The Yakima/Klickitat Fisheries Project (YKFP) is a long-term, co-managed, multi-species, interdisciplinary project designed to restore anadromous fish populations to the Yakima and Klickitat watersheds by artificial production and strategic habitat actions. A key science component of the YKFP is testing whether supplementation of upper Yakima spring chinook salmon can be used to increase harvest and natural production while maintaining the long-term genetic fitness of the fish population being supplemented and keeping adverse genetic and ecological interactions with non-target species or stocks within acceptable limits.

The YKFP is designed to determine whether it is possible to change hatchery practices so that adjacent natural spawning populations of salmon receive biological benefits from a hatchery program. The project is also examining whether these same hatchery practices can be managed to limit deleterious impacts on non-enhanced fish populations. More specifically, the YKFP is testing whether “artificial propagation [can be used] to increase natural production while maintaining the long term fitness of the target population, and keeping the ecological and genetic impacts on non-target populations within specified biological limits” (RASP 1992). In addition, increasing harvest opportunities for tribal and non-tribal fishers is also part of the overall goal. In short, the YKFP is attempting to quantify the ecological and genetic benefits and costs of supplementation.

The YKFP partially or wholly addresses the three key limiting factors in the Yakima Subbasin Plan Supplement: 1) habitat, 2) population performance and response, and 3) institutional efficiency. Section 3.2.2, Page 26, Table 8 identifies “Objectives and the Implementable Strategies” of population performance and response. The objectives are:

1)    Restore existing populations to their former range, maintain genetic, and spatial diversity.
2)    Improve understanding of population dynamics and the negative and positive effects of artificial population management (production hatchery, supplementation programs, and physical transfer of fish).
3)    Manage appropriate populations for harvest and all populations for sustainability over the long term.
4)    Reduce competitive effects with non-native and hatchery reared fish.
5)    Restore extirpated populations.

Strategies include:

1)    Continue YKFP supplementation experiments and habitat restoration.
2)    Monitor population productivity, abundance, and life history and habitat restoration.
3)    Continue and enhance the YKFP programs for spring and fall chinook, coho reintroduction, kelt reconditioning and others.

If any fish are transported to Cle Elum Dam, BOR will cover the costs.