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Abstract -- A previous study characterized a diversity of life history strategies of coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki) in Salmon River (Krentz 2007). In contrast to life history patterns ...
Citation Citation
- Title:
- Life history variability, habitat use, and migratory behavior of coastal cutthroat trout in the Salmon River, Oregon Annual Progress Report
Abstract -- A previous study characterized a diversity of life history strategies of coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki) in Salmon River (Krentz 2007). In contrast to life history patterns in other Oregon estuaries (Giger 1972), cutthroat trout of all sizes resided for extended periods of time throughout the available channel habitats in Salmon River estuary. The estuarine resident population appeared to represent a significant portion of the migratory individuals, and included all age classes. Estuary growth was similar to that of their ocean migrant counterparts, and survival in the estuary was high. Because cutthroat were collected and marked primarily within the estuary (Krentz 2007), it is unclear what portion of the migrant population remained in the estuary relative to the ocean migrants, or whether the tagged group was representative of the anadromous populations. The current study was designed to track a representative sample of the downstream migrant population, and assess the relative success (survival) of the estuary and ocean migrants. Similar studies in the Columbia River documented directed and rapid migration through the estuary (Zydlewski et al. 2008, Hering et al. 2009). With one exception, cutthroat trout were not observed to rear in the estuary. In addition, many fish disappeared before reaching the ocean and few of the ocean migrants returned to the site of release. In this study we replicated the study design used in the Columbia River studies to allow comparison of estuary migration and rearing strategies between the two estuaries. The primary objective of our work in the Salmon River was to increase understanding of coastal cutthroat trout biology and the relationship between resident and migratory cutthroat. Study objectives were to: 1. Estimate the distribution and abundance of coastal cutthroat trout in the Salmon River watershed 2. Quantify the proportions of the cutthroat populations that are migratory, identify which individuals migrate and describe the timing of migration 3. Describe habitats used by anadromous migrants and characterize migration behavior within the Salmon River estuary 4. Estimate growth rate of estuary resident cutthroat 5. Estimate estuarine/marine survival of anadromous individuals and document return to estuary 6. Compare migratory patterns and survival with cutthroat in the Columbia River In this report, we will discuss migration patterns, habitat use, and growth. The study will be continued in 2010 to meet objectives (1), (2), and (6), and provide more detail to objectives (3), (4), and (5).
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792. [Article] Hood River Bull Trout Abundance, Life History, and Habitat Connectivity, 2007 Progress Reports 2007
Abstract -- Hood River bull trout are thought to exist as two independent reproductive units (USFWS 2004), known as local populations (Rieman and McIntyre 1995). The Clear Branch local population is isolated ...Citation Citation
- Title:
- Hood River Bull Trout Abundance, Life History, and Habitat Connectivity, 2007 Progress Reports 2007
Abstract -- Hood River bull trout are thought to exist as two independent reproductive units (USFWS 2004), known as local populations (Rieman and McIntyre 1995). The Clear Branch local population is isolated above Clear Branch Dam, which provides limited downstream fish passage during infrequent and sporadic periods of spill and no upstream passage. Bull trout in this population inhabit Laurance Lake Reservoir and tributaries upstream of Clear Branch Dam. The Hood River local population occurs in the mainstem Hood River and Middle Fork Hood River downstream of the Clear Branch Dam and a small number of adult bull trout migrate each year into the Hood River from the Columbia River (Figure 1). The status of both populations is extremely precarious. The Clear Branch population is at risk of a random extinction event due to low numbers, negative interactions with non-native smallmouth bass, isolation and limited spawning habitat (USFWS, 1998). The Hood River population also appears to be small and is threatened by passage barriers, unscreened irrigation systems, impaired water quality and periodic siltation of spawning substrate by glacial outbursts. Clear Branch bull trout spawn in Clear Branch and Pinnacle Creek. After rearing in these two natal streams for an unknown time period, most are believed to migrate downstream to Laurance Lake Reservoir. Clear Branch bull trout have been documented passing over the dam spillway during high water events (Pribyl et al. 1996) and may provide a recruitment source for the Hood River local population. Adult bull trout tagged at Powerdale Dam have been observed at Coe Branch irrigation diversion and in a trap at the base of Clear Branch dam. These fish may have been attempting to reach spawning areas located upstream of the dam. However, the success of bull trout migrating downstream via the spillway or the possibility of successfully navigating through the diversion network has never been determined. Depending on the water year, the Middle Fork Irrigation District (MFID) may not spill at all, or the timing of the spill may not coincide with the timing of downstream migration, which is currently unknown (East Fork Hood River and Middle Fork Hood River Watershed analysis). Smallmouth bass were discovered in Lake Laurance Reservoir in the 1990s. Creel surveys have shown that large adult bass are caught occasionally in the reservoir and schools of bass fry have been seen by district fish biologist (Rod French, ODFW, personal communication), suggesting that they are spawning successfully. This illegal introduction poses a potential threat to the Clear Branch bull trout population, but its magnitude is unknown because the bass population size and degree of interaction between the two species are unknown. Bull trout and smallmouth bass have significantly different temperature preferences and tolerances, with bull trout being one of the most sensitive coldwater species and bass being a warm water species. Lake Laurance, a relatively high-altitude reservoir at 890 m (2,920 feet), does not provide ideal bass habitat so these two species may have largely non-overlapping distributions or differing activity periods (Terry Shrader, ODFW warmwater fish biologist, personal communication). However, based on past reservoir temperature data (Berger et al. 2005), there are periods in the reservoir when there is potential for bull trout and bass interaction: periods when bull trout are susceptible to bass predation and when juvenile fish might compete for resources. Spawning activity of the Hood River local population has been observed in a few locations within the Middle Fork of Hood River (Figure 1). Although consistent and extensive spawning areas for this population are not known, some of the locations where juvenile rearing or potential bull trout redds have been observed include the Middle Fork Hood River and some of its tributaries: Bear Creek, Compass Creek and Coe Branch (USFWS 2004). However, Coe Branch, Compass Creek, and the Middle Fork are glacial streams with a high volume of sand and silt which may compromise spawning success. No bull trout spawning or rearing has been observed on the East and West Forks of Hood River. The Middle Fork and mainstem Hood River provide foraging, migration and overwintering habitat. Hood River bull trout are also known to migrate into the Columbia River. Two bull trout tagged at Powerdale Dam (RK 7.2 of mainstem Hood River) were recovered near Drano Lake in Washington State; and one was captured 11 kilometers downstream of the confluence of the Hood and Columbia Rivers (USFWS 2004). Every year (usually between May and July), adult bull trout, presumably migrating upstream from the Columbia River, are captured and anchor tagged at Powerdale Dam. Although some of these tagged fish have been observed upstream (one in Coe Branch and three below Clear Branch dam), the spawning destination of fluvial adults within the Hood River basin is largely unknown. Dispersing juvenile bull trout and migrating adults in this local population are threatened by flow diversions with inadequate screening and passage facilities. Several structures are suspected to impede upstream migration or entrain juvenile and adult bull trout into irrigation works (Pribyl et al. 1996, HRWG 1999). These structures include: the diversion at Clear Branch Dam (passage and screening), Coe Branch (passage and screening), and the Farmers Irrigation District diversion (screening) on the mainstem Hood River (HRWG 1999). However, little research has been conducted to assess the impacts of these structures on migrating bull trout. Beyond a general knowledge of the distribution of Hood River bull trout and the nature of anthropogenic factors that potentially restrict their life history and habitat connectivity, little is known about this recovery unit. Baseline information about adult abundance is lacking for both local populations, the potential of a source (Clear Branch) and sink (Hood River) relationship between the two local populations has not been explored, and the migratory life history of adult fish caught at Powerdale Dam is unknown. The degree to which irrigation and hydropower diversions hamper connectivity within the Hood River basin is also poorly understood. Migratory life histories have been viewed as key to species persistence (Rieman and McIntyre 1995; Dunham and Rieman 1999), and understanding movement patterns and associated habitat requirements are critical to maintaining those migratory forms (Muhlfeld and Morotz 2005; Hostettler 2005). Gaining this information is also critical to evaluating bull trout recovery in the Hood River Subbasin (Coccoli 2004). The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) initiated a study in 2006 to improve our understanding of the abundance, life history, and potential limiting factors of the bull trout in this recovery unit. This report describes findings for the first two years of the study (2006-2007). Specific study objectives for the first two years were: 1. Determine the migratory life history of Hood River bull trout and assess the potential impacts of flow diversions and two new falls on the Middle Fork Hood River (scoured by the November 2006 glacial outburst) on bull trout migrations. 2. Determine current distribution of bull trout reproduction and early rearing in historical and potential bull trout streams in the Hood River Subbasin. 3. Determine the juvenile and adult life history the Clear Branch local population and develop a statistically reliable and cost-effective protocol for monitoring the abundance of adult Clear Branch bull trout. 4. Assess the potential impact of smallmouth bass on bull trout in Laurance Lake Reservoir.
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793. [Article] Information Report 2018-01; Winter Habitat Condition of Oregon Coast Coho Salmon Populations, 2007-2014
Abstract -- In this report we summarize results of eight years (2007-2014) of habitat surveys for 18 independent Oregon coast coho salmon populations across four monitoring strata (North Coast, Mid Coast, ...Citation Citation
- Title:
- Information Report 2018-01; Winter Habitat Condition of Oregon Coast Coho Salmon Populations, 2007-2014
Abstract -- In this report we summarize results of eight years (2007-2014) of habitat surveys for 18 independent Oregon coast coho salmon populations across four monitoring strata (North Coast, Mid Coast, MidSouth Coast, and Umpqua) in the Oregon Coast Coho Salmon Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU). We also sampled dependent population blocks across three monitoring strata (North Coast, Mid Coast, and Mid-South Coast). Using a spatially balanced site selection process (Generalized Random Tessellation Stratification; GRTS) we surveyed 451 unique sites within the range of coho salmon spawning or rearing. With the exception of the 2014 survey year, habitat data were collected during winter conditions (February – March). Habitat sampled in 2014 occurred within the summer field season (June – September). We used a Habitat Limiting Factors Model (HLFM) to estimate habitat capacity for winter coho parr and the HabRate model to assess habitat quality for each surveyed stream reach. HLFM estimates were expanded based on the total coho distribution in each population. Based on the habitat data the HLFM predicted the Floras population could support the highest density of juvenile coho (1568 parr/km), while the streams in the Siltcoos watershed could support the least (290 parr/km). At the ESU-level, there was no detectable change of high quality rearing habitat (= 1850 parr/km) when compared to previous studies, but changes were observed among populations over the course of these survey years. We compared individual habitat metrics across populations, land use, geology, and between independent and dependent populations. While no significant differences were observed between independent and dependent populations, differences in habitat metrics were detected among individual populations, land use types, and geologies. In addition, we detected a difference in reproductive habitat quality (spawning and emergence) between both populations and land use types.
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794. [Article] Comprehensive Plan for Production and Management of Oregon's Anadromous Salmon and Trout: Coastal Chinook Salmon Plan
Abstract -- This is the fourth in a series of individual species plans concerning management of anadromous salmonid populations in the state of Oregon. This plan focuses on the actions the agency will ...Citation Citation
- Title:
- Comprehensive Plan for Production and Management of Oregon's Anadromous Salmon and Trout: Coastal Chinook Salmon Plan
Abstract -- This is the fourth in a series of individual species plans concerning management of anadromous salmonid populations in the state of Oregon. This plan focuses on the actions the agency will take regarding chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha populations produced in Oregon Coastal watersheds from the Necanicum River in the north to the Winchuck River at the Oregon-California border. Management of chinook salmon in the Columbia River basin is shaped by a cooperative agreement with the state of Washington, the Columbia River Treaty Indian Tribes, and the Federal Government. This management plan for wild and hatchery coastal chinook salmon in coastal river basins is the product of an ongoing planning process. The process began with the preparation of a report that contains descriptions of the life histories and assessments of recent trends in the run strengths of chinook salmon stocks in Oregon coastal river basins (Nicholas and Hankin 1988). ODFW staff and public representatives developed a comprehensive list of issues of concern and actions needed to improve management of coastal chinook salmon. These actions were based in part on a review of historic and contemporary habitat, harvest, and enhancement management practices in Oregon and on a review of the fisheries scientific literature.
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Abstract -- Pacific Lamprey are native to the Tenmile Watershed and culturally important to the local Native American Tribes. Likewise, Salmon and Steelhead have both an economic and cultural significance ...
Citation Citation
- Title:
- Tenmile Lake Basin Partnership - OWEB Final Report: Grant 217-2051
Abstract -- Pacific Lamprey are native to the Tenmile Watershed and culturally important to the local Native American Tribes. Likewise, Salmon and Steelhead have both an economic and cultural significance to the local citizens and Tribes. Pacific Lamprey were historically harvested by the people of the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI), but it was unknown if Pacific Lamprey were still present in the Tenmile Watershed. A fish trap was built on Eel Lake by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) in 1989 for the purpose of fish capture and rearing. The trap is effective in capturing Salmon and Steelhead but may act as a barrier to the passage of Pacific Lamprey. This monitoring effort was designed to assess the presence/absence of Pacific Lamprey in the Tenmile Watershed, identify migration timing, potential lamprey passage barriers and rearing/spawning habitats, and collect and organize data from Eel Lake Trap on native Coho, Cutthroat, and native/hatchery Steelhead returns and trends. Lamprey larvae (ammocoete) monitoring was conducted in the summer of 2017 using electro-shockers. Shocking occurred on 3 tributaries of Tenmile Lakes (Big Creek, Johnson Creek, and Shutter Creek), and 3 creeks within the Eel Lake basin (Eel Creek, Clear Creek, and Winters Arm Creek). Two species of lamprey were identified, Western Brook (Lampetra richardsoni) and Pacific (Entosphenus tridentatus). Western Brook were found in all sampled Tenmile Lakes Basin streams, but only in the streams above Eel Lake Trap in the Eel Lake Basin. No Western Brook were identified in Eel Creek below the Trap. Pacific Lamprey were found in Johnson Creek and Big Creek in the Tenmile Lakes Basin, and in Eel Creek in the Eel Lake Basin. No Pacific Lamprey were identified above the Eel Lake Trap, suggesting that it may act as a complete passage barrier to that species. In addition, over 200 adult Pacific Lamprey were salvaged from an ODOT culvert enhancement project on Eel Creek near Hwy 101. Pacific Lamprey larvae were identified upstream of this project, but it is likely that it was a partial barrier. Two other ODOT culverts were identified as potential partial lamprey barriers on Eel Cr. Spawning areas for Pacific and Western Brook Lamprey are similar to spawning areas for salmon. Upper reaches of all the Tenmile Lake tributaries have appropriate spawning gravel. Lower stream areas are often high in sediment which is conducive to rearing lamprey larvae. This was confirmed in Johnson creek with high numbers of Pacific Lamprey larvae found at the mouth as it enters South Tenmile Lake. Farther upstream in the Johnson Creek system, larvae were abundant, but much smaller with many being too small to identify (<65mm). Western Brook larvae were found, but no Pacific Lamprey larvae were identified, perhaps amongst those unidentified specimens. Western Brook ammocoetes were also found at the lower site on Johnson Creek, and in Big Creek and Shutter Creek. Pacific Lamprey migration into the watershed is difficult to determine due to the elusive nature of the species and their life cycle trait of migrating in from the ocean in the spring of one year, then holding over until the next spring before spawning. When specimens are captured, it is difficult to determine whether it is a fresh migrant or last year’s holdover. Even if it can be determined which year it is from, it is still difficult to know how long it has been in the system before it was captured. In Phase 2 of this project, we will capture Pacific Lamprey either in traps near the mouth of Eel Cr, or at the lower culverts. This should give us a better sense of migration timing. Native Coho salmon counts at Eel Lake Trap were down significantly from the recorded high at the Trap of 441 in 2012, with only 66 native Coho returning in 2018 (the winter of 2017-2018). The previous 2 years were also low with 2016 and 2017 showing returns of only 53 and 118 respectively. The Coho numbers for most of the Oregon Coast also showed low returns. Hatchery Winter Steelhead counts were 502 for 2018. This compares to a record high of 828 in 2007, 595 in 2016, and 226 in 2017. Returning native Steelhead only numbered 10 for the 2018 season. The average return for Native Steelhead is 24. In 2018, 60 Steelhead were spawned including 2 native males, but no native females. 252 hatchery Steelhead were recycled into Saunders Lake, and 148 into Butterfield Lake. ODFW allocated 25,000 smolts for the Tenmile Watershed, which were acclimated and then released in April 2018.
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796. [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
- 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.
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797. [Article] Escapement and Productivity of Summer Steelhead and Spring Chinook Salmon in the John Day River; Annual Report 2017
Abstract -- The John Day River, located in northeastern Oregon, supports five wild populations of summer steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and three populations of wild spring chinook (Oncorhynchus tschawytscha) ...Citation Citation
- Title:
- Escapement and Productivity of Summer Steelhead and Spring Chinook Salmon in the John Day River; Annual Report 2017
Abstract -- The John Day River, located in northeastern Oregon, supports five wild populations of summer steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and three populations of wild spring chinook (Oncorhynchus tschawytscha) with no hatchery supplementation. However, these populations remain depressed relative to historic levels. In 1999, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) listed the Middle Columbia River summer steelhead Distinct Population Segment (DPS), which includes the John Day River Major Population Group (MPG), as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Although numerous habitat protection and rehabilitation projects have been implemented within the John Day River basin to improve steelhead and other salmonid freshwater production and survival, it has been difficult to estimate the effectiveness of these projects without a systematic program in place to collect information on the status, trends, and distribution of spawning activity, juvenile salmonids, and aquatic habitat conditions within the basin. Prior to the inception of this project, population and environmental monitoring of steelhead in the basin consisted of a combination of index spawning surveys and periodic monitoring of some status and trend indicators. While index spawning data is useful for drawing inference about long-term trends in adult steelhead abundance, they are limited for determining the status of steelhead escapement or distribution at the population or MPG scale because survey sites are not randomly selected and are likely biased towards streams with higher fish abundance. A broader approach to the monitoring and evaluation of status and trends in anadromous and resident salmonid populations and their habitats was needed to provide data to effectively support restoration efforts and guide alternative future management actions in the basin. The Independent Scientific Review Panel (ISRP) recommended that the region move away from index surveys and embrace probabilistic sampling for most population and habitat monitoring. To meet the ISRP recommendation, the structure and methods employed by the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds Monitoring Program were extended to the John Day basin. This approach incorporates the sampling strategy of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP). This research effort employs a statistically based and spatially explicit sampling design to answer key monitoring questions, integrate on-going sampling efforts, and improve agency coordination. The current program seeks to integrate project objectives focused on summer steelhead spawning metrics, juvenile salmonid metrics, and aquatic habitat conditions.
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798. [Article] A Proposal for an Integrated Research Monitoring Program for Oregon Coastal Chinook Populations
Abstract -- Among the many chinook salmon populations contributing to large, mixed stock ocean net, troll, and recreational fisheries managed by the Pacific Salmon Commission (PSC) there is a good deal ...Citation Citation
- Title:
- A Proposal for an Integrated Research Monitoring Program for Oregon Coastal Chinook Populations
Abstract -- Among the many chinook salmon populations contributing to large, mixed stock ocean net, troll, and recreational fisheries managed by the Pacific Salmon Commission (PSC) there is a good deal of diversity with respect to productivity, life history characteristics, and ocean distribution. During the years immediately following the adoption of the original 1985 Pacific Salmon Treaty (PST), lack of adequate data prevented the PSC from managing effectively for these differences. Instead, chinook management outlined in Annex IV of the original treaty was based upon long term population trends for very large aggregates of stocks. Although harvest ceilings were established as part of a PST recovery plan for over-exploited stocks, they were based on average coast-wide production trends and resulted in over harvest of weak stocks in some years and failure to take advantage of large returns in other years. By the mid-l 990's, data relative to the distribution and abundance of many salmon stocks contributing to PST fisheries was improving. At the same time, there was increasing dissatisfaction with quota-based management and strong interest in instituting annual abundance-based management for stock aggregates that share geographic proximity of spawning areas, similar life history and genetic characteristics, and similar distributions in the ocean. Abundance-based management for aggregated stocks would establish and implement annual fishery exploitation rates in fisheries that insure long-term sustainability for all aggregates and related individual stocks. In the absence of bilateral agreement between the U.S. and Canada regarding implementation of abundance-based management, the three voting U.S. PSC Commissioners signed the 1996 Letter of Agreement (LOA) that defined elements of an abundance-based management approach for chinook salmon fisheries in southeast Alaska. The LOA was designed to: 1) set the stage for future bilateral negotiations regarding abundance based management; 2) clarify the role of PST fisheries in rebuilding depressed natural stocks; and 3) provide a means for sharing conservation responsibility of far-north migrating stocks originating from watersheds in Oregon and Washington. The foundation for abundance-based management set forth in the LOA was subsequently expanded upon and incorporated as Aggregate Abundance-Based Management (AABM) in Annex IV, Chapter 3 of the 1999 PST. Application of the abundance-based management outlined in the 1996 LOA and the subsequent 1999 amendments to the PST requires knowledge of the stock recruitment relationships, biological spawning escapement goals, and annual forecasts of ocean abundance and distribution for stocks in each aggregate to regulate fishery harvest. Managers must also have annual post-season estimates of aggregate specific exploitation rates and in-river escapements to assess the effectiveness of regulatory measures. The base-monitoring program for Oregon's coastal chinook under the 1985 PSC met only a few of these data requirements. In recognition of requirements for new and more precise data, the signatories of the original LOA sought out additional federal funds for new and expanded monitoring programs. Since 1997 Congress has annually approved approximately $1.8 million for additional research and monitoring needed to implement terms of the LOA. The PSC delegated discretionary authority for the use of those funds to the U.S. Section's Chinook Technical Committee (CTC).