I. Project Goal

To preserve the genetic variability and enhance the population size of the depressed spring chinook salmon populations in Catherine Creek and the Upper Grande Ronde River using a hatchery program based on the indigenous stock.

II. Background

The ceded lands and usual and accustomed fishing sites in northeast Oregon of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) include areas where fish and wildlife populations have been negatively affected by the construction and operation of mainstem Columbia and Snake River dams. CTUIR is seeking restoration of these populations.  

The CTUIR, Nez Perce Tribe (NPT), and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) are cooperating in a Grande Ronde Endemic Spring Chinook Salmon Supplementation Program (GRESCSP) to increase natural production and eventually allow harvest of spring chinook salmon in the Grande Ronde River basin. This integrated salmon program uses captive and conventional broodstock artificial propagation components in order to prevent extinction, supplement natural production and restore productive fisheries in currently underutilized habitat in the Grande Ronde River basin. A comprehensive plan developed by comanagers to more functionally combine and integrate the captive brood and conventional components of the program was completed in 1998. All aspects of the GRESCSP are fully integrated with the Lower Snake River Compensation Plan (LSRCP).  Project activities are incorporated into the LSRCP/BPA Annual Operations Plan.

The GRESCSP is an extension of the LSRCP which has temporarily changed the emphasis of its spring chinook programs from mitigation to conservation.  Grande Ronde Basin tributaries currently being targeted for spring chinook supplementation under LSRCP include the upper Grande Ronde River, Catherine Creek and the Lostine River.  The primary focus of this project is the programs directed at Catherine Creek and the upper Grande Ronde River which lie within the ceded lands boundary of CTUIR.

The captive broodstock component of the program was initiated by NPT and ODFW in 1995 under initial funding from LSRCP.  CTUIR became involved in the program in late 1996.  Naturally-produced juvenile salmon are captured from three tributaries of the Grande Ronde River (Catherine Creek, upper Grande Ronde, and Lostine rivers) and then reared to maturity and spawned in captivity. Spawning of mature captive brood fish began in 1998.  Final rearing of these captive broodstock progeny occurs at Lookingglass Hatchery.  Smolts are then transferred back to their stream of origin for acclimation and release.

The conventional broodstock component of the program began in 1997 on the same three Grande Ronde tributaries.  Naturally-produced adult spring chinook salmon are captured at weirs on these tributaries and taken to Lookingglass Hatchery for spawning. CTUIR operates the adult collection weirs in the upper Grande Ronde River and Catherine Creek for population monitoring and collection of conventional broodstock. Due to low numbers of returning adults, no conventional broodstock were spawned from either Catherine Creek or the upper Grande Ronde River until 2001.  As with the captive brood portion of the program, final rearing of the conventional progeny is expected to occur at Lookingglass Hatchery.  Smolts will then be transferred back to their stream of origin for acclimation and release.

CTUIR operates juvenile acclimation facilities for spring chinook salmon in the upper Grande Ronde River and Catherine Creek. The first juveniles produced from the program were1998 brood captive brood progeny which were acclimated and released in 2000(37,980 smolts CC and 1,508 smolts GR).  In 2001 we released 136,674 smolts from the Catherine Creek facility and 2,608 smolts from the Upper Grande Ronde facility.  In 2002 we released 180,343 smolts from the Catherine Creek facility and 151,444 smolts from the Upper Grande Ronde facility.  In 2003 we released 129,756 smolts from the Catherine Creek facility and 237,800 smolts from the Upper Grande Ronde facility.  In 2004 we released 163,372 smolts from the Catherine Creek facility and 148,804 smolts from the Upper Grande Ronde facility.   In 2005 we released 189,580 smolts from the Catherine Creek facility and 105,418 smolts from the Upper Grande Ronde facility.

III. Current

Approximately 70,000 smolts are expected to be acclimated and released from the Catherine Creek facility and 17,000 smolts from the Upper Grande Ronde facility in 2006.  Adult facilities will be in place to capture as many returning adults as possible and transport a portion to Lookingglass Hatchery for broodstock (up to broodstock needs).  Maintenance will be conducted on both facilities when needed.  Assistance during spawning activities (spawning ground surveys, spawn at Lookingglass and Bonneville) will be provided to ODFW.  Project administration and coordination will occur throughout the year.

IV. Location of Project

The project is located in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon.  The Catherine Creek Acclimation Facility is at river mile 29 (rkm 47.5) of Catherine Creek (HUC 17060104).  The Catherine Creek Adult Collection Facility is at river mile 20 (rkm 33.0) of Catherine Creek (HUC 17060104).
The Grande Ronde Acclimation Facility is at river mile 199 (rkm 319.4) of the Grande Ronde River (HUC 17060104).  The Grande Ronde Adult Collection Facility is at river mile 191 (rkm 307.4) of the Grande Ronde River

V. BPA-Furnished Property

BPA will provide all required water right permits from Oregon Water Resources (water rights) and instream work permits from the Division of State Lands for all facilities.
1. Catherine Creek acclimation water right and intake maintenance
2. Catherine Creek adult weir maintenance.
3. Upper Grande Ronde acclimation water right and intake maintenance.
4. Upper Grande Ronde adult weir maintenance.

In 2002 the project was divided into 2 separate contracts, Operations and Maintenance and Monitoring and Evaluation.