Bartlett River Salmon Escapement: a case study in wilderness fisheries management

1. Bartlett River Salmon Escapement: a case study in wilderness fisheries management Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

4. Bartlett River • Historic commercial fishery • Today it is a popular recreational fishery for sockeye and coho salmon • Accessed either by foot or by boat from Bartlett Cove • Angler counts indicate a two fold increase in angler effort since the late 90’s

5. How many fish are there? • Coho numbers were non-existent – largely due to late season runs under high discharge and turbid conditions Why do we need to know? • To determine whether increased fishing pressure can be sustained • Inform management actions that protect the fishery and visitor experience What did we already know? • Sockeye estimates are obtained via visual enumeration and are currently estimated at 6,000 fish

6. What’s the best way to count coho? • Visual enumeration attempted • Weir proposed • Emerging technology! DIDSON Sonar • Fisheries biologists proposed to use Sonar to enumerate salmon abundance

7. Project Planning Steps • Science in Wilderness Review • Minimum Requirement Analysis • Environmental Analysis • Project implementation • Removal and Remediation

8. Step 1. Science in Wilderness Review • Benefits to Wilderness Stewardship – High • Benefits to Science – Low • Impacts to the undeveloped quality of Glacier Bay’s wilderness character. Outcome: Proceed with MRA

9. Step 2: Minimum Requirement Analysis Is Action Necessary in Wilderness? GLBA GMP • “Sport fishing will continue to be allowed subject to ADF&G and NPS regulations. Sport harvest of any aquatic species threatened by excessive harvest pressure may be regulated in the future. However, the National Park Service will work closely with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for the establishment of such regulations. Stream surveys will be conducted by the Park Service or the Department of Fish and Game to ascertain their importance as spawning rivers.” Does the action protect wilderness character? YES

10. Step 2: Minimum Requirement Analysis How does counting fish protects wilderness character? Without data, management recommendations cannot be made to preserve the following qualities of Glacier Bay’s Wilderness Character. • UNTRAMMELED • NATURAL • Opportunities for Solitude and PRIMITIVE AND UNCONFINED RECREATION

11. Step 2: Minimum Requirement Analysis What is the minimum activity? • Visual Enumeration • NO Action • DIDSON SONAR • WEIR • The DIDSON is deemed the minimum activity

12. Step 3: Environmental Analysis

13. Step 4: Project Implementation

14. Step 5: Project Implementation Installed in 2011

15. Challenges Access • MRA and EA only provided for non-motorized access • ANILCA allows public to use motor boats on Alaska wilderness waters • Internal discussions continue as to why we might limit our administrative access to non-motorized access

16. Challenges Gear and Material - closely related to access • 6+ tons of gear • 200-300 40# sand bags! Authorization of motorized access for short duration may have reduced physical impacts and physical injury risk to personnel

17. Challenges Material Sourcing • 200-300 40# sand bags! Authorization of local fill would have eliminated the need to haul in sand

18. Challenges High Flow Events and Erosion

19. Challenges Equipment Failure

20. Outcomes • Coho escapement estimates Other gains: • Other species run timing • Contribution by coho jacks • Qualitative sense of returning coho health (injuries) • Run strength and timing effects on recreational fish effort and harvest success