BACKGROUND

Habitat degradation/alteration and widespread stocking of non-native species have resulted in fish assemblages in the Pend Oreille subbasin that are drastically different from pre-development native communities. Native fish have been displaced throughout much of their historic habitat by non-natives. Dams on the Pend Oreille River have created habitat suitable for warm-water species. The objectives of this project focus on implementing measures incorporated into the Council's 1995 Program: 1) restoring tributary populations of native cutthroat and bull trout, and 2) enhancing the largemouth bass population to provide a quality sport and subsistence fishery in the reservoir. Stream habitat and fish assessments were initiated in 1995. Based on recommendations from these assessments, tributary restoration projects started in 1996. In 2002, overall fish densities in the restored tributary sites increased 47%; however, non-native species accounted for much of the increase. Therefore, tributary restoration efforts were more focused on non-native species removals. Non-native brook trout removal has been conducted in the upper West Branch LeClerc Creek watershed since 2002.  From 2002 to 2004, 8,468 brook trout have been removed from 10.2 Km of stream in the upper West Branch LeClerc Creek watershed.  In 1997, artificial structures were placed in four reservoir sloughs to provide overwinter cover for juvenile largemouth bass. Largemouth bass habitat enhancement has resulted in a significant increase in juvenile relative abundance. Prior to structure placement, seven total juveniles were captured in the sloughs; abundance increased in 2004 to 71 juveniles.

In summary, the Kalispel Natural Resource Department's plan for recovering native salmonid populations is:

1. Perform baseline stream habitat and fish population assessments to determine current distribution and abundance and identify core watersheds where recovery efforts will be focused.
2. Work to protect existing native populations and good habitat through participation in regional policy setting groups and consultation with area land, fish, and wildlife management agencies.
3. Pursue funding from various sources and participate jointly with other agencies in watershed restoration projects.
4. Implement instream and riparian restoration in identified recovery areas.
5. In recovery areas with non-native populations, relocate native species, treat streams to remove non-native species, and translocate genetically identical or similar native fish from sister watersheds.
6. Monitor restoration and adapt management plans if needed.

OBJECTIVES

1. Conduct habitat and fisheries assessments in tributaries to the Pend Oreille River that are third order or larger.

2.  Develop recommendations for and implement additional enhancement.

3.  Monitor and evaluate habitat enhancement projects.

4.  Maintain habitat enhancement structures

5.  Reduce competition between non-native and native salmonids

6.  Monitor and evaluate warmwater habitat enhancement project.

APPROACH

Baseline fish surveys are completed to provide information on fish species distribution and relative abundance.  Fish habitat surveys are conducted to collect information used to assess what habitat attributes may be limiting fish abundance.  Habitat assessments also provide the information needed to identify reaches where restoration activities are needed, prioritize those stream reaches, and which habitat restoration techniques are appropriate.   Once a stream reach is selected for restoration, an analog approach is used to design the project.   Attributes (e.g. LWD size and frequency, channel dimensions, substrate size distribution, residual pool volume) are measured in a reference (relatively unimpacted) reach to provide a model for the restoration reach.  Bankfull depth and water surface slope required to move the largest particle size, and shear stress are calculated to validate the restoration design.  Prior to placement of instream structures, channel cross sections are measured to establish pre-implementation profile; each site is benchmarked and effectivness monitoring will be conducted at these same sites.  Brook trout are removed with a backpack electrofisher from streams in the upper West Branch LeClerc Creek Watershed. During the first year implementing brook trout removal in a tributary stream, two passes are made throughout the stream upstream to a point where brook trout are no longer captured over a 200 m section (i.e. either no fish or only native cutthroat trout are captured).  At the downstream starting point in each tributary, the channels are steep and confined; prior to initiating removals, small falls or cascades are armored with large boulders to try to limit re-invasion of brook trout.  When two passes are made during the initial treatment year, nets are used to block off 100 m sections and prevent escapement from the treatment area.  Since electrofishing is ineffective at capturing most YOY, single pass electrofishing is conducted the year following initial treatement in a tributary.  Warmwater habitat enhancements are electrofished (by boat) in April and November of each year.  Each slough where structures were placed is electrofished for 300 seconds along a marked transect.  Juvenile and adult largemouth bass relative abundance and species composition are analyzed for each sampling period.