Assessing hydrosystem influence on delayed mortality of Snake River stream-type Chinook salmon.

Abstract.-Snake River stream-type Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha exhibited substantial delayed mortality despite recent improvements in oceanic and climatic conditions. These salmon declined sharply with the completion of the Columbia River hydrosystem in addition to other anthropogenic impacts and changes in oceanic conditions. Previous analytical approaches have compared management options for halting the population decline. The predicted benefits of these options on salmon recovery hinged on whether the source of the mortality that takes place in the estuary and during early ocean residence is related to earlier hydrosystem experience during downstream migration (i.e., delayed hydrosystem mortality). We analyzed the spatial and temporal patterns of mortality for Chinook salmon populations to determine whether delayed mortality for the Snake River populations decreased during the recent period of favorable oceanic and climatic conditions. We found that Snake River stream-type Chinook salmon populations continued to exhibit survival patterns similar to those of their downriver counterparts but survived only one-fourth to one-third as well. The hypothesis that delayed mortality decreased and became negligible with more favorable oceanic conditions appears inconsistent with the patterns we observed for the common year effect and our estimates of delayed mortality of in-river migrants. A plausible explanation for this persistent pattern of delayed mortality for Snake River populations is that it is related to the construction and operation of the hydrosystem

Evaluation and Monitoring of Idaho Habitat Enhancement and Anadromous Fish Natural Production : Annual Report 1986.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) has been conducting an evaluation of existing and proposed habitat improvement projects for anadromous fish in the Clearwater River and Salmon River drainages over the last 3 years. Projects included in the evaluation are funded by or proposed for funding by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) under the Northwest Power Planning Act as off-site mitigation for downstream hydropower development on the Snake and Columbia rivers. This evaluation project is also funded under the same authority. A mitigation record is being developed to use increased smolt production (i.e., yield) at full-seeding as the best measure of benefit from a habitat enhancement project. Determination of full benefit from a project depends on completion or maturation of the project and presence of adequate numbers of fish to document actual increases in fish production. The depressed nature of upriver anadromous stocks have precluded measuring full benefits of any habitat enhancement project in Idaho. Partial benefit will be credited to the mitigation record in the interim period of run restoration

Idaho Habitat Evaluation for Off-Site Mitigation Record : Annual Report 1985.

Evaluation approaches to document a record of credit for mitigation were developed in 1984-1985 for most of the habitat projects. Restoration of upriver anadromous fish runs through increased passage survival at main stem Columbia and Snake River dams is essential to the establishment of an off-site mitigation record, as well as to the success of the entire Fish and Wildlife program. The mitigation record is being developed to use increased smolt production (i.e., yield) at full-seeding as the basic measure of benefit from a habitat project. The IDFG evaluation approach consists of three basic, integrated levels: general monitoring, standing crop evaluations, and intensive studies. Annual general monitoring of anadromous fish densities in a small number of sections for each project will be used to follow population trends and define full-seeding levels. For most projects, smolt production will be estimated indirectly from standing crop estimates by factoring appropriate survival rates from parr to smolt stages. Intensive studies in a few key production streams will be initiated to determine these appropriate survival rates and provide other basic biological information that is needed for evaluation of the Fish and Wildlife program. A common physical habitat and fish population data base is being developed for every BPA habitat project in Idaho to be integrated at each level of evaluation. Compatibility of data is also needed between Idaho and other agencies and tribes in the Columbia River basin. No final determination of mitigation credit for any Idaho habitat enhancement project has been attainable to date

Idaho Habitat Evaluation for Off-Site Mitigation Record : Annual Report 1987.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has been monitoring and evaluating existing and proposed habitat improvement projects for steelhead (Salmo gairdneri) and chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Clearwater and Salmon River drainages over the last four years. Projects included in the evaluation are funded by, or proposed for funding by, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) under the Northwest Power Planning Act as off-site mitigation for downstream hydropower development on the Snake and Columbia rivers. A mitigation record is being developed to use increased smolt production at full seeding as the best measure of benefit from a habitat enhancement project. Determination of full benefit from a project depends on presence of adequate numbers of fish to document actual increases in fish production. The depressed nature of upriver anadromous stocks have precluded attainment of full benefit of any habitat project in Idaho. Partial benefit will be credited to the mitigation record in the interim period of run restoration. According to the BPA Work Plan, project implementors have the primary responsibility for measuring physical habitat and estimating habitat change. To date, Idaho habitat projects have been implemented primarily by the US Forest Service (USFS). The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes (SBT) have sponsored three projects (Bear Valley Mine, Yankee Fork, and the proposed East Fork Salmon River projects). IDFG implemented two barrier-removal projects (Johnson Creek and Boulder Creek) that the USFS was unable to sponsor at that time. The role of IDFG in physical habitat monitoring is primarily to link habitat quality and habitat change to changes in actual, or potential, fish production. Individual papers were processed separately for the data base

A review of potential conservation and fisheries benefits of breaching four dams in the Lower Snake River (Washington, USA)

Abundances of important and imperiled fishes of the Snake River Basin continue to decline. We assessed the rationale for breaching the four lower Snake River Basin dams to prevent complete loss of these fishes, and to maximize their likelihood of recovery. We summarize the science surrounding Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), Chinook Salmon (O. tshawytscha), steelhead (O. mykiss), Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus), White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus), and Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus). From this, we drew ten conclusions: (1) development of the Columbia River System (including the Snake River Basin) has converted mainstem rivers into reservoirs, altering fish behavior and survival; (2) most populations currently record their lowest abundance; (3) the Columbia River System dams reduce productivity of diadromous fishes in the highest-quality spawning grounds that could buffer against future climate dynamics; (4) past actions have done little to reduce impacts or precipitate recovery; (5) the Columbia River System constrains survival and productivity of salmon, steelhead and Bull Trout; (6) Snake River Basin salmon and steelhead remain at high extinction risk; (7) eliminating migration impediments and improving mainstem habitats are essential for maintaining genetic diversity and improving Bull Trout persistence; (8) the lower Snake River Basin dams preclude passage of adult White Sturgeon, constraining gene flow and recruitment; (9) the lower Snake River Basin dams impede dramatically passage of adult and juvenile Pacific Lamprey, and (10) Snake River Basin Pacific Lamprey is at high risk of extirpation. Breaching the four lower Snake River Basin dams is an action likely to prevent extirpation and extinction of these fishes. Lessons from the Columbia River System can inform conservation in other impounded rivers