| Proposal title | Walla Walla Basin Natural Production Monitoring and Evaluation |
| Proposal ID | 200003900 |
| Organization | Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) |
| Proposal contact person or principal investigator |
| Name | Craig Contor |
| Mailing address | Pendleton, OR 97801 |
| Phone / email | 5412764109 / [email protected] |
| Manager authorizing this project | Gary James |
| Review cycle | FY 2001 Ongoing |
| Province / Subbasin | Columbia Plateau / Walla Walla |
| Short description | Monitor and evaluate natural spawning, rearing, migration, survival, age and growth characteristics and life histories of adult salmon and steelhead and their natural progeny in the Walla Walla River Basin. |
| Target species | |
| Year | Accomplishment |
|---|
| 1999 |
Began steelhead spawning surveys |
| 1999 |
Collected samples for steelhead genetic studies |
| 1999 |
Began salmonid density, relative abundance and distribution surveys |
| 1998 |
Began water temperature monitoring |
| 1999 |
Complied to the required administrative processes of BPA, GSA, ESA, USFWS, USFS, NMFS, CRITFC, CBFWA, ISRP, NWPPC, ODFW, WDFW, DEQ, TMDL, watershed assessments, master plans, sub-basin plan reviews, UMMEOC (basin oversight com) and basin AOP (1998-1999). |
| Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2001 cost | Subcontractor |
|---|
| 1. Monitor spawning activities of spring chinook and summer steelhead in the Walla Walla Basin. |
a. Document the number and location of redds and examine carcasses |
ongoing |
$29,305 |
|
|
b. Estimate survival to spawning and total egg deposition by species and reach. |
ongoing |
$29,305 |
|
|
c. Collect and record length, sex, pre/post spawn mortality data, coded wire tags, marks, fin clips, kidney samples and scales from the appropriately marked carcasses examined on the spawning grounds. |
ongoing |
$29,305 |
|
| 2. Estimate juvenile salmonid abundance and rearing densities in index sites and selected stream reaches in the Walla Walla River Basin.
|
a. Electrofish established index sites and selected stream reaches. Isolate the sites with block-nets and use depletion methods to estimate salmonid densities. |
ongoing |
$120,204 |
|
| 3. Monitor stream temperatures in the Walla Walla Basin in cooperation with other monitoring agencies |
a. Deploy thermographs in April of 2001. Check status and function of thermographs regularly during deployment |
ongoing |
$6,044 |
|
|
b. Retrieve and download thermographs in November. |
ongoing |
$6,044 |
|
| 4. Determine age, growth and life history characteristics of salmon, steelhead and bull trout (secondarily) in the Walla Walla River Basin. |
a. Take scales from juvenile and adult salmon and steelhead during trapping, electrofishing and spawning surveys. |
ongoing |
$2,000 |
|
|
b. Mount and press adult scale samples. Place juvenile scales directly between labeled acetate sheets at the time of sampling. |
ongoing |
$1,000 |
|
|
c. Determine age, growth, life history characteristics and the years of freshwater and saltwater rearing of adult natural steelhead and salmon. |
ongoing |
$6,250 |
|
| 5. Examine the movements of adult steelhead through the mid Walla Walla River and into the tributaries. |
a. Radio-tag and release up to 60 adult summer steelhead into the Walla Walla River below the mouth of Mill Creek throughout the return period (fall-spring). |
2 |
$27,500 |
|
|
b. Monitor the movement of tagged adult steelhead with fixed site and mobile receivers |
2 |
$54,538 |
|
| 6. HJN Comply to the required administrative processes of BPA, GSA, ESA, USFWS, USFS, NMFS, CRITFC, CBFWA, ISRP, NWPPC, ODFW, WDFW, DEQ, TMDL, watershed assessments, master plans, sub-basin plan reviews and watershed councils. |
a. Complete the necessary reports, permit applications and proposals. Attend the necessary coordination, planning, scoping and consultation meetings. |
ongoing |
$19,385 |
|
This project is operated in conjunction with the Umatilla Natural Production Monitoring and Evaluation Program (one BPA contract but two proposals and annual reports. Monitoring activities in the Walla Walla Basin have increased in accord with the current and forthcoming salmonid restoration activities. Restoration planning and implementation will require more information about salmonids in the Walla Walla Basin. Monitoring in the Walla Walla will increase further in 2002 as the PIT tagging efforts are completed in the Umatilla Basin and begin in the Walla Walla. Combined budgets for the two monitoring and evaluation projects have increased 3.7% from last year's reduced funding level but are 20% lower than forecasted for FY2001 in the FY2000 proposals. Monitoring activities in the Umatilla Basin have decreased from a decade of intense evaluations to a more streamlined monitoring program.
Explained immediately above.
This information was not provided on the original proposals, but was generated during the review process.
Objective 5 is new work for a total of $82,038 to radio tag and monitor steelhead movement. Other monitoring has increased due to the addition of spring chinook and planned expansion for the other species.