After the construction of Grand Coulee and Chief Joseph dams in 1939 and 1956 respectively, the anadromous fishery above theses structures has been completely extirpated. The blocked area above these structures is totally dependant upon resident fish resources to support local fisheries and as a functioning component of the ecosystem. Target species include, but are not limited to, Kokanee Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Walleye (Stizostedion vitreum). Kokanee, or land locked sockeye salmon, are a species of special interest due to their historical significance to native cultures and to the functioning ecosystem in the affected area. Natural production Kokanee stocks in the blocked area are thought to be limited to tributary spawning stocks of the blocked area impoundments and upstream recruitment from major upstream tributaries to Lake Roosevelt. Scholz et al. (1985), Peone et al. (1989), Griffith and Scholz (1990), and McDowell and Griffith (1993), all identified annual water regimes as affecting hatchery Kokanee stocks in the blocked area.

Specifically, varying water regimes affect forage production, shoreline spawning and fish entrainment. However, little empirical data existed pertaining to natural production kokanee populations in Lakes Roosevelt and Rufus Woods. Specific stock origin, abundance, productivity, and adequate understanding of the environmental factors affecting recruitment of the natural production kokanee were lacking until the 1995 initiation of the Chief Joseph Kokanee Enhancement Project. The Chief Joseph Kokanee Enhancement Project (9501100) was accepted into the Northwest Power Planning Councils (NWPC) Fish and Wildlife Program in 1995.

Data analysis from 1995 to date has provided important information to fill identified data gaps, provide direction towards additional data collection and guidance to interim regulatory protection of the natural production kokanee. Spawning trend analysis indicates that adult spawning escapement levels are minimal and highly variable.  Current micro-satellite DNA analysis has identified six (6) distinct kokanee stocks within the blocked area (Leary. 1999), Shaklee and Young (2002), and Loxterman and Young (2003).

Early entrainment studies indicated that downstream entrainment was severe and identified the third power plant's power peaking operations as entraining the majority of the fish (85%) (LeCaire. 1999).  Following recommendations of the Independent Scientific Review Panel, the project refocused its efforts. The ISRP further suggested that a recent strobe light test in the Dworshak reservoir showed promise as a deterrent to entrainment. Project work with the  consensus of the Lake Roosevelt Fisheries Evaluation Team and the expertise of Pacific Northwest National Labs (Battelle)  has focused its work on conducting limited strobe light efficacy tests in the forebay area of Grand Coulee Dam.  Findings from strobe light work conducted during FY's 2000-2004 indicated that strobe light technology holds promise as a deterrent methodology, although the dramatic reduction in fish presence seen at Dworshak was not seen at Coulee.  Current project work is focused upon limited strobe light deployment at the entrance of a single turbine intake.

Future project work will continue to focus primarily upon strobe light deployment, continued adult recruitment, kokanee enhancement (hatchery supplementation and fry plants) and finalization of the genetic blueprint work.