The Coded-Wire Tag Program: A Conservation Perspective

May 10, 2012Presented by Micki Varney

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

• Evaluate Performance objectives• Gauge effectiveness of recovery measures • Measure progress toward recovery and

mitigation goals• Maintain accountability• Provide basis for adaptive management

Monitoring and Evaluation (M & E) are essential components of ESA Recovery Plans and Artificial Production Programs

Coded-Wire Tags are Essential M & E Tools

Hatchery Evaluation/Management• Evaluate hatchery rearing and release

strategies• Estimate Contributions to fisheries• Brood stock management• Smolt-to-Adult Return Rates (SAR’s)

Wild/Hatchery proportions, pHOSRun size and composition Distribution and abundance (fisheries and on spawning

grounds)

The Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon Program—A Case In Point

Snake River Area Map

O r e g o nW a s h in g t o n

Area of Detail

I d a h oC olum b ia R ive r

U m ati l la R i v e r

Y ak im a R i v e r

C ol um bi a R iv e r

S n a ke R iv e r

S n ak e R iv e r

S n a ke R iv e r

W al l a W a ll a R i v er

T o u c h e t R iv er

P a l ou s e R i v e r

T u c a n n o n R i v e r C l ea rw at e r R i v e r

M il l C r ee k

Ice Ha rbor Dam

McNary Dam

LowerMonumental Dam

Lower Grani te DamLittle

Goose Dam

PriestRapidsDam

G r an d e R o n d e R iv e r

Pasco

Walla Walla

Dayton

Lew iston, ID

A s o ti n C ree k

Tex asRapids

ChiefTimothy

Lyon s Ferr yHatchery

Captain John

PittsburgLanding

BigCanyon

K i l om e te rs

1 00 6 05 04 03 02 0

Mouth of Snake River(Col Rkm 522)

Rkm 95

Rkm 173

Rkm 346

Hells Canyon Dam Rkm 397.4

1985

1984

1983

1982

1981

1980

1979

1978

1977

1976

1975

1974

1973

1972

1971

1970

1969

1968

1967

1966

1965

1964

1963

1962

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

JacksAdults

Return Year

Num

ber o

f Fal

l Ch

inoo

k

Ice Harbor

LowerMonumental

Little Goose

Lower Granite

Historical Fall Chinook Returns to the Snake Basinand timing of Lower Snake Dam Construction1962-1985 (Ice Harbor Dam Window Counts)

Lower Snake River Fish and Wildlife Compensation Plan (LSRCP) - 1976

• Mitigate for juvenile passage mortality and direct loss of spawning area for 5,000 fall Chinook

• Return 18,300 adults/year to the Snake River Basin• In-place and in-kind (maintain genetic integrity)

Egg Bank Program1976

Roles of Players in the Egg Bank Program

Kalama Falls Hatchery Lower Columbia River Juvenile

releases and collection of Returning Adults

Ice Harbor DamLower Snake River

Adult Collection

Lyons Ferry Hatchery

Lower Snake River Juvenile releases and Adult

collection

1976

1986

Hagerman Hatchery

Mid-Snake Juvenilereleases

Little Goose Dam

Lyons Ferry Hatchery 1980-1984

Early Lyons Ferry Hatchery Fall Chinook Production Goals (to return 18,300 adults to Snake River Basin)

9.16 million subyearling smolts (101,880 lbs)at 90 fpp (80 mm)expected smolt-to-adult return (SAR) of 0.2%

Idaho Power Co. mitigation for Hells Canyon Complex

for 1.3 million eyed eggsdue after LFH reached 80% of capacity

Stock Composition at Lyons Ferrybased on CWT expansions

0

20

40

60

80

100

1987 1988 1989 1990

Lyons Ferry Umatilla Other

Very high stray rate—could jeopardize the SRF stock integrity

Program Adjustments to Maintain Genetic Integrity:

1989 Brood Progeny• Initiated 100% wire-tagging

Modified broodstock collection protocol• LGR trapping• Unmarked fish

Beginning in 1990, CWT’s were read prior to combining the gametes

Fall Chinook trapped at Lower Granite Dam

CWT’s continued to play an Integral role in Providing the Data Necessary to Guide Management Decisions

Yearling/Subyearling Comparative Survival Study (1985-1990)

Snake River Fall Chinook ESA Listed as threatened in 1992

Fall Chinook Acclimation Program (FCAP)-1996

Lyons Ferry Fall Chinook Survival Rate Comparisons from CWT recoveries (On-Station Releases Only)

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

rele

ase

year

SAR

Subyearling Mean = 0.05Yearling Mean = 0.59

1996

1998

1997

Effect of supplementation on redd counts?

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003Year

0200400600800

10001200140016001800200022002400

Bas

in-w

ide

redd

cou

nt

Pre-supplementation

Post-supplementation

Natural Production

2008 Total: 3,055

120 Fall Chinook Redds located in the Clearwater River near Big Canyon Creek 2007.

ESA Listed

Proportionate Natural Influence (PNI)

HatcherySpawners

NaturalSpawners

pHOS = proportion of fish spawning in wild consisting of hatchery-origin fish

pHOS

pNOB

pNOB = proportion of broodstock consisting of natural-origin fish

pHOSpNOB

pNOBPNI

+=

Lower Granite Dam Run Reconstruction

Stock and age compostion of fall Chinook run to Lower Granite DamStray ratesRun timingJack proportionsHatchery/Wild Estimate the number of natural origin Snake River fall Chinook for ESA (natural spawner abundance

Downstream passage

NPTH swim-ins

Lower Granite Fall Chinook Run Reconstruction Process

Trapping Period

Separate Run Comp Estimates are calculated for:

# unique Fish Trapped in

Sample

Unique Fall Chinook Arriving

at LGR

Expanded Window counts

pre and post trapping

=+

Multiply by the Inverse of Trap

Rate

Run to LGR During Trapping

Period

Abundance of Potential Spawners

Harvest above LGR

Hauled to Hatchery

Pre-and Post- Trapping Periods

Fish Trapped in SampleAt Lower Granite Adult Trap

Determine Composition

By Origin, Sex and Age

Released above LGR

Coded-Wire Tagged Fish

Scale Analysis

DNAPIT Tags

Assign Lost tagsDetermine

composition of CWT fish

Untagged fish

*Age, life history, Origin?

Origin?H/W?

Definite Age, Origin, Release Location and Rearing info

Estimate untagged hatchery fish associated

with CWT recoveries(Ad Only and unmarked)

Hauled to LFH or NPTH

*Age, Origin?

H/W

Determine composition of Untagged fish

HATCHERYWILD

Determining The Hatchery/Wild Proportion--A Process of Elimination

WILD

CLIPPEDUNCLIPPED

CLIPPED

UNCLIPPED

Snake River Hatchery Fish

    Age 2 Age 3 Age 4 Age 5 Age 6 Unknown Age      

CWT Origin M J M F J M F J M F M F M F J Adult Jack  Total

630678 LF00YPA         8     8 0 8

612501 LF01SPA     3 7       10 0 10

610120 LF01YPA     1 6       7 0 7

610123 LF02SPA   4 2         6 0 6

612502 LF02YPA   7 4 2         11 2 13

107976 LF03SIPCPA   2           0 2 2

610146 LF03YPA   5           0 5 5

610149 LF03YPA   5           0 5 5

630168 LF99SCJA           1   1 0 1

630183 LF00YCJA       2 1     3 0 3

610105 LF01SCJA     5 13       18 0 18

610105 LF01SCJA2     2 11       13 0 13

610105 LF01SCJA2 RES REAR       1       1 0 1

610106 LF01SCJA       11       11 0 11

610145 LF03YBCA   13           0 13 13

610147 LF03YBCA   8           0 8 8

610107 NPTH02SO1   1         1 0 1

610109 NPT02SNLVA   1         1 0 1

610110 NPTH02SO2   5 5         10 0 10

612675 NPTH03SA   4           0 4 4

630476 LF99YO           2   2 0 2

631273 LF00YO       9 30     39 0 39

630890 LF01SO     2 8       10 0 10

631585 LF01YO     32 78 1       110 1 111

631391 LF02SCCD   1 3         4 0 4

631545 LF02SO   2 3         5 0 5

632167 LF02YO   21 2         23 0 23

631769 LF03YO   34           0 34 34

631770 LF03YO   30           0 30 30

631786 LF03SO   4           0 4 4

632368 LF03YO   1           0 1 1

Left Red VIE LF - LOST TAG           1 1 1 2 1 3

Left Blue VIE LF-CJA - LOST TAG             1 0 1 1

Right Green VIE LF-PLA - LOST TAG             1 1 0 1

Left Red VIE LF - HAT SUB AGE 4 COUSE CR DIRECT     1       1 0 1

Left Red VIE LF - HAT SUB RES REAR AGE 3 COUSE CR DIRECT   1         1 0 1

Left Red VIE LF HATCHERY SUB RES REAR AGE 5         1     1 0 1

Lost Tag HATCHERY SUB AGE 2 1           1 0 1

Lost Tag HATCHERY SUB RES REAR AGE 4       1       1 0 1

subtotal 2 125 172 58 4 138 346 1 15 59 0 4 3 4 2 801 132 933

CWT Origin M J M F J M F J M F M F M F J Adult Jack  Total

630678 LF00YPA 8 8 0 8

612501 LF01SPA 3 7 10 0 10

610120 LF01YPA 1 6 7 0 7

610123 LF02SPA 4 2 6 0 6

612502 LF02YPA 7 4 2 11 2 13

107976 LF03SIPCPA 2 0 2 2

610146 LF03YPA 5 0 5 5

610149 LF03YPA 5 0 5 5

630168 LF99SCJA 1 1 0 1

630183 LF00YCJA 2 1 3 0 3

610105 LF01SCJA 5 13 18 0 18

610105 LF01SCJA2 2 11 13 0 13

610105 LF01SCJA2 RES REAR 1 1 0 1

610106 LF01SCJA 11 11 0 11

610145 LF03YBCA 13 0 13 13

610147 LF03YBCA 8 0 8 8

610107 NPTH02SO1 1 1 0 1

610109 NPT02SNLVA 1 1 0 1

610110 NPTH02SO2 5 5 10 0 10

612675 NPTH03SA 4 0 4 4

630476 LF99YO 2 2 0 2

631273 LF00YO 9 30 39 0 39

630890 LF01SO 2 8 10 0 10

631585 LF01YO 32 78 1 110 1 111

631391 LF02SCCD 1 3 4 0 4

631545 LF02SO 2 3 5 0 5

632167 LF02YO 21 2 23 0 23

631769 LF03YO 34 0 34 34

631770 LF03YO 30 0 30 30

631786 LF03SO 4 0 4 4

632368 LF03YO 1 0 1 1

Left Red VIE LF - LOST TAG 1 1 1 2 1 3

Left Blue VIE LF-CJA - LOST TAG 1 0 1 1

Right Green VIE LF-PLA - LOST TAG 1 1 0 1

Left Red VIE LF - HAT SUB AGE 4 COUSE CR DIRECT 1 1 0 1

Left Red VIE LF - HAT SUB RES REAR AGE 3 COUSE CR DIRECT 1 1 0 1

Left Red VIE LF HATCHERY SUB RES REAR AGE 5 1 1 0 1

Lost Tag HATCHERY SUB AGE 2 1 1 0 1

Lost Tag HATCHERY SUB RES REAR AGE 4 1 1 0 1

subtotal 2 125 172 58 4 138 346 1 15 59 0 4 3 4 2 801 132 933

Snake River Hatchery Fish

Age 2 Age 3 Age 4 Age 5 Age 6 Unknow n Age

CWT Origin M J M F J M F J M F M F M F J Adult Jack  Total

631395 KLICK01SO 1 1 0 1

631797 KLICK02S 1 1 0 1

630996 SIMILKSUMMERCHIN 1 1 0 1

93255 UMA00SUMA 1 1 0 1

93346 BONN00YUMA 5 5 0 5

93501 UMA01SA 1 1 0 1

93504 UMA01SUMD 1 1 0 1

93627 BONN01YUMA 1 1 0 1

94030 UMA03Y 1 1 0 1

09BLANK 09BLANK 2 1 10 7 20 0 20

63BLANK 63BLANK 2 4 6 0 6

No tag STRAY HATCHERY SUB AGE 2 5 2 5 2 7

No tag STRAY HATCHERY SUB AGE 3 38 14 52 0 52

No tag STRAY HATCHERY SUB AGE 4 7 7 14 0 14

BLANK BLANK 1 4 5 12 4 22 4 26

sub total 6 2 39 15 0 8 13 0 0 11 0 0 17 23 4 132 6 138

CWT Origin M J M F J M F J M F M F M F J Adult Jack  Total

 Lost Tag LOST TAG 1 1 2 2 2 4

No tag AD ONLY STRAY HATCHERY YRL AGE 2 1 0 1 1

No tag AD ONLY STRAY HATCHERY YRL AGE 4 2 2 0 2

No tag AD ONLY HATCHERY YRL AGE 5 1 1 0 1

No tag STRAY HATCHERY YRL AGE 3 2 2 0 2

No tag STRAY HATCHERY YRL AGE 4 3 6 9 0 9

No tag STRAY HATCHERY YRL AGE 5 1 3 4 0 4

No tag Unknow n if hatchery or w ild 14 17 31 0 31

subtotal 0 1 3 0 0 3 8 0 2 3 0 0 15 17 2 51 3 54

Origin (Scales) M J M F J M F J M F M F M F J Adult Jack  Total

WILD SUB AGE 2 1 1 1 1 2

WILD SUB AGE 3 77 14 91 0 91

WILD SUB RES REAR AGE 3 48 3 2 51 2 53

WILD SUB AGE 4 31 32 63 0 63

WILD SUB RES REAR AGE 4 32 32 64 0 64

WILD SUB AGE 5 1 6 7 0 7

WILD SUB RES REAR AGE 5 5 25 30 0 30

WILD SUB AGE 6 1 1 0 1

WILD SUB RES REAR AGE 6 1 1 0 1

subtotal 1 1 125 17 2 63 64 0 6 31 1 1 0 0 0 309 3 312

LGR Grand Total 9 129 339 90 6 212 431 1 23 104 1 5 35 44 8 1293 144 1437

Wild Fish

Age 2 Age 3 Age 4 Age 5 Age 6 Unknow n Age

Unknow n Origin (age and rearing from scales)

Age 2 Age 3 Age 4 Age 5 Age 6 Unknow n Age

Out of Basin (Stray) Fish

Age 2 Age 3 Age 4 Age 5 Age 6 Unknow n Age

Finally, after all the calculations, an estimate of the composition of the fall Chinook run to LGR Dam is completed

Table 2. Fall Chinook run to Lower Granite Dam by trapping period.[1] 2005

origin adults jacks total % adults % jacks cross referencewild 301 33 334 from Table 8

Snake R. hatcheries 259 88 347out of basin strays 42 4 46

unknown unmarked yearling 6 2 8

total 829 140 969 from Table 1

wild 2,454 23 2,477 from Table 10Snake R. hatcheries 6,317 1,023 7,340 from Table 16

out of basin strays 1,015 46 1,062 from Table 16unknown unmarked yearling 154 23 23 from Table 16

total 9,940 1,115 10,902

wild 1 0 1 from Table 8Snake R. hatcheries 13 3 16

out of basin strays 2 0 2unknown unmarked yearling 0 0 0

total 22 2 24 from Table 1

wild 2,755 57 2,812 23.60% 2.40%Snake R. hatcheries 6,590 1,113 7,703

out of basin strays 1,059 50 1,109unknown unmarked yearling 160 25 186

total 11,651 2,372 14,023 23.60% 2.40%[1] “2005 lgr adult trapping database for tac-030606.xls”, sheet “Qry_LGRtbl_scales_all_LGR_RUN_R”

fall season total.

before the trapping period: 8/18-9/5

during the trapping period: 9/6-11/20

after the trapping period: 11/21-12/15

There are Many Tools available

The CWT Program is a Proven Tool for Providing the Data Necessary for Science-Based Adaptive Management Decisions

Hatcheries

Recovery

Conservation

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Bonneville Power AdministrationWashington Dept. of Fish and WildlifeUS Fish and Wildlife ServiceNez Perce Tribe

Additional photos: David Frame, Mike Key

Questions?