitat characteristics resulting from the construction of flood control dams, revetments, channelization, diking, and the drainage of wetlands. The Oregon chub is further threatened by predation and competition by non-native species such as largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, crappies Pomoxis sp., sunfishes Lepomis sp., bullheads Ameiurus sp., and western mosquitofish Gambusia affinis. We continued surveys initiated in 1991 in the Willamette River drainage to quantify the abundance of known Oregon chub populations, search for unknown populations, evaluate potential introduction sites, and monitor introduced populations as part of the implementation of the Oregon Chub Recovery Plan. We sampled a total of 103 sites in 2006. No new populations of Oregon chub were discovered. Thirty-five of the 103 sites were new locations that were sampled for the first time in 2006. Sixty-eight sites, sampled on at least one occasion between 1991-2005, were revisited. We confirmed the continued existence of Oregon chub at 33 locations. These included 23 naturally occurring and 10 introduced populations. Locations of naturally occurring populations were: Santiam drainage (Geren Island, Santiam I-5 Side Channels, Santiam Conservation Easement, Stayton Public Works Pond, Green’s Bridge Backwater, Pioneer Park, Santiam Conservation Easement, and Gray Slough), Mid-Willamette drainage (Finley Gray Creek Swamp), McKenzie drainage (Shetzline Pond and Big Island), Coast Fork Willamette drainage (Coast Fork Side Channels and Lynx Hollow), and the Middle Fork Willamette drainage (two Dexter Reservoir alcoves, East Fork Minnow Creek Pond, Shady Dell Pond, Buckhead Creek, two Elijah Bristow State Park sloughs and an island pond, Barnhard Slough, and Hospital Pond). Introduced populations were located in the Middle Fork Willamette (Wicopee Pond and Fall Creek Spillway Ponds), Santiam (Foster Pullout Pond), McKenzie (Russell Pond), Coast Fork Willamette (Herman Pond), and Mid-Willamette drainages (Dunn Wetland, Finley Display Pond, Finley Cheadle Pond, Ankeny Willow Marsh, and Jampolsky Wetlands). We did not find Oregon chub at 14 locations where they were collected on at least one occasion between 1991-2005 (Jasper Park Slough, Wallace Slough, East Ferrin Pond, Dexter East Alcove, Hospital Impoundment Pond, Rattlesnake Creek, Elijah Bristow Large Gravel Pit, Elijah Bristow Small Gravel Pit, Little Muddy Creek tributary, Bull Run Creek, Camas Swale, Barnhard Slough, Camous Creek, and Dry Muddy Creek). Nonnative fish were collected at most of these locations. We obtained abundance estimates of naturally occurring populations of Oregon chub at 18 locations in the Middle Fork Willamette (East Fork Minnow Creek Pond, Shady Dell Pond, Elijah Bristow State Park Sloughs and Island Pond, Hospital Pond, Dexter Reservoir Alcoves, Haws Pond, and Buckhead Creek), Santiam (Geren Island, Gray Slough, Stayton Public Works Pond, Pioneer Park Pond, and Santiam I-5 Side Channels), McKenzie (Big Island and Shetzline Pond), and Mid-Willamette drainages (Finley Gray Creek) (Table 1). We obtained abundance estimates for 10 introduced populations of Oregon chub, located in Fall Creek Spillway Ponds, Wicopee Pond, Dunn Wetland Ponds, Finley Display Pond, Finley Cheadle Pond, Ankeny Willow Marsh, Jampolsky Wetlands, Foster Pullout Pond, Herman Pond, and Russell Pond. The three largest populations in 2006 were introduced populations. In addition, we evaluated eleven potential Oregon chub introduction sites in the Willamette River drainage. We introduced Oregon chub into the South Stayton Pond, a recently restored site located on ODFW property in the Santiam drainage, from Stayton Public Works Pond and Pioneer Park Pond. The Oregon Chub Recovery Plan (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998) set recovery criteria for downlisting the species to “threatened” and for delisting the species. The criteria for downlisting the species are: 1) establish and manage 10 populations of at least 500 adult fish, 2) all of these populations must exhibit a stable or increasing trend for five years, and 3) at least three populations meeting criterion 1 and 2 must be located in each of the three recovery areas (Middle Fork Willamette River, Santiam River, and Mid-Willamette River tributaries). In 2006, there were 18 populations totaling 500 or more individuals (Table 1). Thirteen of these populations also met the second criteria. Of the 13 populations meeting criteria 1 and 2, eight were located in the Middle Fork Willamette drainage, three were located in the Mid-Willamette drainage, and two were located in the Santiam drainage. With the addition of one more stable population in the Santiam drainage, the downlisting criteria will be met. Findings to date indicate that Oregon chub remain at risk due to the loss of suitable habitat and the continued threats posed by the proliferation of non-native fishes, illegal water withdrawals, accelerated sedimentation, and potential chemical spills or careless pesticide applications. Their status has improved in recent years, resulting primarily from successful introductions and the discovery of previously undocumented populations. Title: 2006 Oregon Chub Investigations Progress Reports 2006 Abstract -- Oregon chub Oregonichthys crameri, small minnows endemic to the Willamette Valley, were federally listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 1993. Factors implicated in the decline of this species include changes in flow regimes and habitat characteristics resulting from the construction of flood control dams, revetments, channelization, diking, and the drainage of wetlands. The Oregon chub is further threatened by predation and competition by non-native species such as largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, crappies Pomoxis sp., sunfishes Lepomis sp., bullheads Ameiurus sp., and western mosquitofish Gambusia affinis. We continued surveys initiated in 1991 in the Willamette River drainage to quantify the abundance of known Oregon chub populations, search for unknown populations, evaluate potential introduction sites, and monitor introduced populations as part of the implementation of the Oregon Chub Recovery Plan. We sampled a total of 103 sites in 2006. No new populations of Oregon chub were discovered. Thirty-five of the 103 sites were new locations that were sampled for the first time in 2006. Sixty-eight sites, sampled on at least one occasion between 1991-2005, were revisited. We confirmed the continued existence of Oregon chub at 33 locations. These included 23 naturally occurring and 10 introduced populations. Locations of naturally occurring populations were: Santiam drainage (Geren Island, Santiam I-5 Side Channels, Santiam Conservation Easement, Stayton Public Works Pond, Green’s Bridge Backwater, Pioneer Park, Santiam Conservation Easement, and Gray Slough), Mid-Willamette drainage (Finley Gray Creek Swamp), McKenzie drainage (Shetzline Pond and Big Island), Coast Fork Willamette drainage (Coast Fork Side Channels and Lynx Hollow), and the Middle Fork Willamette drainage (two Dexter Reservoir alcoves, East Fork Minnow Creek Pond, Shady Dell Pond, Buckhead Creek, two Elijah Bristow State Park sloughs and an island pond, Barnhard Slough, and Hospital Pond). Introduced populations were located in the Middle Fork Willamette (Wicopee Pond and Fall Creek Spillway Ponds), Santiam (Foster Pullout Pond), McKenzie (Russell Pond), Coast Fork Willamette (Herman Pond), and Mid-Willamette drainages (Dunn Wetland, Finley Display Pond, Finley Cheadle Pond, Ankeny Willow Marsh, and Jampolsky Wetlands). We did not find Oregon chub at 14 locations where they were collected on at least one occasion between 1991-2005 (Jasper Park Slough, Wallace Slough, East Ferrin Pond, Dexter East Alcove, Hospital Impoundment Pond, Rattlesnake Creek, Elijah Bristow Large Gravel Pit, Elijah Bristow Small Gravel Pit, Little Muddy Creek tributary, Bull Run Creek, Camas Swale, Barnhard Slough, Camous Creek, and Dry Muddy Creek). Nonnative fish were collected at most of these locations. We obtained abundance estimates of naturally occurring populations of Oregon chub at 18 locations in the Middle Fork Willamette (East Fork Minnow Creek Pond, Shady Dell Pond, Elijah Bristow State Park Sloughs and Island Pond, Hospital Pond, Dexter Reservoir Alcoves, Haws Pond, and Buckhead Creek), Santiam (Geren Island, Gray Slough, Stayton Public Works Pond, Pioneer Park Pond, and Santiam I-5 Side Channels), McKenzie (Big Island and Shetzline Pond), and Mid-Willamette drainages (Finley Gray Creek) (Table 1). We obtained abundance estimates for 10 introduced populations of Oregon chub, located in Fall Creek Spillway Ponds, Wicopee Pond, Dunn Wetland Ponds, Finley Display Pond, Finley Cheadle Pond, Ankeny Willow Marsh, Jampolsky Wetlands, Foster Pullout Pond, Herman Pond, and Russell Pond. The three largest populations in 2006 were introduced populations. In addition, we evaluated eleven potential Oregon chub introduction sites in the Willamette River drainage. We introduced Oregon chub into the South Stayton Pond, a recently restored site located on ODFW property in the Santiam drainage, from Stayton Public Works Pond and Pioneer Park Pond. The Oregon Chub Recovery Plan (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998) set recovery criteria for downlisting the species to “threatened” and for delisting the species. The criteria for downlisting the species are: 1) establish and manage 10 populations of at least 500 adult fish, 2) all of these populations must exhibit a stable or increasing trend for five years, and 3) at least three populations meeting criterion 1 and 2 must be located in each of the three recovery areas (Middle Fork Willamette River, Santiam River, and Mid-Willamette River tributaries). In 2006, there were 18 populations totaling 500 or more individuals (Table 1). Thirteen of these populations also met the second criteria. Of the 13 populations meeting criteria 1 and 2, eight were located in the Middle Fork Willamette drainage, three were located in the Mid-Willamette drainage, and two were located in the Santiam drainage. With the addition of one more stable population in the Santiam drainage, the downlisting criteria will be met. Findings to date indicate that Oregon chub remain at risk due to the loss of suitable habitat and the continued threats posed by the proliferation of non-native fishes, illegal water withdrawals, accelerated sedimentation, and potential chemical spills or careless pesticide applications. Their status has improved in recent years, resulting primarily from successful introductions and the discovery of previously undocumented populations. Close