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APRE Summary Program name: Cowlitz Fall Chinook Subbasin: Cowlitz ESA status: Threatened Operator: WDFW Co-operators Role Tacoma Public Utilities Funding Source and Facility Maintenance Funding Source(s) Tacoma Public Utilities Annual Operating Cost* $170,000 The purpose of this program is to contribute to: Harvest, Conservation/recovery, and Research and/or education, as mitigation for: Hydro impacts and Habitat loss. This is an integrated program. Program description: Location Age Class Maximum Number Size (fpp) Release Date Stream Release Point (RKm) Major Watershed Ecoprovince Eggs Unfed Fry Fry Fingerling 5000000 80 May-June Cowlitz River 78.8 Cowlitz Yearling Broodstock source Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery Fall Chinook Stock Broodstock collection location Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery/Cowlitz River/RKm 78.8/Cowlitz (stream, RKm, subbasin) Adult holding location (stream, Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery/Cowlitz River/RKm 78.8/Cowlitz RKm, subbasin) Spawning location (stream, Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery/Cowlitz River/RKm 78.8/Cowlitz RKm, subbasin) Incubation location (facility Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery/Cowlitz River/RKm 78.8/Cowlitz name, stream, RKm, subbasin) Rearing location (facility name, Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery/Cowlitz River/RKm 78.8/Cowlitz stream, RKm, subbasin) Broodstock Source Origin Cowlitz River Fall Chinook H Year(s) Used Begin 1971 End Present Lower Columbia Status and goals for target stock: = Low = Medium = High Now 10-15 years 30-50 years Biological Significance Viability Habitat 0.2 0.18 0.16 0.14 0.12 0.1 0.08 0.06 0.04 0.02 0 19 99 19 97 19 95 19 93 19 91 Natural Survival Hatchery Survival Combined Survival 19 89 G oa l % Smolt-to-Adult Survival Hatchery program performance indicators for the target stock: Brood Year Recruits per Spawner Data Smolt-to-Adult Data 4000 3500 Total Catch 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 19 89 19 90 19 91 19 92 19 93 19 94 19 95 19 96 19 97 19 98 19 99 20 00 20 01 0 Return Year Escapement and Hatchery Spawning Total Catch Data Consistency of hatchery program with the goals for the target stock: The program goals are to maintain the biological significance of the stock while increasing viability over time. To achieve this goal managers have implemented an integrated hatchery program. The program has specific mitigation goals of (1) providing harvest of fall chinook to fisheries out of basin (lower Columbia and marine areas) and the lower Cowlitz River, and (2) reestablishing and conserving naturally producing populations of fall chinook into the upper Cowlitz River and tributaries. Based on the data presented in the above tables, the program is achieving its goal of providing harvest to local communities. The large number of hatchery fish spawning in the wild (>30%), and lack of wild fish used as hatchery broodstock, poses risks that managers will not be able to achieve an increase in stock viability over time, as it appears that the hatchery population is likely driving stock adaptation. Guidelines for improving key operational elements to increase the likelihood of meeting goals for the target stock : Broodstock Collection 10% or more of the broodstock should be derived from wild fish each year. Incubation Hatchery intake screening for the incubation water supply should comply with Integrated Hatchery Operations Team (IHOT) and National Marine Fisheries Service facility standards. Rearing Juvenile rearing density and loading guidelines used at the facility should be based on life-stage specific survival studies conducted on-site. The water used for rearing should provide natural water temperature profiles that result in fish similar in size to naturally produced fish of the same species. The program should use a diet and growth regime that mimics natural seasonal growth patterns. Release Fish produced should be qualitatively similar to natural fish in growth rate. Marking/tagging techniques should be used to distinguish between the hatchery and natural populations. Fish produced should be qualitatively similar to natural fish in physiological status. Volitional releases during natural out-migration timing should be practiced. Fish should be released at an optimum time and size that has been determined by a site-specific survival study. Fish produced should be qualitatively similar to natural fish in size. Fish should be released at sizes and life history stages similar to those of natural fish of the same species. Fish produced should be qualitatively similar to natural fish in behavior. M&E Adults from this program should not make up more than 30% of the natural spawning escapement (for the species/race) in the subbasin. These recommendations represent an opportunity to improve key operational elements for this type of program. Detailed information on the benefits and risks of all operational phases as they affect the outcome of this program are available in APRE Report for Cowlitz Fall Chinook in the Cowlitz Consistency of hatchery program with goals for other stocks: Hatchery fish may affect other stocks in several ways. Naturally spawning populations may be subject to genetic interactions through interbreeding. Ecological interactions through predation and competition may occur between the hatchery population and other populations, and natural populations may be incidentally harvested in fisheries targeting a more abundant hatchery stock. Abundant hatchery stocks may also mask the status of natural populations. Conversely an increase in the number of artificially produced fish may improve the ecological function of a watershed through their contribution of marine derived nutrients. A number of factors are known to affect the likelihood and severity of such interactions, among them the abundance of the hatchery population relative to other populations; the time, size and life stage at which hatchery fish are released; and the quantity and quality of habitat available to the co-mingled stocks. The table below lists the current status of some of the populations in the subbasin where the hatchery fish are released that might be vulnerable to these interactions. The large number of hatchery origin fish spawning in the lower river is likely impacting the natural component of the run through interbreeding and competition for food and space. This reduces the likelihood that the goals for the natural spawning population can be achieved. Stock Name Spring Chinook Cowlitz Fall Chinook ESA Listing Threatened Threatened Viability M L Biological Significance H H Additional reviewer comments: The Cowlitz Barrier Dam adult collection facility enables the program to discriminate all returning adult fish according to hatchery and natural origin fish. The program fish releases are not marked at a 100% rate. The in-ability to discriminate hatchery/natural origin fish provides uncertainty in the program/stock adherence to the integrated stock criteria, particularly for populations that may be established in the upper Cowlitz River and tributaries. The program utilizes locally adapted fall chinook stock derived from adults returning to the Cowlitz Barrier Dam. This action should reduce straying and allow continued local adaptation. The size of the program has been tailored to subbasin habitat carrying capacity, based on the Cowlitz Hydroelectric relicensing EDT analyses and research/M&E activities. This action should limit the impacts juvenile releases from the facility are having on the natural component in the lower river. The Tacoma Power relicensing agreement sets forth specific program performance indicators that are explicitly monitored and evaluated on a yearly basis. The program is adaptively managed to adhere to stated program performance standards. Manager/operator response: Text that will be added by manager/operator.