Stehekin River Side Channel Trout Abundance Surveys. NPS The 2009-2011 spawning surveys failed to confirm the presence of WCT in any of the survey index reaches. As a result, subsequent fish surveys focused on documenting summer and fall abundance of WCT and XXX were implemented in 2011. Two surveys were conducted annually in side channel and tributary habitat from late July to mid- September. Visual observation and snorkeling was used to document species presence and their abundance at 11 of the 12 spawner survey index reaches. Results are outlined in Table 14 below.
Stehekin River Side Channel Trout Abundance Surveys. NPS Plans for 2013 include conducting two snorkel surveys during August and September to determine abundance and distribution of trout at all side channel spawner index reaches. Collection of young-of-year samples for genetic species verification will be completed at four side channel locations. Genetic analyses of these samples will be conducted by Xxxx Xxxxxxx (USGS Western Fisheries Research Center). Estimated Budget and Schedule: Year Task Total $ NPS Requested $ (LC06b1) Requested PUD Matching $ (LC06b2) NPS Matching $ 2013 Aug-Sept Conduct two snorkel surveys (Aug/Sept) in 11 side-channel/trib. index reaches (1– GS/9 Ecologist and 1-GS/6 Bio Tech for total of 16 person-days) $4304 $1734 $1285 $1285 Aug-Sept Collect cutthroat/rainbow young-of-year for genetic analysis in four side channel reaches (1–GS/9 Ecologist and 1-GS/6 Bio Tech for total of 8 person-days) $2152 $866 $643 $643 Oct-Dec USGS –BRD Lab analyses, Data Mgt. and Reporting (100 samples @ $47/sample including Overhead) $4700 $1700 $1500 $1500 Aug-Sept Travel (Ferry and per diem) $520 $520 Aug-Sept Vehicle (0.5 months @ $800/month) $400 $400 Aug-Sept Supplies $300 $300 Nov-Dec Data Mgt. and Reporting (1- GS9 Ecol. for 12 days, GS12 Ecol. – 3 days) $5556 $2778 $2778 2013 Estimated Totals: $17932 $5520 $6206 $6206
Stehekin River Side Channel Trout Abundance Surveys. NPS The 2009-2011 spring spawning surveys failed to confirm the presence of WCT in any of the index reaches. Subsequent side channel surveys focused on documenting abundance of WCT and XXX during the summer and fall. Beginning in 2011 two surveys were conducted annually in side channel and tributary habitat from late July to mid-September. Visual observation and snorkeling was used to document species presence and their abundance at 11 of the 12-spawner survey index reaches. Results are outlined in Figure 4 below. Figure 4: Total Number of Greater than Six-Inch Trout Observed in Eleven-Side Channel Index Sites, 2011 – 2014 An additional sampling effort was made from 2011 – 2014 to collect young-of-year fish for genetic analysis to provide definitive species information about successful trout spawning in index reaches. Species composition of these samples is useful for determining XXX and WCT spawner use of the index reaches, and the occurrence of hybridization. A sample of 25 fry was collected from each of four index reaches in 2011 - 2014. Results from the sampling effort indicated that none of the newly emerged fry were WCT, and hybridization rates ranged from 0% to 40% in the channels surveyed. All non- hybridized fish were determined to be rainbow trout. Genetic analyses of 2013 samples are currently being conducted by Xxxx Xxxxxxx (USGS Western Fisheries Research Center) following methods in Ostberg and Xxxxxxxxx (2006).
