NVE Chioook Escapement Monitoring Project

Native Village of Eyak Environment & Natural Resources

Copper River Fisheries Copper River Fisheries Resource Monitoring Resource Monitoring

ProgramProgram&&

Partners for Fisheries Partners for Fisheries

Keith van den Broek, Director NVE DENR

[email protected]

Copper River Strategy Group, Cordova, AK - November 17, 2010

Partners for Fisheries Partners for Fisheries Monitoring ProgramMonitoring Program

NVE Background� Federally recognized Tribal Government� ~580 members = 25% of Cordova’s population� Eyak traditional boundaries once extended as far south as Yakutaga &

north to Port Gravina in PWS; approximately 40,000 sq. mi.� Eyak are believed to have been in the current area for greater than

10,000 years, and likely reached inland throughout the Copper Basin


10,000 years, and likely reached inland throughout the Copper Basin even before the Ahtna

� First European contact believed to be 1793 through Russian trading post at Nuchek (Hinchinbrook Is); by this time Eyak were reduced to 2 main village sites west of the Copper River Delta with a population around 400

� Eyaks were uprooted throughout the 20th century, beginning with discovery of oil at Katalla, settlement of Cordova in 1909, and the connection of Cordova and Kennecott copper mines by railroad in 1911

� By 1930, the original Eyak population had dwindled to fewer than 40


Village Site

Cordova Background� Cordova is a rural community off the road system, with

access by regular daily air service and AMHS ferry service. Fuel and freight are brought in weekly by barge from Seattle or Whittier


barge from Seattle or Whittier

� Population is ~2,000 permanent, increasing upwards of 4,500 during the fishing season in the summer

� Cost of living greatly exceeds the national average, while median income levels are much lower. This forces a great reliance upon local subsistence resources for survival.

E/NR Program History� NVE Tribal Council first addressed the need for an Environmental and

Natural Resources Department in 1995, citing various concerns:� Effects of external rules and regulations concerning the environment

and resource usage� Lack of adequate oversight leading to devastation of local resources

� Exxon Valdez oil spill


� Exxon Valdez oil spill

� Native fishing rights� Education on subsistence� Knowledge of regulations surrounding marine mammals� Need for communication with outside Tribes and Tribal organizations� Need for improved government to government consultation� Unmet needs and unanswered questions regarding the sustainable use

and management of many local resources� Despite NVE’s long history of sustainably using and traditionally

managing local resources, modern managers were ignoring TEK and refusing to give NVE due deference in the decision making process

E/NR Program History� Core environmental program was established through an EPA

IGAP grant starting in 1997, and NVE’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) was formalized as an organizational entity

� First major expansion into natural resource management through the OSM Fisheries Resource Monitoring program


through the OSM Fisheries Resource Monitoring program starting in 2001

� With the continued development of the DENR, NVE is now pioneering a modern era of research and collaborative management combining western science and traditional knowledge.

� As active stewards of the land and water, NVE has built strong ties with governmental agencies, becoming an integral part of the region’s environmental and resource management policy making

NVE’s FRMP Program*


Chinook Salmon Escapement Monitoring (2001-13)

Sockeye Salmon Escapement Abundance Estimate (2005-09)

Sockeye Salmon Radio Telemetry (2005-09)

Lower Copper River Sonar Salmon Counts (2001-06)

Steelhead Radio Telemetry (2005-06)Steelhead Radio Telemetry (2005-06)

Coho Salmon Radio Telemetry (2005-06)

Chinook Salmon Radio Telemetry (2001-04)

Chinook Salmon Genetic Baseline (2003-05)

Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Salmon Runs (2004-07)

Eulachon Subsistence Harvest Opportunities (2001-02)

*Majority of funding for the listed projects was administered by USFS through the FRMP, however some additional funding sources contributed, most notably AKSSF and ADF&G. Many of the projects were done in partnership with other organizations or agencies.

Chinook Escapement Monitoring Program


Partnership between:Partnership between:

Native Village of EyakNative Village of Eyak

LGL Alaska Research AssociatesLGL Alaska Research Associates

Funded by:Funded by:Funded by:Funded by:

USDA Forest Service FRMP (2001USDA Forest Service FRMP (2001--2009)2009)

US Fish and Wildlife Service FRMP (2010US Fish and Wildlife Service FRMP (2010--2013)2013)

US Fish and Wildlife Service PFMPUS Fish and Wildlife Service PFMP

Overseen by:Overseen by:

US Fish and Wildlife Service,US Fish and Wildlife Service,

Office of Subsistence ManagementOffice of Subsistence Management

Purpose

� Improve upon existing fisheries research to enhance the success of subsistence fisheries management in Alaska

� Promote capacity building


� Promote capacity building within NVE to enable a meaningful contribution to assessment and management of our fisheries

� Improve communication and cooperation between State and Federal resource managers and Alaska Native and rural organizations.

Objectives

� Continue a long-term monitoring program operated by the Native Village of Eyak since 2001 to estimate the annual, system-wide escapement of chinook salmon to the Copper River

� Provide fishery managers with an


� Provide fishery managers with an accurate and timely escapement estimate for chinook salmon each year

� Estimate the annual, system-wide escapement of chinook salmon to the Copper River using mark-recapture techniques such that the estimate is within 25% of the actual escapement 95% of the time.

Methods

� Peterson 2-sample mark-recapture study design (n=mc/r)

� Temporal variations in catch rates

� Typically use a Darroch estimator

� Fish are captured at both sites using specially modified research fishwheels


specially modified research fishwheels

� Large size, adjustable depths

� 3-4 baskets per wheel

� Live tanks w/ adjustable escape panels

� Fish are tagged using TBA-PIT tags, an original NVE design.

� Dual anchor T-Bar

� Uniquely coded RFID transponder

Methods: What is Mark-Recapture?

� Mark a portion of the chinook salmon in the lower river, upstream of the ocean but downstream of major spawning areas;

� Subsequently examine a portion of the chinook salmon run upstream of the tagging site.


upstream of the tagging site.

An escapement estimate can then be derived using a simplerelationship between the tagged and untagged fish at theupstream recovery site…

Methods: What is Mark-Recapture?


For Example if we tag 1,000 fish at Baird Canyon, and later examine a portion of the run upstream near Chitina and find that 1 in 40 chinook has a tag, it would be possible to estimate the chinook escapement that passed by Baird Canyon as follows:

40:1 Ratio of captured fish to tagged fishx 1,000 Total tags applied40,000 Estimated escapement at the tagging site


Additional DataAdditional Data

• All tags are printed with NVE address and phone number to encourage inriver fishery users to return tag information when captured

• Hundreds of tags are returned, which helps pinpoint fates, determine migration times, and to some degree estimate total harvest within the fisheriesharvest within the fisheries

• PIT component can be removed from TBA-PIT tags and re-built into new tags to considerably reduce future costs

• Tags are also returned by the Gulkana Hatchery and Long Lake Weir, which can provide useful information on proportion of fish returning to these systems and help validate study results, along with information on migration times and fates


Project Operational LogisticsProject Operational Logistics

• Human Resources

• Mobilization and Demobilization of remote research sites

• Communications

• Supplying Camps

• Unexpected Challenges


Human ResourcesHuman Resources

• Projects employ up to 12 full-time and part-time seasonal employees April-September each year

• Preference is given to local and Alaska Native hire, but positions are advertised and often filled by out-of-State applicants with tertiary qualifications in the biological sciences

• Jobs are advertised through dozens of channels beginning in late • Jobs are advertised through dozens of channels beginning in late January each year

• Most technicians live and work the entire season in the field

• Training is provided in Cordova and in the field to ensure utmost safety and highly professional scientific sampling ethics


Seasonal Project MobilizationSeasonal Project Mobilization-- BairdBaird

• Camp is remotely accessed by float plane, jet boat, ski plane or helicopter depending on conditions, which can vary considerably from year to year

• Past years have seen snow cover ranging in depth from 0-12 feet

• Camp is generally mobilized ~ May 6th, and at this time river ice may be already clear or remain present for several more weeksbe already clear or remain present for several more weeks

• It is always a race to have the wheels assembled and in the water fishing before the first fish passes by


Seasonal Project MobilizationSeasonal Project Mobilization-- Canyon Canyon CreekCreek

• Camp is remotely accessed by jet boat or helicopter, but is near to the road system via Chitina

• Mobilization conditions are generally much more predictable than Baird, with little to no snow cover and no remaining river ice

• Camp is usually mobilized ~ May 15th

• Wheels remain assembled and require less preparation time to begin • Wheels remain assembled and require less preparation time to begin fishing- however repairs are often necessary.


CommunicationsCommunications

• Each camp is equipped with Starband satellite internet which provides 24 hour high speed access to email, data and www.

• Iridium satellite telephones are provided at each camp for emergency situations or when internet is inaccessiblesituations or when internet is inaccessible

• VHF radios are used to communicate between camps and mobile work crews on boats or fishwheels, and can be used for emergency contact between Canyon Creek and Chitina, and between Baird Canyon and 27 Mile Bridge or the commercial fishing grounds

• Technicians provide logistical and data updates to project managers a minimum of twice each day


Supplying CampsSupplying Camps

• Supplies are delivered to Baird Canyon on a weekly basis for regular supply needs, or more regularly whenever urgent needs arise.

• Supplies to Baird are generally sent via Cordova or Chitina by jet boat, but may be delivered by float plane or helicopter if urgent, or if conditions don’t permit boat access.

• Canyon Creek technicians are provided with a jet boat and vehicle which • Canyon Creek technicians are provided with a jet boat and vehicle which remains at O’Brien Creek so they can easily access their own supply needs in Chitina, Kenny Lake or Glennallen.


Unexpected ChallengesUnexpected Challenges

• Boat and vehicle accidents, break-downs, equipment failures, technical issues, snow load, flooding, low water, debris, human error, etc- It’s ALWAYS something!

• Major obstacles in 2010 season were record deep snow, late break-up, lingering shelf ice, low water levels, highly variable fish catch, boat break-downs, bad fuel, and inexperienced crew.downs, bad fuel, and inexperienced crew.


Preliminary 2010 ResultsPreliminary 2010 Results

• Chinook salmon median travel time between sample events: 9.1 days

• No significant difference in recapture rates between tagging wheels

• No evidence of length or sex bias between events

M= 1,745 C= 894R= 69

Petersen estimate: 22,323 (SE= 2,492)Darroch estimate: 22,186 (SE= 2,536)


Chinook Estimate 2003Chinook Estimate 2003--2010*2010*

Period (m/d) Length Marked Examined Recaptures Abundance StandardYear From To (mm FL) (M) (C) (R) (N) Error (SE)

2003 5/17 7/1 810-1,070 1,723 1,630 97 44,764 12,506

2004 5/22 6/22 > 600 2,477 3,101 185 40,564 4,650

2005 5/9 7/14 > 600 3,379 3,150 315 30,333 1,529

2006 5/21 7/31 > 500 4,035 5,224 377 67,789 4,779

2007 5/18 8/6 > 500 4,456 4,192 459 46,349 3,283

2008 5/19 8/4 > 500 3,931 3,509 342 41,343 2,166

*SEG= 24,000 : Average annual inriver harvest= 10,000

2009 5/13 8/2 > 500 2,484 2,224 171 32,401 2,365

2010 5/15 7/5 > 500 1,745 894 69 22,186 2,536

0

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20,000

30,000

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70,000

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Key Benefits

� Has filled a critical data gap by successfully generating an unbiased and accurate chinook salmon abundance estimate every since 2003

� Has firmly established NVE’s capacity to be an integral part of Copper River


to be an integral part of Copper River fisheries management

� Employs 2 year-round and up to 12 seasonal techs/interns annually

� Has led to many valuable partnerships and opened new channels of communication between user groups and managers

� Provides research infrastructure and cost leveraging for many other studies

Future Priorities� Re-expansion of Copper River fisheries projects to

address data gaps and public concerns

� Harvest Monitoring and Reporting in Inriver Fisheries

� Cause of chinook escapement declines


� Cause of chinook escapement declines

� Coho stock status and trends

� Salmon genetics and implications for stock-specific fisheries management

� Better development of education and training programs, internships (fund education coordinator)

Documents

NVE Chioook Escapement Monitoring Project