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Columbia River Basin White Sturgeon Framework

The Columbia River Basin White Sturgeon Framework aims to protect, mitigate, and enhance sturgeon populations affected by hydropower operations. Funded by the Bonneville Power Administration, this collaborative effort involves the Northwest Power and Conservation Council and various stakeholders to develop comprehensive management plans. The initiative includes monitoring and assessment of sturgeon recruitment, bycatch regulations, and habitat health. With an annual fish and wildlife budget exceeding $250 million, the Framework is pivotal for ensuring sustainable sturgeon fishing while balancing conservation efforts across the river basin.

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Columbia River Basin White Sturgeon Framework

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  1. Columbia River Basin White Sturgeon Framework Lynn Palensky Northwest Power and Conservation Council Portland, Oregon USA July 2013

  2. Northwest Power and Conservation Council • Interstate compact of Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington • Authorized by NW Power Act of 1980 • 8 members appointed by the 4 governors • Funded by rate-payers through BPA • Headquarters in Portland, Oregon+ state offices

  3. Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program • “...program to protect, mitigate, and enhance fish and wildlife, in the Columbia River and its tributaries affected by the development & operation of the of hydroelectric projects while assuring an adequate, efficient, economical, and reliable power supply.” • Annual f&w budget of >$250m (of which 4-5% is allocated to sturgeon) • Over 400 projects & programs funded; each reviewed by independent scientists

  4. 1,954 Km long Originates in Columbia Lake, BC 2 countries 6 states 1 province 3 First Nations 16 Native American Tribes

  5. Science Review • Independent Science Review Panel (ISRP) • Scientific Criteria defined in Program • Applied to all Bonneville-funded projects • ISRP called for comprehensive Columbia River Sturgeon plan

  6. ISRP Recommendations for sturgeon • Basinwide management plan • Factors affecting recruitment • Importance of estuary and ocean in production • Productivity above Bonneville Dam • Review of harvest regs, consider seasonal restrictions, and improve methodologies to assess stock status

  7. Sturgeon Framework • 1.5 years to develop • Existing information • Manager, Expert & Public input • ISRP review available on June 24 • Revisions for final document (now) • 2nd round of comments

  8. Sturgeon Framework • Planning Area, Management Entities • Plans, Policies, and Programs • Biology & Life History • Current Status • Fisheries • Management Unit Summaries • Limiting Factors & Threats • Gap Analysis: Critical Uncertainties

  9. Management Units

  10. Limiting Factors & Threats

  11. Recommendations • Hatcheries • Hydro • Passage at dams • Ecology / Population Dynamics / Predation • Outreach

  12. Challenges • Multiple partners • Funding • Management units • Different managers • Geography • Goals • Balance goals of conservation and harvest

  13. Next Steps • Last set of comments 7/1/13 • Revisions to Framework through fall • Invite manager/expert comments on revisions • Uses: • Basis for developing supplementation opportunities • Increase funding to study and conserve sturgeon • Increase conservation/awareness • Guide mitigation priorities in the CR basin • http://www.nwcouncil.org/ext/dashboard/

  14. Questions? www.nwcouncil.org/fw/

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