FY07-09 proposal 199404700
Jump to Reviews and Recommendations
Section 1. Administrative
| Proposal title | Lake Pend Oreille Fishery Recovery Project: purpose to restore fisheries impacted by the federal hydropower system within the Idaho portion of the Pend Oreille drainage. |
| Proposal ID | 199404700 |
| Organization | Idaho Department of Fish & Game |
| Short description | Proposal's primary focus is to finish studies to restore kokanee spawning habitat in Lake Pend Oreille and to meet bull trout recovery objectives by balancing predator/prey ratios in the lake and removing the threat of interspecific competition. |
| Information transfer | Annual meetings will continue to be held with BPA, NOAA, USACE, IDFG, and Governor's Lakes Commission, to discuss findings and lake level changes. Annual reports will be posted at BPA's and IDFG's web sites. Hard copies of reports will be available upon request. Where appropriate, selected studies will be written for peer reviewed publications. |
| Proposal contact person or principal investigator | |
Contacts
| Contact | Organization | |
|---|---|---|
| Form submitter | ||
| Melo Maiolie | Idaho Department of Fish & Game | [email protected] |
| All assigned contacts | ||
| Melo Maiolie | Idaho Department of Fish & Game | [email protected] |
| Melo Maiolie | Idaho Department of Fish & Game | [email protected] |
| Melo Maiolie | Idaho Department of Fish & Game | [email protected] |
Section 2. Locations
Province / subbasin: Intermountain / Pend Oreille
| Latitude | Longitude | Waterbody | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| [none] | Lake Pend Oreille |
Section 3. Focal species
primary: Kokaneeprimary: Bull Trout
primary: Lake Trout
secondary: Westslope Cutthroat
secondary: Rainbow Trout
Section 4. Past accomplishments
| Year | Accomplishments |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Found high winter lake level and good adult year class produced very strong year class of kokanee fry with high survival rate. Modeled lake trout population, indicated a large effort is needed to control them. Inventoried warm water fish in P.O. river. |
| 2004 | Documented that a full drawdown of the lake greatly impacted kokanee spawning, but improved spawning habitat.Successfully evaluated trap nets for lake trout removal. Documented high predation rates on kokanee. Monitored shrimp abundance and water quality. |
| 2003 | Action agencies agreed to higher winter lake level. This provided abundant kokanee spawning area and excellent egg survival for a low kokanee year class. Gravel quality in spawning areas declined but still good. Shrimp abundance increased to 524/m2. |
| 2002 | Documented the effect of lower winter lake level with a very low year class of kokanee spawners. Egg survival found to be very good. Core samples found deep gravel was cleaned by wave action. Surveys of kokanee population found adults at new record lows. |
| 2001 | Completion report written covering 5 years of results. Monitoring continued. Kokanee egg-to-fry survival at 7.9%. Quality of spawning habitat declined, so recommended full drawdown. Predation on older kokanee recognized as too high. |
| 2000 | Lake levels varied by court case. Record high kokanee fry abundance found, with survival high at 5.9%. Kokanee, rainbow, shrimp, zooplankton, and bass studied. Bull trout and kokanee included in USFWS biological opinion. Bass habitat dependant on elev. |
| 1999 | Lake level changes continue to enhance spawning habitat. Kokanee egg-fry survival again improved at 6%. Bioenergetics modeling shows 154 tons of kokanee eaten causing high mortality of older fish. Bass winter habitat limited during full drawdowns. |
| 1998 | Lake level changes continued. Kokanee egg-to-fry survival improved from 1.4% in 1995 to 9.6% in 1998. Trawling, hydroacoustic, bioenergetic modeling, zooplankton, and shrimp studies continue. Siltation of spawning areas found to be minor. |
| 1997 | Winter lake level raised to 2055'. Estimated 1.8 million square feet of spawning habitat was created. Three graduate projects were started. Kokanee, shrimp, rainbow, lake trout studied. 100 yr flood occurred, reducing kokanee survival. |
| 1996 | With NPCC, BPA, and USACE support, winter elevation of Lake Pend Oreille was raised 4' to 2055' elevation. Project began in October 1996. Kokanee population monitored by trawling and hydroacoustics. |
Section 5. Relationships to other projects
| Funding source | Related ID | Related title | Relationship |
|---|---|---|---|
| BPA | 199500100 | Kalispell Tribe Resident Fish Project | They work on fishery recovery in Washington and are beginning to work in Idaho tributaries. Bull trout from Lake Pend Oreille move between states. |
| Other: Avista | unknown | Native Salmonid Restoration Project | This project protects or enhances stream habitat for native fish species as mitigation for the Cabinet Gorge Dam. It also monitors bull trout redds and investigates their life history. |
| BPA | [no entry] | Lake Pend Oreille Invasive Fish (new) | This project examines the impacts of smallmouth and walleye in Lake Pend Oreille. We share personnel, office space, and some equipment. |
| BPA | [no entry] | Dynamics of Gravel Spawning Beds in Lake Pend Oreille, ID (new) | Will work closely with project sponsors to select sites, and help with logistical support. Information will be very valuable to the understanding of how lake levels create spawning areas. |
| BPA | [no entry] | Pend Oreille Genetic Inventory (new) | Project shares office space and occasionally manpower. They have a similar goal of enhancing fish populations in this drainage. |
Section 6. Biological objectives
| Biological objectives | Full description | Associated subbasin plan | Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bull trout restoration | Restore bull trout so that they can support a harvestable surplus of 1,000 fish annually, by 2030. | Intermountain | Province Level Objective 1C5, Subbasin Objective 1C1, Strategy e- to research limiting factors of kokanee and bull trout, Strategy f- reduce threats to bull trout in Pend Oreille Subbasin by maintaining a strong forage base. |
| Bull trout/Cutthroat Preservation | Preserve bull trout and cutthroat trout by reducing the abundance of non-native lake trout in Lake Pend Oreille to <4,000 fish over 52 cm, by 2017. | Intermountain | Subbasin Objective 1C3, strategy a. Strategy calls for netting lake trout, monitoring population, and evaluating additional methods. Objective 1C1, strategy f, call for maintaining bull trout forage base. |
| Evaluate hydropower effects | By 2010, quantitatively evaluate impacts of hydropower facility construction and operation on water level fluctuations in Lake Pend Oreille. | Intermountain | Subbasin Objective 1A1, Strategy d- Follow Biological Opinion for Pend Oreille bull trout and lake levels. Strategy c- Assess effects of water level management on erosion and spawning gravel recruitment, quality, and quantity in Lake Pend Oreille. |
| Kokanee restoration | By 2020, restore kokanee population so that harvest could increase to 750,000 fish annually. | Intermountain | Subbasin Objective 1C7, strategies a, b, c, and e. Monitor kokanee by trawling and acoustics and relate to lake level changes. Research factors that may influence lake productivity and take corrective actions. |
| Kokanee stocking | Improve the stocking program for kokanee in Lake Pend Oreille so that it contributes 375,000 kokanee to the harvest annually, without having hatchery kokanee replace the wild stock within the lake. | Intermountain | Province Level Obj 1D. Subbasin Objective 1D2, strategy b,research hatchery kokanee stocking and impacts on wild and hatchery fish. |
| Predator/prey balancing | By 2010, balance predator/prey ratios in Lake Pend Oreille to approximately 1:10. | Intermountain | Subbasin Objective 1C8, strategy a. Monitor predatory fish, primarily rainbow trout, recommend regulation changes, and develop methods for active predator reduction. |
| Shoreline Spawning Habitat | Maintain 1.7 million square feet of shoreline gravel in Lake Pend Oreille throughout duration of subbasin plan. | Intermountain | Subbasin Objective 1B5, strategy a, b, c. Monitor shoreline spawning habitat and discuss findings with Corps and USFWS. |
Section 7. Work elements (coming back to this)
| Work element name | Work element title | Description | Start date | End date | Est budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Produce Plan | Assist USFWS with Long-term Lake Level Management Planning | By Sept 2007, assist USFWS with developing a long-term lake level management plan to benefit kokanee and bull trout as specified in the Bi-Op | 4/1/2007 | 10/1/2007 | $15,000 |
|
Biological objectives Bull trout restoration Evaluate hydropower effects Kokanee restoration Shoreline Spawning Habitat |
Metrics |
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| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Determine kokanee egg-to-fry survival in 2007 | Conduct fry trawling and hydroacoustic surveys of lake to estimate kokanee fry populations, and obtain sample of otoliths to determine wild and hatchery fry. | 7/1/2007 | 2/28/2008 | $45,000 |
|
Biological objectives Kokanee restoration |
Metrics Primary R, M, and E Type: percent survival will be calculated Primary R, M, and E Type: 30 fry trawls, 110 km of hydroacoustic survey |
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| Analyze/Interpret Data | Analyze kokanee fry survival in 2007 | Egg-to-fry survival rate in 2007 will be added to previous data and statistically compared to lake levels, as the final year of the lake level test. | 10/1/2007 | 2/28/2008 | $20,000 |
|
Biological objectives Kokanee restoration |
Metrics Primary R, M, and E Type: Survival rates will be compared |
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| Produce Inventory or Assessment | Monitor Kokanee Population | Monitor the kokanee population in Lake Pend Oreille using hydroacoustics as a cost-effective, less intensive approach to determine if lake level changes are continuing to provide adequate spawning habitat. | 8/1/2008 | 2/28/2010 | $105,000 |
|
Biological objectives Bull trout restoration Kokanee restoration Shoreline Spawning Habitat |
Metrics Primary R, M, and E Type: fish densities will be recorded as fish/ha |
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| Operate and Maintain Habitat/Passage | Monitor Shoreline Spawning Habitat | Task is to monitor the quality of shoreline spawning habitat for kokanee and relate to lake level changes recommended by the USFWS and implemented by the Corps of Engineers. Core samples will be taken by scuba divers in known spawning locations and screened to determine substrate composition. | 7/1/2007 | 6/1/2010 | $90,000 |
|
Biological objectives Bull trout/Cutthroat Preservation Kokanee restoration Shoreline Spawning Habitat |
Metrics |
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| Remove or Relocate Predaceous Animals | Lake trout removal, by trap nets and gillnets. | Investigate methods to reduce lake trout competition and predation. Hold public meetings to gain support. Set trap nets and gillnets to remove lake trout to reduce their abundance to less than 4,000 fish greater than 52 cm. Commercial fishermen will be subcontracted to assist in this effort. | 3/1/2007 | 6/1/2010 | $1,250,000 |
|
Biological objectives Bull trout/Cutthroat Preservation Predator/prey balancing |
Metrics |
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| Remove or Relocate Predaceous Animals | Lake level manipulation to impact lake trout spawning. | Depth of lake trout spawning will be determined in Lake Pend Oreille. Changes to the fall drawdown of the lake will be proposed that impact lake trout spawning, if they can be found to not harm other species. | 3/1/2007 | 2/28/2010 | $180,000 |
|
Biological objectives Bull trout/Cutthroat Preservation |
Metrics |
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| Outreach and Education | Public workshops. | Task is to annually hold public workshops to update public on project activities and get their assistance in activities such as harvesting rainbow trout and lake trout. | 6/1/2007 | 9/1/2009 | $21,000 |
|
Biological objectives Bull trout/Cutthroat Preservation |
Metrics * # of general public reached: 300 |
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| Produce Inventory or Assessment | Estimate rainbow trout using up-looking hydroacoustics | Feasibility of up-looking hydroacoustics in Lake Pend Oreille will be tested in 2006. If workable, annual estimates of rainbow trout will be made by this technique. Results will be used to monitor management efforts to reduce rainbow trout and decide if further removal is needed. If method does not work, a traditional mark-recapture estimated is proposed for 2010. | 8/1/2007 | 2/28/2010 | $174,861 |
|
Biological objectives Bull trout restoration Evaluate hydropower effects Kokanee restoration Predator/prey balancing |
Metrics |
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| Produce Inventory or Assessment | Model rainbow trout population. | The rainbow trout population in Lake Pend Oreille will be modeled to explore different methods to reduce this population to balance with the kokanee prey base, and avoid kokanee extirpation, thus protecting the forage base for both bull trout and rainbow trout. If balance with prey is not achieved, rainbow trout will be managed to a lower level to allow kokanee to recover. | 10/1/2007 | 2/28/2010 | $164,000 |
|
Biological objectives Bull trout restoration Kokanee restoration Predator/prey balancing |
Metrics Primary R, M, and E Type: Uncertainties research |
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| Produce Inventory or Assessment | Evaluate Predator Reduction Program. | Work pertains to the evaluation of efforts to reduce lake trout and rainbow trout. Kokanee yield and annual mortality (the prey base for lake and rainbow trout) will be monitored. Mid-water trawling will be conducted to determine the percentage of each age class of kokanee in each lake section. These percentages will be multiplied by the hydroacoustic estimate of kokanee abundance in a previous work element. Mortality rates will be calculated as the number of kokanee that are lost between the previous year and the current year in each age class. Yield will be estimated by multiplying the mean weight of kokanee in each age class by the number that died each year, and compared to previous estimates. Results will be used to assess whether reduction efforts have been achieved, and plan future work. | 6/1/2007 | 2/28/2010 | $85,000 |
|
Biological objectives Bull trout restoration Kokanee restoration Predator/prey balancing |
Metrics |
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| Produce Inventory or Assessment | Hatchery Kokanee Survival | Task researches a limiting factor of the kokanee population. High stocking of hatchery kokanee will be examined to determine the apparent cause of survival rates in both hatchery and wild kokanee. | 8/1/2007 | 10/1/2009 | $185,000 |
|
Biological objectives Bull trout restoration Kokanee stocking |
Metrics Primary R, M, and E Type: Action Effectiveness Research |
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| Produce Annual Report | Annual Progress Reports | Produce an annual progress report each year. Report will be reviewed by two biologists, edited, and professionally typed. It will be in scientific format of Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, and Literature Cited. | 3/1/2007 | 2/28/2010 | $51,000 |
|
Biological objectives Bull trout restoration Bull trout/Cutthroat Preservation Kokanee restoration Kokanee stocking Predator/prey balancing Shoreline Spawning Habitat |
Metrics |
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| Produce/Submit Scientific Findings Report | Produce Manuscripts | By 2010, produce 2-3 manuscripts for journal publication that covers important study findings. | 6/1/2009 | 2/28/2010 | $17,000 |
|
Biological objectives Bull trout restoration Bull trout/Cutthroat Preservation Evaluate hydropower effects Kokanee restoration Kokanee stocking Predator/prey balancing Shoreline Spawning Habitat |
Metrics |
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| Manage and Administer Projects | Oversee Project Activities | This element is for activities to oversee the project including administrative overhead. These include activities such as annual performance evaluations of each employee, managing budgets, paying bills, schedule field activities, and hiring personnel. | 3/1/2007 | 2/28/2010 | $497,000 |
|
Biological objectives Bull trout/Cutthroat Preservation Kokanee restoration Kokanee stocking Predator/prey balancing |
Metrics |
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| Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation | NEPA compliance of project | Tasks which involve bull trout will be discussed with BPA to assist them in producing an Environmental Compliance Report. | 3/1/2007 | 2/28/2010 | $60 |
|
Biological objectives Bull trout restoration Bull trout/Cutthroat Preservation Predator/prey balancing |
Metrics |
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Section 8. Budgets
Itemized estimated budget
| Item | Note | FY07 | FY08 | FY09 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personnel | 5 FTE, 25 mo. temp time | $249,012 | $261,462 | $374,535 |
| Fringe Benefits | Varies from 33-71% depending on position type | $118,067 | $123,971 | $176,031 |
| Supplies | Field supplies, vehicles, utilities, office supplies, prof. meetings, training | $90,916 | $95,462 | $254,373 |
| Travel | Lodging, per diem, air fare, misc. | $7,224 | $7,585 | $7,964 |
| Capital Equipment | Storage Shed, Net barge, | $20,000 | $10,000 | $0 |
| Other | Sub contracts for trap nets | $305,000 | $320,000 | $0 |
| Overhead | Estimated at 20%, excluding Capital Eq. | $154,043 | $161,696 | $162,580 |
| Totals | $944,262 | $980,176 | $975,483 | |
Total estimated FY 2007-2009 budgets
| Total itemized budget: | $2,899,921 |
| Total work element budget: | $2,899,921 |
Cost sharing
| Funding source/org | Item or service provided | FY 07 est value ($) | FY 08 est value ($) | FY 09 est value ($) | Cash or in-kind? | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avista | Trap netting support | $100,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | Cash | Under Review |
| Totals | $100,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | |||
Section 9. Project future
|
FY 2010 estimated budget: $970,000 FY 2011 estimated budget: $970,000 |
Comments: Inflationary increases not included. |
Future O&M costs: O&M for lake trout removal, predator monitoring, shoreline spawning habitat monitoring, and predator/prey balancing. Lake trout removal would continue until 2017 and then be reexamined for level of control effort.
Termination date: 2007-2017
Comments: Lake level experiment ends in 2007. Lake trout removal will continue until objective is met, but likely will take at least one generation, about 2017. Shoreline spawning habitat monitoring, rainbow trout management to requisite target levels, and kokanee assessment, should continue throughout the duration of the Biological Opinion (or 2017) at a reduced level.
Final deliverables: Annual Reports and publications will be given to BPA. Recommendations on lake level management will be given to USFWS, BPA and Corps. Credit will be given to BPA in all presentations, reports and publications.
Section 10. Narrative and other documents
Reviews and recommendations
| FY07 budget | FY08 budget | FY09 budget | Total budget | Type | Category | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NPCC FINAL FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Oct 23, 2006) [full Council recs] | ||||||
| $944,262 | $980,176 | $975,483 | $2,899,921 | Expense | ProvinceExpense | Fund |
| NPCC DRAFT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Sep 15, 2006) [full Council recs] | ||||||
| $944,262 | $980,176 | $975,483 | $0 | ProvinceExpense | ||
ISRP PRELIMINARY REVIEW (Jun 2, 2006)
Recommendation: Fundable
NPCC comments: This is a well-written proposal for continuation of work that has been productive. With the exception of the kokanee stocking, which both the sponsors and the ISRP question, the work is appropriate. There are a lot of challenges in these large lake systems. They have published work, gained understanding, and moved on. Earlier, they looked at recruitment problems with a lake level experiment looking at gravel spawning. Now they feel they have good recruitment. The study now is looking primarily at predation. Rainbow and lake trout are significant predators. The proposal provides a good background for both the lake level work for kokanee spawning and the additional proposed studies to balance kokanee with other species. The problems are generally well described insofar as they are understood. The probable depression of reproductive fitness of wild kokanee by interbreeding with hatchery kokanee is not discussed. The rationale includes regional bull trout conservation efforts, subbasin plan, IDFG five-year plans, and the Fish and Wildlife Program. The conceptual framework presented is helpful. The section is beautifully organized -- refers to specific plan sections for each task. The proposal cites relationships to other Pend Oreille projects and similar project at Upper Priest Lake. The discussion does not adequately (if at all) link to proposed project 2007-060-00 (Lake Pend Oreille Invasive Fish), which would seem to deal with a major influence on matters that 1994-047-00 is trying to address. The project history gives an excellent overview showing how a well-planned program can, in 10 years, gain significant insight into a very complex system that is exceptionally difficult to sample. Map and figures were appreciated. Objectives are nicely described and mostly justified, with good hypothesis testing in a challenging situation. Specifically, objectives 1, 2, and 3 are appropriate biological objectives. Objective 5 is for information dissemination. Objective 4, concerning kokanee stocking is the least justified and might be omitted. Research results of this project indicate that stocking hatchery-produced kokanee depresses egg-to-fry survival of wild kokanee (supposedly by stimulating excessive predation). The project should monitor possible increase of wild kokanee after the stocking program ceases and as efforts are continued to reduce rainbow trout, the main predator on kokanee (and to reduce other non-native predators). It appears there are too many objectives, i.e., the sponsor is trying to manage and measure too many things. Eliminating the stocking program should simplify matters and halt a counterproductive influence on the fishery. Methods are generally well described. The project provides annual workshops, good communications, and good reports with an excellent link. The bottom line, after some very sound work, is that they are still trying to show real benefit to kokanee, bull trout and rainbow. Success with kokanee spawning management has led to realization that the species mix needs fixing, especially non-native lake trout.
ISRP FINAL REVIEW (Aug 31, 2006)
Recommendation: Fundable
NPCC comments: This is a well-written proposal for continuation of work that has been productive. With the exception of the kokanee stocking, which both the sponsors and the ISRP question, the work is appropriate. There are a lot of challenges in these large lake systems. They have published work, gained understanding, and moved on. Earlier, they looked at recruitment problems with a lake level experiment looking at gravel spawning. Now they feel they have good recruitment. The study now is looking primarily at predation. Rainbow and lake trout are significant predators. The proposal provides a good background for both the lake level work for kokanee spawning and the additional proposed studies to balance kokanee with other species. The problems are generally well described insofar as they are understood. The probable depression of reproductive fitness of wild kokanee by interbreeding with hatchery kokanee is not discussed. The rationale includes regional bull trout conservation efforts, subbasin plan, IDFG five-year plans, and the Fish and Wildlife Program. The conceptual framework presented is helpful. The section is beautifully organized -- refers to specific plan sections for each task. The proposal cites relationships to other Pend Oreille projects and similar project at Upper Priest Lake. The discussion does not adequately (if at all) link to proposed project 2007-060-00 (Lake Pend Oreille Invasive Fish), which would seem to deal with a major influence on matters that 1994-047-00 is trying to address. The project history gives an excellent overview showing how a well-planned program can, in 10 years, gain significant insight into a very complex system that is exceptionally difficult to sample. Map and figures were appreciated. Objectives are nicely described and mostly justified, with good hypothesis testing in a challenging situation. Specifically, objectives 1, 2, and 3 are appropriate biological objectives. Objective 5 is for information dissemination. Objective 4, concerning kokanee stocking is the least justified and might be omitted. Research results of this project indicate that stocking hatchery-produced kokanee depresses egg-to-fry survival of wild kokanee (supposedly by stimulating excessive predation). The project should monitor possible increase of wild kokanee after the stocking program ceases and as efforts are continued to reduce rainbow trout, the main predator on kokanee (and to reduce other non-native predators). It appears there are too many objectives, i.e., the sponsor is trying to manage and measure too many things. Eliminating the stocking program should simplify matters and halt a counterproductive influence on the fishery. Methods are generally well described. The project provides annual workshops, good communications, and good reports with an excellent link. The bottom line, after some very sound work, is that they are still trying to show real benefit to kokanee, bull trout and rainbow. Success with kokanee spawning management has led to realization that the species mix needs fixing, especially non-native lake trout.