This program is responsible for implementing fishery restoration projects for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes (SBT), and falls under the purview of the SBT's Fish and Wildlife Department. Projects are implemented within the Salmon River subbasin of the Snake River, in Idaho, and are aimed at enhancing tribal harvest opportunities for Chinook salmon and steelhead using a variety of supplementation methods.

During the contract period, we will develop an annual operations plan (AOP) for artificial propagation enhancement efforts in collaboration with the Snake/Salmon Basin hatchery AOP/SOP group. The program will also continue to collect baseline data on Chinook salmon and steelhead at Panther Creek, enhance Chinook salmon production in Panther and Dollar creeks, and enhance steelhead production in Panther Creek, Yankee Fork, and Indian Creek. Proposed enhancement of Chinook salmon and steelhead involves eyed-egg outplanting into remote site incubators (RSIs).

Proposed baseline data collection at Panther Creek in 2017 will involve Chinook salmon spawning ground surveys and electrofishing surveys. If we are able to acquire the required permits, which is contingent upon BPA's ongoing environmental compliance review of this and related Crystal Springs Hatchery Program actions, we will also install and operate a screw trap and PIT tag array.

Our program is also involved in Chinook salmon research and monitoring on the Yankee Fork Salmon River, which is currently funded by the Lower Snake River Compensation Plan (LSRCP). Ongoing enhancement efforts at Yankee Fork involve steelhead smolt releases, Chinook salmon smolt releases, and Chinook salmon adult outplants conducted in collaboration with LSRCP-funded Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) hatcheries. However, additional funds are needed for parentage-based tagging evaluations of juvenile and adult production arising from supplementation efforts.

In collaboration with IDFG's Eagle Fish Genetics Lab, we will conduct parentage-based tagging evaluations of Chinook salmon and steelhead enhancement efforts at Yankee Fork and Panther Creek, and prepare technical reports on these evaluations. We will also continue working in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station to conduct exploratory eDNA-based investigation of Chinook salmon distribution within the Panther Creek and Yankee Fork watersheds, finalize our program's Monitoring, Research, and Evaluation (MR&E) Plan, and work in coordination with the Crystal Springs Hatchery Program towards satellite facility infrastructure improvements at Yankee Fork and Panther Creek.