The Chief Joseph Kokanee Enhancement Project continues to investigate limiting factors that affect natural production, monitoring juvenile production and supplementing eyed eggs and fry as a stop gap measure until natural production meets managers goals in the Sanpoil River.  This years objectives include:

1) Develop and implement a predator reduction plan in the Sanpoil Basin
2) Determine the extent to which juvenile kokanee and rainbow trout migrate out of the Sanpoil River.  
3) Determine adult escapement in Sanpoil River and Barnaby Creek and investigate Lake Roosevelt shoreline spawning.
4) Determine available habitat in Barnaby Creek.  


In 2009 and 2010, the CJKEP and EWU investigated the impact predators have on out migrating juvenile salmonids in the Sanpoil basin.  The results indicated that both predators could potential engulf the entire juvenile RBT population and also the KOK population.  This year based on these two years worth of data, we plan to initiate a predator removal program that will reduce the population of walleye and potentially smallmouth bass in the Sanpoil River.  The project will first create a plan that is acceptable to both CCT and WDFW and also meets environmental compliance and COTR approval.  Once the plan is developed and approved, the project will begin implementing the reduction plan.  

In 2010, the Sanpoil River weir collected a large run of kokanee salmon.  In 2011 the Sanpoil River will be surveyed using screw traps for juvenile migrations while also monitoring adult migrations that are expected to return as a result of fry and yearling plants from previous years.

Recent genetics research conducted by Kassler et al. (2010) indicated an in basin stock unique to Lake Roosevelt itself and different from other Upper Columbia sources.  This supports the fact that a wild, independent and self sustaining kokanee population exists.  Since tributary spawning is very low, lake spawning could explain the sustained survival of wild Lake Roosevelt kokanee.  In 2011, the CCT will continue investigate potential areas using existing videography to identify  gravelly/rocky areas on the shoreline of the Sanpoil bay and areas below Keller Ferry to Grand Coulee Dam.  We will also assess groundwater inflow using videography taken when the reservoir was at its lowest.  Areas that display suitable spawning habitat and ground water inflow will be surveyed using a combination of scuba, video, and gill nets to detect beach spawners.

Habitat analysis will be performed in Barnaby Creek using the modified OBMAP protocols and carrying capacity will be determined.  We will also continue to monitor adult escapement into Barnaby Creek.  The Barnaby Creek fishway should be complete by spring 2011 that should improve adult migrations into the creek.  


In addition to the objectives above, the project will support artificial production efforts in the Sanpoil River.  In 2009, the CCT Fish and Wildlife Department funded the hatchery operations at the WDFW's Colville Hatchery to support fisheries on the North Half Reservation and in the Sanpoil River.  Within this contract, the state has agreed to obtain 500,000 kokanee eggs purchased by this project from Meadow Creek, British Columbia and transport them to the Colville Hatchery. However, if Meadow Creek eggs are unavailable the tribe will accept Whatcom eggs in replace.  Both of these stocks have been planted in FDR before by the Spokane Tribal Hatchery.  At the hatchery two groups each of 250,000 will be otolith marked (differently) at the eyed egg stage.  The first group of 250,000 will be directly planted in the  Sanpoil River at the eyed egg stage using egg tubes buried 8-10" below the surface substrate.  The other 250,000 will be raised at the hatchery and released in the Sanpoil River as spring fry.  The only funding support required from this project is the purchase of eggs from Canada or WDFW,  egg tubes for seeding and support costs to prep, complete and monitor the seeding site.