CCR-35004

No Cost Time Extension.

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%  CCR-33756:

This contract amendment will fund the University of Idaho to assist WDFW in the set up and tuning of 10 fixed radio telemetry sites in the upper Columbia Basin.  Over the next two years, WDFW will be conducting a steelhead radio telemetry study in order to validate PIT tag based escapement estimates and estimate overwinter mortality in the Columbia River and tributaries.  During the study period, University of Idaho will be subcontracted to assist in the radio tracking, data analysis and reporting.  



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Studies focused on developing models to estimate spring Chinook redd observer efficiency in the Wenatchee and Methow Basins have been completed under this project and model development is ongoing and will be implemented in 2014.  A key component to all these activities is the steelhead stock assessment work at Priest Rapids Dam during which a random sample of steelhead are PIT tagged.  Escapement estimates of wild steelhead in 2011 and 2012 suggested that a greater tag rate at Priest Rapids Dam (PRD) is needed to reduce uncertainty.  In response, we increased our sampling rate from 2 day per week to 3 days per week in 2013, with the goal of obtaining a 15% tag rate.  A total of 2,308 adult steelhead were tagged at PRD in 2013, amounting to a 13.4% tag rate.  The three day a week sampling scheme will continue in 2014. By 2015, we expect to have the PIT tag array infrastructure installed and complete, except in the Okanogan, and fully develop spring Chinook and steelhead redd observer efficiency models.  

Beginning in 2015, the focus of the project will shift to radio telemetry monitoring, using fish radio and PIT tagged at Priest Rapids Dam to validate PIT tag based estimates and estimate prespawn mortality for fish that spawn in the mainstem of the Wenatchee, Entiat, Methow, and Okanogan Rivers.  Under this contract we will fully prepare to conduct the radio telemetry project.  An initial batch of radio tags will be purchased, telemetry equipment (transceivers, fixed antennas, portable antennas) will be upgraded and standardized to operate at the new recommended frequency, and all other equipment for stationary and mobile tracking will be purchased and prepared for tracking beginning in July 2015.  Upgrading and standardizing all the telemetry equipment will provide for opportunities to collaborate with other studies occurring in the Upper and Mid-Columbia River basins, providing efficiencies for multiple ongoing studies.

WDFW will be the research lead for the project and obtain all necessary environmental compliance permits for the project which includes FY14 contract requisition #'s: 272836 and 272835. Andrew Murdoch will be the point of contact for WDFW.  Colville Confederated Tribes (CCT) will be the primary contractor for the Okanogan Basin; FY14 CR #: 272836.  John Arterburn is the point of contact for the CCT.

Background on the project:

A unique, well-coordinated and 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.    While all these various programs 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) estimate run escapement of hatchery and wild steelhead in each of the four primary populations, 2) estimate the precision of redd counts for both steelhead and spring Chinook and 3) evaluate the accuracy of the steelhead spawning ground survey design and determine the proportion of spawners outside the survey area.  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.  In 2015, we intend to initiate 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.

During the time period under this contract, WDFW will install a new permanent instream PIT tag detection site in the upper Chewuch River in the Methow Basin, the last permanent array in the Methow or Wenatchee River Basin to be installed under this project.  The upper Chewuch River site was scheduled to be installed under the previous contract; however, installation was delayed due to difficulties in obtaining the necessary USFS permits.  The remaining permit required to install the site should be obtained prior to initiation of this contract and the site will be installed as soon as river conditions allow. In addition, the Middle Wenatchee River instream PIT tag detection site was scheduled to be relocated under the previous contract.  The site was not relocated as the detection equipment available was not suitable for river conditions present at the proposed new site.  If further funding is obtained from outside sources a detection system may be installed at the proposed new site.  Also under this contract, WDFW will assume responsibility for the operation and maintenance of five permanent instream PIT tag detection sites in the Methow River basin.  These sites (Beaver Creek, Gold Creek, Libby Creek, Methow River at Winthrop and Chewuch River at Winthrop) were previously operated by USGS under contract with BOR.  WDFW will upgrade the exisiting monitoring equipment installed at Gold Creek and Libby Creek through funding obtained from other sources.  WDFW will also purchase multiple equipment items under this contract to serve as backups and/or replacements in the event of equipment malfunction of failure.  Having a stockpile of equipment on hand is crucial in maintaining instream PIT tag detection sites and will serve to limit any downtime due to equipment failure, thus maximizing operational time and data quality at all WDFW operated sites in the Upper Columbia River basin.