Objectives
- To supplement and enhance existing stocks of Yakima River fall Chinook, while preserving the stock characteristics and fitness of targeted stocks and keeping ecological and genetic impacts to not-target species within specified limits.
2007 Redd Surveys above Prosser
- 1,132 over Prosser Dam
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- Yakima River- 321 Redds
- 55.1% Emerald Rd to Granger (RM70-83)
- 44.9% Granger to Zillah (RM83-91)
- 0% Zillah to SSD (RM91-104)
- 0% Union Gap (RM107-117)
- Naches River- 0 Redds
- Wapatox Dam to Cowiche Dam
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Slide 11
- Marion Drain- 70 Redds
- 34.3% above Hwy 97
- 65.7% below Hwy 97
Re-Establishing Summer Chinook in the Yakima River
- Objective: To initiate investigation of the feasibility of establishing an early-run fall Chinook population in the Yakima River, with the goals being to:
- Develop a naturally spawning adult population in the Yakima River between Sunnyside Dam and Roza Dam, and in the lower Naches River from the mouth to the Tieton River, and,
- Increase the number of natural-origin returning summer-run adults in the lower Columbia, Zone 6, and the lower Yakima River contributing to harvest augmentation for both the tribal and sports fishery.
Summer Chinook Release
- N Released CWT only PIT Release
- 2008 180,911 170,000 30,000 6/12/09
- 2009 200,747 170,750 29,997 5/14/10
- 100% females tested for Virus and BKD
- Results: all keepers!
- Released from Stiles pond, lower Naches River
2010-11 Plans on-going
- Acclimate summer chinook at Stiles pond, Naches River ~RM 3.4.
- Continue In-basin Yearling vs. Subyearling releases from Prosser Hatchery.
- Transfer up to 250,000 summer chinook eggs/milt from Wells Hatchery to Marion Drain Hatchery.
- Redd Surveys on the Yakima River between Prosser and Roza Dams and lower Naches River.
- Radio Tag Returning Adults at the Prosser Denil
- Finalize and Submit Fall/Summer Chinook Master Plan for approval.
2010-11 Future Plans
- Locate acclimation site in the lower river below Wanawish Dam (Horn Rapids) for out-of-basin fall chinook.
- Establish a summer chinook mobile acclimation unit for use in the Yakima River near Skov Pond ~RM122.
- Transistion from using broodstock from the LWS hatchery to Priest Rapids Hatchery, as recommended by both USFWS hatchery review and the HSRG.
Acknowledgements
- Fall Chinook/Coho: Andrew Lewis, Denny Nagle, Quincy Wallahee, Conan Northwind, Joe Jay Pinkham III, Markeyta Pinkham, Ocha Dittenholler and Gene Sutterlict Jr. who carried out the daily field activities to make it happen.
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- YN: Mel Sampson, Dave Fast, Mark Johnston, Todd Newsome, Bill Bosch, Dave Lind, Doug Neeley, Bill Fiander and Ida Sohappy-Ike
- Prosser and Marion Drain Hatchery: Joe Blodgett, Sonny Fiander, Terrace Campo and the Hatchery crews.
- Chandler Juvenile Monitoring Facility: Leroy Senator, Wayne Smartlowit, Sey Billy, Morales Ganuelas, Steve Salinas, Sheila Decoteau, Ray Decoteau and Pharamond Johnson
- BIG THANKS TO EACH OF YOU!
- This project is funded by the Bonneville Power Administration and is administered through Patty Smith.