BACKGROUND:
In 1992, Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook salmon were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA; NMFS 1992). Idaho and Oregon state, tribal, and federal fish managers met during 1993 and 1994 to discuss captive culture research and the implementation of strategies to boost abundance of wild populations in the Snake River basin. Flagg and Mahnken (1995) provided an initial literature review of captive rearing technology, which provided the foundation for the program design. Using this work, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) captive rearing program for Salmon River Chinook salmon was initiated to further develop this technology. It was designed to be small in scale and a less invasive rearing technique for populations at risk, since it involved collecting a small number of juveniles or eggs from the natural environment and theoretically it would avoid the impacts of multi-generational hatchery culture described in Reisenbichler and Rubin (1999). This research program was developed cooperatively with state, tribal, and federal fish managers, and used an adaptive management approach through all phases of development of the program.

The IDFG captive rearing program was developed to evaluate a new strategy to offset major sources of mortality in the natural environment and increase the number of naturally spawning adults in three select populations in the upper Salmon River drainage: the West Fork Yankee Fork (WFYF), Lemhi River (LEM), and East Fork Salmon River (EFSR) (Figure 1). These streams were chosen because in 1995 their total wild adult spawner abundances had dropped to record lows of ten, zero, and eleven Chinook salmon in the LEM, WFYF, and EFSR; respectively (NOAA Fisheries Interior Columbia Technical Recovery Team [ICTRT] unpublished data, IDFG unpublished data). These streams were also selected because spawning habitat quality was considered to be relatively pristine with minimal anthropogenic land use practices and disturbances. The IDFG captive rearing program started in 1995 in all three study streams, but the focus of releases and monitoring efforts in each stream changed through time.

CURRENT STATUS (Contract Work Description):
The last year of fieldwork on this project concludes on September 30, 2014.  

During this contract (October 1, 2014 - September, 2015), calendar year 2014 data will be summarized, analyzed, and incorporated into the following 3 reports:
   • 2014 BiOp RPA Report
   • 2014 BPA RM&E Report
   • 2014 Annual Progress Report

In addition, a Completion Report will also be written during this contract period summarizing the program's background, methods, and major findings.