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
Lake Roosevelt Rainbow Trout Net Pens

BPA project number   9500900

Short description
Enhancement of the Lake Roosevelt fishery by rearing up to 500,000 RBT annually. By using up to 42 volunteers to build, maintain and operate 34 net pens on the reservoir. The volunteers also feed and assist in other functions. The goal is to provide up to 190,000 harvested adult RBT asnnually.

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
Lake Roosevelt Development Association

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

Section 2. Goals

General
Supports a healthy Columbia basin; maintains biological diversity; increases run sizes or populations; adaptive management (research or M&E)

Section 3. Background

Stream area affected

Stream name   Lake Roosevelt
Stream miles affected   150
Hydro project   Grand Coulee Dam
Subbasin   Upper Columbia
Land ownership   public/tribal/private
Acres affected   83,000
Habitat types   Area above Grand Coulee Dam--resident fish RBT

History
LRDA net pen program managed to increase rainbow trout fishery in L. Roosevelt through volunteer efforts while utilizing donated funds, labor, and materials. Circumstances made the program more difficult to coordinate on voluntary basis. Money/equip to fund program has declined. Appealed to the Council's Program and were accepted and amended into Section 94A(l)(p). Phase 4. A coordinator was hired to take care of coordinating the voluntary efforts, fund raising, monitoring of net pen activity/operation and maintenance in order to carry on with the net pens within Lake Roosevelt. About 300-500K rbt are released into Lake R. each year for sport fishing and subsistence. The net pen program compliments on-going resident fish mitigation programs on the Upper Col.

Biological results achieved
Before the net pens went in, they were harvesting 300 to 1,000 native rainbow trout per year.They are currently (5/95) harvesting 140,000 (95% are net pen rainbows).Over 500,000 RBT have been raised this year, which will be released sometime in the spring of 1997.

Project reports and papers
BPA receives a quarterly report on all the activities for the quarter, plus an annual report.

Adaptive management implications
The basic underlying principle for the use of net pens on Lake Roosevelt deals with two problems. 1. Predation: fingerlings released directly into the reservoir are heavily reduced by predators. 2. Entrainment: many smaller fish are lost over Grand Coulee Dam during major draw downs. Adaption: Program allows for containing fingerlings to 8-9 inches in length and can be held until reservoir stabilizes or until water is rising, thus reducing losses. Due to severe springtime drawdowns for flood control, more emphasis has been placed on positioning net pens in deeper water and outfitting them with automatic feeders. Deeper water allows us to keep fish in pens longer, but requires access by boat.

Section 4. Purpose and methods

Specific measureable objectives
FY95--LRDA hired a coordinator who has been able to provide the project with a more consistent review of inventory (fish food, materials), fund raising, finding volunteers to help with the program, and making the public aware of the project's capabilities and future goals. FY96--Coordinator continues to monitor the needs of the program and include the installation of ten new net pens to reach to goal of 500,000 net pen rainbow trout. FY97 and beyond--continue 0 & M of net pens and coordination of voluntary efforts and funding. Harvest goals for the project are the harvest of 190,000 adult RBT annually.

Critical uncertainties
The primary concern or uncertainty involving the net pens is the operation of the reservoir during the net pen season of October through May. The net pens are designed to allow for water fluctuations, but concerns are for retention time (zoo plankton replenishment) and for release dates of net pen fish (rising levels).

Biological need
The need for resident fish above Grand Coulee Dam includes several strategies outlined in the biological objectives. The rainbow trout net pen program insures that the fish are reared to a size which allows them to survive predation activities of larger fish. By rearing up to 500,000 net pen rainbow the sport and subsistence fishing will be greatly enhanced and will work jointly with established habitat improvement projects and the kokanee programs on Lake Roosevelt.

Hypothesis to be tested
Prior to the net pens the average catch of Lake Roosevelt rainbows would range between 300 and 1 000 native rainbows per year. Since the net pen program, harvesting has improved to 140,000 rainbow per year. 95% of the harvest has been net pen reared fish. Monitoring is done by project #88-063 and #94-043.

Alternative approaches
Originally it was throght to release fingerling size RBT directly from the hatchery, but monitoring showed the survival rate was drastically reduced by predition and entrainment.

Justification for planning
N/A

Methods
Experimental design: The net pen program consists primarily of a rectangular float 20 feet square prepared from 8" PVC pipe suspending a 20'x 20' net approximately 14' deep and designed with umbrella type bird netting covering the top. These net pens are attached to docks anchored to shore and also anchored at the far end and attached to a winch at each end to allow for water fluctuations. Statistical analysis: Each net pen can hold 14,000-18,000 net pen rainbows which can be reared from 12-14 fish per pound in October to 5-6 per pound in early June. Approximately 98% of the fish survive in the net pens to release date. Severe drawdown could force early release of the fish.

Section 5. Planned activities

Constraints or factors that may cause schedule or budget changes
The risks involved in the net pen program are very small. The program enlists the help of volunteers and very little biological or technical risk to the reservoir or its biological balance. NEPA requirements have been met and a cooperative agreement has been entered into with the Spokane Tribe and the Confederated Colville Tribes as well as NPS, Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation.

Section 6. Outcomes, monitoring and evaluation

SUMMARY OF EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Expected performance of target population or quality change in land area affected
If adequate funding is received to provide the new net pens, then the net pen program will be able to produce up to 500,000 RBT yearly. There will be some carryover effect and some natural spawning in bays along the reservoir.

Present utilization and convservation potential of target population or area
To provide 190,000 adult sized harvest population for sport fishermen, subsistence, and recreation as well as providing for traditional tribal culture.

Assumed historic status of utilization and conservation potential
To provide adult sized RBT reared in net pens for the purpose of recreational, sport and subsistence as well as to fulfill trobal cultural fishing habitat populations.

Long term expected utilization and conservation potential for target population or habitat
To maintain a steady production of 500,000 net pen reared RBT per year with a target of 190,000 adult harvested fish per year.

Contribution toward long-term goal
A steady production and release of 500,000 RBT yearly for the area above Grand Coulee DAm..

Indirect biological or environmental changes
The release of 500,000 RBT per year takes pressure off native populations of rainbow, kokanee, and other species. Provides food source for eagles, otters, etc.

Physical products
Monitors tag 20,000 RBT per year.

Environmental attributes affected by the project
Project is affected by drawdown, but project has no affect of drawdown.

Changes assumed or expected for affected environmental attributes
None espected.

Measure of attribute changes
None expected

Assessment of effects on project outcomes of critical uncertainty
Drawdown of the reservoir behind Grand Coulee Dam affects release date of net pen fish. Forces early release and loss of fish by entrainment.

Information products
The Lake Roosevelt monitors provide statistical data for the operation of the net pen project through electroshocking, creel counts, measurement of flows, temperature, and evaluation of food base and sooplankton counts

Coordination outcomes
1995 - Hired coordinator which has been able to provide the project with a more consistent review of inventory (fish food, materials), fund raising, finding volunteers to help with the program, and making the public aware of the project's capabilities and future goals.

MONITORING APPROACH
Through our Lake Roosevelt Hatchery Technical meetings, we determine strategies for the operation of the reservoir in terms of rearing and releasing of RBT as well as kokanee. The Lake Roosevelt Monitors evaluate conditions on the reservoir which they apply to the Biological objectives. Experimental design: The net pen program consists primarily of a rectangular float 20 feet square prepared from 8" PVC pipe suspending a 20'x 20' net approximately 14' deep and designed with umbrella type bird netting covering the top. These net pens are attached to docks anchored to shore and also anchored at the far end and attached to a winch at each end to allow for water fluctuations. Statistical analysis: Each net pen can hold 14,000-18,000 net pen rainbows which can be reared from 12-14 fish per pound in October to 5-6 per pound in early June. Approximately 98% of the fish survive in the net pens to release date.

Provisions to monitor population status or habitat quality
Lake Roosevelt Monitors evaluate populations of RBT in the reservoir as well as those harvested. Electroshocking, netting, and creel counts at various sites are some of the methods used.

Data analysis and evaluation
Annual reports and data concerning populations of RBT and food base information are used in evaluation of the project.

Information feed back to management decisions
The Lake Roosevelt Hatchery Technical Committee reviews data twice annually. Decisions are made at these meetings which coordinate management of programs on the reservoir.

Critical uncertainties affecting project's outcomes
Leveling out the draw down of the reservoir so that water levels are not drawn so low would provide a more consistant prediction for the outcome of the project.

Evaluation
Creel counts indicating harvested adult RBT is probably the best indicator of project success.

Incorporating new information regarding uncertainties
Through Hatchery Technical Committee meetings involving all fishery/hatchery projects on the reservoir.

Increasing public awareness of F&W activities
The net pen project on Lake Roosevelt is best made aware to the public by increased use of the reservoir and high creel counts. Other methods used are speaking to groups, attending sporting shows, submitting written articles, and pamphlet publications.

Section 7. Relationships

Opportunities for cooperation
LRDA has the support of many entities, We are dependent upon maintaining the cooperative spirit and the grass roots enthusiam of volunteers. Through this cooperation the Washington State Fish and Wildlife, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Spokane Tribe of Indians, and the Colville Confederated Tribes along with the Corps of Engineers have all supported the net pen program as a valued means of enhancing the Lake Roosevelt fishery. We have met NEPA requirements and other environmental concerns. LRDA is presently operating with 42 volunteers who help with maintenance of net pens and docks and feeding of the fish.

Section 8. Costs and FTE

1997 Planned  $95,600

Other non-financial supporters
42 volunteers helping build docks, net pens, providie equipment, and feed fish. Colville Confederated Tribes, Spokane Tribe of Indians, Lions Clubs, Service Leagues, Chambers of Commerce.

How does percentage apply to direct costs
None (volunteers)

Supplemental anadromous fish evaluation factors
The LRDA net pen program provides 500,000 RBT per year using volunteers to assemble, maintain and feed the fish.The RBT net pen project's success is measured and evaluated by the Lake Roosevelt Monitors. This includes tagging, electro-shocking and technical meetings twice yearly to review projects as they relate to the biological objectives.Releasin tagging, electro-shocking and technical meetings twice yearly to review projects as they relate to the biological objectives.Releasing large numbers of RBT provides a food source for eagles, osprey, otters and other acquatic organisms on the reservoir.Biological objectives have been adopted to identify the specific needs of the Lake Roosebvelt reservoir. Biological objectives relate to the needs of the various species both introduced and native. They also address other wildlife on and around the reservoir.Project targetsw a sepcific objective for p[roduction and harvest of RBT as monitored by Lake Roosevelt Monitoring Team.Project mitigates for the loss of sal

Supplemental resident fish evaluation factors
LRDA net pens rely heavily on volunteerism. We routinely use about 40 to 45 volunteers handily in the program.