Title: Wind River Watershed Project:

Objectives, Tasks, and Methods

OBJ 1.  Collaborate with WDFW to analyze steelhead adult, smolt, and parr data.
a) Provide technical assistance to WDFW for analyses
b) Conduct analyses for trend of populations, life history strategies expressed, and survival.

OBJ-2.  Produce 2006-07 Annual Report (draft to BPA 2 June 2007)

OBJ-3.  Continue to prepare a Scientific Findings Report (draft to BPA by 1 February 2008)

This report will have the following two chapters:
1) “Bioenergetics modeling to assess the energetic cost of Hemlock Dam on the growth potential of juvenile steelhead.” by Sauter and Connolly.
2) “Ecological Interactions between Hatchery Chinook and Wild Steelhead in the Wind River” by Jezorek and Connolly.


With additional funding becoming available for FY2008, some new and some reinstated objectives and tasks were added to this FY2008 Statement of Work (i.e., Objectives 4 and 5).  In addition to BPA funds made available through the US Forest Service ($55,000), the USGS-CRRL has contributed a matching amount of real dollars totaling $37,800.  The USGS-CRRL will also be contributing much in the way of equipment necessary to lead the fish rescue effort from Hemlock Lake to be staged just prior to the removal of Hemlock Dam.

All of the additional funding will go towards the pre-dam removal assessment effort.  Building on the sampling plan implemented since 1998, Objective 4 outlines the sampling effort directly compatible with prior year’s efforts, which will add to the replicate database that constitutes the pre-dam assessment.  Objective 5a and 5b represents alternatives, with the one being implemented dependent on the dam removal timing.  Objective 5a describes the fish rescue effort if the dam removal is done in 2008.  If the removal is delayed until 2009, Objective 5b will be implemented.  This same-cost, but alternative objective will allow us to get an additional PIT tag interrogation system (PTIS) in Martha Creek.  While it would have been good to have this PTIS in place this year, the funding and advance notice for permitting were not available to do so.  Martha Creek is considered a critical tributary of Trout Creek to monitor because of its location just downstream of Hemlock Dam.  Past data collections efforts suggest this stream is the recipient of adult steelhead spawners that did not want, or could not, ascend the Hemlock Dam fish ladder to reach natal areas in upper Trout Creek.  The hypothesis being tested regards the expectation that use of Martha Creek by steelhead for spawning would be reduced because of enhanced access to upper Trout Creek with the removal of Hemlock Dam.

OBJ-4:  Monitor physical habitat conditions and natural production of juvenile, smolt, and adult steelhead in the Trout Creek watershed.

  Task 4.1: Download and process stream temperature data from thermographs already in place in the Trout Creek watershed (n=12-15 sites) [Oct 2008]

  Task 4.2: Collect salmonids (juvenile steelhead, rainbow trout, and brook trout) in Trout Creek and tributaries, including Martha Creek and those above Hemlock Dam, for biological metrics and PIT tagging (expect to tag about 500 fish).  This will include efforts to detect, redetect, and recapture fish for growth, movement, and smolt survival information. [Jun-Sep 2008]

  Task 4.3: Snorkel five established 100-m sites in Trout Creek canyon for fish abundance. [Aug-Sep 2008]

  Task 4.4: Conduct fish abundance and density surveys in two established 100-m sites in Trout Creek. [Sep-Oct 2008]

The following objective depends on the removal of Hemlock Dam in 2008.

OBJ-5a: Conduct rescue fish collection effort in Hemlock Lake
  Task 5a.1: Obtain permits for collecting, sampling, transporting, and releasing fish. [May-July 2008]

  Task 5a.2: Conduct an intensive 2-4 day effort to collect fish in Hemlock Lake and hold 1-5 days while Hemlock Dam is being removed.  Fish will be transported in a safe location, upstream in Trout Creek, and not allowed to pass downstream while the dam is being removed.  This will require much in-kind USGS equipment to be used for this task, which is likely to include: electrofishing, fish detection systems, seines, snorkelers, and truck(s) made for hauling live fish. [Aug-Sep 2008]

The following objective will substitute for OBJ-5a if the removal of Hemlock Dam is delayed until 2009 (cost would be very similar).

OBJ-5b: Using PIT tag technology, assess adult steelhead use in Martha Creek and determine what portion of these fish were likely bound for Trout Creek above Hemlock Dam.

  Task 5b.1: Find site and secure a JARPA permit and other relevant permits. [July-August 2008]

  Task 5b.2: Install a PIT-tag interrogation system in Martha Creek. [September 2008]