Pacific Lamprey Research and Restoration Project

CONTRACT BACKGROUND:

Introduction
Since its inception in 1995, the Lamprey Research and Restoration Project has focused on two major components: 1) restoration activities involving outplanting broodstock from the mainstem Columbia to increase larval lamprey abundance in the upper Umatilla River; and 2) understanding the biology and ecology of Pacific lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus).  In the coming year we propose to expand both of these efforts to bring us closer to the ultimate goal of the project: restoring the natural production of Pacific lampreys in the Umatilla River to self-sustaining and harvestable levels.  We will also begin adult translocation into the Grande Ronde basin as called for in the Framework for Research Supplementation document and our Tribal Lamprey Restoration Plan.

The CTUIR project has been instrumental in developing a restoration plan for Pacific lamprey in the mid-Columbia drainage by collecting information on: past and current lamprey abundance; factors limiting production; habitat requirements for each life phase; donor stock availability; population genetics; disease; migratory pheromones; migratory timing; and homing information. In addition, research conducted by CTUIR staff has provided valuable information on the biology and ecology of Pacific lamprey within the basin.
The project began in 1995 to explore why the once-abundant Pacific lamprey populations were declining in mid-upper Columbia and Snake River tributaries (Close et al. 1995). As a valuable food and cultural resource for Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest, the declining populations of lamprey impacted treaty-secured fishing opportunities by forcing the four Columbia River treaty tribes to gather this traditional food fish in lower Columbia River locations (Close et al. 1995).

The Umatilla River basin was chosen by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) as the initial pilot restoration project for these reasons: 1) the Umatilla River historically produced a fishable population of lampreys, 2) restoration efforts for salmonids in the basin may help with overall Pacific lamprey restoration, and 3) current population level of Pacific lampreys in the Umatilla River were extremely low. In 1998, CTUIR began developing a restoration plan. Historical abundance and distribution data were summarized from tribal and ODFW interviews, and larval abundance and distribution surveys were completed in the John Day, Umatilla, Walla Walla, Tucannon, and Grand Ronde rivers. In cooperation with NWPPC, Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission (CRITFC), U.S. Geological Survey (Columbia River Research Laboratory, (CRRL)), USFWS, and ODFW, CTUIR staff developed the restoration plan for the basin. Knowledge on historical abundance, lamprey handling, transport, spawning, and outplanting of larvae were collected, and experiments conducted to maximize the potential for the restoration of lampreys in the Umatilla River.

The Grande Ronde Basin was chosen by the CTUIR as an additional adult translocation stream for these reason: 1) The Grande Ronde historically produced a fishable population of lampreys, 2) restoration efforts for salmonids in the basin may help with the overall restoration of Pacific lamprey, 3) the current population level of Pacific lampreys in the Grande Ronde basin is extremely low based on 1999 presence/absence surveys.  Adult translocation was also chosen as the method of supplementation in the Grande Ronde so we can effectively compare other supplementation strategies (art. prop) in other basins.  These actions are call for within the Supplementation master plan document the tribes are working to finalize.

In 2000, CTUIR implemented a pilot project in the Umatilla River. Outplantings of adult lampreys in the Umatilla River began in May 2000, and the monitoring of several metrics of lamprey (larval densities, number of upmigrating adults and outmigrating larvae) has continued annually. Now in its seventeenth year, the pilot project continues to outplant sexually mature adult lamprey in an effort to increase larval densities in the upper basin.

We continue efforts (commenced in 2005) to understand overwintering habitat selection and migration to spawning behavior of adult Pacific lampreys by following ~ 100 radio tagged individuals from Aug-May. We will release radiotagged lampreys above and below Threemile Falls Dam, near Cottonwood Bend, below Westland diversion and between Westland and Feed (Cold Springs) irrigation diversions.  We will continue to use these results to design and implement/ refine lamprey passage structures for upmigrating adults at all low-elevation diversion structures within the basin, and to identify critical overwintering and spawning habitats.

In 2017, we will continue efforts to broaden the research and restoration priorities of Pacific lamprey by refining techniques to VIE mark and/or PIT tag juvenile Pacific lampreys.  We plan to trap/collect and full duplex tag ~5000-7000 juvenile lamprey and release into the lower Umatilla River to evaluate survival and passage routes at lower elevation diversions within the Umatilla River Basin to understand the impact these projects have on outmigrating juveniles.  Collaboration and cost-share among  CTUIR, NOAA, USBR and the US Army Corp will occur for this work element.  

In addition, CTUIR will continue contracting with Dr. Mary Moser to continue the development of methodology  and criteria needed to implement a lamprey artificial propagation plan.  This work is still in the initial stages and would have region-wide applicability.  CTUIR has a new laboratory in collaboration with Walla Walla Community College in Walla Walla, WA.  CTUIR will to continue use this facility to advance our work and would also continue to work collaboratively with Yakama Nation Fisheries, Mr. Ralph Lampman and Ann Gannam of the USFWS  on this objective.

Furthermore for 2017, CTUIR will work with CRITFC member tribes to continue the Council 3-step process for lamprey and development of a regional RME supplementation plan that will serve as the master plan for step 1 of the Council review process. A draft master plan was released in July 2016 for regional review.

The project has the following objectives for 2017 in the Umatilla River:
1.  Increase larval abundance in the Umatilla River by outplanting adult lampreys.
2.  Estimate lamprey abundance at index sites in the Umatilla River, and Meacham Creek.
3. Estimate the number of adult upmigrants entering the Umatilla River.
4. Estimate the number of outmigrating lamprey (larvae and metamorphosed) from the Umatilla River and continue juvenile PIT tag evaluations with detection equipment improvements at irrigation facilities.
5. Monitor migration to spawning behavior and passage routes over low-head irrigation diversions of Pacific lamprey using radio telemetry.
6.  Develop a regional RME supplementation plan and conduct the Council 3-step process for lamprey work (CRITFC member tribes collaboratively).
7.  Develop, design and implement adult Lamprey Passage Structures at selected irrigation diversion dams on the Umatilla River.
8.  Report results to the funding agency.
9.  Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and attend professional conferences.
10. Complete monitoringmethods.org protocols for related work elements.
11. Continue to advance preliminary work related to artificial propagation research.

The project has the additional following objectives for 2017 in the Grande Ronde River:
1. Increase larval abundance in the upper Grande Ronde  and tributaries by outplanting adult lampreys.
2. Establish and estimate lamprey abundance at index sites in the Grande Ronde River.
3. We will rely on mainstem dam counts at Lower Granite Dam to track Grande Ronde adult increases until counts significantly increase (<500 adults annually)
4. Coordinate with agencies that are operating outmigration screw traps and conducting salmonid spawning surveys to properly identify, and collect biological data for individuals sampled.
5. Collect tissue samples of all adults outplanted for SNP genetic parentatge analysis (in collaboration with CRITFC).
6. Report results to the funding agency.
7. Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and attend professional conferences to disseminate information gained.

GOAL
The overall goal of this research is to provide essential information through implementation of a recovery plan for Pacific lamprey in the CTUIR ceded area streams. In addition, research conducted by CTUIR staff has provided valuable information on the biology and ecology of Pacific lamprey throughout the CRB. These objectives will provide information that will be useful for restoration efforts elsewhere in the Columbia River Basin where lamprey may be declining or extirpated, such as the Grande Ronde as we have planned here.