Contract Background Section:

This project is a small-scale supplementation initiative designed to increase the survival of a weak but recoverable spawning aggregate of summer chinook salmon.  The goal of this project is to prevent the extirpation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed Johnson Creek summer chinook and begin their recovery through supplementation.  This project is permitted by the NOAA Fisheries to rear up to 110,000 chinook salmon smolts for release back into Johnson Creek over the next five (5) years.  This level of supplementation will be evaluated during this period to determine the success of the spawning supplementation adult salmon.  Supplementation under this project is planned for a minimum of five (5) salmon generations or 25 years.

The Johnson Creek Artificial Propagation Enhancement Project meets the intent of RPA 177, which calls on BPA to implement and sustain National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries approved safety net projects.  This action funds the actual implementation and operation of a safety net project.  The obligation to fund the safety net program, including operation and maintenance (O&M), monitoring and evaluation (M&E), will continue indefinitely, as circumstances warrant (2000 FCRPS Biological Opinion).  This may include continuing supplementation projects that meet the intent of the safety net program.   The Johnson Creek Artificial Propagation Enhancement project, a safety net project, utilizes existing hatchery facilities to conduct salmon supplementation of up to 110,000 smolts per year.  The Johnson Creek Artificial Propagation Enhnacement Project is the only chinook salmon supplementation project in the Salmon River Basin.  The Johnson Creek Artificial Propagation Enhancement Project has been issued an ESA Section 10 permit (Permit number 1250) by NOAA Fisheries to conduct salmon supplementation activites through 2010.

This contract will provide funds to:
·        Conduct Salmon Supplementation of the Johnson Creek Summer Chinook Salmon, a safety net program;
·        Provide for administrative oversight of the project; and
·        Share project results through Reports and Presentations

In 2006, installation and operation of an adult chinook salmon weir and trap will continue with the collection of brood stock for use in the Johnson Creek Artificial Propagation Enhancement Project.  Juvenile salmon (smolts) from the 2004 brood year will be released back into Johnson Creek in March of 2006.  Juvenile salmon from the 2005 brood year will continue to be reared at the McCall Fish Hatchery.  These fish will be marked with CWT and VIE tags in the later part of the year.  An MOU between BPA, the USFWS, IDFG and NPT will be completed in 2006.

-         Operate adult salmon trap on Johnson Creek.
-         Collect and spawn up to 40 pairs of adult salmon.
-         Release 85,000 brood year 2004 smolts back into Johnson Creek.
-         Rear up to 110,000 brood year 2005 juveniles at the McCall Fish Hatchery.
-         Finalize McCall Fish Hatchery MOU.
-         Prepare Brood Year 2004 Annual Report and 2005 Adult Trapping Report.

Since 1998, salmon supplementation has been occurring on Johnson Creek.  This action was taken to begin the recovery of the Johnson Creek spawning aggregate.  The JCAPE project has worked with IDFG and USFWS to rear a limited number of smolts each year at the McCall Fish Hatchery.  The JCAPE project is allowed to rear up to 100,000 Johnson Creek smolts to at the McCall Fish Hatchery.  A formal agreement between these agencies and BPA needs to be finalized in 2006 for the next five years.  Brood stock has been collected in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.  Smolts from brood stock collection have been released in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.  The O&M program is currently rearing fish from brood years from 2004 and 2005.