BPA Fish and Wildlife FY 1998 Proposal

Section 1. Summary
Section 2. Goals
Section 3. Background
Section 4. Purpose and methods
Section 5. Planned activities
Section 6. Outcomes, monitoring and evaluation
Section 7. Relationships
Section 8. Costs and FTE

see CBFWA and BPA funding recommendations

Section 1. Summary

Title of project
Umatilla Hatchery Satellite Facilities - Planning, Siting, Design & Construction

BPA project number   9101400

Short description
Continue implementation of projects included in the Umatilla Hatchery Master Plan. Construct one or two additional acclimation facilities to accommodate acclimation of all juvenile salmon and steelhead released in the Umatilla River Basin. Add incubation and juvenile rearing capabilities to the South Fork Walla Walla brood holding and spawning facility to rear spring chinook salmon for acclimation and release in the Umatilla River.

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

Section 2. Goals

General
Supports a healthy Columbia basin; maintains biological diversity; maintains genetic integrity; increases run sizes or populations

Section 3. Background

Stream area affected

Stream name   Umatilla River
Stream miles affected   100+
Subbasin   Umatilla

History
In the early 1980's, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife began implementing a comprehensive plan to supplement steelhead and re-establish salmon runs in the Umatilla River Basin. Umatilla Hatchery satellite facilities were identified as an integral part of this program. Four juvenile acclimation and release facilities were constructed from 1983 to 1995. An adult coho and fall chinook holding and spawning facility was built in 1996 and a spring chinook adult holding/spawning facility is presently being constructed and will be in operation in the spring of 1997. The juvenile rearing and acclimation facilities constructed under this project will complete the facility requirements believed necessary to achieve overall Umatilla River adult returns goals. All satellite facilities are operated by CTUIR.

Biological results achieved
Salmon runs were extinct in the Umatilla River Basin prior to implementation of the Umatilla River fish restoration program. This plan, of which the Umatilla Hatchery satellite facilities are a key component, has resulted in annual returns of salmon and steelhead to the Umatilla River of 3,300 to 8,000 adults in the last 10 years.During that time, approximately 12 million coho and fall and spring chinook and summer steelhead juveniles have been acclimated and released at existing satellite facilities, but this does not represent all juvenile releases. The satellite facilities constructed under this project will: 1) allow for acclimation and release of all juveniles which will increase smolt to adult survival, and 2) increase juvenile spring chinook production which is essential to meet Umatilla River spring chinook adult return goals.

Project reports and papers
Umatilla Satellite and Release Sites Project: Final Siting Report, DOE/BP - 12031-1, May 1992; Umatilla Satellite and Release Sites Project: Final Concept Design Report, DOE/BP - 12031-2, May 1992; Annual project reports completed for each year since inception.

Adaptive management implications
The functions of the Umatilla Hatchery satellite facilities are essential to the implementation of the overall Umatilla River restoration program. When completed, the new facilities will allow fish managers: to 1) release juveniles in targeted areas for re-establishment of natural production, 2) acclimate/imprint all smolts for increased survival and homing, and 3) achieve the juvenile spring chinook production goals necessary to meet adult spring chinook return goals outlined in the Umatilla Hatchery Master Plan.

Section 4. Purpose and methods

Specific measureable objectives
When completed, the goals and objectives of the project can be measured by: 1) the number of juvenile salmon and steelhead that are acclimated and released at the facilities, 2) the number of juvenile spring chinook that are produced, and 3) the adult contribution to ocean, Columbia and Umatilla River natural production.

Critical uncertainties
When completed, critical uncertainties will include smolt to adult survivals related to habitat availability, ocean conditions and mainstem Columbia and Umatilla River passage.

Biological need
Artificial production is required in the Umatilla River Basin to bring back extirpated and depressed anadromous fish runs. The satellite facilities constructed under this project specifically address juvenile acclimation/release and juvenile production needs which are essential to achieving the overall Umatilla Basin natural and hatchery adult return goals.

Hypothesis to be tested
N/A

Alternative approaches
None identified.

Justification for planning
N/A

Methods
When completed, the specific project methods associated with the facilities include: 1) acclimate and release groups of juvenile summer steelhead, coho and chinook salmon, 2) determine general trends in juvenile outmigration timing, 3) incubate and rear spring chinook salmon for release in the Umatilla River, 4) monitor juvenile fish for physical data and health, 5) collect information and snouts from coded-wire tagged fish and send the snouts to ODFW for tag retrieval and decoding, 6) access coded-wire tag information from appropriate sources and determine smolt to adult survival of all coded-wire tagged groups released into the Umatilla River as well as contribution to ocean, Columbia and Umatilla River fisheries, and 7) perform daily routine maintenance and repair of all equipment, buildings and grounds.

Section 5. Planned activities

Constraints or factors that may cause schedule or budget changes
Land acquisition for acclimation facility(s).

Section 6. Outcomes, monitoring and evaluation

SUMMARY OF EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Expected performance of target population or quality change in land area affected
When completed, the project will allow all juvenile salmon and steelhead to be acclimated prior to release into the Umatilla River Basin. The reduced stress and increased imprintation will increase smolt to adult survival back to the Columbia and Umatilla Rivers. It is also anticipated that the additional facilities will provide all spring chinook juveniles necessary to meet Umatilla River adult return goals. Total adult salmon and steelhead return goals to the Umatilla River Basin are approximately 48,000.

Present utilization and convservation potential of target population or area
The Umatilla River restoration program, of which the satellite facilities are an integral part, has resulted in annual returns of salmon and steelhead to the Umatilla River of 3,300 to 8,000 adults in the last 10 years.

Assumed historic status of utilization and conservation potential
Runs of fall and spring chinook and coho salmon in the Umatilla River were essentially eliminated in the early 1900's. The single indigenous naturally spawning anadromous stock left in the basin is a run of approximately 1,100 to 2,800 summer steelhead.

Long term expected utilization and conservation potential for target population or habitat
Total adult salmon and steelhead return goals to the Umatilla River Basin are approximately 48,000. The Umatilla Hatchery Master Plan identifies adult return goals for each target species.

Contribution toward long-term goal
When completed, the project will provide all spring chinook juveniles needed for the Umatilla River production program and help to increase smolt to adult survival.

Indirect biological or environmental changes
None identified.

Physical products
Since 1983, approximately 12 million juvenile salmon and steelhead have been acclimated and released into the Umatilla River Basin. The number of fish acclimated annually has risen from 20,000 in 1983 to over 4 million in 1996. Facilities constructed under this project will result in over 5 million fish being acclimated annually and increased juvenile spring chinook production.

Environmental attributes affected by the project
None identified.

Changes assumed or expected for affected environmental attributes
None identified.

Measure of attribute changes
N/A

Information products
After completion of the project, the facilities will be operated under project no. 8343500. Monthly and annual reports will provide information on all facilities including juvenile acclimation, adult holding and spawning, juvenile and adult physical and health data, juvenile outmigration, facility maintenance and repair and adult survival and contribution.

Coordination outcomes
Upon completion, operation of the facilities will require a great deal of cooperation and coordination among many diverse interest groups as is presently being experienced with operation of existing facilities. See coordinators listed under "opportunities for cooperation".

MONITORING APPROACH
After completion, the project's outcomes can be partially measured by the number of smolts that are acclimated and released and the number of juveniles that are reared. These goals, however, are secondary to the goal of increasing adult returns to the Umatilla River. All groups of fish released into the Umatilla River are representatively coded-wire tagged and smolt to adult survivals are determined as well as contribution to ocean, Columbia and Umatilla River fisheries.

Provisions to monitor population status or habitat quality
Several projects work closely together to monitor population status. The Umatilla River Basin Trap and Haul Program provides a comprehensive monitoring opportunity for assessing adult returns to the Umatilla River and the Umatilla Basin Natural Production M & E Program conducts extensive spawning ground and juvenile outmigration surveys to assess natural production success.

Data analysis and evaluation
Once the facilities constructed under this project are in operation, data collected will be shared with the UHM&E Program and will also be summarized in an annual report to BPA. The information will be analyzed by CTUIR and ODFW managers and researchers.

Information feed back to management decisions
The facilities constructed under project no. 9101400 will be operated under project no. 8343500. Hence, based on information provided by this project and others, adaptive management decisions are made each year by basin co-managers. These decisions are incorporated into the Umatilla Hatchery and Basin Annual Operation Plan.

Critical uncertainties affecting project's outcomes
Mainstem Columbia and Umatilla River passage and habitat conditions need to be improved.

Evaluation
As previously mentioned, the performance or success of the facilities resulting from this project can be partially measured by the number of juveniles reared and the number of smolts successfully acclimated and released. In addition, all juvenile release groups are representatively coded-wire tagged and smolt to adult survivals and contribution to ocean, Columbia and Umatilla River fisheries are determined.

Incorporating new information regarding uncertainties
Again, once the project is completed and the facilities are in operation, information will be collected and analyzed by CTUIR and ODFW and any information eted and the facilities are in operation, information will be collected and analyzed by CTUIR and ODFW and any information that changes the goals or operations of the project will be incorporated into the Umatilla Hatchery and Basin Annual Operation Plan.

Increasing public awareness of F&W activities
All satellite facilities are and will be highly visible and open to the public. Information will be given to the public through private and public tours.

Section 7. Relationships

Opportunities for cooperation
Satellite facilities constructed under this project will be part of a comprehensive Umatilla River fish restoration plan developed by CTUIR and ODFW in cooperation with the Council, BPA, USFWS, various Irrigation districts and private landowners. CTUIR operates the Umatilla Hatchery satellite facilities as part of the Umatilla Basin artificial production program. Other facility operations to complete the program include Umatilla, Little White Salmon, Cascade and Carson National hatcheries operated by ODFW and USFWS. Other projects include fish passage and habitat and flow enhancement funded by the Bureau of Reclamation and BPA. The Bureau of Reclamation and Irrigation Districts also provide preventative and heavy maintenance at all satellite facilities.

Section 8. Costs and FTE

1997 Planned  $4,640,000

How does percentage apply to direct costs
Applies only to small amount of total project (CTUIR personnel costs). BPA likely to spend most funds by contracting directly with construction firms.