Year | Accomplishment |
2001 |
Total Smolt collection of 434,000 including nearly 335,000 coho smolts from hatchery adult spawners |
2001 |
Flaired entrance to collection flume evaluated: tests with this prototype showed no improvement in collection |
2001 |
Estimates of collection efficiency: 58 % for steelhead, 42 % for coho, 23 % for chinook |
2001 |
No Coho fry released in the upper watershed |
2001 |
Number of adult coho transported and released to spawn naturally in the upper watershed will exceed 30,000 |
2001 |
Estimates of egg to smolt yield from hatchery origin coho that spawned naturally of 1.5 % with no correction for sport harvest prior to spawning |
2001 |
Initial estimate of smolt to adult survival for returns in 2000-01 from smolts collected and released in '99 of ~ 5.0 % |
2001 |
Estimates of smolt yield from chinook fry plants: 32 %, |
2001 |
Estimates of smolt yield from steelhead fingerling plants: 13 % |
2001 |
Over 730 late winter adult steelhead released in the upper watershed to spawn naturally; potential egg deposition of 1.2 million |
2001 |
Over 200 adult spring chinook released in the Cispus and allowed to spawn naturally; potential egg deposition of 381,000 |
2001 |
Documented emigration of juvenile spring chinook from hatchery adults that spawned in the Cispus in the fall of 2000. |
2000 |
Total Smolt collection of 178,000 |
2000 |
Baffle panels modified to improve flow dynamics approaching entrance to collection flume, monitoring indicated nearly 66 % of fish collected entered over modified baffle panels. Sampling the collection flumes showed that 75 to 83 % of the fish |
2000 |
Sampling in the collection flumes showed that 75 to 83 % of fish collected came over the unit with the modified baffle panel configuration |
2000 |
Estimates of collection efficiency: 65 % for steelhead, 45 % for coho, 24 % for chinook |
2000 |
Radio telemetry estimates of collection efficiency for steelhead of 66 % |
2000 |
Radio telemetry data showed that over 92 % of the tagged steelhead smolts entered the area behind the baffle panels. Nearly twice as many fish were collected behind the modified baffle panel configuration as the original. |
2000 |
Radio telemetry data showed that all tagged steelhead smolts were detected at the entrances to the collection flumes. |
2000 |
Visual observations by project staff early in season with clear water indicated steelhead smolts readily found collection flume entrances, oriented to entrance flows, then choose to reject or accept |
2000 |
Second evaluation of directed flow, tests with coho showed increase in collection of up to 38 % over control |
2000 |
Estimates of smolt yield from coho and chinook fry plants: 22 % and 25 % |
2000 |
Estimates of smolt yield from steelhead fingerlings: 8.3 % |
2000 |
Over 400 late winter adult steelhead released in the upper watershed to spawn naturally; potential egg depostion of 651,000 |
2000 |
Initial estimate of coho smolt to adult return from smolts collected and transported in 1998 of ~ 1.85 % |
2000 |
Over 200 adult spring chinook released in the Cispus and allowed to spawn naturally; potential egg deposition of 206,000 |
2000 |
A total of 42,000 adult coho released in the upper watershed and allowed to spawn naturally, potential egg deposition of nearly 62 million eggs |
1999 |
Total Smolt collection of 52,000 |
1999 |
Tested Strobe lights installed in induction slot to reduce steelhead passage through the induction slot to the turbine. Strobe lights as tested increased passage through induction slot |
1999 |
Radio telemetry estimates of guidance though baffle panel slots for steelhead in conjunction with the strobe light study of 54 % in the unit with strobe lights and 46 % in the control unit. |
1999 |
Radio telemetry estimates of collection efficiency for steelhead in conjunction with the strobe light study of xx % in the unit with strobe lights and xx % in the control unit. |
1999 |
First radio telemetry estimate of guidance efficiency (passage through baffle panel slots) for coho of ~ 63 % associated with Directed Flow research |
1999 |
First radio telemetry estimate of collection efficiency for coho of ~ 42 % as part of Directed Flow research |
1999 |
Estimates of collection efficiency: 41 % for steelhead, 17 % for coho, 24 % for chinook |
1999 |
Estimates of smolt yield from coho and chinook fry plants: 9 % and 16 % |
1999 |
Estimates of smolt yield from steelhead fingerlings: 4.0 % |
1999 |
More than 34,000 coho adults released in the upper watershed and allowed to spawn naturally, potential egg deposition of more than 52 million eggs |
1998 |
Total Smolt collection of 168,000 |
1998 |
First radio telemetry estimate of collection efficiency for steelhead of 55 % (pilot study with 52 tags) |
1998 |
Estimates of collection efficiency: 38 % for steelhead, 32 % for coho, 18 % for chinook |
1998 |
Estimates of smolt yield from coho and chinook fry plants: 19 % and 8 % |
1998 |
Estimates of smolt yield from steelhead fingerlings: 5.4 % |
1998 |
More than 11,000 coho adults released in the upper watershed and allowed to spawn naturally, potential egg deposition of more than 11 million eggs |
1997 |
Total Smolt collection of 46,000 |
1997 |
Estimates of collection efficiency: 45 % for steelhead, 21 % for coho, 17 % for chinook |
1997 |
Estimates of smolt yield from coho and chinook fry plants: 5 % and 18 % |
1997 |
Estimates of smolt yield from steelhead fingerlings: 1.7 % |
1997 |
Juvenile Fish Collection Facility at the Cowlitz Falls Dam completed and turned over to BPA at a cost of 18 millian dollars |
1997 |
Acclimation ponds for the reintroduction program at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery completed and turned over to BPA at a cost of 4 million dollars |
1996 |
First season (only 12 weeks) of smolt collection at the Cowlitz Falls Project for the reintroduction of spring chinook, late winter steelhead and coho to the upper watershed |
Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2003 cost | Subcontractor |
Objective 1. Upgrade Fish Facility Pit Tag Detection system at the Cowlitz Falls Project to Basin ISO standards |
a. Consult with Vendors and solicit formal proposal to upgrade outdated Pit Tag Detection system |
0ne |
$2,100 |
|
Obj. 1. |
b. Review and approve final proposal |
One |
$1,500 |
|
Obj. 1. |
c. Schedule and coordinate installation prior to smolt migration beginning in April, 2003 with BPA and LCPUD |
One |
$1,500 |
|
Objective 2. Develop and refine plans to utilize pit tags as a long term tool to monitor smolt emigration, timing, smolt yields, collection efficiency, and response to changes in the collection system in-season and long term |
a. Work with a consulting statistician to define the numbers of pit tags and tagging strategy to measure and monitor each component with appropriate levels of accuracy, precision and confidence levels for each species |
on-going |
$7,600 |
Yes |
Objective 3. Initial planning to install pit tag detection in two of four collection flumes to support research efforts to improve and monitor smolt entrance into the collection flumes in 2004 |
a. Consult with LCPUD Project Engineers on project feasibility, design criteria, safety issues, and logistics to add additional pit tag detectors to existing flumes |
two |
$3,700 |
Yes |
Obj. 3. |
b. Review results of monitoring and research during the '03 season on entrance behavior |
One |
$2,000 |
|
Objective 4. Continue work begun prior to 2003 on the modified prototype surface collector entrance design |
a. Complete engineering design work to modify prototype surface collector entrance |
One |
$20,000 |
Yes |
Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2003 cost | Subcontractor |
Objective 1. Pit Tag juveniles to measure smolt collection efficiency over the migration season |
a. Pit tag up to 2,000 smolts for standard facility mark/recapture estimates of collection efficiency |
five |
$6,135 |
|
Objective 2. Pit Tag smolts to assist in evaluating measures to improve collection |
a. Pit tag up to 2,000 smolts to evaluate efforts to improve collection |
five |
$6,135 |
|
Obj. 2. |
b. Coordinate tagging and releases with study efforts to improve collection |
five |
$2,455 |
|
Objective 3. Pit Tag up to 4,000 juveniles to help monitor emigration, timing, and yield from the upper watershed |
a. Capture and tag juveniles at one or more locations in the upper watershed throughout the migration season |
five |
$24,545 |
|
Obj. 3 |
b. Evaluate use of a screw trap at the mouth of the Cispus to collect and tag juvenile emigrants |
five |
$24,545 |
|
Obj. 3 |
c. Evaluate use of a Lake Merwin trap in the reservoir to collect and tag juvenile emigrants |
five |
$24,545 |
|
Objective 4. Submit all tagging files to regional Pit Tag Data Base (Ptagis) |
a. Validate and submit all tagging files upon releasing tagged fish |
five |
$18,410 |
|
Objective 5. Monitor recovery of pit tags in lower Columbia River to supplement timing and life history information as tagged juveniles migrate to the ocean |
a. Access Ptagis for tags recovered in esturary trawl program conducted by NMFS |
five |
$1,230 |
|
Obj. 5. |
b. Access Ptagis for tags recovered in on-going sampling of avian nesting sites and Estuary life history studies |
five |
$1,230 |
|
Objective 6. Complete annual reports |
a. Prepare and complete annual reports on project activities and accomplishments |
five |
$13,500 |
|
This information was not provided on the original proposals, but was generated during the review process.
The upper Cowlitz watershed apparently shows excellent potential for the Anadromous Fish Reintroduction Program. This proposal would provide an assessment tool for development of an improved surface collection design and for assessment of production from the upper basin. The combination of the collection system and the need to transport all adults into the upper basin for spawning provides a unique opportunity to examine salmon restoration and the productivity of "hatchery" based brood stock allowed to spawn naturally in a barren habitat (Section 9c in proposal). The system for study would be essentially "closed" (no input or output without monitoring), provides highly productive natural habitat, and would have good evaluation capability with this PIT development at the Fish Facility.
The following comment also applies to project 31017 and a joint response is likely warranted. A response is requested on how the Anadromous Fish Reintroduction Program is being evaluated. This
project could potentially be very worthwhile but its value needs to be assessed within the context of the evaluation, what are the objectives of the evaluation, what are the results of the evaluation to date? The ISRP would strongly recommend the development of an experimental design to utilize this unique opportunity. Further, the PIT equipment would provide the tool for assessing collector designs but what is being done to re-design this system for improved efficiency?
BPA has already invested heavily in the Cowlitz watershed by building the Fish Facility ($22 million) but this proposal has good cost sharing and local support. There is an opportunity for exciting and informative research programs concerning salmon restoration, role of nutrients in the ecosystem, and hatchery versus wild comparisons in the upper Cowlitz watershed.