RESTORING BURBOT IN THE KOOTENAI RIVER: MONITORING AND EVALUATION
OVERVIEW Objectives and agency roles Field efforts Population updates Looking ahead Summary
OBJECTIVES AND AGENCY ROLES Overarching objective Restore a naturally reproducing and harvestable Burbot population in the Kootenai River IDFG roles Population characterization Spatiotemporal characteristics of spawning Movement and habitat use Success of various stocking strategies Academic research Setting angling regulations (ultimately)
OBJECTIVES AND AGENCY ROLES Overarching objective Restore a naturally reproducing and harvestable Burbot population in the Kootenai River IDFG roles Population characterization Spatiotemporal characteristics of spawning Movement and habitat use Success of various stocking strategies Academic research Setting angling regulations (ultimately)
OBJECTIVES AND AGENCY ROLES Overarching objective Restore a naturally reproducing and harvestable Burbot population in the Kootenai River IDFG roles Population characterization Spatiotemporal characteristics of spawning Movement and habitat use Success of various stocking strategies Academic research Setting angling regulations (ultimately)
OBJECTIVES AND AGENCY ROLES Overarching objective Restore a naturally reproducing and harvestable Burbot population in the Kootenai River IDFG roles Population characterization Spatiotemporal characteristics of spawning Movement and habitat use Success of various stocking strategies Academic research Setting angling regulations (ultimately)
OBJECTIVES AND AGENCY ROLES Overarching objective Restore a naturally reproducing and harvestable Burbot population in the Kootenai River IDFG roles Population characterization Spatiotemporal characteristics of spawning Movement and habitat use Success of various stocking strategies Academic research Setting angling regulations (ultimately)
OBJECTIVES AND AGENCY ROLES Overarching objective Restore a naturally reproducing and harvestable Burbot population in the Kootenai River IDFG roles Population characterization Spatiotemporal characteristics of spawning Movement and habitat use Success of various stocking strategies Academic research Setting angling regulations (ultimately)
OBJECTIVES AND AGENCY ROLES Overarching objective Restore a naturally reproducing and harvestable Burbot population in the Kootenai River IDFG roles Population characterization Spatiotemporal characteristics of spawning Movement and habitat use Success of various stocking strategies Academic research Setting angling regulations (ultimately)
FIELD EFFORTS Key points: Hatchery fish and genetics PIT tagging Six stocking locations Released at different life stages
FIELD EFFORTS Key points: Hatchery fish and genetics PIT tagging Six stocking locations Released at different life stages
FIELD EFFORTS Baited hoop-nets (December 1-March 31) VEMCO sonic tags and passive arrays University studies
BC ID MT WINTER SAMPLING Hoop nets: 60cm x 2m 15 sites, 36 total hoop nets 6.4 and 19.1mm mesh size (paired sets at each site) Three sites to evaluate catch difference in shallow and deep sets Index Locations Five sites since 1994 Monitor trend CPUE Sample locations Index locations
BC ID MT WINTER SAMPLING Hoop nets: 60cm x 2m 15 sites, 36 total hoop nets 6.4 and 19.1mm mesh size (paired sets at each site) Three sites to evaluate catch difference in shallow and deep sets INDEX LOCATIONS Five sites since 1996 Monitor trend CPUE Sample locations Index locations
FIELD EFFORTS Baited hoop-nets (December 1-March 31) VEMCO sonic tags and passive arrays University studies
FIELD EFFORTS Baited hoop-nets (December 1-March 31) VEMCO sonic tags and passive arrays University studies
Effort (d) CPUE (fish/net-d) POPULATION UPDATES: CATCH RATES 4500 4000 3500 CPUE Effort (d) BAITED HOOP NETS (1996-2015) All sites 0.33 0.28 0.35 0.30 3000 0.25 2500 0.20 2000 0.13 0.15 1500 0.10 1000 500 0.03 0.01 0.05 0.06 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.03 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.07 0.05 0 0.00 Year
Effort (d) CPUE (fish/net-d) POPULATION UPDATES: CATCH RATES 2000 1800 CPUE Effort (d) BAITED HOOP NETS (1996-2015) Index sites, only 0.29 0.31 0.35 0.30 1600 1400 0.25 1200 1000 0.18 0.20 800 0.11 0.15 600 0.09 0.10 400 200 0 0.03 0.06 0.04 0.04 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.06 0.05 0.00 Year
Total length (mm) POPULATION UPDATES: GROWTH 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 Kootenai River (2012-2015) Kootenai River (1957-58; Partridge 1982) Kootenai River (1979-81; Partridge 1982) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Age
Total length (mm) POPULATION UPDATES: GROWTH 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 Kootenai River (2012-2015) Kootenai River (1957-58; Partridge 1982) Kootenai River (1979-81; Partridge 1982) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Age
POPULATION UPDATES: SPAWN TIMING BC ID MT
CPUE (fish/net-d) POPULATION UPDATES: SPAWN TIMING 3.50 3.00 2000 2012 2013 2014 2015 2.50 2.00 1.50 1.00 0.50 0.00 12/5 12/12 12/19 12/26 1/2 1/9 1/16 1/23 1/30 2/6 2/13 2/20 2/27 3/6 3/13 3/20 3/27 Date
CPUE (fish/net-d) POPULATION UPDATES: SPAWN TIMING 3.50 3.00 2.50 2.00 2000 2012 2013 2014 2015 Week of February 18 in both 2014 and 2015 1.50 1.00 0.50 0.00 12/5 12/12 12/19 12/26 1/2 1/9 1/16 1/23 1/30 2/6 2/13 2/20 2/27 3/6 3/13 3/20 3/27 Date
CPUE (fish/net-d) POPULATION UPDATES: SPAWN TIMING 3.50 3.00 2.50 2.00 2000 2012 2013 2014 2015 Week of February 18 in both 2014 and 2015 Week of February 18 th was also the peak in CPUE at Porthill during the 2015 season 1.50 1.00 0.50 0.00 12/5 12/12 12/19 12/26 1/2 1/9 1/16 1/23 1/30 2/6 2/13 2/20 2/27 3/6 3/13 3/20 3/27 Date
Number of fish POPULATION UPDATES: SUCCESS OF VARIOUS STOCKING STRATEGIES 600,000 Larval Juvenile 632,590 500,000 450,000 400,000 300,000 243,250 272,867 200,000 100,000 0 70,416 29,185 202 2,149 11,555 3,691 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Year
Relative frequency (%) POPULATION UPDATES: SUCCESS OF VARIOUS STOCKING STRATEGIES 30 25 20 Length Frequency: 2013-14 Season n=371 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Unknown 15 10 5 0 Total length (mm)
Relative frequency (%) POPULATION UPDATES: SUCCESS OF VARIOUS STOCKING STRATEGIES 30 25 20 Length Frequency: 2014-15 Season n=705 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Unknown 15 10 5 0 Total length (mm)
Relative frequency (%) POPULATION UPDATES: SUCCESS OF VARIOUS STOCKING STRATEGIES 30 25 20 2015/16 ALL 2008 Length Frequency: 2015-16 Season n=638 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Unknown 15 10 5 0 Total length (mm)
POPULATION UPDATES: SUCCESS OF VARIOUS STOCKING STRATEGIES Age Release Location Survival SD - 95% CI + 95% CI
POPULATION UPDATES: SUCCESS OF VARIOUS STOCKING STRATEGIES Age Release Location Survival SD - 95% CI + 95% CI Age-0 N/A 0.1016 0.0468 0.0482 0.2038 Age-1 N/A 0.9675 0.0212 0.9257 0.9987 Age-2 N/A 0.9293 0.0494 0.8313 0.9994 Age-3 N/A 0.9015 0.063 0.7800 0.9972 Age-4+ N/A 0.7816 0.102 0.5937 0.9659
Age 1.0 0.8 Survival 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 0 1 2 3 4
POPULATION UPDATES: SUCCESS OF VARIOUS STOCKING STRATEGIES Age Release Location Survival SD - 95% CI + 95% CI Age-0 N/A 0.1016 0.0468 0.0482 0.2038 Age-1 N/A 0.9675 0.0212 0.9257 0.9987 Age-2 N/A 0.9293 0.0494 0.8313 0.9994 Age-3 N/A 0.9015 0.063 0.7800 0.9972 Age-4+ N/A 0.7816 0.102 0.5937 0.9659
POPULATION UPDATES: SUCCESS OF VARIOUS STOCKING STRATEGIES Age Release Location Survival SD - 95% CI + 95% CI Age-0 N/A 0.1016 0.0468 0.0482 0.2038 Age-1 N/A 0.9675 0.0212 0.9257 0.9987 Age-2 N/A 0.9293 0.0494 0.8313 0.9994 Age-3 N/A 0.9015 0.063 0.7800 0.9972 Age-4+ N/A 0.7816 0.102 0.5937 0.9659 Age-1 N/A 0.2036 0.0222 0.1604 0.2476 Age-2 N/A 0.3841 0.0611 0.2642 0.5025 Age-3 N/A 0.2271 0.1232 0.0348 0.4762 Age-4 N/A 0.1137 0.0338 0.0552 0.1743
Age 1.0 0.8 Survival 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 1 2 3 4
Age 1.0 0.8 Survival 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 1 2 3 4
POPULATION UPDATES: SUCCESS OF VARIOUS STOCKING STRATEGIES Age Release Location Survival SD - 95% CI + 95% CI Age-0 N/A 0.1016 0.0468 0.0482 0.2038 Age-1 N/A 0.9675 0.0212 0.9257 0.9987 Age-2 N/A 0.9293 0.0494 0.8313 0.9994 Age-3 N/A 0.9015 0.063 0.7800 0.9972 Age-4+ N/A 0.7816 0.102 0.5937 0.9659 Age-1 N/A 0.2036 0.0222 0.1604 0.2476 Age-2 N/A 0.3841 0.0611 0.2642 0.5025 Age-3 N/A 0.2271 0.1232 0.0348 0.4762 Age-4 N/A 0.1137 0.0338 0.0552 0.1743
POPULATION UPDATES: SUCCESS OF VARIOUS STOCKING STRATEGIES Age Release Location Survival SD - 95% CI + 95% CI Age-0 Boundary Creek 0.1997 0.2166 0.0003 0.6871 Age-0 Deep Creek confluence 0.1187 0.0166 0.0869 0.1503 Age-0 Ferry Island 0.0720 0.0122 0.0500 0.0969 Age-0 Goat River 0.0766 0.0158 0.0469 0.1079 Age-0 Moyie River 0.0166 0.0051 0.0075 0.0266 Age-0 Porthill 0.1263 0.0147 0.0975 0.1540 Age-0 Unknown 0.0228 0.0222 0.1604 0.2476 Age-0 N/A 0.1016 0.0468 0.0482 0.2038 Age-1 N/A 0.9675 0.0212 0.9257 0.9987 Age-2 N/A 0.9293 0.0494 0.8313 0.9994 Age-3 N/A 0.9015 0.063 0.7800 0.9972 Age-4+ N/A 0.7816 0.102 0.5937 0.9659 Age-1 N/A 0.2036 0.0222 0.1604 0.2476 Age-2 N/A 0.3841 0.0611 0.2642 0.5025 Age-3 N/A 0.2271 0.1232 0.0348 0.4762 Age-4 N/A 0.1137 0.0338 0.0552 0.1743
Release Location 1.0 0.8 Survival 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 Porthill Deep Ceek confluence Goat River Ferry Island Boundary Creek Moyie River
Release Location 1.0 0.8 Survival 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 Porthill Deep Ceek confluence Goat River Ferry Island Boundary Creek Moyie River
POPULATION UPDATES: SUCCESS OF VARIOUS STOCKING STRATEGIES Age Release Location Survival SD - 95% CI + 95% CI Age-0 Boundary Creek 0.1997 0.2166 0.0003 0.6871 Age-0 Deep Creek confluence 0.1187 0.0166 0.0869 0.1503 Age-0 Ferry Island 0.0720 0.0122 0.0500 0.0969 Age-0 Goat River 0.0766 0.0158 0.0469 0.1079 Age-0 Moyie River 0.0166 0.0051 0.0075 0.0266 Age-0 Porthill 0.1263 0.0147 0.0975 0.1540 Age-0 Unknown 0.0228 0.0222 0.1604 0.2476 Age-0 N/A 0.1016 0.0468 0.0482 0.2038 Age-1 N/A 0.9675 0.0212 0.9257 0.9987 Age-2 N/A 0.9293 0.0494 0.8313 0.9994 Age-3 N/A 0.9015 0.063 0.7800 0.9972 Age-4+ N/A 0.7816 0.102 0.5937 0.9659 Age-1 N/A 0.2036 0.0222 0.1604 0.2476 Age-2 N/A 0.3841 0.0611 0.2642 0.5025 Age-3 N/A 0.2271 0.1232 0.0348 0.4762 Age-4 N/A 0.1137 0.0338 0.0552 0.1743
Juvenile release group
Juvenile release group Age-1 survivors 0.10
Juvenile release group Age-1 survivors Age-2 survivors
Juvenile release group Age-1 survivors Age-2 survivors Age-3 survivors
Juvenile release group Age-1 survivors Age-2 survivors Age-4 survivors Age-3 survivors 0.90
POPULATION UPDATES: TRIBUTARY ASSESSMENTS Deep, Boundary, and Smith creeks Anecdotal information IDFG PIT tag array Final interpretations available from Deep Creek study
POPULATION UPDATES: TRIBUTARY ASSESSMENTS Deep, Boundary, and Smith creeks Anecdotal information IDFG PIT tag array Final interpretations available from Deep Creek study
POPULATION UPDATES: TRIBUTARY Deep, Boundary, and Smith creeks Anecdotal information ASSESSMENTS IDFG PIT tag array Final interpretations available from Deep Creek study
POPULATION UPDATES: TRIBUTARY ASSESSMENTS Smith and Boundary creeks sampled February- March Zero fish captured in Smith Creek, will try again in 2016/17 29 fish captured in Boundary Creek All from 2/17/16 2/24/16 Included ripe and spent males and females Deep Creek sampled December 1-March 31 Five fish captured All stocked in Deep Creek in 2014 or 2015
POPULATION UPDATES: TRIBUTARY ASSESSMENTS Smith and Boundary creeks sampled February- March Zero fish captured in Smith Creek, will try again in 2016/17 29 fish captured in Boundary Creek All from 2/17/16 2/24/16 Included ripe and spent males and females Deep Creek sampled December 1-March 31 Five fish captured All stocked in Deep Creek in 2014 or 2015
POPULATION UPDATES: TRIBUTARY ASSESSMENTS Smith and Boundary creeks sampled February- March Zero fish captured in Smith Creek, will try again in 2016/17 29 fish captured in Boundary Creek All from 2/17/16 2/24/16 Included ripe and spent males and females Deep Creek sampled December 1-March 31 Five fish captured All stocked in Deep Creek in 2014 or 2015
Composition (%) Composition (%) POPULATION UPDATES: TRIBUTARY ASSESSMENTS 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 51.7 Smith and Boundary creeks Sampled throughout 31.0 February Zero fish captured in 6.9 Smith Creek, will try again in 2016/17 Porthill Unknown Boundary Creek Boundary Creek/Moyie River 29 fish captured in Boundary Creek Release location 41.4 All from 2/17/16 2/24/16 Included ripe and spent males and females 3.4 3.4 3.4 Goat River Kootenai River 17.2 6.9 3.4 3.4 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 Unknown Year class 27.6
POPULATION UPDATES: TRIBUTARY ASSESSMENTS Smith and Boundary creeks sampled February- March Zero fish captured in Smith Creek, will try again in 2016/17 29 fish captured in Boundary Creek All from 2/17/16 2/24/16 Included ripe and spent males and females Deep Creek sampled December 1-March 31 Five fish captured All stocked in Deep Creek in 2014 or 2015
POPULATION UPDATES: TRIBUTARY ASSESSMENTS Smith and Boundary creeks sampled February- March Zero fish captured in Smith Creek, will try again in 2016/17 29 fish captured in Boundary Creek All from 2/17/16 2/24/16 Included ripe and spent males and females Deep Creek sampled December 1-March 31 Five fish captured All stocked in Deep Creek in 2014 or 2015
Number of unique daily detections POPULATION UPDATES: TRIBUTARY ASSESSMENTS Deep Creek Array Detections 2015-16 Season 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 10/19/2015 11/19/2015 12/19/2015 1/19/2016 2/19/2016 3/19/2016 4/19/2016 5/19/2016 6/19/2016 Date
Number of unique daily detections POPULATION UPDATES: TRIBUTARY ASSESSMENTS Deep Creek Array Detections 2015-16 Season 20 18 16 14 12 Important to note: 2011-15 year classes were represented All release sites were represented 10 8 6 4 Burbot continue to pioneer across multiple years classes 2 0 10/19/2015 11/19/2015 12/19/2015 1/19/2016 2/19/2016 3/19/2016 4/19/2016 5/19/2016 6/19/2016 Date
Number of unique daily detections POPULATION UPDATES: TRIBUTARY ASSESSMENTS Deep Creek Array Detections 2015-16 Season 20 18 16 14 12 Important to note: 2011-15 year classes were represented All release sites were represented 10 8 6 4 Burbot continue to pioneer across multiple years classes 2 0 10/19/2015 11/19/2015 12/19/2015 1/19/2016 2/19/2016 3/19/2016 4/19/2016 5/19/2016 6/19/2016 Date
POPULATION UPDATES: TRIBUTARY ASSESSMENTS Graduate Study on Deep Creek 88% of fish stayed within 1 km of release location Survival of juveniles in 2014 and 2015 was 0.19 Additional questions need to be answered
POPULATION UPDATES: TRIBUTARY ASSESSMENTS Graduate Study on Deep Creek 88% of fish stayed within 1 km of release location Survival of juveniles in 2014 and 2015 was 0.19 Additional questions need to be answered
POPULATION UPDATES: TRIBUTARY ASSESSMENTS Graduate Study on Deep Creek 88% of fish stayed within 1 km of release location Survival of juveniles in 2014 and 2015 was 0.19 Additional questions need to be answered
POPULATION UPDATES: TRIBUTARY ASSESSMENTS Graduate Study on Deep Creek 88% of fish stayed within 1 km of release location Survival of juveniles in 2014 and 2015 was 0.19 Additional questions need to be answered
LOOKING AHEAD: LARVAL LIGHT First year of running larval light traps in spring 2016 Timing Sampling design Zero larval Burbot captured More robust approach in Spring 2017 TRAPS
LOOKING AHEAD: LARVAL LIGHT First year of running larval light traps in spring 2016 Timing Sampling design Zero larval Burbot captured More robust approach in Spring 2017 TRAPS
LOOKING AHEAD: LARVAL LIGHT First year of running larval light traps in spring 2016 Timing Sampling design Zero larval Burbot captured More robust approach in Spring 2017 TRAPS
LOOKING AHEAD: LARVAL LIGHT First year of running larval light traps in spring 2016 Timing Sampling design Zero larval Burbot captured More robust approach in Spring 2017 TRAPS
LOOKING AHEAD: LARVAL LIGHT First year of running larval light traps in spring 2016 Timing Sampling design Zero larval Burbot captured More robust approach in Spring 2017 TRAPS
LOOKING AHEAD: HOOPNETTING IN Moyie River releases Burbot in the canyon 2016 captures Should: THE CANYON Refine Moyie River survival estimate Inform Burbot use of the canyon Benefit KRHRP projects above town
LOOKING AHEAD: HOOPNETTING IN Moyie River releases Burbot in the canyon 2016 captures Should: THE CANYON Refine Moyie River survival estimate Inform Burbot use of the canyon Benefit KRHRP projects above town
LOOKING AHEAD: HOOPNETTING IN Moyie River releases Burbot in the canyon 2016 captures Should: THE CANYON Refine Moyie River survival estimate Inform Burbot use of the canyon Benefit KRHRP projects above town
LOOKING AHEAD: TRIBUTARY ASSESSMENTS Relocating all Deep Creek HDX arrays except McArthur outlet Boundary Creek Smith Creek Myrtle Creek Ball Creek THOUGHTS WELCOME ON TRIBUTARY SELECTION
LOOKING AHEAD: HARVEST SCENARIOS Age-structured population models Zach Klein s (Quist student) work on the Green River, Wyoming Primary model inputs include (among others): Population size Reproduction/fecundity Age-specific survival Harvest scenarios Plan to have this completed by August 2017
LOOKING AHEAD: HARVEST SCENARIOS Age-structured population models Zach Klein s (Quist student) work on the Green River, Wyoming Primary model inputs include (among others): Population size Reproduction/fecundity Age-specific survival Harvest scenarios Plan to have this completed by August 2017
SUMMARY Catch rates climbing Survival estimates On-target with restoration goals Year class representation Burbot pioneering New projects Discussions about future fishery important
SUMMARY Catch rates climbing Survival estimates On-target with restoration goals Year class representation Burbot pioneering New projects Discussions about future fishery important
SUMMARY Catch rates climbing Survival estimates On-target with restoration goals Year class representation Burbot pioneering New projects Discussions about future fishery important
SUMMARY Catch rates climbing Survival estimates On-target with restoration goals Year class representation Burbot pioneering New projects Discussions about future fishery important
SUMMARY Catch rates climbing Survival estimates On-target with restoration goals Year class representation Burbot pioneering New projects Discussions about future fishery important
SUMMARY Catch rates climbing Survival estimates On-target with restoration goals Year class representation Burbot pioneering New projects Discussions about future fishery important
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ARI KTOI Patrick Blaufuss Joe Evavold Ken Cain Neil Ashton Hatchery staff Sue Ireland Shawn Young Nate Jensen Chris Lewandowski Hatchery staff IDFG BC Diane Wakkinen Cathy Gidley Ryan Hardy Andrew Ransom Dylan Gollen IDFG field crews Matt Neufeld Sarah Stephenson Val Evans UI Mike Quist Zach beard MFWP Jim Dunnigan Ryan Sylvester