The Anadromous Fish Program (AFP) is responsible for implementing five fishery restoration projects for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes (Tribes) Fish and Wildlife Department (Department).  All of these projects are implemented in the Salmon River basin, with one project occurring in the South Fork Salmon River basin, and four in the upper Salmon River basin.  Each fishery restoration project was developed to help the Department meet Tribal harvest, cultural, and conservation objectives.  These projects are implemented in coordination with several other projects which focus on improving freshwater rearing habitats and that allows us to maximize benefits in specific watersheds (i.e., Yankee Fork Salmon River and Panther Creek).

During the performance period, the AFP will finalize the Narrative Proposal, Monitoring, Research, and Evaluation (MR&E) Plan, and assist with planning the Crystal Springs Fish Hatchery (FH) Program and associate satellite facilities (i.e., Yankee Fork and Panther Creek).  With these funds, the AFP will primarily focus on collecting baseline data for the Panther Creek Chinook Salmon Project.  In addition, we intend to investigate the feasibility of using DNA markers to monitor and evaluate our projects (e.g., Steelhead Streamside Incubation Project).  And lastly, we will assist as needed in Yankee Fork with the Yankee Fork Chinook Salmon Project, Steelhead Streamside Incubation Project, and Yankee Fork Steelhead Project, and help as needed to implement the Chinook Salmon Egg Incubation Project.

The Panther Creek and Yankee Fork Chinook Salmon Projects are components of the Crystal Springs FH Program.  Crystal Springs FH, although not yet constructed, is being constructed to produce 1,000,000 Chinook salmon smolts for the AFP.  The plan is to release 400,000 summer Chinook salmon smolts in Panther Creek and 600,000 spring Chinook salmon smolts in Yankee Fork.  The AFP will provide input, guidance, and reviews on all documents pertaining to the design and construction of the Crystal Springs FH and Panther Creek and Yankee Fork Satellite Facilities.

The Panther Creek Chinook Salmon Project was initiated in 2010 with the collection of baseline data.  We intend to continue the collection of baseline data, which will be instrumental for MR&E and informing management decisions.  In 2014, the AFP will (1) finalize the section of the MR&E Plan that addresses this project; (2) conduct salmon spawning ground surveys; (3) conduct electrofishing surveys; (4) plan the installation and operation of the Panther Creek rotary screw trap; (5) plan the installation and operation of the Panther Creek PIT tag array; (6) plan the installation and operation of the Panther Creek picket weir; and (7) assist with hatchery planning activities associated with the development and construction of the Crystal Springs FH Program and Panther Creek Satellite Facility.

The Yankee Fork Chinook Salmon Project was initiated in 2006 with the collection of baseline data.  The majority of project activities are funded by the Lower Snake River Compensation Plan (LSRCP), but additional funds are needed to fully MR&E the project.  With BPA funds we intend to (1) finalize the section of the MR&E Plan that addresses the project; (2) conduct electrofishing surveys to assist with the "Nutrient Enrichment Study" (e.g., live and dead carcass outplants); (3) assist with hatchery planning activities associated with the development and construction of the Crystal Springs FH Program and Yankee Fork Satellite Facility; and (4) fund our graduate research project at Idaho State University to address project-related research questions.  

The Steelhead Streamside Incubation Project was initiated in 1995.  A total of 1,000,000 eyed-eggs are annually outplanted into Yankee Fork (500K), Panther Creek (400K), and Indian Creek (100K).  MR&E activities associated with the Yankee Fork and Panther Creek Chinook Salmon Projects complement this project.  Since the Yankee Fork Chinook Salmon Project has most of the infrastructure necessary to MR&E this project and data collection is underway, we plan to assist that project as needed to acquire the steelhead information to MR&E this project.  The Panther Creek Chinook Salmon Project is not fully developed nor is the sampling fully underway, but we intend to use the electrofishing data collected in Panther Creek to help MR&E this project.  Once the Panther Creek Chinook Salmon Project is fully developed (e.g., weir, array, screw trap, etc), we will extract steelhead information to fully MR&E the this project in Panther Creek.  MR&E for Indian Creek will not start until the MR&E Plan is completed.  With BPA funds, we intend to (1) finalize the section of the MR&E Plan that addresses the project; and (2) fund a genetics research project to test the feasibility of using genetics markers to monitor and evaluate the project.

The Chinook Salmon Egg Incubation Project was initiated in 1997.  A total of 300,000 eyed-eggs are annually outplanted into Dollar Creek, a tributary of the South Fork Salmon River.  Funds are included in this contract to: (1) finalize the section of the MR&E Plan that addresses this project.

The Yankee Fork Steelhead Project was initiated in 2001 and is currently funded through the LSRCP.  The Tribes will continue to seek full operation and maintenance and monitoring and evaluation funds from the LSRCP to successfully implement this project.  However funds are included in this contract to (1) finalize the section of the MR&E Plan that addresses this project and (2) assist with design criteria of the Yankee Fork Satellite Facility weir to accommodate trapping adult steelhead.