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Sandy Hatchery Spring Chinook Management

Sandy Hatchery Spring Chinook Management. Todd Alsbury District Fish Biologist (Cascade Unit). Presentation Outline. Overview of broodstock programs at Sandy Hatchery Spring Chinook stray management. Sandy Hatchery Management. Broodstock programs Coho

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Sandy Hatchery Spring Chinook Management

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  1. Sandy Hatchery Spring Chinook Management Todd Alsbury District Fish Biologist (Cascade Unit)

  2. Presentation Outline Overview of broodstock programs at Sandy Hatchery Spring Chinook stray management

  3. Sandy Hatchery Management Broodstock programs Coho In-basin brood collected at Sandy Hatchery (hatchery fish only) Program releases 500,000 smolts in-basin; 200,000 are transferred to CEDC net pen Fish are released as full term smolts Limited stray as evidenced by Marmot Trap counts Goal to limit stray of hatchery fish to less than 10% in the upper basin “Wild Fish Sanctuary” (Sandy Basin Plan)

  4. Sandy Hatchery Management Broodstock programs-continued Winter steelhead Integrated broodstock with wild fish collected at Marmot Brood consists of 30% wild and 70% “F1” hatchery fish Not currently incorporating wild fish due 160,000 full term smolts acclimated and released from Sandy Hatchery 2-3 week acclimation period Limit hatchery fish stray into upper basin to less than 10%

  5. Sandy Hatchery Management Broodstock programs-continued Summer Steelhead Brood collected at South Santiam Hatchery Fish are raised to smolt size at South Santiam and transferred to Sandy Hatchery for 2-3 week acclimation Prior to 2000, summer steelhead were acclimated and released from Marmot Pond All summer’s are acclimated at Sandy Hatchery Limited stray to Marmot Very popular sport fishery that historically reached into the upper basin

  6. Spring Chinook in the Sandy • Past program utilized Willamette stock for brood • Transition to integrated program in 2002 in advance of Marmot Dam removal • 100% wild fish used from 2002-2006 • 30% wild 2007-2010 • No wild fish collected for brood in 2011 or planned for 2012 • Reduced release from 460,000 to 300,000 in 1999 • High stray rate exceeds criteria established under Native Fish Conservation Policy, LCR Recovery Plan, Sandy ChS HGMP • Criteria: <10% stray rate in the natural spawning habitat of spring Chinook • Current stray rate ranges from 40-80%

  7. Spring Chinook in the Sandy • High stray rate controlled by several factors • Direct release all or portion of smolts into Sandy (Marsh Rd) through 2006 • Low flow in Cedar Creek in late spring (May-June) • Confined steep gradient in Cedar Creek, alluvial fan at mouth • Natural life history strategy of spring Chinook • Actions to reduce stray • Minimum 3 week acclimation at Sandy Hatchery • Install weir/trap at mouth of Cedar Creek, Salmon and Zig Zag rivers and operate June - September

  8. Recovery Plan Actions Related to Sandy Hatchery Spring Chinook 238-SY (CHS): Acclimate 100% of hatchery spring Chinook releases into the Sandy (Sandy Hatchery and Bull Run River or Gordon Creek) • On-Going • Bull Run Acclimation Site developed in 2011 • 50% of production acclimated for 3 weeks 239-SY (CHS): Trap and sort hatchery adults: Collect (weir and trap at or near acclimation sites) hatchery spring Chinook if stray rate is too high (mouth of Cedar Creek and Bull Run R or Gordon Creek) • In process of being implemented • Traps in Cedar Creek, Salmon River, and Zig Zag River beginning in 2011 (June – October) 240-SY (CHS): Increase water quantity in Cedar Creek for more attraction (end illegal diversions, increase outreach and coordination with OWRD, potentially purchase water rights) • To be completed 241-SY (CHS, STW): Implement a sliding scale for take of wild winter steelhead and spring Chinook broodstock for the integrated hatchery programs based on the forecasted total returns of wild fish to the population (<500: no take; 500-1000: reduced take); develop forecast model as necessary • Action under review • Currently not taking any wild fish for broodstock until the wild population meets its viable criterion for the Sandy Basin

  9. Recovery Plan Actions Related to other Sandy Hatchery Programs 219-SY (Coho, STW) : Provide / improve fish passage at Sandy Hatchery • In process of being implemented • Construction to begin this summer • Passing coho and winter steelhead 237-SY (Coho) : Eliminate/reduce/shift program: Reduce hatchery coho releases • Completed • 700k to 500k in 2010 • shifted to Youngs Bay

  10. Spring Chinook in the Sandy • Actions to reduce stray • Operate temporary traps in upper basin tributaries (Salmon R, ZigZag, Still Cr) • 50% of stray ChS go to Salmon River • ~40% go to the ZigZag/Still Creek sub-basin • Acclimate a portion of ChS production in off station acclimation pond • # based on what is necessary to meet production goals and stray rate target

  11. Salmon River weir/trap • Operated 9/14 – 10/4 • Removed 229 hatchery adults • Passed 94 wild adults

  12. Zig Zag River weir/trap • Operated 8/19 – 9/27 • Removed 183 hatchery adults • Passed 91 wild adults

  13. Weir/trap…lessons learned • Met w/ Corvallis Research, USFS, BLM staff to discuss trapping results and plans • Modify trap design to reduce potential handling stress and delay • Increase trap size and weir configuration • Cover trap to reduce light • Pre-spawn mortality (no increase evident) • Higher rate of spawning below weir • Poaching below weir/trap • Move locations to reduce potential for spawning below or delay • Below Boulder Creek on Salmon River • Closer to mouth of Zig Zag • Mainstem river? • Begin trapping as early as June 1

  14. Spring Chinook Acclimation in the Sandy Basin • Several sites considered • Gordon Creek (< fishery, smaller than Cedar Cr, steep lower reach) • Beaver Creek (< fishery, small stream , very low in basin) • Upper basin tributary (> fishery, stray more of an issue w/out active trapping…labor intensive) • Bull Run River (former Bull Run Powerhouse) • Largest tributary to the Sandy River • Suitable flows year-round (minimum flow established under Bull Run Habitat Conservation Plan • Gated site w/individual landowner (PowerHouse ReGen, LLC) • Current plan is to acclimate a minimum of 150,000 (50%) of Sandy Hatchery ChS production in the Bull Run

  15. Spring Chinook Acclimation in the Sandy Basin • Bull Run River • Propose to acclimate & release 150,000 smolts in 2012 • Estimate 1000-1500 adults returning to Bull Run • Reduce number of fish available at mouth of Cedar Creek • Maintain release of 150,000 at both sites depending on effectiveness of all stray control measures • May move to 100% release in Bull Run in 2013

  16. Bull Run Acclimation Pond

  17. Bull Run Acclimation Pond

  18. Bull Run Acclimation Pond

  19. Thank you! Please call if you have any questions or need information on fish or fish management issues in the North Willamette Watershed District 971-673-6011 Todd.Alsbury@state.or.us

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