BPA Fish and Wildlife FY 1997 Proposal

Section 1. Administrative
Section 2. Narrative
Section 3. Budget

see CBFWA and BPA funding recommendations

Section 1. Administrative

Title of project
Genetic Inventory Westslope Cutthroat Trout

BPA project number   9501600

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
Nez Perce Tribe

Sponsor type   ID-Tribe

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   Ron Morinaka, EWP 503/230-5365

Biological opinion ID   None

NWPPC Program number   10.3C.5

Short description
A genetic inventory of westslope cutthroat trout in the North Fork Clearwater River Drainage to determine the genetic status, including the extent of introgression by introduced rainbow trout

Project start year   1995    End year   2006 (cont'd monitoring)

Start of operation and/or maintenance   1998

Project development phase   Implementation

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects
8740700 - The NPPC approved the authorizing measure for project 9501600 based on recommendations from project 8740700.

Project history
The NPPC approved the authorizing measure for project 9501600 based on recommendations from project 8740700. Authorization of this project by the NPPC required interagency consultation and concurrence with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, National Marine Fisheries Service, Bonneville Power Administration, Bureau of Reclamation and Corps of Engineers.

Biological results achieved
Late FY1995 project start-up. No biological results reportable to date.

Annual reports and technical papers

Management implications
Knowledge gained from this project will provide program direction for simultaneously mitigating for resident fish losses and conserving declining native fish species (westslope cutthroat trout, bull trout)
This project will provide the opportunity to adaptively manage the Dworshak resident fish mitigation program, currently focusing on rainbow trout, based on the data obtained. The knowledge gained from this project could have value and applicability to other regions of the Columbia Basin where distributions of stocked rainbow trout and native cutthroat trout overlap.

Specific measureable objectives
Reestablishment of genetically pure, heterogenous populations of native westslope cutthroat trout throughout their historic range within the North Fork Clearwater River drainage.

Testable hypothesis
Genetically pure populations of native westslope cutthroat trout occur within the North Fork Clearwater drainage.

Hybridization among westslope cutthroat trout and rainbow trout is prevalent in portions of the North Fork Clearwater drainage.

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints
Native populations of westslope cutthroat trout and steelhead (searun rainbow trout) evolved sympatrically without significant hybridization due to spacial separation of spawning sites.
Current habitat conditions in the North Fork Clearwater drainage are and will continue to be suitable to support the life history requirements of westslope cutthroat trout.

Methods
1) Genetic reference samples for native westslope cutthroat trout, residual steelhead trout and hatchery stock will be established. Comprehensive, systematic collections of resident Oncorhynchus spp. by electrofishing and angling will be conducted in the North Fork Clearwater drainage in areas of suspected hybridized and suspected pure populations of westslope cutthroat trout (Reiman and Apperson 1989). State of the art minimally invasive tissue sampling would be employed for electrophoretic analyses.

2) Data analyses via application of the BIOSYS-1 program of Swofford and Selander (1981) or similar program..

3) Approximately 30 native westslope cutthroat trout, 10 native resident steelhead and 10 hatchery stock rainbow trout will be needed for reference samples. About 210 (30/population) minimally invasive tissue samples of native westslope cutthroat trout from the North Fork Clearwater drainage will be needed.

Brief schedule of activities
Genetic analyses should be completed by the end of FY1998. Recommendations will be submitted at that time relative to the management direction for resident fish mitigation, including alternatives to rainbow trout stocking and potential remedies for documented introgression.

From FY1998-2110, project activities will shift to a monitoring & evaluation mode to track results of recommended management actions.

Biological need
Genetic introgression is Strong and genetically pure population of westslope cutthroat trout exist in probably less than 4% of its historic range in Idaho. Of all the factors threatening westslope cutthroat trout, hybridization with rainbow trout, golden trout and yellowstone cutthroat trout represents the biggest problem (Liknes and Graham 1988). Strong populations of westslope cutthroat trout are believed to exist in several tributaries to the North Fork Clearwater River: Cayuse Creek, Fourth of July Creek, Kelly Creek and Weitas Creek. Ball and Petitt (1974) reported movement of hatchery stocked rainbow trout out Dworshak Reservoir and 88 km upstream to Kelly Creek. Reiman and Apperson (1989) recommended a genetic inventory (biochemical methods) of westslope cutthroat trout to provide baseline data for monitoring genetic management, to identify populations with the best potential for priority management, and to identify broodstock sources.

Critical uncertainties
Genetically pure populations of native westslope cutthroat trout occur within the North Fork Clearwater drainage.
Non-native rainbow trout that survive to maturity hybridize with native westslope cutthroat trout.
Genetic introgression by non-native rainbow trout is manageable and reversible.

Summary of expected outcome
The genetic status of the North Fork Clearwater westslope cutthroat trout (purity, extent of introgression, introgression source(s)) will be documented within the limits of current scientific knowledge. Resident fish mitigation activities in the North Fork Clearwater drainage, including Dworshak Reservoir will be conducted to conserve the westslope cutthroat trout populations in consideration of the knowledge gained as a result of the inventory.

Application of adaptive management principles will improve the population status of North Fork Clearwater westslope cutthroat trout in the North Fork Clearwater drainage.

Potential westslope cutthroat trout broodstock sources will be identified for long-term management considerations.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
Cost-sharing from the Corps of Engineers is included in the NPPC Program for monitoring and evaluation.

Risks
Risks to native westslope cutthroat trout populations will be minimized via application of minimally invasive tissue sampling for electrophoretic analyses.

Monitoring activity
Genetically discrete populations of westslope cutthroat trout in the North Fork Clearwater drainage will be monitored to detect beneficial/adverse planned/unplanned shifts in their genetic composition using project established genetic baselines.

Section 3. Budget

* For most projects, Authorized is the amount recommended by CBFWA and the Council. Planned is amount currently allocated. Contracted is the amount obligated to date of printout.

Funding recommendations

CBFWA funding review group   Resident Fish

Recommendation    Tier 1 - fund

Recommended funding level   $167,300

BPA 1997 authorized budget (approved start-of-year budget)   $167,300