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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHabitat Management Plan 502074022 , Habitat Management Plan Rotary Screw Trap Installation and Operation in the Skokomish, Dewatto, and Tahuya Rivers Key component of a Steelhead Supplementation Study implemented by NOAA Fisheries, along with collaborators: Washington Department ofFish and Wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Skokomish Tribe, Long Live the Kings, and the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group Introduction: Salmon and steelhead hatcheries in the Pacific Northwest primarily provide fish for harvest. In the past decade, hatcheries have developed new programs (termed 'supplementation programs') with different goals: to aid in the conservation and rebuilding of depleted natural populations. Results of a small-scale supplementation project in the Hamma Hamma River suggest that the strategy of collecting natural-origin embryos and rearing them for release at two different life-history stages (smolt and adult) has substantially increased the number of redds constructed in the Hamma Hamma River. This approach contrasts markedly with hatchery programs commonly implemented in the past, which released large numbers of out-of-basin fish in Pacific NW rivers, with many negative consequences. Though the strategy of supplementation has proved promising in theory and in small-scale or laboratory situations, a large experimental approach has not been taken. NOAA Fisheries has undertaken a collaborative project which will look at the large-scale effects of supplementation, as measured through the comparison of four treatment (Hamma Hamma, Skokomish, Duckabush, and Dewatto) with three control (Dosewallips, Tahuya, and Big Beef Creek) streams located throughout the Hood Canal region (Figure 1). One key component to evaluating the benefits and impacts of supplementation is to measure the abundance of juvenile production within each of these streams before, during, and after treatment. Project Description: Within the context of this project, we propose that a rotary screw trap be installed in the Skokomish, Dewatto, Tahuya, and Duckabush Rivers (see Figure 1). A similar trap is already in operation on the Hamma Hamma River, and plans are underway to install a trap on the Dosewallips as well, though timing for this action is not certain. The trap is prefabricated and will be trailered into each site. In some cases, a small crane may be required to relocate the trap from the trailer to the river site. Twenty- two foot (Skokomish) and 17 foot 4 inch (Dewatto and Tahuya) aluminum pontoons will hold the trap on the surface of the water, and an attached cone (diameter = 8 ft for Skokomish, 5 ft for Dewatto and Tahuya) uses the hydraulic energy of the current to revolve on a central shaft (Figure 2). The cone is situated halfway beneath the surface of the water, and guides migrating juvenile salmonids into a flow-through trap box that is located downstream of the cone (Figure 3). In this way, a certain percentage offish are enumerated and access is gained so as to obtain biological and genetic samples. After target fish (Steelhead and Cutthroat) are separated from non-target fish (Chinook, Chum and Coho), they will be lightly anesthetized and sampled. Cutthroat will be used for trap efficiency tests in the event that large enough numbers of steelhead are not encountered. Non-target fish will be released after enumeration. The trap will be operational between the approximate dates of Aprill and June 1 (2007-2022). Effects on associated resources Fish Aquatic life Water Quality Water Supply Recreation Bank Stability Aesthetics Juvenile salmon will be in various stages of their outmigration. Runs of Chinook, Chum, and Coho salmon, as well as bull trout, exist on each of the study streams, so non-target species will be present during trapping periods. There will be no adverse impacts on adult anadromous salmonids, as their presence in freshwater will coincide with times during which the trap will not be operational. No impact No impact - the trap is operated by hydraulic energy, and thus there are no fuels associated with operation. No impact The trap will be situated above the surface of the water, so will obstruct the path of recreational users such as kayakers, rafters, and fishermen. No impact In some instances, the trap may be visible from rural roads. Mortality is typically less than I % for juvenile salmonids in similarly crafted traps. Protocols for trap operation include mortality minimization procedures such as l) removing the trap from fishing operations during high stream flow events, 2) checking the trap at lea~t once daily, 3) monitoring the trap consistently throughout operation for d~bris obstruction and functionality, 4) minimal handling of the entrained $sh, and 5) making sure that fish being sampled are kept in cold, fresh, oxygenated water prior to release. Effects would be minimized by l) positioning the structure close to the bank, 2) installing appropriate signs upstream that would indicate the pr~sence of water hazards and describe the l~cation of the trap, and 3) installation of~ buoy line that will warn and divert recre~tionalists. Signs will also be posted on the trap itself. Sites will be located as far as possible from major highways, so the fewest numbers of people will view the trap. Also, the trap will only be iin the river for three months, after which It will be removed to an offsite loca ion. Land owners in proximity to each site will be consulted before installation. Listed Species . I Puget Sound Chinook Salmon (Oncorhunchus tshawytscha) wer~ listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1999, a de~ignation that was reaffirmed in June, 2005. Chinook salmon are an anadromou~ salmonid species that inhabit the Skokomish River, though are not indigenous to the Duckabush, Dosewallip, Dewatto or Tahuya Rivers. It is possible that small numbers of juvenile Chinook will become entrained in the Skokomish trap. However, personnel will be very cautious in handling these fish in particular, and will release them as soon as possible upon removing them from th~ trap. Individuals in the adult stage of their life history will be unaffecteq by trapping activities, as they will not be present in freshwater during the mon~s of operation. I I i Hood Canal Summer-Run Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) ke listed as endangered under the ESA. Another anadromous salmonid specie~, these fish spawn lower down in the watershed, and spend less time in freshwater than other salmonid species. Populations of summer chum are present in all of the rivers involved in the Supplementation Study. However, the juvenile migration out of study rivers will overlap for only a short time with trap operation, thus minimizing the risk of capturing these individuals. Data for Big B~ef Creek, W A indicates that the peak of the juvenile outmigration occurs in mid-February, with numbers tapering offuntil AprilS (Barry Berejikian, unpublished ~ata). Should the trap operator encounter juvenile chum salmon, these fish will ~e minimally handled and released as soon as possible upon removing them fro~ the trap. As with adult chinook, adult chum will not be affected by trapping activities. . · Puget Sound SteeIhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) have been proposed for listing under the ESA, and thus are currently a candidate species. Steelht1ad have a diverse and complicated life history, with varying strategies offre$hwater residency and migration patterns and timing. Migrating juveniles +re the main target for the trapping component of this project, and will thus be~ignifiCantly affected by the proposed action. However, care will be taken to al eviate risk of stress and mortality to the entrained fish. The trap will be checke at least once a day, but the frequency will be increased if large amounts of debris lor high catch rates are encountered. Fish will be maintained in fresh, cold, oxyg~nated water for as little time as possible during sampling. All fish will be released near the site of capture after being given sufficient time to recover from sampling procedures. It is possible that adult steelhead will become entrained in the rotary screw trap, due to the fact that these fish recondition and migrate back down " I i i i stream as opposed. to the species mentioned above that expire afte~j spawning. It is very unlikely that damage will be incurred as a result of the trap and cautious handling and immediate release will be practiced. I · Bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) were listed under the ESA in J~e 1998 as threatened. Hood Canal rivers are included in the NW bull trout distribution, making it a possibility that the proposed traps may entrain juveniles or adults. Bull trout exhibit both resident and migratory life history strategie$. Resident fish both spawn and rear in freshwater, while migratory forms of the sHecies spawn in their natal stream and may migrate to either lake, river, or saltwate~ to mature. It is widely accepted that bull trout are distributed primarily in highet-order, colder streams (Rieman et al. 1997), so the encounter rate of these fish in I the proposed traps will likely be low since all traps are relatively low down in tHe respective watersheds. However, should bull trout of any developmental stage be caught in the traps, they will be released immediately. i Project guidance: Trapping and sampling protocols have been establishetjl based on personal communications with ODFW and WOFW personnel, as well as ~ough review of documents written by state fish and wildlife experts. Traps of similar ~ild have been I installed and operated for several years, with great scientific benefit, in a 4umber of watersheds (Seiler et al. 1981, Seiler et al. 2003, Solazzi et al. 2003). Fur1fher guidance has resulted from communications with the trap manufacturer (EG Solutidns). References Rieman, B.E., D.C. Lee, and RF. Thurow. 1997. Distribution, status, an~ likely future trends of bull trout within the Columbia River and Klamath River Basins. i North American Journal of Fisheries M;anagement 17: 1111-1125. Seiler, D., Neuhauser, S., and M. Ackley. 1981. Upstream/downstream salmonid trapping project 1977-1980. Prog. Rpt. No. 144. Washington Department of Fishedes. Olympia, WA. 195p Seiler, D., S. Neuhauser, and L. Kishimoto. 2003. 2002 Skagit River wild 0+ chinook production evaluation annual report. FP A 03-11. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Olympia, W A. Solazzi, M.F., S.L. Johnson, B. Miller, T. Dalton and K.A. Leader 2003. Salmonid Life-Cycle Monitoring Project 2002. </Dept/ODFW/progress- reports/annuaI2002ver2.pdf> Monitoring Program Report Number OPSWi ODFW-2003- 2, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Portland, Oregon. i , Appendix 2. Estimating Smolt Production i This protocol does not address the topics of trap site selection and installatlon, permitting, and safety. Screw trap site selection and installation will be coordinated b~tween the agency/organization operating the screw trap and NOAA. Guidance on screw trap site selection and installation can be found in V olkhardt et al. (2007) or from ekperienced screw trap operators. Permitting is the responsibility of the agency/organization operating the screw trap. Safety regulations and requirements vary among. agencies and organizations, so personnel operating screw traps should follow the safety guidance of their respective employers. Yearly trapping season will be April 1 st through June 1 st. Trapping principles: Consistency: Each year of the study, rotary screw traps should be installed in the same location within each stream to the maximum extent practicable, provided that the location allows for efficient trap operation. Standardizing the location, placement, and hours of operation from year to year allows catch of steelhead or catch-per-unit effort to be used as an index of downstream migrant ~roduction. If we are consistent in our trap operation, yet unable to collect suffici~nt fish to calculate good numerical estimates of production, at least we will lilve reliable indices of smolt production for supplemented and control streams. I , Adaptive management of operation: There will be a need to adapt our trap protocols as more information about the steelhead populations in each stream is obtained. This will be particularly evident regarding trap efficiency estimates, which will be poor if low numbers of steelhead smolts are available for mark- recapture procedures. This is more likely to occur in all streams during the presupplementation phase and the control streams during the entire project. Frequency of trap checking: Catch rates and debris loads determine the frequency of trap maintenance. Initially, screw traps will be checked once a day in the early ~llOrning. If large numbers of fish are being caught, high debris loads are encountered, ~r the level of mortality is high in the trap box, the frequency of trap maintenance will be iincreased to two or more occasions per day, with two scheduled trap checks at dawn and dusk. Staffing: It is preferable to have two people operate the trap for increased safety, efficiency, and accuracy of data collection. When operating a trap continuously or counting large numbers of fish, a larger crew is required. Three people make up a good- sized crew during the peak of the migration when the workload is high. Each person can be put on an alternating six-day on/three-day off schedule so that there are ltlways 2 people available to work the gear. Later in the season when fewer fish mi~ate and flows subside, the crew can be reduced down to two. Safety: 3. If the trap is not deployed indicate so in the TRAP DEPLOYED column. If the trap is not operational, indicate the date and time operation ~eased in the NOTES/COMMENTS section. Similarly, indicate the date and time of redeployment when operation commences. 4. Any changes in the screw trap site, placement within the streaJ.ll" or modifications made to the trap should be noted along with the date the change occurred in the NOTES/COMMENTS section of the TRAP OPERATION LOG. Equipment and supplies: Each screw trap station will require the following. 1. A means to access the trap (boat or plank) 2. dip nets for handling fish 3. clip board 4. data sheets as indicated in the data collection protocol and pencils 5. anesthetic (MS-222 stock solution @ 40 grams/liter) 6. marking equipment 7. SCIssors 8. buckets 9. trap cleaning equipment (brooms, and/or scrub brushes) 10. light source 11. species identification cards 12. scale cards 13. DNA sample vials for fin clips 14. digital balance 15. measuring board Data Collection: We will stratify our trap efficiency estimates by sampling week. The sampling week begins on Monday and ends on Sunday. Each day the trap is operated the following data should be collected and recorded on the specified data sheet indicated in the procedure below. All original data sheets should be printed on "Write-in-the-Rain" waterproof paper, and all data should be collected in pencil or waterproof ink. Basic Procedure The screw trap can usually remain operating during the data collection procedure. Record the date and time of the trap check. Remove any debris that has accumulated in the live well, and remove captured fish to buckets using a dip net. Enumerate catch by species on the CATCH SUMMARY DATA SHEET. Retain all steelhead and cutthroat for additional processing and data collection. Place all other species captured in a separate bucket(s) for release. 1. For all species, count all unmarked fish of each species and record in "CAUGHT" column. Ifnecessary, lightly anesthetize fish with MS-222 to make them easier to handle and identify. (The concentration of MS-222 ,. 111. After the 2 digit year code, fish will be numbered sequentially using three digits. IV. Example: A complete FISH ID# for the 23rd fish caught in the Skokomish River in 2007 would be: Sk07-023. c. FORK LENGTH - Measure from tip of snout to fork in caudal (mm) using the measuring board. d. WEIGHT - Lightweight balances will be provided to collect wet fish weight to the nearest tenth (0.1) of a gram (g). e. DNA - The application of the "mark" by fin clip will also double as the DNA specimen. Therefore it is extremely important to apply the fin clip to the appropriate fin (which will allow us to stratify efficiency by week) and to save the fin clip from each fish. A schedule of the appropriate fin clip will be posted at each trap and is included in this protocol. Using scissors collect a small pencil eraser-sized (1 em long) fin clip from the proper fin and place in an ethanol filled vial labeled with the FISH ID#. 1. To apply a LEFT VENTRAL fin clip hold the fish "belly up" with its head is pointing to the left. The LEFT VENTRAL fin will be the ventral fin FARTHEST away from you. 11. To apply a RIGHT VENTRAL fin clip hold the fish "belly up" with its head is pointing to the left. The RIGHT VENTRAL fin will be the ventral fin CLOSEST to you. f. SCALES - collect 10 to 12 scales from the "key area" and mount directly to the scale card - label row the scales are mounted in with the same fish ID # from DNA vial and the data sheet. The key area is 2 to 3 rows of scales above the lateral line on a straight line between the posterior insertion of the dorsal fin and anterior insertion of the anal fin. These scales contain the most complete record of fish growth. g. SMOLT INDEX - We will categorize steelhead captured in the trap with the following index. Enter the number (1, 2, or 3) corresponding to the classes below in the column "SMOL T INDEX." 1. Class 1 - (non-smolt): parr marks distinct, showing no signs of smolting characteristics as described in Class 3. 11. Class 2 - (pre-smolt): parr marks becoming faint, smolting characteristics beginning to appear. 111. Class 3 - (smolt): parr marks absent or clearly assuming smolting characteristics such as, silvery appearance with black banded tail, nose, or dorsal fin; loosening of scales. h. SCALES AND DNA? - Indicate whether scale and DNA samples are collected for each steelhead smolt captured (yes or no). i. IMPORTANT! - Items "a" through "g" will be collected for ALL steelhead smolts captured. If large numbers of steelhead are being captured we will institute a subsampling procedure for scale and DNA samples and will then need to indicate whether scale and DNA samples were collected for each fish. can't be reached, direct calls to Barry Berejikian 360-871-8301 (office) or 360-731-3841 (mobile). DNA and scale samples: DNA sample vials (containing fin clips) and scale cards should be kept in a safe dry place until the end of the trapping season, when they will be transferred to Megan Petrie, NWFSC, Manchester Research Station 360-871-8315 (office), 360-731-4427 (mobile), megan.e. petrie@noaa.gov.