PROJECT TITLE:  Status of Pacific Lamprey in the Clearwater River Drainage, Idaho  

GOAL:  The overall goal of the FY07 project is to summarize and report on field work completed during the duration of the project, 2000-2006.  This year's work will focus on preparation of three comprehensive final documents; a summarization of all field work, a scientific findings publication describing the status and distribution of Pacific lamprey in the Clearwater River drainage, and a conservation plan for future management of Pacific lamprey in Idaho.

PURPOSE:  The preservation of present levels of Pacific lamprey in Idaho is important for the continual existence of this species until the migrational corridor problems associated with dams on the lower Snake River and lower Columbia River are corrected.  Understanding population composition of young lamprey, distribution in Idaho, habitat utilization, and migrational periodicity will provide for more exact management to perpetuate this species.  Without this knowledge critical rearing and spawning habitat may be lost forever.  During the past seven years, the project has identified status and life history characteristics of Pacific lamprey throughout the Salmon and Clearwater rivers.  From information collected, it appears that Pacific lamprey distribution is severely depressed when compared to historical information.  The intent of this year's efforts is to summarize all data collected and develop a comprehensive conservation plan to address limiting factors and necessary actions to be implemented to insure continual existence of the fish species in Idaho.