Adult Lamprey Passage and Enumeration Study, Wells Dam, 2013

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Adult Lamprey Passage and Enumeration Study, Wells Dam, 2013 ADULT LAMPREY PASSAGE AND ENUMERATION STUDY, WELLS DAM, 2013: The Effects of Head Differential on Entrance Efficiency, and of Picketed Leads on Count Window Enumeration Efficiency David Robichaud LGL Limited Sidney, BC, Canada and Chas Kyger Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County East Wenatchee, WA, USA Prepared for: Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County East Wenatchee, Washington September 2014 Wells Dam Adult Lamprey Passage Study, 2013 Executive Summary As part of the relicensing of Wells Dam, Douglas PUD along with 5 signatories to the Aquatic Settlement Agreement developed the Pacific Lamprey Management Plan (PLMP) for the Wells Hydroelectric Project (Wells Project), with the objective of identifying and addressing any adverse Project-related impacts on passage of adult Pacific lamprey. Under the PLMP, a radio telemetry study was conducted in 2013 with three goals: to assess how adult Pacific lamprey Entrance Efficiencies varied under two different head differential treatments; to assess the effectiveness of recent fishway modifications on Count Window Enumeration Efficiency; and to evaluate Passage Efficiency, average travel times and general behavior of lamprey in the Wells Project fishways. Adult Pacific lamprey were captured at Bonneville and Priest Rapids dams, and transported to the Wells Fish Hatchery for tagging. Radio and PIT tags were surgically implanted, and the tagged fish were released into the Wells Dam tailrace (n=92) or into the Wells Dam fishways above the adult fish trap (pool 38; n=18). To monitor movements, underwater antenna arrays were deployed throughout both Wells Dam fishways, and aerial antennas were deployed at the mouths of upstream tributaries (Okanogan and Methow Rivers). Two head differential treatments were compared: a high condition (0.48 m or 1.5 ft) and a moderate condition (0.31 m or 1.0 ft). Treatment conditions occurred in 7-hour blocks (19:00 through 02:00) and alternated daily. Between treatments, the head differential was set at 0.48 m (1.5 ft). From 7 July to 7 October, 80 treatment conditions were tested, including 40 replicate tests of each treatment. The lamprey that were released into the tailrace approached the fishways on 89 occasions (35 during the high differential treatment, 12 moderate). Entrance Efficiency (the proportion of approach events that were followed by an entrance event) was 67% during the moderate treatment and 51% during the high treatment. Differences were not statistically significant, but statistical power was low. Previous studies had identified an area (‘bypass’ behind the picketed lead) that allowed lamprey to move upstream through picketed leads without passing through the fishway video count window. Concerns about accurate passage count data prompted the installation of modified picketed leads with narrower spacing to help exclude lamprey from the bypass area. Count Station Passage (the proportion of tagged fish detected below the count window that were directed through the Count Station, rather than the bypass) was 88%, which was a significant improvement from before the new leads were installed (53.3%). Count Station Enumeration Efficiency (the proportion of fish known to have passed the count window that were tallied by the count video technicians) was significantly higher in the west fishway (68%) than in the east (33%), and was 51% overall. Count Station Enumeration Efficiency in 2013 was 11% higher than that estimated prior to installation of the modified picketed leads, but the statistical power of the comparison limited. In 2004, 2007-2008, and 2013, Total Fishway Passage Efficiencies (the proportion of entry events that ended with successful passage) were 25% (3 of 12), 33% (2 of 6), and 9.5% (6 of 63), respectively. These rates were low relative to other Columbia River dams. Lower Fishway passage efficiencies were 33%, 33% and 14%; and Upper Fishway Passage Efficiencies were 75%, 100% and 67%. Differences among years were not statistically significant, but statistical power was very low. Travel times varied among years. In 2004, total fishway passage times averaged 0.3 days (7.2 hours), with largest delays in the reach leading up to the ‘below trap’ area, and in the ‘above trap’ to ‘below video’ reach. In 2007, a single fish passed from entrance to exit in 31.5 hours. In 2008, lower fishway travel times ranged from 1.7 to 5.5 hours, and upper fishway passage times ranged from 2.6 to 15.1 hours. In 2013, lower fishway passage times ranged from 3.7 to 6.9 hours (median 4.8 hours), and total fishway passage times ranged from 9.8 hours to 2.4 days (median 12.6 hours). Upper fishway passage times for tailrace -released fish ranged from 3.8 hours to 7.1 days (median 6.5 hours). LGL Limited Page i Wells Dam Adult Lamprey Passage Study, 2013 Table of Contents Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................................ i List of Tables .................................................................................................................................................................. v List of Figures ................................................................................................................................................................ vi 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 1 2. Goals and Hypotheses .......................................................................................................................................... 3 2.1. Adult Pacific Lamprey Upstream Passage Evaluation .................................................................................. 3 2.2. Fishway Counts and Alternative Passage Routes ......................................................................................... 4 3. Study Area ............................................................................................................................................................ 4 3.1. Wells Hydroelectric Project .......................................................................................................................... 4 4. Methods ............................................................................................................................................................... 5 4.1. Fish Source ................................................................................................................................................... 5 4.1.1. Trapping at Bonneville Dam ................................................................................................................ 6 4.1.2. Trapping at Priest Rapids Dam ............................................................................................................ 6 4.2. Tagging ......................................................................................................................................................... 7 4.3. Tracking ...................................................................................................................................................... 10 4.3.1. Fixed Station Receiver Arrays ............................................................................................................ 10 4.3.2. Mobile Tracking ................................................................................................................................. 12 4.3.3. PIT Tag Detections ............................................................................................................................. 12 4.4. Data Processing .......................................................................................................................................... 12 4.5. Head Differential Treatments .................................................................................................................... 12 4.6. Data Analysis .............................................................................................................................................. 13 4.6.1. Detections ......................................................................................................................................... 13 4.6.2. Fishway Interaction Events ................................................................................................................ 13 4.6.3. Detection Benchmarks ...................................................................................................................... 14 4.6.4. Detection Efficiency and Receiver Performance ............................................................................... 14 4.6.5. Movements ....................................................................................................................................... 14 4.6.6. Benchmark Movement Durations ..................................................................................................... 15 4.6.7. Entrance Efficiency ............................................................................................................................ 15 4.6.8. Passage Efficiency .............................................................................................................................. 16 4.6.9. Count Station Passage ....................................................................................................................... 16
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