| Proposal title | White Sturgeon Mitigation and Restoration in the Columbia and Snake Rivers |
| Proposal ID | 198605000 |
| Organization | Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) |
| Proposal contact person or principal investigator |
| Name | David Ward |
| Mailing address | 17330 SE Evelyn St. Clackamas, OR 97015 |
| Phone / email | 5036572000 / [email protected] |
| Manager authorizing this project | |
| Review cycle | FY 2000 |
| Province / Subbasin | Mainstem/Systemwide / Systemwide |
| Short description | Restore and mitigate for hydrosystem-caused loss of white sturgeon productivity through intensive fisheries management, supplementation, and modified hydrosystem operation. Assess success of mitigation efforts, and assess losses in unstudied areas. |
| Target species | White Sturgeon |
| Year | Accomplishment |
|---|
| 1988 |
Developed methodologies: Habitat mapping and modeling; capture gears for various life stages; marking and aging techniques. |
| 1992 |
Determined that dams limit movements of white sturgeon and have functionally isolated populations in mainstem Columbia River reservoirs. |
| 1992 |
Described population dynamics and found them to be unique in each reservoir. |
| 1992 |
Found population productivity to be 10-100 times higher downstream from Bonneville Dam than in Bonneville, The Dalles, or John Day reservoirs. |
| 1992 |
Identified reduced flows and subsequent poor recruitment as the key factor limiting white sturgeon productivity in impoundments. |
| 1992 |
Determined reservoirs provide large areas of suitable habitat for juvenile and adult white sturgeon, but compensatory population responses may reduce productivity if carrying capacity is exceeded. |
| 1992 |
Determined over-fishing had occurred in the three lowermost reservoirs of the Columbia. Described appropriate exploitation rates under the reduced productivity resulting from the development and operation of the hydrosystem. |
| 1997 |
Demonstrated increased abundance of white sturgeon in The Dalles and John Day reservoirs. Some of this recovery was attributable to intensive harvest management and reduced exploitation. |
| 1997 |
Transplanted white sturgeon to The Dalles Reservoir and demonstrated survival and growth of those fish one and two years later. |
| 1997 |
Completed initial population estimates for white sturgeon in Ice Harbor, Little Goose, and Lower Monumental reservoirs. |
| 1997 |
Determined that white sturgeon larvae are susceptible to gas bubble trauma in laboratory experiments. |
| 1998 |
Developed habitat maps and flow-habitat models for the Columbia River up to Priest Rapids Dam. |
| 1998 |
Used index sampling to develop initial descriptions of white sturgeon populations in Rock Island Reservoir, Lake Rufus Woods, and Lake Roosevelt. |
| 1998 |
Documented presence of species-specific viral pathogens in wild Columbia River white sturgeon. |
| 1998 |
Developed two indices to index the relative abundance for age-0 white sturgeon. |
| 1998 |
Determined that hydropeaking at The Dalles Dam displaces white sturgeon eggs and larvae from incubation areas |
| Project ID | Title | Description |
|---|
| 8806400 |
Kootenai River White Sturgeon Studies and Conservation Aquaculture |
Complementary work to restore white sturgeon isolated outside the geographical bounds of project 8605000. |
| 8806500 |
Kootenai River Fisheries Investigations |
Complementary work to study and restore white sturgeon isolated outside the geographical bounds of project 8605000. |
| 9700900 |
Evaluate Means of Rebuilding White Sturgeon Populations in the Snake River |
Complementary work to study and restore white sturgeon outside the geographical bounds of project 8605000. |
| 9093 |
Consumptive Sturgeon Fishery - Hells Canyon and Oxbow Reservoirs |
Complementary work to restore white sturgeon outside the geographical bounds of project 8605000. |
| 9502700 |
Assess Limiting Factors of the Lake Roosevelt White Sturgeon Population |
Results from project 8605000 will guide restoration methods used by project 9502700. |
| 9084 |
Assessing Genetic Variation Among Columbia Basin White Sturgeon Populations |
Genetic analyses from project 9084 will be used to guide supplementation and propagation developed by project 8605000. |
| 9603201 |
Begin Implementation of Year 1 of the K-Pool Master Plan Program |
Propagation techniques developed as part of project 8605000 will be used by project 9603201. |
| 9600800 |
PATH-Participation by State & Tribal Agencies |
|
| 8810804 |
Streamnet: The Northwest Aquatic Information Network |
|
| 9705909 |
Securing Wildlife Mitigation Sites in Oregon - Mitchell Point |
|
| 9705911 |
Securing Wildlife Mitigation Sites in Oregon - Irrigon WMA Addition |
|
| 9705904 |
Securing Wildlife Mitigation Sites in Oregon - Horn Butte |
|
| 9705900 |
Securing Wildlife Mitigation Sites in Oregon |
|
| 9079 |
Inventory Resident Fish in Bonneville, The Dalles, & John Day Reservoirs |
|
| 9105 |
Determine if Salmon Are Successfully Spawning Below Lower Columbia Dams |
|
| 8712700 |
Smolt Monitoring by Non-Federal Agencies |
|
| 8201300 |
Coded Wire Tag Recovery Program |
|
| 8906900 |
Annual Coded Wire Tag Program - Missing Production Oregon Hatcheries |
|
| 9306000 |
Evaluate Columbia River Select Area Fisheries |
|
| 20515 |
Mainstem Columbia River Umbrella Proposal |
|
| 9007700 |
Northern Pikeminnow Management Program |
|
| Item | Note | FY 2000 cost |
|---|
| Personnel |
ODFW = $187,789
WDFW = $228,900
USGS = $203,005
USFWS = $35,237
CRITFC = $83,946 |
$738,877 |
| Fringe |
ODFW = $76,993
WDFW = $59,200
USGS = $60,901
USFWS = $8,780
CRITFC = $26,443 |
$232,317 |
| Supplies |
ODFW = $14,160
WDFW =$4,300
USGS = $19,600
USFWS = $700
CRITFC = $3,400 |
$42,160 |
| Operating |
ODFW = $46,645
WDFW = $26,700
USGS = $42,760
USFWS = $0
CRITFC = $7,542 |
$123,647 |
| Travel |
ODFW = $28,803
WDFW = $36,300
USGS = $5,200
USFWS = $0
CRITFC = $6,250 |
$76,553 |
| Indirect |
ODFW = $125,808
WDFW = $71,100
USGS = $125,957
USFWS = $15,293
CRITFC = $47,406 |
$385,564 |
| Subcontractor |
Yakama Indian Nation (from CRITFC) |
$48,885 |
| Subcontractor |
Abernathy Salmon Technology Center (from CRITFC) |
$125,641 |
| Subcontractor |
Oregon State University (from ODFW) |
$100,517 |
| Subcontractor |
NMFS (from ODFW) |
$45,000 |
| $1,919,161 |
Schedule Constraints: If the project is funded, no substantial constraints are likely. Possible constraints include delays in NMFS consultations, and coordination of supplementation and propagation activities.
This information was not provided on the original proposals, but was generated during the review process.
Comments:
This is a component of a long-term (since 1986) project on population status, mitigation and restoration of white sturgeon stocks in the Basin, with focus on the lower mainstem reservoirs. It is part of the Umbrella project "Mainstem Columbia River Umbrella Proposal" and demonstrates significant collaborative effort, and clearly addresses the needs set out in the Fish and Wildlife program. The investigators have coordinated a logical sequence of projects that have addressed leading questions about the status and ecology of white sturgeon. They have been diligent in publishing their results in peer-review scientific literature. However, the cost is high and the ISRP's 1998 recommendation for an independent review of white sturgeon in the Basin has not occurred. Long-term goals and strategies are not clearly presented. The methods are presented in too general terms and because of this it is often not possible to evaluate the specifics of the approaches described. What they propose to do to meet objectives is clearly stated but details on experimental design and exactly how they are proposing to approach each task are lacking. Task 4b contains the type of detail that would have been useful in evaluating the other tasks .
Milestone Criteria: no- It was never intended to be a perpetual project, it doesn't have an overall framework, and there is no loss statement.