R & E Grant Application Project #: 15 Biennium 15-048 Cascade Lakes Creel Survey (Phase II) Project Information R&E Project $21,828.00 Request: Total Project: $29,028.00 Start Date: 4/22/2016 End Date: 10/28/2016 Organization: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Applicant Information Name: Erik Moberly Address: 61374 Parrell Road Bend, OR 97702 Telephone: 541-388-6145 Email: [email protected] Past Recommended or Completed Projects Number Name Status 09-291 Gold Lake Brook Trout Removal Completed 13-058 Cascade Lakes Creel Survey Approved Project #: 15-048 Last Modified/Revised: 11/2/2015 8:46:08 AM Page 1 of 8 Cascade Lakes Creel Survey (Phase II) Location Information Where is it? The project will occur on public land owned or managed by another party Landowner Information Name: U.S. Forest Service Address: 63095 Deschutes Market Road Bend, OR, 97701 Phone: 5413835300 Site Description Street Address, nearest intersection, or other descriptive location. Crane Prairie Reservoir is located off the Cascade Lakes Highway between Bend and Crescent Junction. East and Paulina Lakes are located off Highway 97 at Newberry National Volcanic Monument. Crescent Lake is located off Highway 58 southwest of Crescent Junction. South Twin Lake is located off Highway 42 north of Wickiup Reservoir. Directions to the site from the nearest highway junction. (Crane Prairie Reservoir): East of Cascade Lakes Highway between Highway 40 and Highway 42. (East and Paulina Lake): Highway 97 south of Bend; take Highway 21 east before La Pine. (Crescent Lake): Highway 58 southwest of Crescent Junction. (South Twin Lake): Highway 42 north of Wickiup Reservoir. Following project completion, public anglers will be allowed the following level of access to the project site: Full access Please describe what leases, easements, agreements are in place to ensure angler access to the project site, and what is the length of each agreement. The public have access to Crane Prairie Reservoir, East Lake, Paulina Lake, Crescent Lake, and South Twin Lake all year. Some road and campground closures are conducted by Deschutes County and/or the USFS for some access roads and waterbodies during the winter. Currently, all waterbodies in this proposal are open to angling the fourth Saturday in April to October 31st except Crescent Lake which is open all year. The proposed new regulations for 2016 opens East, Paulina, and South Twin lakes all year. Dominant Land Use Type: Forest Project Location General Project Location. County: Deschutes ODFW Dist: Deschutes Stream/Lake/Es Deschutes tuary Name: Sub-basin: Deschutes Specific Project Location. Latitude Longitude Project #: 15-048 Last Modified/Revised: 11/2/2015 8:46:08 AM Page 2 of 8 Cascade Lakes Creel Survey (Phase II) 43.7881726 121.8026705 43.7287187 121.2107698 43.7213055 121.2580187 Project Summary Project Summary Please provide a couple sentence summary of the proposal. The proposed preference and creel survey will build upon 2014 creel efforts to collect additional angler preference information and specific catch data on rainbow trout and other game fish to evaluate stocks and release strategies. Results shall provide data for future fish management actions. Overall Project Goals Describe the primary goals or outcomes of the entire project, including elements not requesting funding from R&E. Primary goals are to determine which stocks and release strategies of hatchery rainbow trout: 1)Provide the greatest return to anglers; 2)Grow most quickly to trophy size; 3) Competes effectively against non-native fishes. Secondary goals include: 1)Evaluating recent management efforts implemented to achieve angling success targets and expectations; 2)Catch rates of native redband trout versus hatchery rainbow trout; 3)Catch rates of other game fish and illegally introduced fish species. Primary objectives of R&E funding Please describe the measurable objectives for the R&E portion of the funding request. Collect comprehensive creel information to evaluate stock performance in relation to diploid vs. triploid, release timing and sizes, and catchability. Collect specific angler preference information that will guide fish management actions for those waterbodies. Current Situation/Justification Please describe the current situation and explain why this funding is needed. To have flexibility stocking hatchery rainbow trout in waterbodies where there are conservation issues with wild rainbow trout, the Deschutes District has been developing a local stock using brood from Crane Prairie Reservoir. This stock is currently being released in multiple waterbodies including Crane Prairie, East, Paulina, Crescent, and South Twin lakes. Evaluation of this stock, including triploid and fingerling performance, is critical to determining the whether to maintain the program. The Deschutes District would prefer to use this local stock over other stocks of hatchery rainbow trout. In addition, there is interest by other districts to use Crane Prairie stock in their hatchery programs so obtaining performance data is critical for further development of the program. In addition to evaluating the Crane Prairie stock, funding will be used to evaluate other rainbow trout stocks being used to control chub populations in East and Paulina, kokanee fisheries in East, Paulina, and Cresent, and the current rainbow trout fishery in South Twin 4 years after being treated with rotenone to remove Brown Bullhead Catfish. Recreation and Commercial Benefit This project will provide benefits to: Project #: 15-048 Last Modified/Revised: 11/2/2015 8:46:08 AM Page 3 of 8 Cascade Lakes Creel Survey (Phase II) Recreational fisheries Explain how this project will contribute to current (and/or potential) fishing opportunities, access, or fisheries management. The Cascade Lakes provide abundant angling opportunities to thousands of anglers a year. A report by Runyan (2009) stated over 35 million dollars was spent in 2008 on travel generated expenditures to fish in Central Oregon. The proposed waterbodies where angler preference and creel data will be collected also have resorts and campgrounds which bring additional anglers for extended periods of time. Reports from anglers who fished the Cascade Lakes in 2015 were mostly favorable in regards to catch rates and overall angler satisfaction. The Deschutes District expects with the continued publicity of angling in Central Oregon and the influx of new residents, expectations of providing quality recreational fisheries will increase. Data from the proposed creel will provide the Deschutes District with useful information to implement fish management actions in the Cascade Lakes. Is this project part of an approved Salmon-Trout Enhancement Program (STEP) activity? No This project has been identified as a priority for: Local/watershed Identify any plan or other document that identifies this priority. Upper Deschutes River Subbasin Fish Management Plan (Crane Prairie): "monitor abundance, size, age-class, structure, and distribution of trout by conducting periodic creel surveys." Upper Deschutes River Subbasin Fish Management Plan (East, Paulina, South Twin): "monitor angling effort and catch through a creel survey." 25-Year Angling Enhancement Plan: "understand the interests and preferences of the public and incorporate that information into management decisions." 25-Year Angling Enhancement Plan: "use available tools and resources to actively manage recreational angling." This project is intended to benefit the following species: Rainbow Trout This project will benefit anglers or fishery by providing: Monitoring/Research Monitoring/Research This project will be used to evaluate: Hatchery releases and/or stray rates Population composition (i.e age, species, survival, size, or genetics) Hatchery production methods Fishery contribution Angler satisfaction/harvest (Creel) Has this project been reviewed or developed by an individual with appropriate qualifications (i.e ODFW biometrician, research professor)? Yes ODFW Biometrician was involved with the development of the 2014 (Phase I) creel survey and assisted with data analysis. Continued limited assistance has been agreed upon for data Project #: 15-048 Last Modified/Revised: 11/2/2015 8:46:08 AM Page 4 of 8 Cascade Lakes Creel Survey (Phase II) analysis and final report completion for the 2016 (Phase II) creel survey. Is this study critical to fishery management decisions? Yes Preference data shall address if recent fish management actions have increased angling success and expectations, catch rates of hatchery and wild fish, and catch rates of other game fish. Creel data shall address which hatchery stocks and release strategies provide the greatest return to anglers, growth rates, and compete effectively against non-native fishes. Yes Preference and creel data shall be used to modify and improve the performance of specific hatchery stocks and release strategies that produce quality fisheries consistent with management objectives. Creel and preference data from 2014 was used by the Deschutes District to reduce stocking of hatchery rainbow trout in Hosmer Lake and increase stocking of hatchery rainbow trout in Big Lava Lake. Is there a plan to repeat this monitoring or research in the future? Yes Phase II of the Cascade Lakes Creel Survey will conclude the Deschutes District's short term plans for creel surveys that target those waterbodies identified as Cascade Lakes. Periodic surveys that collect data on anglers preferences and catch rates will continue on the district