April 07, 2005
Bull Trout Assessments in Bonneville Reservoir
Statement of Work and Budget 2005

Old Contract Number:  16701

Technical Contact:  Steven W Gray, Project Manager
Washington State Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
2108 Grand Blvd., Vancouver, WA. 98661
(360) 906-6726, grayswg@dfw.wa.gov

Contracting Contact:  Ted Nelson, Deputy Contracts Officer
Washington State Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091
(360) 902-2401, nelsotfn@dfw.wa.gov

Financial Contact:  Karen Southwell, Fiscal Services
600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501
(360) 664-4993, southkjs@dfw.wa.gov

Project General Description
This project is an outgrowth of BPA Project # 1999-024-00 Bull Trout Assessments in the Columbia River Gorge.  Bull trout populations were located in the Klickitat River headwaters.  Bonneville Power had concerns how bull trout were being affected by Columbia River dam operations.  They suggested more of a focus on bull trout in the Columbia mainstem, particularly Bonneville Pool, and investigating movements of bull trout from the Klickitat system into the Columbia mainstem.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) determined on June 10, 1998 (USFWS, 1998) that Columbia and Klamath rivers contain distinct population segments of bull trout, which should be listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).  One factor leading to this decline is habitat fragmentation due to hydroelectric impoundments (Rieman and McIntyre 1993).  Hydroelectric dams such as Bonneville and Condit have isolated bull trout populations and prevented genetic exchange among populations.  This leads to increased risk of extinction from genetic factors and cataclysmic random events in these populations (Rieman and McIntyre, 1993).  Other limiting factors including habitat degradation, over-harvest, and exotic species introductions have also contributed to the decline of bull trout populations.  Spruell and Allendorf (1997) advocate that maintaining the genetic diversity of bull trout will require the continued existence of many distinct populations.

The USFWS issued a Biological Opinion on the effects of operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) on bull trout and white sturgeon in December of 2000.  The Biological Opinion prescribes a sequential approach for implementing measures that protect listed bull trout from FCRPS operations in the Lower Columbia River:  1) determine whether "significant" or "substantial" numbers of bull trout use the mainstem areas affected by the FCRPS, and if so, 2) determine the effects that those operations have on the bull trout occupying those areas.

Bull trout residing in Columbia River tributaries generally exhibit some form of migration, either fluvial or adfluvial (c.f. Thiesfeld 1996; Faler and Bair 1992; Schill et al. 1994; Brun and Dodson 2001; Hemmingsen et al. 2001).  However, the nature and extent of migrations to and from the Columbia River are generally not understood.  Additionally, life history of bull trout using the mainstem Columbia River for foraging and rearing is poorly understood.  The completion of hydroelectric dams on the lower Columbia River has had an unknown effect on bull trout.  At a minimum, these dams have impeded migrations, changed the habitat and prey base, and resulted in additional predators which may consume or compete with bull trout.  Between Bonneville Dam and the Snake River, bull trout populations exist in the Hood, Klickitat, John Day, Umatilla, and Yakima rivers.  Bull trout were historically present in the White Salmon River, but recent efforts to locate them there have been unsuccessful (Thiesfeld et al. 2002).  Bull trout in the Klickitat River inhabit the West Fork Klickitat River drainage, and that population is postulated to be comprised of resident fish (Thiesfeld et al. 2002).  Bull trout are occasionally captured in the mainstem Klickitat River, however, the origin of mainstem bull trout is still unknown.  Deschutes River bull trout were historically numerous and large fluvial fish (Ratliff et al. 1996).  Since termination of fish passage at the Pelton/Round Butte dam complex, bull trout are now seldom found below Sherars Falls (Steve Pribyl, ODFW, Personal Communication, 2002).  Reproducing populations of bull trout exist in Shitike Creek and Warm Springs River at a low abundance, and can still access the lower river.  Within Bonneville Reservoir, Hood River bull trout have been documented in the mainstem Columbia River at least three times.

Bull trout are caught on a regular, but infrequent, basis in Drano Lake and at the mouth of the Klickitat River by tribal and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) pikeminnow gillnetters.  Many others have been landed during recreational fisheries in and adjacent to these same areas.  Additional reports of landings from recreational fisheries have been documented in the Klickitat River main stem since 1990 and the most recent having been reported in 2003.  Some of these fish are of Hood River origin, as some of the fish were tagged at Powerdale Dam.  No effort has been undertaken to determine if all fish residing in Drano Lake or Bonneville Reservoir are of Hood River origin.  It is unknown whether bull trout attempt to migrate upstream or downstream in the Columbia River.  An eleven inch bull trout was captured in the Dalles Dam east fish ladder in December of 1997 (Bob Cordie, USACE, Personal Communication, 2003).  The most recent capture within the Lower Columbia system occurred March 21, 2005, when a 15.4 inch (39 cm) bull trout was captured at Bonneville Dam smolt by-pass monitoring facility (Dean Ballinger, PSMFC, Personal Communication, 2005).  Historical data from this facility documents bull trout/Dolley Varden passing through the ladders beginning in 1941 soon after the Dam was constructed, to the most recent sighting in March 2005.  Bull trout were occasionally captured by ODFW during studies to determine the extent of northern pikeminnow predation on juvenile salmonids.  These rare sightings were mostly near Bonneville Dam (1947) and in McNary Reservoir (Dave Ward, ODFW, Personal Communication, 2003).

Bull trout will be very difficult to capture in the mainstem Columbia River because they are so rare.  Incidental catch of listed steelhead and salmon will limit gear types, seasons, and locations.  Due to these uncertainties, we are proposing a tiered investigation into bull trout use of the mainstem Columbia River.  The first step is to determine the best way to look for such a rare fish in a place they are known to exist.  Secondly, we will utilize those results to determine the most efficient gear type(s) to use to determine the abundance in Bonneville Reservoir.  Finally, a systematic sampling regime would be proposed for the three remaining lower mainstem reservoirs.  This proposal addresses the first two steps in that process; a future proposal will address the systematic investigation.  Since bull trout are known to inhabit Drano Lake, we will test multiple sampling methods in the lake at times that bull trout are known to be there.  Based on our results, we will attempt to capture bull trout throughout the fall and winter to document their presence there.  We will then expand our search to the remainder of Bonneville Reservoir.  We will also attempt to determine if bull trout migrate out of the mainstem and up the Klickitat River, and whether Drano Lake and Bonneville Reservoir bull trout originate in Hood River or West Fork Klickitat River.  Investigations in the remaining lower Columbia River reservoirs would be addressed in a future proposal after an evaluation of methodology employed in this study.

These studies directly address amendments 10.5A.and 10.5A.6 of the Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program by providing scientific information that will help protect and restore weak stocks of native bull trout in Washington's section of the Columbia Gorge.  The WDFW and YIN will cooperatively conduct this work.  We will cooperate with similar efforts in eastern and central Oregon, and the Willamette River by ODFW and others.  The need for updated distribution of bull trout information has been specifically identified in the fish and wildlife status sections of both the White Salmon and Klickitat River Sub-basin Summaries.  Continued bull trout assessment is called for in the Objectives and Research Monitoring and Evaluation Activities sections of the White Salmon and Klickitat River Sub-basin Summaries; and is also noted in the Fish and Wildlife Needs portions of those documents.  The importance of bull trout as a threatened species has led to the drafting of a Bull Trout Recovery Plan for the Lower Columbia River.  This plan was developed through a task force headed by the USFWS with participation of WDFW, PacifiCorp, and the USFS.  This plan was completed 11/29/2002 and is currently in Draft form for review and public comments (http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plans/2002/021129.pdf).

By providing basic information on life history, ecology, and genetics of bull trout, this study will contribute to management, preservation and restoration of bull trout populations throughout the Columbia Basin.  It also augments other bull trout recovery programs on the Willamette/McKenzie, Hood, and Northeast and Central Oregon sub-basins.  This project would implement the following actions required by the December 2000 USFWS FCRPS Biological Opinion (BiOp) for bull trout:  10.A.2.1:  Determine the extent of bull trout use of the Lower Columbia River affected by the FCRPS.
11.A.2.1.c:  …estimate the annual population size of bull trout migrating to and from the Lower Columbia River reservoirs, and develop abundance trends over time.
11.A.2.1.d:  …cooperate in studies to determine the movements of bull trout from the Hood River and other tributaries into Bonneville Dam reservoir.  

Unfortunately, due to the hiring freeze and personnel vacancies, the only action completed in 2004 was the trap modification at Lyle Falls and monitoring thereof.  The entire 2004 spring time frame for peak bull trout movements and sampling was missed and no work was able to be completed in this realm.  To date there have been two sightings of bull trout in the YKFP screw trap at Castile Falls and one bull trout captured at Bonneville Dam, smolt monitoring facility.


References
Brun, C.V., and R.D. Dodson. 2001. Bull trout distribution and abundance in the waters on and bordering the Warm Springs Reservation. Project Number 199405400. Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation. 2000 Annual Report. Prepared for U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon.

Ballinger, Dean.  Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission, Smolt Monitoring Program. 2005.
Cordie, R. USACE Personal Communication.  2003.

Faler, M.P., and T.B. Bair. 1992. Migration and distribution of adfluvial bull trout in Swift Reservoir, North Fork Lewis River and Tributaries. Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Wind River Ranger District, Carson, Washington. Unpublished manuscript.

Hemmingsen, A.R., S.L. Gunckel, and P.J. Howell. 2001. Bull trout life history, genetics, habitat needs, and limiting factors in central and northeast Oregon. 1999 Annual Report. Prepared for U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration. Project Number 199405400. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Portland.

Pribyl, S. ODWF, Personal Communication.  2002.

Ratliff, D.E., S.L. Thiesfeld, W.G. Weber, A.M. Stuart, M.D. Riehle, and D.V. Buchanan. 1996. Distribution, life history, abundance, harvest, habitat, and limiting factors of bull trout in the Metolius River and Lake Billy Chinook, Oregon, 1983-94. Information Report 96-7. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Portland.

Rieman, B.E., and J.D. McIntyre. 1993. Demographic and habitat requirements for conservation of bull trout. General Technical Report INT-302, USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, Utah.

Schill, D.J., R. Thurow, and P.K. Kline. 1994. Seasonal movement and spawning mortality of fluvial bull trout in Rapid River, Idaho. Job Performance Report, Wild Trout Evaluations. Job 2. Project F-73-R-15. Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise.

Spruell P., and F.W. Allendorf. 1997. Nuclear DNA analysis of Oregon bull trout. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Report 97/5. Portland, Oregon.

Thiesfeld, S.L., A.M. Stuart, D.E. Ratliff, and B.D. Lampman. 1996. Migration patterns of adult bull trout in the Metolius River and Lake Billy Chinook, Oregon. Information Report 96-1. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Portland.

Thiesfeld, S.L., R. McPeak, B.S. McNamara, and I. Honanie. 2002. Bull trout population assessment in the White Salmon and Klickitat rivers, Columbia River Gorge, Washington. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Confederated Tribes and Bands, Yakama Nation. 2001 Annual Report. Prepared for U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon.

United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 1998. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; determination of threatened status for the Klamath River and Columbia River distinct population segments of bull trout. Federal Register, vol. 63 111:31647-31674.

Ward, D. ODFW, Personal Communication.  2003.