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Yellowstone Fisheries Aquatic Sciences Yellowstone Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences Annual Report 2011 © MIMI MATSUDA Westslope cutthroat trout Todd M. Koel, Jeffrey L. Arnold, Patricia E. Bigelow, Philip D. Doepke, Brian D. Ertel, and Michael E. Ruhl National Park Service Yellowstone Center for Resources Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming YCR-2012-03 Suggested citation: Koel, T.M., J.L. Arnold, P.E. Bigelow, P.D. Doepke, B.D. Ertel, and M.E. Ruhl. 2012. Yellowstone Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences: Annual Report, 2011. National Park Service, Yellowstone Center for Resources, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, YCR-2012-03. Title page art courtesy Mimi Matsuda. Front cover captions (left to right): John Syslo, USGS Montana Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit and Adam Lucas, Student Conservation Association (SCA) volunteer, examine a gillnet used for monitoring of cutthroat trout and lake trout on Yellowstone Lake (NPS/Jay Fleming); SCA volunteer Jessica Dugan with a cutthroat trout from Yellowstone Lake (NPS/Brian Ertel); native fish restoration biologist Michael Ruhl (right), SCA volunteer, Saalem Adera, and fisheries technician Mike Consolo stocking westslope cutthroat trout eggs at East Fork Specimen Creek (NPS/Todd Koel). Back cover captions (left to right): NPS fisheries biologist Pat Bigelow leading efforts to suppress lake trout on Yellowstone Lake (NPS/Todd Koel); contract netting boat Sheepshead removing lake trout from Yellowstone Lake (NPS/Todd Koel); National Park Service aquatic ecologist Jeff Arnold with a cutthroat trout from Yellowstone Lake (NPS/Brian Ertel). Background: Moonlight on Yellowstone Lake (NPS/J. Schmidt, 1977). Opposite page: High Lake, at the headwaters of East Fork Specimen Creek, is now home to an abundance of genetically unaltered westslope cutthroat trout (NPS/Jay Fleming). Note: Native fishes shown out of water were not injured. Contents Background ............................................................ 2 Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout on the Northern Range ...................................18 2011 Summary .......................................................3 Soda Butte Creek Brook Trout Removal ................18 Native Fish Conservation Plan ................................ 4 Adaptive Management for Native Fish Aquatic Ecological Monitoring Conservation .................................................... 5 and Assessment ................................................... 20 Long-term Water Quality Monitoring ...................20 Conservation Actions to Restore Core and Chemical Water Quality Parameters .......20 Yellowstone Lake ............................................... 6 Monitoring of 303(d) Listed Streams .................... 22 Lake Trout Suppression ........................................... 6 Yellowstone Lake Limnology ................................. 24 Lake Trout Gillnetting .............................................7 Health Assessments via Lake Trout Live Entrapment Netting .......................8 Macroinvertebrate Surveys ..............................24 Sonic Tracking to Locate Spawning Areas ................9 Aquatic Invasive Species Surveys ............................24 Science Panel Review ...............................................9 Amphibians in Native Fish Restoration Areas ........25 Monitoring Performance Metrics Public Involvement ........................................... 27 on Yellowstone Lake .......................................10 Volunteer Angler Report Card Trends ....................27 Lakewide Cutthroat Trout Fly-Fishing Volunteers ...........................................28 Population Assessment ....................................10 Long-term Volunteer Assistance ............................ 28 Cutthroat Trout Tributary Spawner Assessment ..... 11 Educational Programs ............................................28 Cutthroat Trout Angler Success ............................. 12 Collaborative Research .......................................... 28 Distribution Netting of Cutthroat and Lake Trout 12 Projects by Graduate Students ...............................29 Interagency Workgroups ........................................29 Cutthroat Trout and Grayling Conservation in Streams ................................ 15 Acknowledgements ....................................30 Westslope Cutthroat Trout Restoration Literature Cited ........................................31 on East Fork Specimen Creek ......................... 15 Appendices ...................................................32 Westslope Cutthroat Trout Brood Appendix i. Fish Species List ................................. 32 Development at Goose Lake ........................... 17 Appendix ii. Water Quality Stations ...................... 33 Native Fish Community Restoration Appendix iii. Seasonal Staff and on Grayling Creek .......................................... 17 Long-term Volunteers ..................................... 34 NPS/B. ERTEL Yellowstone Lake. Background NPS YELL-36232 ignificant threats to the long-term persistence of Snative fish in Yellowstone National Park have emerged over the past two decades. Nonnative, predatory lake trout and exotic whirling disease were introduced to the vast, seemingly secure Yellowstone Lake ecosystem, home to the largest remaining concentration of cutthroat trout. In the early 2000s the impacts of an expanding lake trout population and whirling disease coincided with that of drought, resulting in a precipitous decline in cutthroat trout. Cascading effects through the ecosystem have Hayden Survey camping near Yellowstone Lake in 1871. been documented. Grizzly bears are now seldom seen on cutthroat trout spawning tributaries, and few ospreys prey on cutthroat Yellowstone’s native fish have underpinned natural trout near the lake’s surface or nest in adjacent trees. food webs, had great local economic significance, As measured by the frequency with which Yellowstone provided unparalleled visitor experiences, and defined cutthroat trout are caught, angler success on Yellowstone much of the park’s 20th century historical context. Lake is less than one-fourth of what it once was. To address recent and historical losses and reverse Coinciding with the cutthroat trout decline in declining trends in native fish populations and loss Yellowstone Lake were changes in another previous of ecosystem function, the National Park Service has stronghold for this species in the park, the Lamar River. sought to take actions that will ensure their recovery. Rainbow trout, which were intentionally introduced Scientific peer review continue to provide guidance for by park managers in the early 1900s and propagated at future efforts on Yellowstone Lake. An environmental the Trout Lake hatchery near lower Soda Butte Creek, compliance process culminating in a parkwide Native historically remained concentrated in the Yellowstone Fish Conservation Plan/Environmental Assessment River below the falls at Canyon and the lower Lamar was recently completed. By implementing the River, primarily downstream of the Lamar River and aggressive conservation actions described in the plan, Slough Creek cascades. In the early 2000s, however, the National Park Service aims to reduce long-term anglers began reporting catches of rainbow trout extinction risk and restore the ecological role of native upstream more frequently. During the summer of 2002, species, including fluvial Arctic grayling, westslope a cadre of the park’s Fly Fishing Volunteers returned cutthroat trout, and Yellowstone cutthroat trout, while from the first meadow of Slough Creek with a rainbow ensuring sustainable native fish angling and viewing trout in hand. As rainbow trout hybridize with cutthroat opportunities for visitors. trout, this confirmation of their spread raised concerns This report documents the conservation actions, about the security of the cutthroat trout in the upper long-term monitoring, and assessments made to Lamar River system. Since then, rainbow trout and conserve Yellowstone’s native fish by the National rainbow trout–cutthroat trout hybrids have been caught Park Service and collaborators during 2011. This and as far upstream as the third meadow of Slough Creek previous annual reports are available in electronic (at the park’s north boundary) and in upper Soda Butte format at the Yellowstone National Park website (http:// Creek upstream of Ice Box Canyon. www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/fishing.htm). 2 2011 Summary he need to greatly increase lake trout (Salvelinus tags implanted. This information will be used to identify namaycush) suppression efforts on Yellowstone specific spawning locations where suppression efforts can TLake, as well as to implement cutthroat be focused in future years. trout and Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) recovery Progress toward cutthroat trout recovery and the efforts elsewhere in the park, led to the completion achievement of desired conditions for Yellowstone Lake, of a Native Fish Conservation Plan/Environmental as defined in the program’s adaptive management strategy, Assessment for Yellowstone National Park (National was assessed via continued long-term monitoring efforts. Park Service 2010). Following a long public review A rebound in juvenile cutthroat trout was detected in the period, substantive comments were incorporated into a Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri) decision document (Finding of No Significant Impact) assessment gillnetting conducted in September using gear signed by Intermountain Region Director John Wessels which begins capturing them at approximately age
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