White sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus, like many sturgeon species worldwide, have suffered declines in abundance and distribution. The subpopulation of white sturgeon in the upper Columbia River above Grand Coulee Dam is classified as Critically Endangered (CE) by the IUCN and listed as endangered under the Canadian Species At Risk Act (SARA) due to persistent recruitment failure. Recruitment failure in the upper Columbia River between Grand Coulee and Hugh Keenleyside dams (the Transboundary Reach) white sturgeon population was first documented during studies conducted in the early 1990’s in the Canadian portion of the Reach (the Keenleyside Reach). Similar results were obtained in 1998 in the Washington
portion of the Reach (the Roosevelt Reach).

In response to increasing concerns over the threat of extinction, the Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative (UCWSRI) was formed in 2000. The UCWSRI is an international organization with members from state, provincial, and federal fisheries agencies, Canadian First Nations, U.S. Tribes, and industrystakeholders in British Columbia and Washington State. The Initiative produced an Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Plan (UCWSRP) that is compatible with the ESA and SARA legislation. The goal of the UCWSRI, as defined in the UCWSRP, “is to ensure the persistence and viability of naturally reproducing populations of white sturgeon in the upper Columbia River and restore opportunities for beneficial use if feasible.”

The White Sturgeon Enhancement Project (WSEP) is a new project (in 2012) that was identified in the 2008 Fish Accords Memorandum of Agreement between the Colville Confederated Tribes (CCT) and the FCRPS Action Agencies. The project is intended to complement the existing recovery effort by addressing factors limiting recruitment of white sturgeon in the Transboundary Reach. This will be achieved by implementing the UCWSRP in direct coordination with the UCWSRI partners and Lake Roosevelt Co-Managers. Thus, the project goal is that of the UCRWSRI (above). The project specific objectives are consistent with the short- and medium-term objectives in the UCWSRP. The CCT WSEP objectives are to 1) monitor the status and trend of the Transboundary Reach white sturgeon population, and 2) identify factors limiting natural recruitment of white sturgeon in the Transboundary Reach.

In 2012, we will participate in upper Columbia River basin white sturgeon recovery processes and develop a sediment facies mapping study plan for implementation in 2012 pending favorable ISRP review of our 2013-2017 project proposal. We will participate in the UCWSRI Technical Working Group (TWG), as well as provide review of project proposals and reports through the UCWSRI TWG.  We will also purchase equipment and attend training so we are ready to implement the project following the ISRP review.