A unique well coordinated standardized monitoring and evaluation program(s) exists in the Upper Columbia River Basin.  Monitoring and evaluation programs are funded by a combination of  federal (BPA, BOR, USFWS), State, Tribal, and regional (PUDs) entities.  WDFW will be the research lead for the project and obtain all necessary environmental compliance permits for the project.  Colville Confederated Tribes will be the primary contractor for the Okanogan Basin.  While all these various program contribute data to estimate VSP parameters for steelhead and spring Chinook salmon, these programs also share common deficiencies related to precision and accuracy of the abundance estimates.  Existing M & E activities combined with recent advances in PIT tag technology provide an opportunity to improve the quality of the data generated in order to make proper management decisions concerning ESA listed species.  The overall objectives of the project are to: 1) evaluate precision and accuracy of the smolt monitoring methodology for both steelhead and spring Chinook , 2) estimate the proportion of hatchery steelhead in each primary population, 3) estimate the precision of redd counts for both steelhead and spring Chinook and 4) evaluate the accuracy of the steelhead spawning ground survey design.  We also intend to conduct a steelhead radio telemetry study to independently validate estimates generated from PIT tags and to estimate steelhead population characteristics (overwinter survival, number of redds per female).  These tasks address in part or fully the critical uncertainties identified under Supplementation in the Columbia River Basin Research Plan (2006-03) and steelhead population characteristics (abundance, productivity, and ratio of hatchery fish) under the Fish and Wildlife Program.  Additionally, all of the studies in this proposal are directly consistent with RPAs for the FCRPS BiOp.

Additionally, in collaboration with PTAGIS managers and other researchers (e.g., Chris Jordan, NMFS; Pat Connolly, USGS) we will develop a request for proposals (i.e., subcontract) for the development of an automated process that would not only assist, but standardize how data from in-stream PIT tag arrays is analyzed.  Because many PIT tag arrays are already online with no efficient method of analyzing the data collected, we propose the scoping for the subcontract be conducted immediately and the project be completed the first year of the project.  The program would be developed in a common format (i.e., Access) and a suite of standardized queries would be available.  The program would be downloadable from the PTAGIS or other web sites and could be customized further if needed.

In summary, this project seeks to build on the existing programs in all the subbasins and provide information and equipment needed for long term monitoring of VSP parameters with a known level of accuracy and precision.

WDFW will be the research lead for the project and obtain all necessary environmental compliance permits for the project which includes CR-142326. Andrew Murdoch will be the point of contact for WDFW.  Colville Confederated Tribes (CCT) will be the primary contractor for the Okanogan Basin; CR-142326.  John Arteburn is the point of contact for the CCT.