Management Targets. No changes to the assumptions or management targets are expected over the period covered by this FHMP. The goals are to maintain population viability and to maximize harvest within the Cowlitz River, subject to the limitations associated with the operational constraints and priorities of the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery. The genetic identity and diversity of the population will continued to be maintained by employing BMPs in the hatchery (collecting eggs over the entire return timing, 1:1 mating schemes, etc.) in order for the population to be an effective source for re- colonization of the upper watershed. Otherwise, no significant conservation constraints have been identified. Author: johnsmjj Subject: Sticky Note Date: 8/30/2011 3:32:56 PM This note is not consistent with the table. steelhead? The study will use a combination of radio tags, xxxx tags and other identification methods as needed to determine the fate of recycled summer steelhead. WDFW proposes that the study be conducted by USGS. While previous studies have determined how many recycled fish returned to the separator at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery, these studies have not accurately determined the fate of fish that did not arrive at the separator. This study will ensure that data on the fate of recycled summer steelhead are collected and will be used to guide future management decisions about recycling summer steelhead in the Cowlitz basin. The study proposes to recycle up to 500 summer-run steelhead one time, using a combination of radio tags, xxxx tags and opercula punches to allow for evaluation. Returns to hatchery facilities, lower river weirs and harvest rates will be enumerated. The study will begin when WDFW secures funding. The impact of recycling (presumed to be increased pHOS) will require reducing the currently proposed program from 650,000 to 625,892 summer steelhead.
Management Targets. Figure 3-10 describes three views of the future for the population and the fisheries it supports (Scenarios A, B, and C). It identifies the conditions under which harvest and conservation goals will be reached in the future. The figure also captures the current conditions, showing where we are now and where we expect to be in the future. Section 3.6.2, Decision Rules, describe how we intend to get from the current condition to the long-term target (Scenarios A, B, or C). Until substantial improvements in FPS have been made, this analysis suggests that it is unlikely that natural production can be sustained above Cowlitz Falls (Figure 3-10).
Management Targets. The factors that inhibit progress toward conservation goals for this population are fish passage survival at Cowlitz Falls and strays from adult HORs transported upstream for harvest purposes. Only HORs that are positively identified as Upper Cowlitz coho (i.e., hatchery fish with 100% NOR parents), will be transported to the Upper Cowlitz. No Lower Cowlitz coho will be transported above Cowlitz Falls. The current hatchery program is integrated with a pNOB of 100%. These fish are reared and released from the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery to avoid the loss due to low fish passage survival at Cowlitz Falls Dam. The challenge for this population is to provide fishing opportunity in the upper Cowlitz without exceeding a pHOS of 30% effective HOR spawners. The pHOS target can be met by a combination of increased FPS, increased harvest rate on HORs, and/or by limiting the number of adult HORs that are transported to the upper Cowlitz. Another potential means to improve homing and harvest rates for HORs that are transported above Cowlitz Falls would be to acclimate and release smolts from satellite ponds in the Upper Cowlitz. These acclimation ponds would be located where harvest opportunities would be greater and/or the likelihood would be significantly reduced that unharvested HORs end up mingling with NOR spawners. Unless transported below the Barrier Dam, a consequence of releasing hatchery fish in the upper basin would be reduced smolt to adult survival due to the limited fish passage survival. Xxxxxx released from the acclimation ponds would have to be uniquely identified in order to be distinguished from those released directly from the hatchery. The credit mechanism (Section 2.5.3) for Upper Cowlitz coho would reduce this hatchery program by two smolts for every natural-origin smolt captured at Cowlitz Falls and released in the lower river. The hatchery program, however, would not be reduced due to crediting below a minimum level defined by the maximum number of adult HORs that could be transported in a high survival year for NORs. For this population, this number Management Precision—performance evaluation to improve, for example, run forecasting over time to more effectively implement the decision rules. In other words, this monitors the effectiveness of applying the Decision Rules. A methodology for estimating NOR return of Upper Cowlitz coho adults in-season must be developed before the fish passage survival trigger is met. This methodology should include a...
Management Targets. The harvest benefits in terms of numbers of fish caught are largely unknown. The potential ecological interaction risks associated with the program are also unknown. Harvest rates in the past have ranged from 26 - 46% (average 34%) (Tipping and Xxxxxxxxxxx 1993).
Management Targets. (P-28) "There is uncertainty about whether the effects of C. shasta disease are fully accounted for in the productivity parameter for the current condition. Fall Chinook will not be used for nutrient enhancement in the lower river because of disease concerns This makes no sense at all! What does C-Shasta have to do with nutrient enhancement in the lower river? Why would it be ok to use fall chinook for nutrient enhancement in the upper Cowlitz or the Xxxxxx River but you can't use them in the lower river? What's the difference between letting fall chinook adult spawn and contribute to the nutrients naturally in the upper river but you can't use them in the lower river for nutrient enhancement? Why would it be biological sound to allow these same fish that may be infectious into the upper reaches of the Cowlitz and not into the lower reaches where they spawn naturally in large numbers below the dams because of C-Shasta?
Management Targets. Figure 3-15 captures the current conditions of the population, showing where we are now and where we expect to be in the future. Section 3.10.2, Decision Rules, describes how we intend to get from the current condition to the long-term target. No quantitative conservation targets have been identified for this population. It is expected to provide harvest benefits and nutrient enhancement. Xxxxxx coho are being used as a "trigger" requirement for triggering volitional upstream fish passage at Xxxxxxxx (read Article 3 of the Settlement Agreement). In addition, the license requires Tacoma to test to see if any of three adult indigenous species of coho, chinook or steelhead can self sort themselves; " A) adult fish in Xxxxxxxx Lake are able to choose their tributary of origin and survive Xxxxxxxx Lake transit at rates determined by NMFS and USFWS, in consultation with the FTC or agencies, to be sufficient to achieve effective upstream passage through volitional facilities; and B) as determined based on the above- described tables with respect to: (i) the number of pre-spawners arriving at the Barrier Dam, in at least 3 of 5 consecutive brood years measured, and based on the 5-year rolling average, exceeds an abundance level which indicates natural recruitment above Xxxxxxxx Dam has achieved self-sustaining levels, as determined by the National Marine Fisheries Service in consultation with the FTC or agencies; (ii) the productivity level in 3 of 5 years and the 5- year rolling average, as measured at the Barrier Dam or other Cowlitz River fish counting facilities by the recruit/pre-spawner ratio, exceeds 1.0; and (iii) the disease management plan required by Article 8 has been implemented." The Draft FHMP completely ignores this requirement of Tacoma's Operating License and doesn't address the issues of how this FHMP will address or deal with it. If in fact this requirement is dropped, Tacoma must amend its license to reflect so. But as it stands at this time, the FHMP must address this issue with all three species until Tacoma's license has been amended and must be addressed in every one of its Decision Rules, Monitoring Priorities, and Management Targets. It ain't Bugger King, and you can't order it anyway that you want to!
