Charlene Hurst, NMFS Lower Snake River Compensation Plan Annual Meeting March 28, 2017

Steelhead ESA Consultations: Our Approach in the Snake

General Approach: Six Factors

Evaluate effects of: 1. Using natural-origin fish for broodstock 2. Hatchery-origin fish spawning naturally 3. Hatchery-origin juvenile releases 4. Research, monitoring and evaluation 5. Facility operation, maintenance and construction 6. Fisheries

Using natural-origin fish for broodstock

If yes, then 1. Composition % 2. Any criteria that determine % (e.g., sliding scale) 3. Collection method

Natural returns to

Weir

Conservation Component Broodstock1

pNOB Mitigation Component Broodstock1

pNOB Min. # natural

spawners

Max. # hatchery spawners

Max. pHOS

Natural Hatchery (conservation)

Natural Hatchery (conservation)

< 50 16 10 0-0.21 0 52 0.0 0 313 1.0 50-200 18 8 0.69 0 52 0.0 32 315 0.91

201-400 21 5 0.81 0 52 0.0 180 318 0.64 401-600 26 0 1.0 5 47 0.1 370 328 0.47 601-800 26 0 1.0 10 42 0.2 565 333 0.37

801-1000 26 0 1.0 15 37 0.29 760 338 0.31

Naturally spawning hatchery fish

1. Genetic interactions Where do hatchery fish spawn naturally? How many hatchery fish spawn naturally? Is the program integrated or segregated?

2. Ecological interactions Do hatchery fish compete with natural fish for

spawning sites? Do hatchery fish superimpose natural fish redds?

Hatchery-origin juvenile releases

Ecological interactions Do hatchery fish compete with natural fish? Do hatchery fish prey on natural fish? How likely is it for pathogens to be transmitted to

natural fish from hatchery fish? Evidence of predator attraction from hatchery

releases

A little bit of process Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans (HGMPs) describe program purpose and implementation

The challenge with evaluating steelhead programs Scarcity of data about where adult hatchery fish end up and natural-origin

abundance Tough to retrieve carcasses

High flows Turbid water

Long spawning period compared to other species 10 per week over 3 weeks, versus 30 in one week

Spawn in smaller streams more accessible to predators

Lots of time spent in freshwater before spawning Wander into a variety of areas

July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June

Sp/Su Chinook Fall Chinook

Sockeye

Summer Steelhead

How have we dealt with this in NEOR/SEWA steelhead?

Assessed hatchery composition

using a variety of methods (PIT tags, CWTs)

Use DPS level for measuring hatchery-origin composition versus MPG or population level

Program changes Formation of a workgroup to

better understand where steelhead end up

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Current Proposed

Moving into the Upper Snake

Limiting factors (hatchery) identified by Rosemary in Salmon MPG: Large number of hatchery fish released in the MPG relative to

natural production Use of B-run steelhead in areas where they are not native Mainstem release of non-acclimated fish Competition for food and space Reduced genetic adaptiveness Life history changes

Moving into the Upper Snake

Hatchery Strategies identified by Rosemary in Salmon MPG: Manage MPG for natural production in several populations Increase portion of releases of fish from local broodstock Minimize the risk of B-run releases into receiving A-run populations Ensure that all hatchery fish are identifiable (e.g., fin clip, PBT) Reduce mainstem releases Intensively monitor for strays and estimate proportion of strays at the

population level by source

Questions?

Section 7 Consultation

Requires a federal nexus and only has incidental take of ESA-listed species

Submit application materials

NMFS drafts

Proposed Action

Applicants review

Proposed Action; all

agree

NMFS issues

sufficiency letter

Draft Biological Opinion

Internal NMFS

and Applicants

review

Final Signed Opinion

Section 10 Permit

When there is direct take of ESA-listed species and/or non-federal applicant; the only option for direct take of endangered fish

Submit application materials

NMFS drafts

Proposed Action

Applicants review

Proposed Action; all

agree

NMFS issues

sufficiency letter

Draft Biological Opinion

and permits

Internal NMFS

and Applicant

review

Final Signed Opinion

and permits

Submit application materials

NMFS drafts NEPA

Internal NMFS and Applicant

review

Public comment

with HGMPs

Address Comments and draft

FONSI

Internal NMFS

and Applicant

review

Final NEPA (if

EA)

Submit application materials

NMFS drafts

Proposed Action

Applicants review

Proposed Action; all

agree

NMFS issues

sufficiency letter

Draft Biological Opinion, PEPD,

Decision memo

Internal NMFS

and Applicant

review

Final Signed

Opinion, ERD, Det.

Letter

4(d) Authorization

When there is direct take of a threatened ESA-listed species

Submit application materials

NMFS drafts NEPA

Internal NMFS and Applicant

review

Public comment

with PEPD

Address Comments and draft

FONSI

Internal NMFS

and Applicant

review

Final NEPA (if

EA)