Steelhead Kelt Reconditioning
Program Update
Presented by:
Bill Bosch, Yakama Fisheries
Acknowledgements:
D. Fast, M. Johnston, T. Newsome
Prosser Hatchery Crew
Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
Bonneville Power Administration
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
01,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,000
1984
1987
1990
1993
1996
1999
2002
2005
2008
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Prosser Redds Roza
Yakima Steelhead Escapement Trends, 1984 – Present
Pro
sser
Cou
nts
Roz
a/R
edd
Cou
nts
Prosser Adult Abundance
01,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,000
1984
1987
1990
1993
1996
1999
2002
2005
2008
Yakima Steelhead Abundance Trends
Redd Abundance
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
Roza Adult Abundance
050
100150200250300350
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
Natural Smolt Abundance Estimates
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
0
1
2
3
4
5
1987
-88
1989
-90
1991
-92
1993
-94
1995
-96
1997
-98
1999
-00
2001
-02
2003
-04
2005
-06
2007
-08
2009
-10
Point Smoothed Linear (Point)
Yakima Steelhead Adult-Adult Productivity Trend (‘gross’ estimate of age-4 recruits per age-4 spawner)
Can Kelt Reconditioning be used to increase abundance and productivity?
Management Scenarios
1. Direct Release
2. No-Term
3. Short-Term
4. Long-Term
Chandler Kelt Collection, 2001-09
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Nu
mb
er o
f F
ish
Upstream Kelt
Range: 18-38% Mean : ~28%
Kelt Disposition, 2001-09
16.2%
41.7%18.4%
23.7%ReleasedImmediately
Mortalities
Short-Term
Long-Term
Short- and Long-Term Survival ofReconditioned Kelts to Release
0.0%
20.0%
40.0%
60.0%
80.0%
100.0%
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
LongTerm
ShortTerm
Yakima R. Steelhead Escapementwith Reconditioning
0500
1,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,0004,5005,000
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
Fresh Recond.
7.4%
11.3%
2.4%
Percentage increase in escapement due to reconditioning.
8.4%
4.4%5.5%
6.7% 7.9%
Survival Comparison of Short- and No-Term Reconditioned Kelts to ‘natural’ Iteroparity
0.0%
3.0%
6.0%
9.0%
12.0%
% o
f F
ish
Rel
ease
d
2002 2004 2006 2008 Mean
ST
NT
Yak
Roza
PIT Return Rates to Bonneville Dam
Relationship of Short-Term Kelt Survival to Ocean Conditions
2008
2002
Problem: Don’t know ocean conditions in advance
Survival Comparison of Short- and No-Term Reconditioned Kelts to ‘natural’ Iteroparity
0.0%
3.0%
6.0%
9.0%
12.0%
% o
f F
ish
Rel
ease
d
2005 2006 2007 2008 Pooled
ST
NT
Yak
Bonneville Adult Ladder Tag Detections
2008 2009
LT Release 246 140
PRO Detect 91 45
Detect Proportion 37.0% 32.1%
What happens to long-term kelts after release?
2001-2005 radio telemetry studies found 70% of recaptured tags at mouths of Satus and Toppenish Creeks
Knowns:• Grow substantially and remature their gonads• Produce viable gametes• Find mates• Locate appropriate spawning habitat• Construct and guard redds• Recaptures show evidence of spawning• Successful reproduction has been recorded in
Omak Creek
Reproductive Success
Questions??