HATCHERY AND GENETIC MANAGEMENT PLAN (HGMP)

Transcription

1 HATCHERY AND GENETIC MANAGEMENT PLAN (HGMP) Hatchery Program: Siuslaw River Winter Steelhead Program Species or Hatchery Stock: Winter Steelhead Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Stock 38W) Agency/Operator: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Watershed and Region: North Coast Watershed District Date Submitted: Updated Draft Submitted: Second Update Submitted: March 22, 2006 August 26, 2014 July 1, 2016 Date Last Updated: July 1, 2016

2 SECTION 1 GENERAL PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 1.1) Name of hatchery or program. Willamette and Roaring River hatcheries, Siuslaw River winter steelhead program. 1.2) Species and population (or stock) under propagation, and ESA status. Winter Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss (stock-38w). Oregon Coast Steelhead ESU is listed as a candidate species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, but not a threatened or endangered Distinct Population Segment (DPS). 1.3) Responsible organization and individuals. Lead Contacts: Name (and title): Scott Patterson, Fish Propagation Program Manager Organization: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife Address: 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE, Salem, OR Telephone: Fax: Scott.D.Patterson@state.or.us Name (and Title): John Spangler, District Fish Biologist Agency or Tribe: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Address: 2040 SE Marine Science Dr. Newport, OR Telephone: Fax: john.jspangler@state.or.us Hatchery Contacts: Name (and title): Dan Peck, Willamette Hatchery Manager Agency or Tribe: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife Address: Fish Hatchery Road, Oakridge, OR Telephone: Fax: Willamette.hatchery@state.or.us Name (and Title): Roaring River Hatchery Manager Agency or Tribe: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Address: Fish Hatchery Dr. Scio, Or Telephone: Fax: RoaringRiver.Hatchery@state.or.us 1

3 Other agencies, Tribes, co-operators, or organizations involved, including contractors, and extent of involvement in the program: Members of the Emerald Empire Chapter Northwest Steelheaders and the Florence STEP Group assist with adult collection, egg incubation, and rearing of Siuslaw winter steelhead at Letz Creek and Munsel Creek STEP facilities and run up to three adult fish traps throughout the basin. 1.4) Funding source, staffing level, and annual hatchery program operational costs. Funding source for the Siuslaw winter steelhead program at Willamette and Roaring River Hatcheries is 100% State of Oregon General Fund, including program staffing of one limited-duration Technician 1. Annual cost for this Siuslaw River winter steelhead program is estimated at approximately $75,000 per year plus 5% for annual inflation and includes personal services and supplies. Volunteer contributions to this program is estimated to be in excess of $95,000 each year plus 5% for inflation. 1.5) Location(s) of hatchery and associated facilities. Munsel Creek STEP Hatchery: Eggs from winter steelhead adults spawned in the field are transferred to the Munsel Creek STEP Hatchery for incubation. The eggs are incubated to the eyed stage and transferred to Willamette Hatchery and Letz Creek Hatchery. This facility is located on Munsel Creek, a tributary that enters the Siuslaw River at approximately river mile 5. The hatchery is located off 24 th Street within the city limits of Florence, Oregon and includes incubators, rearing tanks and a raceway/trap. The facility gets its water from Munsel Creek, waterbody code The regional mark processing code for Munsel Creek STEP Hatchery facility is 5F22251 H Alsea Hatchery The hatchery is located at RM 5 on the North Fork of the Alsea River off Highway 34, near the town of Alsea, 15 miles west of Philomath (Attachment B). The hatchery site occupies about 25 acres at 380 feet above MSL (44º N and 123º W). The North Fork Alsea watershed code is Letz Creek STEP Hatchery: Green winter steelhead eggs are taken at the Letz Creek adult fish trap. Eyed winter steelhead eggs are also shipped from the Munsel Creek Hatchery to the Letz Creek Hatchery. There, they are incubated and reared to produce up to 15,000 smolts for release in Letz Creek. This hatchery is located on Letz Creek, a tributary that enters the Siuslaw River at approximately river mile 105. The facility is approximately 5 miles southwest of the town of Lorane, Oregon and includes incubators, rearing tanks and an earth pond. The hatchery gets its water from an unnamed tributary to Letz Creek, waterbody code

4 Willamette Hatchery: Eyed Siuslaw winter steelhead eggs are shipped out of the Siuslaw Basin to Willamette Hatchery where they are incubated and early reared to a size of about 200 fish/lb. The hatchery is located on Salmon Creek, a tributary of the Middle Fork of the Willamette River, off highway 58, 2 miles East of the town of Oakridge, 45 miles southeast of Eugene. It occupies approximately 80 acres of land leased from the U.S. Forest Service, at an elevation of 1200 feet. The Salmon Creek waterbody code is The regional mark processing code for Willamette Hatchery is 5F33319 H Roaring River Hatchery: The early reared 200/lb fingerlings are transferred from Willamette Hatchery to Roaring River Hatchery near July 1 st. The fingerlings are reared to produce 85,000 smolts at 6 fish/lb. The hatchery is located on Roaring River, a tributary to the South Fork of the Santiam River, 19 miles east of Albany on Fish Hatchery Drive. It occupies 15 acres owned by ODFW at an elevation of 520 feet. GPS coordinates are 10 UTM, E, N. The Roaring River waterbody code is The regional mark processing code for Roaring River Hatchery is 5F33322 H ) Type of program. Isolated Harvest. 1.7) Purpose (Goal) of program. The goal of this Siuslaw winter steelhead program as outlined in the Coastal Multispecies Conservation Plan, is to release up to 100,000 hatchery winter steelhead while minimizing interactions with wild fish. 1.8) Justification for the program. This program provides steelhead for harvest while minimizing adverse impacts to wild fish. Hatchery fish are necessary to meet public desires for consumptive harvest because regulations require the release of wild steelhead. All releases in the Siuslaw will be made into tributaries to minimize straying of returning adults and at smolt sizes that will enhance rapid outmigration and reduce interactions with naturally-produced wild juveniles. A new broodstock (38W stock) has been developed on the Siuslaw with a goal of incorporating at least 30% wild Siuslaw River winter steelhead each year. 1.9 and 1.10) List of program "Performance Standards" and applicable Performance Indicators. The following are key performance standards and indicators identified to evaluate the success of this fish propagation program. Note, not all measurable standards are listed. Additional within hatchery standards will be evaluated using data gathered during adult collection, mating, incubation and rearing, and release of the winter steelhead. Data will confirm fish propagation procedures identified in Sections

5 Indicator 1 - Sport Fishery Contribution Standard 1.1: Release 100,000 hatchery winter steelhead smolts at a size of 6 fish/lb annually from existing stock (38W). Indicator: Hatchery production will be inventoried prior to release to enumerate smolt release numbers and size at release. Indicator 2 - Life History Characteristics Standard 2.1: Life history characteristics of the natural population do not change as a result of this fish propagation program. Indicator: Compare annual return timing of wild fish with historical return timing. Indicator: Adult migration timing of hatchery 038W stock tracks migration timing of natural population; compare adult return timing of wild fish and hatchery fish as seen at trapping sites. Indicator: Smolts are released at times that track naturally produced winter steelhead emigration. Indicator: Smolts are released at sizes and weights that promote swift emigration from freshwater and estuary habitats. Indicator 3 - Adult Hatchery Stray Rate Standard 3.1: Limit hatchery fish to 10% or less of the fish spawning in natural habitats, except in the immediate area around the release sites. Indicator: Enumerate the proportion of finclipped and non-finclipped fish in adult returns to two sites within the Siuslaw Basin; Indicator: Monitor strays at traps outside of the Siuslaw at Bohannon Falls (Alsea), Cascade Creek (Alsea), Fall Creek (Alsea), Mill Creek (Yaquina), Mill Creek (Siletz), Palmer Creek (Siletz), Schooner Creek (Siletz), and Siletz Falls (Siletz). Indicator 4 - Stock Identification Standard 4.1: All hatchery releases will be adipose finclipped. Indicator: Confirm that all smolts were adipose finclipped. Indicator 5 - Facility Operation and Maintenance Standard 5.1: Adult broodstock collection does not significantly alter spatial and temporal distribution of the natural winter steelhead population. Indicator: Adults are collected throughout the entire run in proportion to the natural population. Refer to Section 7 for details. Standard 5.2: Adult selection, mating, and spawning is consistent with approved methods and procedures. Indicator: Females and males are selected (and paired) randomly for spawning. 4

6 Indicator: Fish are spawned at a 1:1 male to female ratio and are spawned according to a 3x3 spawning matrix. Indicator: All fish are live spawned. Standard 5.3: Develop operational plans that maximize survival rates at varying life stages within the hatchery. (Refer to section 9.2). Indicator: Enumerate survival rates from egg-fry, fry-fingerling, and fingerling to smolt to determine optimal rearing conditions and practices. Standard 5.4: Follow approved fish health disease and disinfection monitoring guidelines to minimize disease impacts to natural populations. Indicator: Verify compliance with approved fish health standards and criteria. 1.11) Expected size of program ) Proposed annual broodstock collection level (maximum number of adult fish). The intent of this program is to use a combination of wild and hatchery Siuslaw River winter steelhead adults for broodstock. In most years, the broodstock will be comprised of 70% hatchery fish and 30% wild. Periodically, when wild steelhead numbers are observed to be high, the broodstock will be comprised of all wild winter steelhead in an attempt to minimize potential genetic risks from using returning hatchery fish in the broodstock every year. Numbers of wild winter steelhead adults collected for broodstock in years when hatchery fish are also used will be 30 pair. Sixty pair of wild fish will be used in years when all wild fish are used ) Proposed annual fish release levels (maximum number) by life stage and location. Table 1-1 Proposed Annual Release Levels. Life Stage Release Location Annual Release Level Eyed Eggs NA NA Unfed Fry NA NA Fry NA NA Fingerling NA NA Yearling Whittaker Creek (Siuslaw) Green Creek (Lake Creek) Letz Creek (Siuslaw) 70,000 15,000 15, ) Current program performance, including estimated smolt-to-adult survival rates, adult production levels, and escapement levels. Indicate the source of these data. There is little hard data to estimate the performance of this program. The release of smolts produced from 100% stock 38W began in The first three-year-old fish from this program, as outlined in this document, returned in the winter of The 5

7 harvest tags from that season, and since, have been summarized. This data shows an annual average catch of 1,548 hatchery winter steelhead retained by anglers for all open areas in the Siuslaw. Creel surveys of the sport fishery suggest returns to the fishery from the Siuslaw broodstock have been as good as or better than what was observed with the most recent returns of the traditional Alsea broodstock released in the Siuslaw prior to From 1998 through 2000 there was only one hatchery stray monitoring site in the Siuslaw at West Fork Indian Creek. Beginning in 2001, there were up to three monitoring sites to better evaluate the straying rates of hatchery winter steelhead throughout the Siuslaw Basin. However, operations of trapping sites was sporadic with frequent periods of no data collection. By 2005 remote adult trap sites were closed due to reduced staffing. 1.13) Date program started (years in operation), or is expected to start. Hatchery winter steelhead smolts have been stocked in the Siuslaw since the 1960's. The stock used through release year 1995 was primarily Alsea stock-43. Smolt releases with 100% new broodstock (stock 38W) originating from wild Siuslaw River winter steelhead adults began in ) Expected duration of program. The program will continue in the Siuslaw River for the foreseeable future. Some modifications to the program may be necessary if stray levels or other negative impacts to wild fish are found to be too high, or adjustments are deemed necessary to improve fishery benefits. Smolt numbers or release sites may be changed. 1.15) Watersheds targeted by program. The Siuslaw watershed is the target of this program. 1.16) Indicate alternative actions considered for attaining program goals, and reasons why those actions are not being proposed ) Brief Overview of Key Issues. Issues related to the Siuslaw hatchery winter steelhead program primarily revolve around protecting the native winter steelhead population in the Siuslaw and achieving the desired levels of angler harvest. Most of the possible alternatives recognize that the smolt release and hatchery adults spawning in natural areas pose a risk to the wild population. Measures that could be taken include discontinuing the hatchery program, reducing the number of hatchery smolts released, confining releases to tributaries entering the mainstem Siuslaw River and away from better steelhead habitat in Lake Creek tributaries, or raising the smolts to mimic most of the life-history characteristics of the wild winter juveniles. 6

8 Another issue raised about this hatchery program is increasing harvest. The fishery for hatchery winter steelhead is popular, and anglers would like to have more fish to harvest. An alternative to address this issue is to increase hatchery smolt stocking in Lake Creek and Siuslaw tributaries, and also open some limited areas to wild steelhead harvest where populations are robust ) Potential Alternatives to the Current Program. Alternative 1 - Discontinue current hatchery winter steelhead program. This would pose the least amount of risk to wild Siuslaw winter steelhead of any of the alternatives. There would be no hatchery smolt or adult interactions. Eliminating the program would eliminate the consumptive fishery for winter steelhead in the Siuslaw, and the objective of this program to provide harvest of hatchery steelhead. Discontinuing the smolt releases would also mean that the hatchery broodstock would not be maintained, which would eliminate a source of genetic material to be used if the wild population becomes extremely depressed in the future. In the absence of a hatchery program, wild steelhead may recover to sufficient numbers to provide for a much reduced consumptive fishery. Alternative 2 - Reduce the number of hatchery smolts released. This would reduce the impact of smolts released on the native winter steelhead smolts and would likely produce fewer hatchery adults that might spawn in natural areas. A reduction in returning adults would probably also reduce the number of hatchery winter steelhead harvested in the Siuslaw. Alternative 3 - Rear the hatchery winter steelhead smolts in a way that mimics the lifehistory of wild steelhead smolts. Rearing the hatchery smolts to produce mostly two-year old smolts and to migrate to the ocean in a similar manner as wild smolts could help produce hatchery adults that impact the native winter steelhead population less than the current hatchery adults do. This would likely require additional rearing space at Roaring River Hatchery and result in a higher cost to produce the smolts. There is little information on how to implement such an approach and no data available to show that this approach produces the desired results. Alternative 4 - Release more hatchery winter steelhead smolts. Releasing more smolts could increase the harvest of winter steelhead in the Siuslaw; however experiments in the past decade showed that increasing Alsea stock smolts into the Siuslaw resulted in a strong negative relationship in adult returns. Any increase in smolts, would probably result in a greater negative interaction with wild steelhead smolts, resulting in an increased risk to all juvenile wild fish in the Siuslaw. This could lead to a violation of the objectives in the Coastal Multispecies Conservation and Management Plan, Siuslaw River Basin Fish Management Plan and the Native Fish Conservation Policy concerning the level of hatchery fish on the spawning grounds. 7

9 Alternative 5 - Confine releases to tributaries entering the mainstem Siuslaw River and away from better steelhead habitat in Lake Creek tributaries. This could provide more adult fish to harvest in a heavily fished section of the Siuslaw River. This alternative may also reduce wild/hatchery interactions and allow naturally produced steelhead the benefit of utilizing the better habitat in Lake Creek basin tributaries. Discontinuing releases of hatchery steelhead in the Lake Creek basin would reduce angler opportunity and harvest on Lake Creek ) Potential Reforms and Investments. Reform/Investment 1 - Upgrade facilities at Roaring River Hatchery to allow raising two-year-old smolts. Upgrading the facilities at Roaring River Hatchery may require building new ponds or modifying existing ponds. The estimated cost would be less than $1,000,000. 8

10 SECTION 2 PROGRAM EFFECTS ON ESA - LISTED SALMONID POPULATIONS 2.1) List all ESA permits or authorizations in hand for the hatchery program. The HGMP for this program was submitted to NMFS 6/27/2008 for approval and ESA coverage. This is an updated version of the previously submitted HGMP and is consistent with ODFW s Coastal Multi-Species Conservation and Management Plan. 2.2) Provide descriptions, status, and projected take actions and levels for ESA-listed natural populations in the target area ) Description of ESA-listed salmonid population(s) affected by the program. The only salmonid species in the Siuslaw that has been listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is Oregon Coast Coho Salmon. These Coho were listed as threatened under the ESA in It was subsequently de-listed in 2005 and was relisted again effective May 12, 2008 under the federal ESA. - Identify the NMFS ESA-listed population (s) that will be directly affected by the program. The program has no intent to directly take any ESA-listed Coho Salmon. - Identify the NMFS ESA-listed population (s) that will be indirectly affected by the program. The NMFS ESA-listed Oregon Coast Coho Salmon may be indirectly affected through competitive interactions with hatchery fish for food and space, as well as during wild winter steelhead brood collection. This program could indirectly affect the wild Coho Salmon population in the Siuslaw River Basin. Coho populations that could be incidentally affected by this program are in the Yachats Basin and the Siltcoos Basin, which are located to the north and south of the Siuslaw River. Siuslaw Complex The Siuslaw Complex consists of Coho Salmon inhabiting the Siuslaw Basin and small ocean tributaries north to Heceta Head (Nickelson 2000). There is an estimated 580 miles of spawning habitat available to the Coho Salmon of this complex. Siuslaw Coho Population Coho Salmon that return to the Siuslaw River and its tributaries have been identified as an Independent Population by the Oregon Coast Technical Recovery Team Workgroup (Lawson et al. 2005) and by the Oregon Coastal Coho Assessment (Chilcote et al. 2005). As one of twenty-one independent populations that comprise the Oregon Coast Coho ESU, the abundance, distribution, and productivity of the Siuslaw Coho are monitored to 9

11 assess population viability and to guide recovery planning. Coho returning to each of the direct ocean tributaries included in the Siuslaw Complex are now classified as Dependent Populations. Coho Salmon Life History Adult Coho Salmon migrate into fresh water in the fall to spawn. Spawning of wild Coho Salmon usually occurs from mid-november through February. Adult spawning Coho Salmon are typically 3 years old and are often accompanied by 2-year-old jacks (precocious males) from the next brood. Spawning occurs primarily in small tributaries located throughout coastal basins. The parents normally exhibit strong homing to their natal stream. The female digs a nest (redd) in the gravel and lays her eggs, which are immediately fertilized by accompanying adult males or jacks. The eggs are covered by digging and displacing gravel from the upstream edge of the nest. Each female lays about 2,500 eggs. The adults die soon after spawning. Sex ratios of spawning adults tend to average around 50:50 at most locations (Table 2-1). However, Moring and Lantz (1975) observed 77% males in three small Alsea River tributaries over a period of 14 years. They concluded that males tend to move around a lot and visit multiple streams. The eggs hatch in about 35 to 50 days, depending upon water temperature (warm temperature speeds hatching). The alevins remain in the gravel two or three weeks until the yolk is absorbed and emerge as fry to actively feed in the spring. Most juvenile Coho Salmon spend one summer and one winter in fresh water. The following spring, approximately one year after emergence, they undergo physiological changes that allow them to survive in seawater. They then migrate to the ocean as silvery smolts, about 10 to 12 centimeters (cm) in length. Table 2-1. Observations of Coho Salmon Sex Ratio at Adult Traps Population Complex Percent Males Percent Females Location Run Years Data Source Nehalem 52% 48% North Fork trap Life Cycle Monitoring Siletz 50% 50% Mill Creek trap Life Cycle Monitoring Yaquina 51% 49% Mill Creek trap Life Cycle Monitoring Alsea 77% 23% Drift Creek tributaries Moring & Lantz (1975) 50% 50% Cascade Creek trap Life Cycle Monitoring Umpqua 55% 45% Smith River trap 1999 Life Cycle Monitoring Coos 63% 37% S. Coos River, Winchester Creek, and Fall Creek 1999 Oregon Plan Monitoring The smolts undergo rapid growth in the ocean, reaching about 40 to 50 cm by fall. Little is known of the ocean migrations of Coho Salmon from Oregon coastal streams; however, based on what is known, it appears migrations are mostly limited to coastal waters. Initial ocean migration appears to be to the north of their natal stream (Fisher and Pearcy 1985; Hartt and Dell 1986). After the first summer in the ocean, a small portion 10

12 of the males attain sexual maturity and return to spawn as jacks. Migration patterns during the fall and winter are unknown. Those fish remaining at sea grow little during winter, but feed voraciously during the next spring and summer, growing to about 60 to 80 cm in length. During this second summer in the ocean, a substantial percentage of these maturing adults are caught in ocean troll and sport fisheries, usually to the south of their natal stream (Lewis 2000). The survivors return to their home streams or neighboring streams where they spawn and die to complete the life cycle. Habitat Use and Freshwater Distribution Spawning and rearing of juvenile Coho Salmon generally take place in small, lowgradient (generally less than 3%) tributary streams, although rearing may also take place in lakes where available. Coho Salmon require clean gravel for spawning and cool water temperatures (53 F to 58 F preferred, 68 F maximum) for rearing (Reiser and Bjornn 1979). Fry emerge from February to early June (Moring and Lantz 1975). They occupy backwater pools and the stream margins (Mundie 1969; Lister and Genoe 1970; Nickelson et al. 1992a). During the summer, Coho prefer pools in small streams. During winter, they prefer off-channel alcoves, beaver ponds, and dam pools with complex cover (Nickelson et al. 1992a, 1992b). Complexity, primarily in the form of large and small wood is an important element of productive Coho Salmon streams (Nickelson et al. 1992b; Rodgers et al. 1993). Little is known about residence time or habitat use of estuaries during seaward migration. It is usually assumed that Coho Salmon spend only a short time in the estuary before entering the ocean. However, recent research is finding that rearing in the upper ends of tidal reaches can be extensive. The distribution of Coho Salmon within a basin is primarily determined by two factors: marine survival and the distribution of freshwater habitat with different levels of quality. When marine survival has been very poor, as in recent years, Coho will be found in only the highest quality habitats. Coast-wide, these high quality habitats comprise about 22% of the total habitat (Nickelson 1998). When marine survival increases, as could occur with a changing climate regime, coho will redistribute into freshwater habitats of lower quality. Thus, Coho Salmon population dynamics function with a classic source-sink relationship among stream reaches ) Status of ESA-listed salmonid population affected by the program. - Describe the status of the listed natural population (s) relative to critical and viable population thresholds. The Siuslaw Complex consists of Coho Salmon inhabiting the Siuslaw Basin and small ocean tributaries north to Heceta Head. There is an estimated 580 miles of spawning habitat available to the Coho Salmon of this complex. The critical population level for the Siuslaw Complex is 2,300 adult spawners. The habitat of this complex has the potential to support a viable population because high quality habitat is estimated to be present in 158 miles of stream, well above the 15-mile threshold (Nickelson 2000). It should be noted however, that the estimate of habitat quality is based on a sample size of only 15 percent of the available stream miles, much less than any other complex. 11

13 The abundance of Coho Salmon spawners of the Siuslaw Complex has ranged from less than 700 to more than 55,000 and has averaged about 13,500 since 1990 (Figure 2-1 and Table 2-2). Figure 2-1. Trend in adult Coho Salmon abundance relative to the critical population level for the Siuslaw Complex. Error bars are 95 percent confidence limits. Table 2-2. Population parameters for the Siuslaw Complex Coho Salmon. Return Year Wild spawners Pre-harvest wild population Recruits per spawner , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

14 , , , , , , , , , , Annual mean Provide the most recent 12 year (e.g present) progeny-to-parent ratios, survival data by life-stage, or other measures of productivity for the listed population. Indicate the source of these data. Recruits per wild spawner exhibited a downward trend from 1993 to 1999, which was dramatically reversed in 2000, when the 1997 brood produced about 7,100 adults and 6,500 spawners from about 700 parent spawners (Table 2-2 above and Figure 2-2 below). Figure 2-2. Trend in recruits per spawner for Siuslaw Complex wild Coho Salmon. 13

15 - Provide the most recent 12 year (e.g ) annual spawning abundance estimates, or any other abundance information. Indicate source of these data. In an Oregon Coast Coho Stock Status Assessment using information ( return years) in conjunction with earlier data ( ), the Siuslaw population passed all biological criteria used to assess conservation status: Abundance, Productivity, Persistence, Distribution, and Diversity (Chilcote et al. 2005). The spawner abundance in the Siuslaw Complex for has ranged from 8,000 to 55,000 adult Coho reflecting a tremendous increase in run size compared to the early 1990s. Only three times since 1990 the spawner abundance fell below the critical threshold of 2,300 fish, and in 5 other years the lower 95% confidence limit extended below the critical threshold. The juvenile Coho Salmon abundance in the Siuslaw complex from brood years is shown below (Table 2-3). Estimated smolt abundance ranged from just under 100,000 to over nine million for the Siuslaw Complex. Table 2-3. Estimates of abundance of juvenile Coho Salmon based on spawner abundance, Siuslaw Complex. Estimates are in millions. Brood Year Eggs Fry Parr Smolts

16 - Provide the most recent 12 year (e.g ) estimates of annual proportions of direct hatchery-origin and listed natural-origin fish on natural spawning grounds, if known. See Table below 2-4 for running 5-year average and yearly average phos data of steelhead. It s not identified the proportions of phos between winter steelhead and summer steelhead. Table 2-4. Yearly average and 5-year running average data of spawning ground survey showing phos levels of steelhead, , without differentiating the proportion of phos between summer steelhead and winter steelhead. Spawning Year 5-year avg phos 5-year Yearly phos Yearly observations (n) observations (n) 2003 NA NA 8.5% NA NA 4.3% NA NA 9.1% NA NA 15.0% % % % % % 64 NA % % % % % % % % % % % % ) Describe hatchery activities, including associated monitoring and evaluation and research programs that may lead to the take of listed fish in the target area, and provide estimated annual levels of take. Describe hatchery activities that may lead to the take of listed salmonid populations in the target area, including how, where, and when the takes may occur, the risk potential for their occurrence, and the likely effects of the take. Broodstock Collection, Monitoring and Evaluation Wild Coho Salmon have been incidentally captured in the past at Whittaker Creek, Green Creek, and Letz Creek traps while attempting to collect wild and hatchery winter steelhead for broodstock. The live wild Coho are released upstream above the trap. Wild Coho Salmon have also been incidentally captured in the West Fork Indian Creek and Turner Creek monitoring sites (intended to track winter steelhead stray rates). Adult trapping is likely to incidentally take wild Coho by delaying upstream migrations, and invoking stress as a result of capture, handling, and upstream release. These impacts will likely occur in December and January. All winter steelhead trapping begins the last week in December, after most Coho salmon spawning has taken place. Whenever small groups of Coho are captured at the monitoring traps, the trapping procedure is modified and traps are left open, so they do not impede wild fish movement upstream. The trap types used at all sites incorporate the use of a horizontal weir to allow adults to move downstream unimpeded at most flows. When a few (1-4) adult Coho are found in the trap they are 15

17 netted and released unharmed above the trap. Note: All incidental impacts from steelhead trapping have been identified under ODFWs 4(d) Research and Monitoring application. Smolt Releases - Hatchery winter steelhead smolts may interact with wild salmon smolts after their release. This impact should be minimal, but is not well understood. Estuary seining data from nearby estuaries indicate that salmon and steelhead in coastal systems are temporally separated with steelhead smolts migrating to the ocean in April and early May and Coho smolt migration peaking in mid June. It is thought that most hatchery steelhead smolts may be out of the system before the majority of wild Coho smolts emigrate to the ocean because they are temporally separated and show signs of active smolting when released. Emerging Coho, and other salmon fry, may be directly affected by superimposing much larger than natural concentrations of smolts at the hatchery smolt release sites in Whittaker and Green Creeks. Adult Spawners - Hatchery steelhead may spawn in natural habitats where listed Coho Salmon have spawned. This could disrupt Coho Salmon redds and incubating eggs, or result in juvenile steelhead directly competing with juvenile Coho Salmon for limited stream resources. Provide information regarding past takes associated with the hatchery program, (if known) including numbers taken, and observed injury or mortality level for listed fish: Wild Coho Salmon were captured in adult traps in the Siuslaw Basin from , and averaged 46 Coho per year. These fish were passed above the traps to spawn naturally, or were found dead on the weirs and placed upstream for nutrient recycling. Most dead Coho were found on the weirs, and all of them had spawned. The overall mortality of Coho Salmon averaged 50% when we included the dead fish removed from the weirs. Provide projected annual take levels for listed fish by life stage (juvenile and adult) quantified (to the extent feasible) by the type of take resulting from the hatchery program (e.g. capture, handling, tagging, injury, or lethal take). Projected annual take levels of wild Coho Salmon from this program are identified below in Table 2-5. Some of this take was also described in ODFW's 4(d) Research and Monitoring application. 16

18 Table 2-5. Estimated Listed Salmonid Take Levels by Hatchery Activity. NOTE: This take was previously identified in ODFW's 4(d) Research and Monitoring Application. Listed Species Affected: Coho Salmon ESU/Population: Oregon Coast/Siuslaw River Activity: Winter Steelhead Trapping Location of Hatchery Activity: Trapping at Whittaker & Letz Creek Dates of Activity: December - May Hatchery Program Operator: ODFW Type of Take Observe or harass a) Collect for transport b) Annual Take of Listed Fish By Life Stage (Number of Fish) Egg/Fry Juvenile/Smolt Adult Carcass Capture, handle, and release c) Capture, handle, tag/mark/tissue sample, and release d) Removal (e.g. broodstock) e) Intentional lethal take f) Unintentional lethal take g) Other Take (specify) h) a. Contact with listed fish through stream surveys, carcass and mark recovery projects, or migrational delay at weirs. b. Take associated with weir or trapping operations where listed fish are captured and transported for release. c. Take associated with weir or trapping operations where listed fish are captured, handled and released upstream or downstream. d. Take occurring due to tagging and/or bio-sampling of fish collected through trapping operations prior to upstream or downstream release, or through carcass recovery programs. e. Listed fish removed from the wild and collected for use as broodstock. f. Intentional mortality of listed fish, usually as a result of spawning as broodstock. g. Unintentional mortality of listed fish, including loss of fish during transport or holding prior to spawning or prior to release into the wild, or, for integrated programs, mortalities during incubation and rearing. h. Other takes not identified above as a category. Instructions: 1. An entry for a fish to be taken should be in the take category that describes the greatest impact. 2. Each take to be entered in the table should be in one take category only (there should not be more than one entry for the same sampling event). 3. If an individual fish is to be taken more than once on separate occasions, each take must be entered in the take table. Indicate contingency plans for addressing situations where take levels within a given year have exceeded, or are projected to exceed, take levels described in this plan for the program. Trapping can be modified for short periods at the broodstock collection sites if the number of Coho Salmon captured is higher, or expected to be higher, than what has been projected. Trapping must continue to collect broodstock for this program, and to remove hatchery fish to address stray rates. At the monitoring sites for stray hatchery fish, we can open the traps to allow unimpeded passage for a longer time for groups of Coho Salmon, without compromising our stray assessment for these systems. Methods of handling will be reviewed and modified if there appears to be increases in injuries or mortality to wild Coho Salmon. 17

19 SECTION 3 RELATIONSHIP OF PROGRAM TO OTHER MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES 3.1) Describe alignment of the hatchery program with any ESU-wide hatchery plan (e.g. Hood Canal Summer Chum Conservation Initiative) or other regionally accepted policies (e.g. the NPPC Annual Production Review Report and Recommendations - NPPC document 99-15). Explain any proposed deviations from the plan or policies. Siuslaw River Basin Fish Management Plan (approved by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission - 11/14/97). The basin management plan identifies the existing winter steelhead broodstock program. The projected smolt release is within the target level identified in the plan. Native Fish Conservation Policy - The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission has approved the Native Fish Conservation Policy (NFCP). This policy relies on conservation plans being developed for each species management unit. Until a conservation plan for coastal winter steelhead is developed, management of winter steelhead in the Siuslaw Basin will be directed by the Siuslaw River Basin Fish Management Plan or the criteria outlined in the NFCP, whichever is more protective of native fish. Oregon Coast Multi-Species Conservation and Management Plan This program is consistent with ODFW s Coastal Multi-Species Conservation and Management Plan with regard to smolts release numbers and locations. Fish Hatchery Management Policy This policy provides guidance for the responsible use of hatchery fish. The Policy outlines the best management practices for hatchery programs. This Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan will serve as the guiding document for the Siuslaw winter steelhead program until a Hatchery Program Management Plan, as called for in the Fish Hatchery Management Policy, can be written. 3.2) List all existing cooperative agreements, memoranda of understanding, memoranda of agreement, or other management plans or court orders under which program operates. Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds (Executive Order 99-01). The Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds is a prescriptive set of measures for recovering threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead, and meeting federal water quality standards established by Executive Order of the Governor. The Oregon Plan includes measures linked to the hatchery production of winter steelhead in the Siuslaw River Basin; including nutrient enrichment, acclimation, and other separations of hatchery and wild production, terminal fisheries that reduce harvest impacts on wild Coho, and monitoring of hatchery and wild runs. Pacific Fisheries Management Council (Section 7 Consultation). 18

20 3.3) Relationship to harvest objectives. The sole intent of this program is to provide sport fish harvest opportunities in the Siuslaw Basin consistent with the Siuslaw Basin Fish Management Plan ) Describe fisheries benefiting from the program, and indicate harvest levels and rates for program-origin fish for the last twelve years ( ), if available. The Siuslaw winter steelhead sport fishery benefits from this program. Since 1992, this program has been designed and managed as a hatchery winter steelhead targeted fishery; thus, all non-finclipped steelhead are released. Estimated (not actual) harvest of winter steelhead from 1988 to 1996 (run year) are presented in Table 3-1. And estimated harvests during are presented in Table 3-2. Estimates are based upon returned harvest tags (from anglers); estimates have been adjusted to account for bias in returned tags. Table 3-1. Estimated Harvest rates in the Siuslaw River from 1988 to 1996 run years of Alsea Hatchery broodstock winter steelhead. Note: pre-1992 data includes hatchery and wild fish harvest. (Kevin Goodson) Table 3-2. Harvest rates in the Siuslaw River from 1997 to 2014 run years of Siuslaw River (offspring of integrated winter steelhead broodstock). Run Year Harvest

21 The harvest levels depicted in Table 3-1 equate to 0.44% to 1.83% adults harvested from the Alsea Hatchery smolt releases plus an unknown number of wild stock smolts. And the harvest levels for Siuslaw winter steelhead broodstock to date, ranges from 1.4% to 4.6% for return years (Table 3-2). Impacts to listed natural Coho Salmon in the Siuslaw Basin, from this fishery, will likely involve incidental catch-and-release of adults. Information from past creel surveys indicate that some Coho Salmon are caught in December and January. Impacts resulting from this fishery are included in the PFMC Section 7 consultation for ocean fisheries. 3.4) Relationship to habitat protection and recovery strategies. Refer to Appendix 1 for ODFW habitat protection and enhancement policies identified in the Siuslaw River Basin Fish Management Plan (adopted 11/14/97). Generally, habitat protection and recovery strategies are prioritized in areas with (potential) good/high quality habitat. Hatchery releases from this program are localized, to minimize potential adverse impacts to wild fish populations. Habitat protection and recovery strategies for Coho Salmon in the Siuslaw Basin focus on riparian areas and instream structure, enhancing winter and summer rearing habitat. Progress has been made to improve fish passage at road crossings. Most adult fish passage barriers, blocking significant habitat reaches, have been remedied. ODFW personnel work with both private and public landowners in the Siuslaw Basin, to protect and restore riparian areas and fish habitats inhabiting Coho, Chinook and steelhead. More than 150 projects using large wood and boulders have been implemented to enhance natural processes in over 25% of Siuslaw basin streams. These projects improve Coho summer and winter rearing habitats, and adult spawning and holding habitats. 3.5) Ecological interactions. (1) Species that could negatively impact program: Predation by coastal Cutthroat Trout, mink, otters, harbor seals, raccoons, blue herons, mergansers, cormorants, and gulls cold negatively impact out migrating steelhead smolts. Returning adult steelhead could be negatively impacted from predation by harbor seals and otters. (2) Species that could be negatively impacted by program: Competition and/or predation by hatchery steelhead smolts on most native fish species present in the areas where the hatchery smolts migrate is a potential negative impact. These interactions are expected to be minimal due to competitive exclusion, spatial and temporal differences in habitat utilization, and relative size of hatchery steelhead smolts compared to other juvenile salmonids. 20

22 (3) Species that could positively impact program: Any fish that dies (or is recycled for nutrient enrichment) in the basin may positively impact the program. Nutrient enrichment in the basin could improve the quantity of aquatic life that hatchery steelhead smolts could feed on during the transition process. (4) Species that could be positively impacted by program: Aquatic species (salmonids, other fish, mammals, birds, etc.) that depend directly or indirectly on salmonids for food and nutrient supply could be positively impacted by the program. 21

23 SECTION 4 WATER SOURCE 4.1) Provide a quantitative and narrative description of the water source (spring, well, surface), water quality profile, and natural limitations to production attributable to the water source. This program utilizes four facilities to produce up to 100,000 hatchery winter steelhead smolts. Winter steelhead eggs are incubated at the Alsea Hatchery and Letz Creek STEP Hatcheries, (Siuslaw basin). Eggs are hatched and reared at the Letz Creek STEP facility and at Willamette Hatchery. Fingerlings are raised to smolt size at Letz Creek and Roaring River Hatchery. Letz Creek STEP Hatchery: The water source for incubation and early rearing is an unnamed tributary to Letz Creek. This tributary appears to be supplied by both surface run-off and springs. Water is gravity fed and has water temperatures and other quality similar to Letz Creek. A second unnamed tributary to Letz Creek provides water for a half-acre pond used to rear winter steelhead to smolt. This pond is located in the stream channel and has quality and temperatures similar to Letz Creek. Because this is a STEP facility, water right requirements are waived for the water withdrawn from the streams used at the facility. Alsea Hatchery Alsea Hatchery utilizes the North Fork Alsea River as its sole surface water source. The average water temperatures range from 37º to 68º F. Alsea maintains a water diversion permit for 21,103 gallons per minutes (gpm). Alsea Hatchery operates under a NPDES 0300-J discharge permit. Low stream flows during the late summer and fall can limit total hatchery production. Willamette Hatchery: The hatchery utilizes Salmon Creek as its sole surface source. The intake screening meets NOAA screen guidelines. The hatchery maintains a water diversion permit for 82.5 cubic feet per second (cfs). The hatchery operates under a NPDES 0300-J discharge permit that is monitored regularly by ODFW personnel. The hatchery has a well that produces 300 gpm that we are able to use for all Siuslaw steelhead egg incubation and fry rearing. Roaring River Hatchery: The hatchery utilizes Roaring River as its sole surface source. The intake screening meets NOAA guidelines. The hatchery maintains a water diversion permit for 25 cfs. The hatchery operates under a NPDES 0300-J discharge permit that is regularly monitored by ODFW personnel. 22

24 4.2) Indicate risk aversion measures that will be applied to minimize the likelihood for the take of listed natural fish as a result of hatchery water withdrawal, screening, or effluent discharge. Letz Creek STEP Hatchery: The intake structure supplying water for incubation and early rearing is not screened. The stream does not support any fish populations above the intake as determined by ODFW Midcoast District personnel. The water supply for the half-acre pond is not screened. No wild coho are able to access the stream above the pond. Wild Coho fry do access this stream below the pond, and use it for summer and winter rearing. No spawning areas are present in this section of unnamed tributary. Alsea Hatchery Hatchery intake is screened with 1/8-inch-square screening to avoid entrapment of juveniles. Downstream migration of fish over intake screens is accomplished through a bypass channel, which collects fish moving over the intake screen, and allows diversion back into the stream below the intake. The recent construction of a new trap and fish ladder facility at the water intake dam will allow for both downstream and upstream migration for fish. Hatchery effluent is sampled and tested according to NPDES discharge permit requirements. Facility effluent compliance falls well within permit allowances. The date for inspection of the intake screens, to check compliance with NMFS standards, is to be determined in cooperation with the ODFW Engineering Division. Willamette Hatchery: Hatchery intake screens conform to NOAA screening guidelines to minimize the risk of entrapment of juvenile listed fish. The hatchery effluent is sampled and tested according to NPDES discharge permit requirements. Roaring River Hatchery: Hatchery intake screens conform to NOAA screening guidelines to minimize the risk of entrapment of juvenile listed fish. The hatchery effluent is sampled and tested according to NPDES discharge permit requirements. 23

25 SECTION 5 FACILITIES 5.1) Broodstock collection facilities (or methods). Winter steelhead broodstock for this program are collected at traps on Whittaker and Letz Creeks. Traps are a "gorilla cage" design. The adult trap built at Letz Creek in the summer of 2003 is authorized to collect broodstock for the 15,000 smolts produced at the Letz Creek STEP Hatchery. 5.2) Fish transportation equipment (description of pen, tank truck, or container used). Egg or fry are transported using ice chests, and maximum transport time can reach up to four hours. Transportation of smolts is accomplished with the use of various sized liberation truck units. Units range in size from 1,000 to 2,500 gallon tankers. Some units utilize re-circulatory refrigeration systems, which are used to maintain temperature of water taken at the hatchery site. Oxygen is added at a rate of 0.4 lpm. Some units utilize insulated tanks equipped with aerators. Oxygen is added at a rate of 0.4 lpm. All units haul fish at an average density of 0.75 lb/gallon. Total length of time in transit averages two to three hours for this haul. 5.3) Broodstock holding and spawning facilities. Whittaker Creek Trap: Fish entering the Whittaker Creek trap are checked for ripeness. If the fish is ready to spawn it is incorporated into the broodstock. Fish not ready to spawn are released downstream to reenter the fishery. All steelhead are live spawned in the traps, and their eggs and milt are held in separate plastic bags in an ice chest until they are combined at Alsea Hatchery. Letz Creek STEP Hatchery: Winter steelhead adults may be held in PVC tubes kept in circular tanks or in frames suspended in a half-acre pond. An adult trap was built on-site in 2003, and could also be used to hold the adults in PVC tubes. A total of 200 adult steelhead could be held at Letz Creek Hatchery, but on average only five steelhead are held each week. Steelhead are live spawned at a spawning shed. 5.4) Incubation facilities. Alsea Hatchery: Alsea hatchery receives eyed-eggs from Roaring River Hatchery. Incubation facilities at Alsea consist of 24 stacks of 8-tray vertical incubators. North Fork Alsea River water, diverted at the intake, is delivered to the hatchery by a 42-inch mainline. An 18-inch line delivers water from the mainline to the hatchery building. Two 4-inch lines feed water, 24