About this contract:

Through BPA project #2010-034-00, this contract provides funding to expand PIT array infrastructure within the Okanogan subbasin to complete coverage of the entire Upper Columbia ESU for summer steelhead. This PIT array system is used for a multitude of monitoring and evaluation efforts. Ongoing operations and maintenance of the arrays within the Okanogan subbasin is provided by the Colville Tribes.

Through this contract, information and equipment needed for long term monitoring of VSP parameters of the Okanogan summer steelhead population is provided, which links directly to a subset of tasks contained in the umbrella project (i.e. PIT-tag array deployment and development of precision and accuracy estimates, validation of summer steelhead redd survey methodology, and potentially a more viable way to enumerate adult steelhead returns under all environmental conditions).

WDFW, under this project #2010-034-00, is shifting much of their focus toward spring Chinook following a similar approach to the one they have developed for summer steelhead. Our support of the PIT-tag infrastructure in the Okanogan River Basin should provide support for this new or expanded focus. However, it is uncertain to what extent this project will engage in specific deliverable at this time.  

This contract also supports installation of new PIT array infrastructure within the Okanogan River Basin as needed. Currently no new installations are planned for 2021-2022.

Project background:

Project 2010-034-00 is part of a unique, well-coordinated, and standardized group of monitoring and evaluation program(s) that exist 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 summer steelhead, 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 to make management decisions concerning ESA listed species.

The overall objectives of the project are to:

1) evaluate precision and accuracy of the smolt monitoring methodology for both steelhead and spring Chinook,
2) estimate the proportion of hatchery steelhead in each primary population,
3) estimate the precision and accuracy of spawning ground surveys steelhead

In the Okanogan River Basin, two types of PIT-tag arrays are used:

1) permanent arrays are used to enumerate both adult returns and juvenile out-migrants on perennial streams and the mainstem river, and

2) temporary interrogation sites are installed, operated, and removed on a seasonal basis to document distribution extents of adult steelhead, fish passage at barriers or impediments, and to enumerate adult returns and juvenile outmigration in intermittent watersheds.

Prior to this project, only one intermittent PIT tag array existed in the Okanogan River basin on Omak Creek. With the funding from this project, the Colville Tribes have partnered with WDFW, CRITFC, ONA, Grant PUD, Douglas PUD and BPA to create a basin-wide network of PIT tag interrogation systems throughout the Okanogan River Basin.

WDFW is the research lead for this project and will obtain all necessary environmental compliance permits and related reporting, including updates of project information in Monitoringresources.org (currently under CR-346478). Andrew Murdoch is the point of contact for WDFW. Colville is the primary contractor for array installation, operation, and maintenance of sites located within the Okanogan Basin. John Arterburn is the point of contact for the Colville Tribes.