I. Project Title: Soldotna Creek Northern Pike Eradication Phase 1. II. Project Number: PCSRF Objective: HP&R

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1 Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund Statement of Work Revision #1: Reduce budget to remove expenses incurred under alternate code 44110; revise budget to account for FY15 change to ADF&G indirect base of line 100 only at 21% I. Project Title: Soldotna Creek Northern Pike Eradication Phase 1 II. Project Number: PCSRF Objective: HP&R III. Principal Investigator Robert Massengill Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) Division of Sport Fish (SF) Kalifornsky Beach Road, Suite B Soldotna, AK robert.massengill@alaska.gov Co-Principal Investigator Kristine Dunker ADF&G, SF 333 Raspberry Road Anchorage, AK kristine.dunker@alaska.gov IV. Project Period: 4/1/13 11/30/15 V. Project Description 1. Synopsis Northern pike (Esox lucius) is an invasive species on the Kenai Peninsula, and its establishment in the Soldotna Creek drainage has resulted in the complete loss of native fish in some lakes and a drainage-wide reduction in salmon populations. This project will eradicate invasive northern pike in Area 1 of the Soldotna Creek drainage using rotenone. Elimination of pike will restore native salmon populations in the drainage and prevent the spread of northern pike to Moose River, an important rearing habitat for coho salmon. The work begun in this project continues in AKSSF project Introduction Northern pike are native to interior and western Alaska but do not naturally occur on the Kenai Peninsula. Northern pike are implicated in the decline of localized salmonid abundance outside of their native range because they are highly piscivorous. On the Kenai Peninsula, salmonid prey are vulnerable to northern pike predation because they evolved in the absence of these predators, and the shallow vegetated waters common to many Kenai Peninsula lakes increase the susceptibility of salmonids to northern pike predation in areas where they coexist. Soldotna Creek Northern Pike Eradication Phase 1 Page 1 of 8

2 On the Kenai Peninsula, eighteen lakes and Soldotna Creek have had confirmed northern pike populations; northern pike remain in twelve of these lakes and in Soldotna Creek. ADF&G removed northern pike from three lakes in 2008, 2009, and 2012 using rotenone, and the remaining lake likely eliminated its population naturally through winter die off. In two other lakes (Tiny and Hall), small populations of introduced northern pike appear to have been successfully eradicated through intensive gillnetting efforts. Northern pike are present in five lakes of the Soldotna Creek drainage: Union, East Mackey, West Mackey, Derks, and Sevena Lake; pike may also be present in Tree Lake. The Moose River drainage, another tributary to the Kenai River, is highly vulnerable to northern pike infestation because of the suitable habitat and prey resources available. Moose River contains rich and diverse fish assemblages that include all the salmonid species found in the Kenai River. Typically 18-45% of the entire Kenai River drainage-wide population of juvenile coho salmon rear in the Moose River for at least one year. Because sustainable populations of northern pike are not known to exist in the Kenai River drainage outside the Soldotna Creek drainage, ADF&G has the opportunity to remove them before they become established in Moose River and cause irrevocable damage to the Kenai Peninsula s salmon populations. The most effective strategy for removing northern pike from the Soldotna Creek drainage is the use of rotenone. Rotenone is a naturally occurring fish pesticide that is commonly used by fishery managers in the removal of unwanted fish. It has been used several times in the last decade to eradicate invasive fish from Kenai Peninsula lakes. Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) were removed with rotenone from an unnamed lake near Nikiski in 2000, and northern pike were removed from Arc Lake and Scout Lake near Soldotna in 2008 and 2009, respectively. All three projects were deemed successful at removing the target species. Most recently, rotenone was used to remove northern pike from Stormy Lake near Nikiski in September Northern pike eradication from Soldotna Creek and its infested lakes will exceed the extent of the previously mentioned treatments. Because of the complex nature of the Soldotna Creek drainage, the project will be conducted in two phases. The drainage will be partitioned into two areas with a temporary fish passage barrier that will allow both areas to be treated individually. The barrier will contain northern pike within a treatment area and prevent them from reentering after the treatment. If the eradication effort is successful, native fish species or broodstock endemic to the drainage will be relocated to help reestablish native fish populations. The drainage will take three to four years to treat in entirety. This project addresses the first phase of the effort and will complete the permitting process for the entire project, reinforce the fish passage barrier, and treat four lakes in the Soldotna Creek drainage with rotenone. These four lakes are all in the western portion of the drainage and located upstream of a fish passage barrier near the outlet of Derks Lake. 2. Location Site: Union Lake Soldotna Creek Northern Pike Eradication Phase 1 Page 2 of 8

3 Latitude: N Site: West Mackey Lake Latitude: N Site: East Mackey Lake Latitude: N Site: Derks Lake Latitude: N Site: Soldotna Creek Latitude: N Latitude: N Latitude: N Latitude: N 3. AKSSF Objective 1D-3 Longitude: W Longitude: W Longitude: W Longitude: W Longitude: W Longitude: W Longitude: W Longitude: W VI. Objectives 1. Project Objectives Eradicate invasive northern pike in Union Lake, East Mackey Lake, West Mackey Lake, Derks Lake, and downstream reaches of Soldotna Creek 2. Methods This project will complete the first phase of a two-phase ADF&G plan to eradicate northern pike from the entire Soldotna Creek drainage using rotenone. The treatment area for this project is known as Area 1 which includes Union Lake, East Mackey Lake, West Mackey Lake, Derks Lake, and downstream reaches of Soldotna Creek from the Derks Lake barrier. Before any of the rotenone treatments can be conducted in Area 1, substantial field monitoring is necessary for project planning and permitting. Bathymetric maps and volume estimates will be created for all northern pike infested lakes within the drainage. Water quality parameters including temperature, ph, dissolved oxygen, specific conductivity, alkalinity, turbidity, and stream discharge rates will also be collected. Additionally, biological monitoring for invertebrate and fish populations will be conducted before and after the rotenone treatments. During 2013, ADF&G will apply for several permits including a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a State of Alaska Pesticide Use Permit. This project will also comply with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures that include the development and federal review of an environmental assessment (EA) at the conclusion of which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will provide a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF) approval and ADF&G fish transport and resource permits are required. Both the state permitting and NEPA processes require public notification and comment periods. Historically, permitting for northern pike rotenone projects have taken approximately one year. The first step of the actual rotenone treatments will involve verifying the volume (in gallons) of liquid rotenone (CFT Legumine ) and pounds of powdered rotenone Soldotna Creek Northern Pike Eradication Phase 1 Page 3 of 8

4 (Prentox Prenfish Fish Toxicant Powder) required for treatment of the Soldotna Creek lakes in Area 1. The amounts will be determined based on bioassay results and volume estimates for the individual lakes and stream discharge rates. All stream applications will use liquid rotenone. Area 1 will be partitioned from the remainder of the drainage with a fish passage barrier located at the outlet of Derks Lake. This is a natural beaver dam that will be heavily reinforced with fyke nets. For each lake to be treated, a minimum of two (two-person) crews will apply rotenone from outboard boats equipped with semi-closed gas-powered pumping systems. Additional crew members using backpack sprayers will apply rotenone to the vegetated shorelines and the outlet streams of each lake. The liquid formulation of rotenone will be used to treat one-third of the volume of each lake and associated outlet creeks, and the remaining two-thirds lake volume will be treated with powdered rotenone. Sentinel fish (juvenile coho salmon) placed in live cages throughout each lake and at varying depths will assess the treatment s effectiveness. Following the rotenone treatments, dead fish will be removed from the lakes by ADF&G as is practical. Gillnetting, minnow trapping, and edna sampling will commence in each treated lake following its detoxification to evaluate the success of the treatment. Water samples will be collected and forwarded to an approved laboratory to document the concentration of rotenone immediately before and after each treatment. Post-treatment biological inventory and water quality sampling will occur following the pre-treatment protocols to document the recovery and composition of invertebrate and fish communities. Finally, ADF&G will collect native fish from the untreated sections of Soldotna Creek and the Area 2 lakes (to be treated in the future) and relocate them to Area 1 to begin fishery restoration efforts in the drainage. VII. Benefits This project will begin the process of eradicating northern pike from the Soldotna Creek drainage, a critical step toward the long-term goal of eradicating this invasive species from the entire Kenai Peninsula. Eradicating northern pike from Area 1 reduces the threat of pike colonizing the Moose River through expansion from Soldotna Creek and will begin the process of restoring and conserving salmon stocks throughout the Soldotna Creek drainage. VIII. Products, Milestones, and Timelines April 2013 April 2014: Obtain required permits and conduct associated public processes May 2013 May 2014: Perform pre-treatment monitoring May 2013 June 2013: Complete volume estimates and bathymetric maps of Area 1 lakes January 2014 May 2014: Order treatment equipment; obtain medical certifications (i.e., respirator fit tests for rotenone applicators) May 2014: Order rotenone June 2014: Reinforce Derks Lake temporary barrier Soldotna Creek Northern Pike Eradication Phase 1 Page 4 of 8

5 July 2014 October 2014: Perform bioassay and rotenone treatments; remove dead fish from treated lakes and streams October 1, 2014: Collect and analyze water samples for rotenone concentration May 2015 September 2015: Perform post-treatment monitoring and data collection October 2015: Compile data; write project report November 2015: Provide final report to AKSSF IX. Budget Revision #1 reduces the budget to account for expenses incurred under alternate code and changes the indirect rate for the balance of the project. The revised budget includes a portion of the expenses described in the original budget narrative below. The original project budget table is retained in this document as Appendix A. REV1 ADF&G SF Budget Total 100 Personnel $72, Travel $8, Contractual $32, Supplies $127, Equipment $12, Subtotal $253, Indirect $14, Total $267, Budget Narrative: Line 100: Personnel (not updated with Revision #1) The State of Alaska salary calculator was used to estimate personnel costs. Jerry Strait, Fish and Wildlife Technician III, will collect monitoring data and assist with rotenone applications: 9 $6,795/month = $61,155. Amanda Alaniz, Fish and Wildlife Technician III, will assist with project organization for the month prior to the rotenone treatments: 1 $4,805/ month = $4,805. Line 200: Travel ($9,520; not updated with Revision #1) Kristine Dunker will travel to Soldotna to assist with project planning, data collection, and public meetings. Rob Massengill will travel to Anchorage for project meetings. Lodging: 4 $175/night x 2 people = $1,400 Airfare: 4 $300/trip = $1,200 Meals per diem: 6 $60/day x 2 people = $720 Five ADF&G employees (TBD) will travel to Soldotna to assist with rotenone treatments. Lodging: 4 $175/night x 5 people = $3,500 Soldotna Creek Northern Pike Eradication Phase 1 Page 5 of 8

6 Meals per diem: 5 $60/day x 5 people = $1,500 Rob Massengill will travel to the Alaska Chapter AFS meeting to present the results of the project (location TBD). Lodging: 4 $150/night = $600 Airfare: $360 Meals per diem: 4 $60/day = $240 Line 300: Contractual ($34,400; not updated with Revision #1) Meeting room rental: 2 $250/rental = $500 edna sample analysis: 600 $20/sample = $12,000 Water sample analysis (rotenone): 80 $150/sample = $12,000 Sediment sample analysis (rotenone): 30 $200/sample = $6,000 Water sample shipping: 110 $21.82/sample = $2,400 Medical certifications for respirators: 10 $150/applicator = $1,500 Line 400: Supplies ($132,777; not updated with Revision #1) Gillnets: 45 $304.49/net = $13,702 Fyke nets: 8 $1,500/net = $12,000 Barrier reinforcement fyke nets: 5 $601.80/net = $3,009 Monitoring supplies (i.e., minnow traps, edna, water bottles): $1,500 Electrical chemical feeders: 2 $1,000/feeder = $2,000 Boat accessories (aluminum stock, hardware): $2,000 Barrier reinforcement fencing: $3,491 Barrier reinforcement impermeable ground layer: $2,000 Backpack sprayers for rotenone application: 3 $150/sprayer = $450 Full-face respirators for rotenone application: 10 $250/respirator = $2,500 Personal protection equipment for rotenone applications (i.e., gloves, boots): $2,000 Cleaning and spill containment supplies for rotenone applications: $500 Fuel: $3,000 Liquid rotenone (~556 gallons): $48,265 Powdered rotenone (~7,119 lbs): $32,360 ATV/snow machine trailer: $4,000 Line 500: Equipment ($22,000; not updated with Revision #1) High pressure pump with associated plumbing: $7,000 ATV for accessing remote parts of Soldotna Creek drainage: $15,000 Line 600: Indirect (updated with Revision #1) ADF&G s federally negotiated indirect rate through June 30, 2014, was 14.93% excluding equipment and pass-through funds; however, indirect was recovered at a reduced rate of 14% for this project ($7, of indirect was collected through FY14). Soldotna Creek Northern Pike Eradication Phase 1 Page 6 of 8

7 The indirect rate effective July 1, 2014, is 21% on line 100 only (estimated indirect from July 1, 2014, through the remainder of the project is $7,723.97). X. Match Budget Revision #1: This match budget and budget narrative includes and describes match expenses coded to alternate match code / as well as those coded to this project s match code of / A total of $46, was coded to / , leaving $58, required to fully match this project. ADF&G SF Match (35%) Total 100 Personnel $104, Travel $0 300 Contractual $0 400 Supplies $0 500 Equipment $0 Total $58, $104,521 Match Budget Narrative (not updated with Revision #1): Line 100: Personnel The State of Alaska salary calculator was used to estimate personnel costs. Kristine Dunker, Fishery Biologist III, will assist with project planning, permitting, monitoring, rotenone applications, post-treatment assessment, and project reporting: $8,691/month = $104,521. Soldotna Creek Northern Pike Eradication Phase 1 Page 7 of 8

8 Appendix A: Original Project Budget Table Original ADF&G SF Budget Total 100 Personnel $65, Travel $9, Contractual $34, Supplies $132, Equipment $22,000 Subtotal $264,657 Expenses subject to indirect $242, % $33,972 Total $298,629 Soldotna Creek Northern Pike Eradication Phase 1 Page 8 of 8