Idaho Department of Fish & Game

Volume 047 Article 03

IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME

FEDERAL AID TO FISH AND WILDLIFE RESTORATION

Job Performance Report

Project F-71-R-5

REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT INVESTIGATIONS

Job VI-a. Region 6 Mountain Lake Investigations Job VI-b. Region 6 Lowland Lakes Investigation Job VI-c. Region 6 Stream Investigation Job VI-d. Region 6 Technical Guidance Job VI-e. Region 6 Salmon and Steelhead Investigations

Period Covered: 1 January 1980 to 31 December 1980

by Kent Ball Regional Fishery Biologist and Paul Jeppson Regional Fishery Manager

April, 1980

TABLE OF CONTENTS Page

Job VI-a. _ Region 6 Mountain Lake Investigations

ABSTRACT ...... 1

RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 3

OBJECTIVES ...... 3

TECHNIQUES USED ...... 3

FINDINGS ...... 3

Lakes in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area ...... 3

Hell Roaring Lake ...... 3 Alice Lake ...... 4 Vernon Lake ...... 4 Sawtooth Lake ...... 5 Heart Lake ...... 5 Six Lake No. 3 ...... 5 Six Lake No. 5 ...... 7 Phyllis Lake ...... 7 Lightning ...... 7

Lakes in the Challis National Forest ...... 7

Collie Lake ...... 7 Nelson Lake No. 1 ...... 7 Nelson Lake No. 2 ...... 7 China Lake No. 1 ...... 8 China Lake No. 2 ...... 8 China Lake No. 3 ...... 8 Mystery Lake No. 1 ...... 8 Mystery Lake No. 2 ...... 8 Mystery Lake No. 3 ...... 9 Mystery Lake No. 4 ...... 9

Lakes in the Salmon National Forest ...... 9

Golden Trout Lake ...... 9 Gooseneck Lake ...... 9 Pothole Lake ...... 9 Crater Lake ...... 10 Glacier Lake ...... 10 Ship Island Lake No. 2 ...... 10 Ship Island Lake No. 3 ...... 10 Ship Island Lake No. 4 ...... 10 Shoban Lake ...... 10 Sheepeater Lake ...... 11 Hat Creek Lake No. 1 ...... 11 Hat Creek Lake No. 2 ...... 11

TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page

Hat Creek Lake No. 3 ...... 11 Hat Creek Lake No. 4 ...... 11 Hat Creek Lake No. 5 ...... 12 Big Eight Mile Lake ...... 12 North Fork Little Timber Creek Lake No. 1 ...... 12 North Fork Little Timber Creek Lake No. 2 ...... 12 North Fork Little Timber Creek Lake No. 3 ...... 12 North Fork Little Timber Creek Lake No. 4 ...... 12

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...... 13

LITERATURE CITED ...... 13

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Length frequency of fish from Sawtooth Lake ...... 6

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Job VI-b. _ Region 6 Lowland Lakes Investigation

ABSTRACT ...... 15

RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 17

OBJECTIVES ...... 17

TECHNIQUES USED ...... 17

FINDINGS ...... 17

Williams Lake ...... 17 Wells Lake (Roberts Gravel Pit) ...... 18 Roberts Slough ...... 21 Ashton Reservoir ...... 21 Island Park Reservoir ...... 21 Henrys Lake ...... 21 Mud Lake ...... 22 Sandhole Lake ...... 22 Paul (Modoc) Reservoir ...... 22

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Length frequency of rainbow trout from Williams Lake 1973-1980 ...... 19

TABLE OF CONTENTS Page

Job VI-c. Region 6 Stream Investigation

ABSTRACT ...... 23

RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 25

OBJECTIVES ...... 25

TECHNIQUES USED ...... 25

Herd Creek ...... 25 Middle Fork Salmon River ...... 25 Bruno Creek ...... 26 Squaw Creek ...... 26 Big Timber Creek ...... 26 Panther Creek ...... 26

FINDINGS ...... 26

Herd Creek ...... 26 Middle Fork Salmon River ...... 27 Bruno Creek ...... 27 Squaw Creek ...... 27 Pahsimeroi River ...... 27 Big Timber Creek ...... 27 Panther Creek ...... 28 Dry Bed of Snake River (Great Feeder Canal) ...... 28 Henrys Fork ...... 28 Birch Creek ...... 28 Big Lost River ...... 28

LITERATURE CITED ...... 29

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix 1. Analysis of Cutthroat Trout from Bruno Creek, Salmon River Drainage ...... 31

Appendix 2. Statement of Kent Ball, Regional Fisheries Biologist, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, to the Idaho Water Resource Board at the Pahsimeroi River instream flow hearing, 9 July, 1980 ...... 34

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Expected values of sample means of meristic characters of westslope and yellowstone cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki lewisi and S. c. bouvieri) and meristic characters of Henrys Lake cutthroat and a sample of cutthroat trout from Bruno Creek, Salmon River drainage, Idaho ...... 33

iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Job VI-d.__ Region 6 Technical Guidance

ABSTRACT ...... 41

OBJECTIVES ...... 43

TECHNIQUES USED ...... 43

FINDINGS ...... 43

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Job VI-e.__ Region 6 Salmon and Steelhead Investigations

ABSTRACT ...... 45

RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 47

OBJECTIVES ...... 47

TECHNIQUES USED ...... 47

FINDINGS ...... 47

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Summary of data collected from fall steelhead seasons, 1971-1980, at the North Fork check station ...... 49

Table 2. Summary of data collected from spring steelhead seasons, 1971-1980, at the North Fork check station ...... 49

Table 3. Summary of data collected at the North Fork check station by combining fall and spring steelhead seasons, 1971-72 through 1980-81 ...... 50

Table 4. Number of steelhead checked and proportion that were of hatchery origin at the North Fork check station, 1971- 1980 ...... 51

Table 5. Number of steelhead checked and proportion that were of hatchery origin at the North Fork check station, 1971- 1980 ...... 51

JOB PERFORMANCE REPORT

Name: REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT State of: ____ Idaho ______INVESTIGATIONS

Project No.: _ F-71-R-5 ______Title: Region 6 Mountain Lake Job No: VI-a Investigations

Period Covered: ___ 1 January 1979 to 31 December 1980 _

ABSTRACT

We surveyed 39 mountain lakes in the upper Salmon River drainage. Sunapee trout were found in Alice Lake, but not in Vernon Lake. A life history study of Sunapee and brook trout in Sawtooth Lake was initiated. Rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout were found in Hell Roaring Lake and will probably replace the grayling.

Author:

Kent Ball Regional Fishery Biologist

RECOMMENDATIONS

Continue to physically survey high mountain lakes.

Continue to catalog lakes and produce management plans.

Conduct an intensive habitat survey on Alice Lake to describe Sunapee trout habitat.

OBJECTIVES

To produce an accurate, revised, cross-referenced file of all known records on high mountain lakes in the Salmon River drainage.

To identify species composition and fish survival in selected lakes.

To inventory physical features of lakes and extent at spawning areas.

To develop comprehensive long-range plans for all lakes and groups of lakes to optimize angler satisfaction by manipulations of species stocking rates, stocking frequencies and access coordination with land management agencies.

TECHNIQUES USED

We physically surveyed several mountain lakes to ascertain the status of the fish populations, survival of fish stocked, and extent of spawning. Simul- taneously, we collected morphometric information for the Forest Service.

Most fish populations were sampled with hook and line along with visual observation. Gill nets were set in Sawtooth, Alice, Vernon and Hell Roaring Lakes. Standard monofilament multi-mesh experimental gill nets were set on the bottom, perpendicular to the shoreline, and fished overnight. With one exception, the nets were fished with the small mesh nearest the shoreline. All fish collected from nets were measured in millimeters total length and preserved. Fish caught with hook and line were released back to the lakes.

FINDINGS

We visited 9 lakes in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area; 10 on the Challis National Forest; and 20 on the Salmon National Forest. A brief summary of our findings follows.

Lakes In The Sawtooth National Recreation Area

Hell Roaring Lake

On 27 June 1980, we set two gill nets in Hell Roaring Lake to evaluate species composition. After chemical eradication in 1971, grayling were stocked in 1972, 1973 and 1974. Angler catch rates have been low and no grayling have been reported caught in the last two years.

We collected four species of fish from the lake: 17 rainbow trout, 4 grayling, 2 brook trout, and 1 cutthroat. The size range of each species was: rainbow 171-279 mm; grayling 267-356 mm; brook trout 171-184 mm; and cutthroat 337 mm. The rainbow trout are approaching the size where they should be readily caught by anglers. And, the fry observed in the inlet in 1979 were probably rainbow trout. Therefore, we expect the rainbow trout will sustain the fishery without need for any fish stocking. Although grayling have reproduced in the lake, they will probably not be able to compete with the other species and will eventually disappear. Brook trout can be expected to increase in numbers and may become the dominant species.

The origin of the rainbow trout is probably Imogene Lake, higher in the drainage. Rainbow are stocked in Imogene every three years and can migrate down the drainage. Cutthroat trout are also stocked into several lakes in upper Hell Roaring Creek drainage and may be able to migrate through Imogene Lake and down the creek to Hell Roaring Lake. The origin of brook trout is uncertain, but brook trout are becoming widespread in the Sawtooth Mountains.

Alice Lake

Alice Lake was stocked with rainbow trout in 1923, 1924 and 1925, and with landlocked salmon and Sunapee trout in 1925 by S.B. Locke, U.S. Forest Service (Anon. 1923, 1925). In addition, brook trout were stocked in 1941 and 1949 and cutthroat trout in 1950 and 1954 by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. We have no records of any surveys of Alice Lake.

We set two gill nets on 21 September 1980, to check the species composition. The nets were set on the east side of the lake, 3 to 10 meters deep. We collected 46 fish from the nets of which 34 were identified as brook trout. The other 12 fish appeared to be Sunapee trout and were sent to Dr. Richard L. Wallace, University of Idaho Ichthyologist, for positive identification.

There is no inlet spawning habitat in Alice Lake and very limited spawning area in the outlet. Brook trout and Sunapee trout both spawn successfully within the lake.

The existence of Sunapee trout in Alice Lake is quite unique. Previously, Sawtooth Lake and a few ponds in Maine were the only known waters where the species occurred. An intensive lake survey is needed to more accurately describe Sunapee trout habitat.

Alice Lake is a popular spot in the Sawtooth Wilderness and receives quite intensive use for a remote mountain lake. Although it's very likely that anglers may have caught Sunapee trout and misidentified them as brook trout, they had been in the lake for 55 years without verification of their existence. The population doesn't appear to be threatened by fishing.

Vernon Lake

Vernon Lake is in the South Fork Payette River drainage and was stocked with 1,000 Sunapee trout in 1925 by the Forest Service (Anon. 1925). In recent years, this lake has been stocked with cutthroat trout. Vernon Lake had not previously been netted to check for the existence of Sunapee trout. Since we were at Alice Lake with gill nets, it was easier for us to cross the divide to Vernon Lake than for other biologists to visit the lake from the west access route.

We set two gill nets in Vernon Lake on 22 September 1980, at water depths between 2.1 and 10 meters. Vernon Lake did not appear to be much deeper than 10 meters, but we didn't attempt to measure the maximum depth. The only species collected from the lake was cutthroat trout. The lake may be too shallow to support Sunapee trout, or Sunapee trout may not be able to compete with cutthroat.

Sawtooth Lake

Sunapee trout were stocked into Sawtooth Lake in 1925 by S.B. Locke, U.S. Forest Service (Anon. 1925). The first taxonomic verification of this species in Idaho was from specimens we collected in 1977 (Ball and Jeppson, 1978). Since very little life history information is available on this species, we decided to initiate a joint study with Dr. Richard Wallace, University of Idaho Ichthyologist.

We set three nets on 25 September, four on 30 September and four on one October. Our goal was to collect 50 Sunapee trout over a wide size range. In 11 net nights, we collected 49 Sunapee trout, 90 brook trout and two fish that we suspect may be hybrids. We injected the stomachs and coelomic cavities with 10% formalin to preserve the viscera without formalizing the otoliths. The fish were packed in snow for about four hours before being frozen. All specimens were shipped frozen to the University of Idaho for life history studies.

The gill nets were set over the rocky shoals at the south end of the lake at depths of 3 to 20 meters. All of the nets were set with the small mesh toward shore, except one. One net was set with the small mesh at 20 meters deep, and this net caught 42 of the 49 Sunapee trout we collected. If future fish collections are made, we recommend that the small mesh sizes be positioned at 10 to 20 meters.

The size range of the Sunapee trout was from 135 to 590 mm. Brook trout ranged from 110 to 362 mm (Figure 1). There has been two unconfirmed reports of large fish being caught in Sawtooth Lake, but we were still surprised to find a Sunapee trout 591 mm long.

Life history comparisons of the brook and Sunapee trout from Sawtooth Lake are not complete. Results will be published separately.

Heart Lake

Heart Lake is the largest lake in Six Lakes Basin, and is on a tributary to Fourth of July Creek. The cutthroat trout population is maintained by stocking 1,000 fish every three years. There is no inlet nor outlet spawning potential. Heart Lake is 13.8 hectares and is at 2697 m elevation. Access is relatively easy by a foot trail from the Fourth of July Creek road. We recommend the current stocking program be continued.

Six Lake No. 3

This lake is 5.3 hectares in size; has a maximum depth of 6 or 7 m and lies at 2801 m elevation. There is no inlet nor outlet spawning potential so stocking is necessary to maintain the population. In 1973, 1,000 cutthroat were stocked and in 1980 270 rainbow-cutthroat were stocked. No fish were seen or caught during the survey. A revisit to the lake will be necessary to see if the fish stocked in 1980 survive.

Six Lake No. 5

This lake is at 2810 m elevation and its size varies considerably with water fluctuation. The lake fluctuates at least 4 meters rendering it unsuitable for sustaining fish.

Phyllis Lake

Phyllis Lake is 7.9 hectares and lies at 2801 m elevation. Maximum water depth is at least 5 m. There is no inlet or outlet spawning potential, so fish stocking is necessary to maintain the population. We recommend that the stocking program of 1,000 fish every third year be continued.

Lightning

This lake has 1.6 hectares of surface area and is at 2798 m elevation. Maximum water depth is 5 m. There is no inlet or outlet spawning potential, so stocking is necessary to maintain cutthroat in the lake. Stocking of 1,000 cutthroat every third year is recommended.

Lakes In The Challis National Forest

Collie Lake

This lake has 18.4 hectares of surface area and is at 2502 m elevation. Maximum depth is at least 15 m. Collie Lake has been stocked with 1,000 cutthroat every three years, and cutthroat trout is the only species of fish in the lake. Cutthroat fry stocked in 1978 averaged 250 mm 23 months later. There may be a very small amount of spawning potential in the inlet, but we did not observe any natural reproduction. We recommend that the current stocking program be continued.

Nelson Lake No. 1

This lake has 1.5 hectares of surface area and is at 2644 m elevation. Maximum water depth is six m, but the water level fluctuates about two m. There is no trail to the lake, and access is difficult. We stocked 540 golden trout fry into the lake in 1978. Prior to that time, the lake had never been stocked nor surveyed. There is no inlet or outlet stream, so stocking is necessary to maintain the golden trout population. After 22 months of growth, the golden trout averaged 179 mm. We recommend that 500 golden trout fry be stocked every five years.

Nelson Lake No. 2

This lake has 5.3 hectares of surface area and is at 2717 m elevation. Maximum water depth is about five m, and the water level fluctuates about one m. There is no trail to the lake, and access is difficult. The first fish stocked in this lake were 540 golden trout in 1978. No surveys were made until 1980. There is no inlet nor outlet spawning potential in this lake. Although the lake appears to be able to support fish, we did not observe any live fish during our survey. We recommend that 500 golden trout be stocked in this lake, and two years later their survival checked.

China Lake No. 1

This lake is 0.3 hectares in surface area and is at 2573 m elevation. Maximum water depth is only about two m. There is no record of fish ever being stocked in this lake, but two golden trout, 222 and 292 m long, were caught from the lake. Golden trout were stocked in China Lake No. 2 in 1939 and in 1960. There appears to be a self sustaining population of golden trout in the stream between lakes number 1 and 2. During high water, there must be fish migrating from the creek to the lake. There is no inlet or outlet spawning potential. No stocking is recommended for this lake.

China Lake No. 2

This lake has 8.9 hectares of surface area and is at 2726 m elevation. Maximum water depth is about 10 m. There is no trail to the lake. The first species to be stocked in this lake was golden trout in 1939 and 1960. Cutthroat trout have been stocked every third year since 1969. Cutthroat trout was the only species observed in the lake in 1980. Fish stocked as fry in 1978 were 165 - 197 mm long. Cutthroat from the 1975 plant were 279 - 330 mm long. We recommend that 750 cutthroat be stocked every third year. There is no inlet or outlet spawning potential in the lake. The outlet is a 50 m waterfall.

China Lake No. 3

This lake has 0.2 hectares of surface area and is at 2588 m elevation. Maximum water depth is only 1.1 m. The lake is barren and has no fisheries potential.

Mystery Lake No. 1

This lake is 9.9 hectares in surface area and is at 2618 m elevation. Maximum water depth is about 10 m. Golden trout were stocked into the "Mystery Creek Lakes" in 1939 and 1960, and we suspect this lake was stocked at that time. There is about 30 m of spawning habitat in one inlet and about 15 meters in the outlet. Natural reproduction is occurring and no stocking is recommended. Golden trout 127 - 248 mm were abundant during our survey. There is no trail to the lake and access is difficult.

Mystery Lake No. 2

This lake is 23.7 hectares in surface area and lies at 2765 m elevation. Maximum water depth is greater than eight m. This lake was stocked with golden trout in 1939 and 1960. In 1975, an angler reported few or no fish in this lake. The lake was restocked with 1,176 golden trout in 1976 and again in 1978 with 1,080 golden trout. There is no trail to the lake and access is difficult. The lake doesn't have an inlet, but there may be a little spawning potential in the outlet or on springs within the lake. Even though use is low, some supplemental stocking is necessary to maintain a viable fish population. We recommend that 1,000 golden trout be stocked about every fifth year. Another survey should be made in 1983 to assess the success of the fish stocked in 1978. The golden trout caught during our survey ranged in size from 216 - 254 mm and were probably from fry stocked in 1976.

Mystery Lake No. 3

This lake has 1.6 m of surface area and is at 2713 m elevation. Maximum water depth is about four m. There is no trail to the lake and access is difficult. The "Mystery Lakes" were stocked in 1939 and 1960, but it's possible this lake has never been stocked. It appears adequate to support fish and has a small amount of spawning potential in the outlet above the waterfall. We recommend that this lake be stocked once with 500 golden trout and resurveyed to assess their survival before any more fish are stocked.

Mystery Lake No. 4

This lake has 0.4 hectares of surface area and is at 2798 m elevation. Maximum water depth is one meter, and this lake has no fisheries potential.

Lakes In The Salmon National Forest

Golden Trout Lake

This lake has 12.7 hectares of surface area and is at 2484 m elevation. The maximum water depth is about 10 m with less than 0.5 m fluctuation during the year. This lake was stocked with rainbow trout through 1963 and golden trout in 1964. In 1968, 1971, and 1974 it was stocked with cutthroat, and then with golden trout in 1977. Two thousand fish have been stocked every third year. The lake was very windy on the day of the survey and only one 254 mm cutthroat was caught. There is very little spawning potential and stocking is necessary to maintain the fish population. We recommend this lake be surveyed again in 1981 to check on the success of the golden trout stocked in 1977.

Gooseneck Lake

S This lake has 1.8 hectares of surface area, but most of the lake is shallow. There is one portion of the lake that is four-six m deep and can support fish overwinter. Gooseneck Lake is at 2661 m elevation. In 1977, 500 golden trout were stocked, but no fish were seen or caught during the survey. Golden trout stocked in 1964 and 1970 survived to be caught by anglers, so there may have been poor survival of the fish stocked in 1977. We recommend this lake be stocked with 500 golden trout every third year.

Pothole Lake

This lake has 1.7 hectares surface area and is at 2640 m elevation. Maximum water depth is more than six meters. Golden trout is the only species listed in the stocking records. In 1964, 800 golden trout were stocked and in 1970, 500 more. However, during our survey, we caught only one 260 mm cutthroat. Close visual observation of 20 more fish was possible, and they also appeared to be cutthroat. Our survey was on 10 July, and the fish were trying to spawn within the lake. We have no explanation for the presence of cutthroat trout and the absence of golden trout. If natural reproduction is occurring, there should be some golden trout in the lake also. We recommend no stocking and another survey in 1981 or 1982.

Crater Lake

This lake has 23.6 hectares of surface area and is at 2654 m elevation. Crater Lake is so deep we could not even estimate the maximum water depth from the bank. Golden trout have been stocked in 1964, 1970, and 1977. We caught and measured 15 golden trout that averaged 242 mm. Stocking is necessary to maintain the population, and we recommend stocking 1,000 golden trout every five years. There is a possibility of creating some spawning habitat in the inlet by removing a log jam.

Glacier Lake

This lake has 3.2 hectares of surface area and is at 2726 m elevation. Maximum water depth is about four to five meters. Golden trout have been stocked in 1964, 1970 and 1977. We caught and measured 15 golden trout that averaged 216 mm. There may be a very small amount of spawning potential in the outlet, but we saw no sign of reproduction. Stocking is necessary to maintain the fish population, and we recommend stocking 500 golden trout every three years.

Ship Island Lake No. 2

This lake has 32.8 hectares of surface area and is at 2432 m elevation. The maximum water depth is at least seven to ten meters. Golden trout were stocked in 1969 and 1970. There is a small amount of spawning potential in the inlet and in the outlet. We sampled three golden trout 152-203 mm, and observed fry and fish as large as 280 mm. There is no trail to the lake, but access is quite easy from Ship Island Lake No. 1. No stocking is recommended for this lake.

Ship Island Lake No. 3

This lake has 1.7 hectares of surface area and is at 2591 m elevation. Maximum water depth is two meters, and the water level fluctuates 0.75 meters. This lake has no fisheries potential and should not be stocked.

Ship Island Lake No. 4

This lake has 2.4 hectares of surface area and is at 2559 m elevation. Maximum water depth is about four meters and the water level fluctuates 0.75 meter. Most of the lake is shallow and only a small number of fish would be able to overwinter. Access is very difficult from Ship Island Lake No. 2. There has never been any fish stocked in this lake. Although it may support a few fish, we do not recommend any fish stocking.

Shoban Lake

This lake has 7.9 hectares of surface area and is at 2627 m elevation. Maximum water depth is at least seven meters with only a minor amount of water level fluctuation. Cutthroat trout were stocked in 1963 and 1977, and is the only species of fish in the lake. We caught and measured 18 cutthroat trout during our survey that ranged in size from 140 to 368 mm. We observed fish less than 100 mm long that were from natural reproduction. There are three inlets that dry up, but may be long enough for spawning to occur and fry to emerge. There is also the possibility that fish can migrate from Sheepeater to Shoban Lake. Currently, there is a large log jam in the Sheepeater outlet, but it may not be a barrier to fry movement. We do not recommend any stocking for Shoban Lake. It should be checked

periodically to see if natural reproduction continues to be adequate.

Sheepeater Lake

This lake has 13.1 hectares of surface area and is at 2637 m elevation. Maximum water depth is 6-7 meters, and the water level is stable throughout the year. Cutthroat trout were stocked in 1963 and 1977, and is the only species of fish in the lake. We caught and measured 27 cutthroat during our survey that ranged in size from 203 to 286 mm. No small fish were observed. There could be some natural reproduction occurring in the outlets, but if it is occurring, the fry are moving downstream to Shoban Lake. Removing the log jams in the outlet should improve the spawning area. We recommend that Sheepeater Lake be resurveyed in 1982. It may need to be restocked in 1983.

Hat Creek Lake No. 1

This lake is 0.8 hectares and lies at 2713 m elevation. Maximum water depth looked to be two meters. No fish were caught or observed. Although this lake doesn't appear to be deep enough to support fish, anglers have reported catching fish from this lake in years past. Apparently there were no fish stocked in 1977 which would explain why it was barren. We stocked this lake with 1,026 cutthroat-rainbow trout hybrids in 1980. We recommend this lake be resurveyed in 1981 or 1982 to check for fish survival.

Hat Creek Lake No. 2

This lake has 0.7 hectares of surface area and is at 2720 m elevation. Maximum water depth is five meters. Only 288 cutthroat trout were stocked in 1977. We caught two during our survey, 305 and 330 mm long. There is no spawning potential and stocking is necessary to maintain the fish population. Use appears to be quite heavy at this lake. This is probably due to the availability of horse feed. We recommend that 1,000 cutthroat be stocked every third year.

Hat Creek Lake No. 3

This lake has 0.9 hectares surface area and is at 2630 m elevation. Maximum water depth is about four meters. It was very windy during our survey, and we did not catch or observe any fish. There were several large fish heads in the water where a previous angler had cleaned his catch. There is no natural reproduction capability. Use is quite heavy. We recomment the stocking rate of 1,000 cutthroat trout every three years be continued.

Hat Creek Lake No. 4

This lake has 0.5 hectares surface area and is at 2684 m elevation. Maximum water depth is about five. meters. It was snowing and very windy, so we did not fish in this lake. There is no reproduction capability and stocking is necessary to maintain the fish population. We recommend this lake be stocked with 500 cutthroat trout every three years.

Hat Creek Lake No. 5

This lake has 1.8 hectares of surface area and is at 2685 m elevation. Maximum water depth is about five meters with very little fluctuation. This lake showed signs of heavy use. We were unable to catch any fish, but we observed cutthroat trout about 330 mm. There is no reproduction capability and stocking is necessary to sustain the fish population. We recommend that 1,000 or 1,500 cutthroat be stocked every three years.

Big Eight Mile Lake

This lake has 0.3 hectares of surface area and is at 2743 m elevation. Maximum water depth is about three m. Cutthroat trout were stocked in 1975 following a reported winter kill. We fished one half man hours and caught three cutthroat; 324, 330 and 356 mm long. However, there didn't appear to be very many fish in the lake. There is no natural reproduction capability and we recommend that 1,000 cutthroat be stocked every five years.

North Fork Little Timber Creek Lake No. 1

This lake has 1.8 hectares of surface area and is at 2857 m elevation. Maximum water depth is four meters, but the level fluctuates more than one meter. There is about three cfs of water flowing into the lake and then seeps out through the slide that formed the lake. No fish have been stocked in the lake, and we did not observe any fish in the lake. A long time resident of the area stated that the lake used to have large cutthroat, but was dynamited. The lake appears to have some possibilities for supporting fish, but we do not recommend that it be stocked at this time.

North Fork Little Timber Creek Lake No. 2

This lake has 3.9 hectares of surface area and is at 2869 m elevation. Maximum water depth is about two meters, and doesn't appear to be deep enough to overwinter fish. We recommend no stocking for this lake.

North Fork Little Timber Creek Lake No. 3

This lake has 1.7 hectares of surface area and is at 2868 m elevation. Maximum water depth is 1.5 meters and is not deep enough to overwinter fish. We recommend no stocking for this lake.

North Fork Little Timber Creek Lake No. 4

This lake has 2.4 hectares of surface area and is at 2853 m elevation. Maximum water depth is about three-four meters and fluctuates 0.5 meter. This lake does not appear to be deep enough to overwinter fish, and we recommend no fish stocking.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Brian Gard and Tim Myers assisted with the lake surveys.

LITERATURE CITED

Anonymous. 1923. Idaho Fish and Game Department Tenth Biennial Report. p. 99.

Anonymous. 1925. Idaho Fish and Game Department Eleventh Biennial Report. p. 51.

Ball, K. and P. Jeppson. 1978. Regional Fisheries Management Investigations. Job Performance Report, Idaho Department of Fish and Game. 33 pp.

JOB PERFORMANCE REPORT

State of_____ Idaho Name: REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT INVESTIGATION______Project No.__ F-71-R-5 Title: Region 6 Lowland Lakes Job No. _____ VI-b ______Investigation ______

Period Covered: 1 January 1980 to 31 December 1980

ABSTRACT

Spring spawning rainbow trout fry stocked in Williams Lake in 1979 grew an average 220 mm (8.7 in) in one year.

Twenty-six brush shelters were placed in Roberts Gravel Pit to provide spawning and rearing habitat for perch and other game fish. Fishing quality has varied greatly from year to year due to a pattern of dominant year classes of yellow perch.

A survey of Roberts Slough showed the 140-acre oxbow lake is unsuitable for game fish in its present condition.

Drainage of stored water (and fish) from Island Park Reservoir during 1979 apparently had no ill effect on the fish population of Ashton Reservoir, some 42 miles downstream. Nongame fish made up 51 percent of the catch in gilinets in April 1980 compared to 91 percent in April 1969.

Mature chubs and suckers comprised 22 percent of experimental gillnet catches in August 1980 in Island Park Reservoir, indicating major survival of nongame fish during the 1979 treatment with fish toxicants.

Experimental gillnetting in Mud Lake indicated over 99 percent of the fish population was Utah chubs and suckers. Channel catfish fry were introduced in Camas Creek some four miles upstream from Mud Lake.

The catch from experimental gillnetting in Sandhole Lake on Camas National Wildlife Refuge was predominantly Utah chubs. Yellow perch and largemouth bass were present in relatively low numbers.

Authors:

Paul Jeppson Regional Fishery Manager

Kent Ball Regional Fishery Biologist

RECOMMENDATIONS

Continue impromptu monitoring of fisheries in Williams Lake, Lemhi County.

Increase the numbers of spring spawning rainbow fry stocked in Williams Lake to 100,000.

Initiate a creel census to document the return of hatchery fish in Redfish, Stanley and Alturas Lakes.

Fish populations in lakes in Jefferson County should be monitored by gillnetting and seining to determine ratios of warmwater and other species.

A stratified-sample creel census should be conducted during the 1981 fishing season at Island Park Reservoir to determine success of the 1979-80 rehabilitation efforts.

OBJECTIVES

To obtain data on angler use, harvest and/or relative abundance in species, numbers and size of fish in Williams Lake, Wells Lake (Roberts Gravel Pit), Ashton Reservoir, Island Park Reservoir, Mud Lake and other waters in Region 6.

To evaluate fish habitat and fish populations in lowland lakes of Region 6.

TECHNIQUES USED

Methods have been included in previous reports.

FINDINGS

Williams Lake

During the 30 day ice fishery, we interviewed 75 anglers who fished 155.5 hours to catch 54 rainbow trout and one Dolly Varden (0.4 fish/ hour). We interviewed 243 anglers during the first week of the general season who fished 477 hours to catch 360 rainbow and 3 Dolly Varden (0.8 fish/hour). We measured 326 rainbow from anglers' creels that averaged 310 mm total length. Age I fish averaged 253 mm, but they only made up 36% of the catch.

For many years, the management plan at Williams Lake has been to release 60,000 rainbow fingerling in mid-to-late June after the water has warmed sufficiently to allow a plankton bloom. The rainbow fingerling

have been from a fall spawning broodstock at Hayspur Fish Hatchery. These fingerlings have varied in size from 76 to 114 mm when released and grow about 25-30 mm per month the first year. The following year they contribute heavily to the harvest. In two of the last eight years, age I rainbow have provided more than 85% of the fish caught early in the season.

Age II fish have contributed significantly to the harvest in three of the last eight years (Fig. 1). Age III and older rainbow are rarely seen in anglers' creels. We attribute this primarily to the fish stock and sexual maturity at age II. Even with a heavy harvest, rapid growth rate should produce a few large fish.

Williams Lake once produced trophy-size rainbow trout and was used for a source of eggs for many years. The original gene pool is no longer in the lake. We feel it is important to have a few large fish available for psychological angler satisfaction. We explored the alternatives of other species, hybrids, and different rainbow stocks. Availability was important in the decision to try spring spawning rainbow. In 1979, 61,290 spring rainbow fry were stocked into Williams Lake on 18 June. These fry averaged 33 mm when they were released. Lower catch rates in 1980 indicate that survival has not been as good as the larger fall fingerling. This may be due, in part, to very good survival of the fish released in 1978 which were available to prey on the newly released 1979 fry.

Releasing spring rainbow fry did not have any adverse effects on fish size. Rainbow released in 1979 grew an average of 220 mm (8.7 in) in one year.

Spring spawning rainbow were available in 1980 and 50,081 were released on 24 June. In addition, 20,400 fall spawning fingerling were released on the same date. Although future evaluation will be con- founded by the release of fall spawning fingerling, we will notice it if larger fish show up in anglers' creels in 1982 and 1983.

Wells Lake (Roberts Gravel Pit)

Owing to a mild winter in 1980-81, the period of ice cover on Wells Lake was relatively brief and dissolved oxygen remained above 50 percent saturation throughout the 50-acre pond. Twenty-six brush shelters were constructed on surface ice in February 1980 and weighted to sink when the ice dissolved; the purpose of the brush shelters was to provide spawning habitat for yellow perch and escape cover for juvenile perch and black crappie. During the winter of 1980-81, 59 resident anglers were interviewed; they fished 135 hours for 374 perch, 3 brown bullheads and 1 channel catfish, averaging 2.3 fish per hour. Perch ranged from 6 1/2 to 11 1/2 inches, some 99% in the 7- to 9-inch age group. In comparison, during the 1976-78 winter periods, interviewed anglers averaged 15.5 perch per hour.

Roberts Slough

Roberts Slough is a shallow oxbow lake adjacent to the Snake River at Roberts. During the mild winter in 1980-81, ice cover reached a maximum of 10 inches; surface area was 140 acres, volume some 300 acre feet; dissolved oxygen was less than one milligram per liter throughout the lake except it seeps near habitations in Roberts which tested near 50 percent saturation. High water marks on irrigation pumps indicate the lake volume reaches some 600 acre feet during high (spring-summer) level of the Snake River.

Ashton Reservoir

Ashton Dam156 feet high, impounds four miles of Henrys Fork, some 42 miles downstream from Island Park Reservoir. Surface area is 360 acres (146 hectares), volume 15,000 acre feet (607 hectares). Average flow through the Reservoir is 1,453 ft3/s (41.2 m3/s). Fish production is poor due to the rapid rate of water exchange but large numbers of fish overwinter in the Reservoir. Experimental gillnetting on April 8-11, 1980, sampled 142 fish; species composition was 33% rainbow and hybrid trout, 1% catthroat trout, 1% brown trout, 7% brook trout, 4% kokanee, 3% mountain whitefish, 44% Utah suckers and 7% Utah chubs. The netting was done in the Willow and Rattlesnake Creek arms of the Reservoir. Surface water temperature was 45°F. Downstream drift of suckers and chubs during drainage of Island Park Reservoir in 1979 apparently had no ill effect on the fish populations. In comparison, similar gillnetting on April 23, 1969 took 58% suckers, 33% chubs and only 9% game fish.

Island Park Reservoir

Following rehabilitation (treatment with fish toxicants) in September 1979, Island Park Reservoir was restocked with some 240,000 catchable- size rainbow trout, 600,000 fingerling rainbow and 430,000 coho salmon. Two overnight experimental gillnet sets in a small bay southwest of Bills' Island on August 4-5, 1980, took 21 rainbow trout (5.8 to 13.8 in total length), 4 Utah suckers (7.1 to 16.7 in) and 2 Utah chubs (8.2 to 10.1 in). Forty-four anglers were interviewed on July 19, 1980; they fished 94 hours for 67 rainbow trout, averaging 0.7 trout per hour.

Henrys Lake

Henrys Lake Dam impounds some 90,420 acre feet (111 hm3) of water in Henrys Lake. Average utilization of storage is 38,000 acre feet per year (46.8 hm3/yr). Extensive drawdown is rare, owing to uncertain water supply and high recreational value of the Henrys Lake fishery. Planning was done during the year for development of a spawning channel near Howard Creek; some 500 to 1000 trout were salvaged below Henrys Lake Dam and restocked in Henrys Lake. Both projects were in cooperation with sportsmen's organizations.

Mud Lake

Two experimental gillnets were operated in Mud Lake at the mouth of Camas Creek for 48 hours, June 7-9, catching 638 Utah chubs, 82 Utah suckers, 2 yellow perch and 1 brown bullhead. Some 600,000 channel catfish fry were stocked in Camas Creek below Bybee Wells on July 1. The local water board was contacted to determine the feasibility of damming lower Camas Creek to prevent dewatering during drawdown of Mud Lake.

Sandhole Lake

Two experimental gillnets were operated in Sandhole Lake on Camas National Wildlife Refuge from May 9 to 14. Fifty-one fish were caught, including 48 Utah chubs, 2 yellow perch and 1 largemouth bass.

Paul (Modoc) Reservoir

Department of Fish and Game personnel cooperated in the rehabilitation of Paul Dam on Modoc Creek. This 8-acre Reservoir has no dead storage, has provided some fishing in the past, and has been intermittently stocked with cutthroat fry and catchable-size rainbow trout from State hatcheries.

JOB PERFORMANCE REPORT

State of ____ Idaho______Name: REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT INVESTIGATIONS ______Project No. F-71-R,5 Title: Region 6 Stream Investigation Job No. VI-c

Period Covered: 1 January 1980 to 31 December 1980

ABSTRACT

Cutthroat trout in Bruno Creek were identified as Salmo clarki_ bouvieri.

Testimonies were presented at Water Resource Board hearings supporting establishment of stream maintenance flows on the Pahsimeroi River and Birch Creek.

Drainage of Island Park Reservoir during 1979 had no apparent ill effects on invertebrate or vertebrate fauna or habitat in Henrys Fork.

Authors:

Kent Ball Regional Fishery Biologist

Paul Jeppson Regional Fishery Manager

RECOMMENDATIONS

Count fish in the Middle Fork Salmon River diving transects in 1981.

Initiate a creel census to document the return of hatchery fish in the upper Salmon River.

Electrofish Indian Creek, Morse Creek and upper Pahsimeroi River tributaries to assess the need for fish stocking.

Continue to assess stream resource maintenance flows for streams in Region 6.

Continue participation in the Big Lost River 208 Water Quality Project in an effort to maintain and improve fish habitat in the Big Lost River above Mackay Reservoir. Work for establishment of a 208 project in the Dry Bed of the Snake River below Menan in an effort to alleviate non-point source pollution that is endangering the fishery.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the relative abundance, catch per unit effort, and size of cutthroat trout in the Middle Fork Salmon River.

To assess the toxicity of Blackbird Mine effluent on receiving waters in the Panther Creek drainage.

To evaluate fish populations, angler use, and angler harvest in selected streams in Region 6.

To formulate recommendations for restocking and regulation of stream fisheries in Region 6.

TECHNIQUES USED

Herd Creek

We cooperated with the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management in designing a study to document the effects of rest rotation grazing on Herd Creek. The land management agencies collected the physical para- meters, and we electrofished Herd and East Pass Creeks with a DC Georator shocker. We electrofished each transect twice upstream and weighed and measured the catch. All fish were released to the stream.

Middle Fork Salmon River

A research project was initiated on the Middle Fork Salmon River in 1980 to study the steelhead trout populations. A fishery research biologist will be assigned to the project in 1981.

Between 22 and 29 July, we floated the Middle Fork from Dagger Falls to the mouth and established 20 transects. The transects were located in typical juvenile steelhead habitat approximately five miles apart. Fish counts in these transects were made by two divers using wetsuits and snorkles.

Bruno Creek

Bruno Creek, tributary to Squaw Creek, is the site for the tailings pond of the Thompson Creek molybdenum mine. We collected samples of the fish population with electrofishing gear and sent them to Dr. Richard Wallace, University of Idaho ichthyologist, for stock identification.

Squaw Creek

This stream is dewatered for irrigation each summer and has a diversion which is a barrier to chinook salmon. None of the diversions are screened to prevent fish from entering the ditches. Cyprus Mines acquired most of the land and water rights in Squaw Creek and agreed to work toward restoring the salmon run in Squaw Creek.

We established four transects in the lower mile of Squaw Creek to ascertain instream flows necessary for fish passage. The upper transect is above Mr. Comonotti's diversion and the rest are below. We measured depths and flow at each of these transects on 16 July and 7 August, 1980. A standard Price meter was used to measure water velocity. The reach of Squaw Creek below the Comonotti diversion was walked twice to observe the quantity and quality of pools at different water flows, and to determine the need for stream improvement.

Big Timber Creek

We reviewed an application to dewater Big Timber Creek for power generation and opposed the project. Subsequently, we electrofished three sites within the section proposed to be dewatered with a DC Georator electroshocker. All fish were identified, measured and released. We also measured instream flow in the creek using standard methods.

Panther Creek

I assisted biologists from Noranda Mining Company and Environmental Research and Technology, Inc. with electrofishing Panther Creek to gather data for an Environmental Impact Statement. Fish were collected with a Dirigo Model 600 electroshocker and released after identification.

FINDINGS

Herd Creek

Although we realized that the intent of the Herd Creek study was to quantify rest rotation effects on anadromous fish and their habitat, the

variability of fish numbers between years is substantial. Therefore, we hoped to do a population analysis of resident species. After electrofishing four transects, we realized that we were not able to sample adequate numbers of resident species to do a satisfactory population estimate. Our efficiency with the Georator was only about 50 percent, but the most important factor was the low numbers of resident species, except sculpin. We decided to terminate the population estimates.

Middle Fork Salmon River

Only 72 juvenile steelhead were observed by divers in the 20 transects between 22 and 29 July. Detailed results will be reported in the research progress report. Even though the new transects were selected to sample juvenile steelhead habitat, the number of fish counted was comparable to the 77 rainbow-steelhead counted in the 21 cutthroat transects in 1978 (Jeppson and Ball, 1979). Hopefully, the research project will be able to explain the reasons for the low densities.

Bruno Creek

Cutthroat trout from Bruno Creek were analyzed by Dr. Richard Wallace. He judged the cutthroat to be of the Henrys Lake-Yellowstone subspecies, Salmo clarki bouvieri (Appendix One). Although no records were found of any cutthroat stocking in Bruno and Squaw Creeks, there may have been some cutthroat stocked either in the Squaw Creek drainage or nearby. Immigration could explain their presence.

Squaw Creek

Flow measurements are in the process of analysis by computer to produce instream flow requirements for fish passage. Engineering design of the screen and fishway structures is also in progress. When instream flows are provided and screen and fishway structures installed, there will be a need for stream improvement to provide adequate resting and hiding cover in order for chinook salmon to migrate through the lower stream section. We estimate that approximately seven structures may be necessary. This lower section should also be fenced to exclude livestock except at water gaps.

Pahsimeroi River

An instream flow hearing was held in Challis, Idaho, on 9 July, 1980 to receive testimony on the Pahsimeroi River flow application. We compiled data and presented testimony at the hearing (Appendix Two).

Big Timber Creek

We sampled three sections of Big Timber Creek below the BLM bridge on 10 September, 1980 and collected 48 fish. Total stream length sampled was about 120 meters. Rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden, mountain whitefish and sculpins were collected. Our sampling efficiency was no better than 50 percent.

Instream flow measurements were taken on 25 October, 1980 and were combined with BLM data. The point of diversion is on BLM land, and they are stipulating maintenance streamflows as a condition of their special use permit.

Panther Creek

The results of the electrofishing survey of Panther Creek are included in the Aquatic Biology Technical Report for the Blackbird Project (Sgro et al, 1980). Most of the fish were collected from above the con- fluence of Blackbird Creek.

Dry Bed of Snake River (Great Feeder Canal)

This feeder canal on a natural stream channel in Jefferson County was dewatered from April 3 to 14 for canal maintenance. Freezing of headgate controls prevented dewatering during midwinter. Liberalized fishing regulations in April resulted in heavy harvest of game fish in dewatered reaches. Dissolved oxygen reached critically low levels in the lower ten miles (a permanent stream) during low flow periods as a result of nonpoint source pollution. Rainbow trout planted in April at an average length of 2 1/2 inches averaged 10 1/2 inches in anglers' creels in February.

Henrys Fork

Large volumes of suspended matter from the bottom of Island Park Reservoir were carried into Henrys Fork during the final stages of draining the reservoir in 1979. No traces of these sediments were observed during examination of the river bottom for 40 miles downstream in 1980. Severe icing in January 1980 caused movement of fish into Ashton Reservoir from upstream reaches. During the April to August period, 23 resident anglers were interviewed at the Lee Access site near Hibbard; they fished 24 hours for four cutthroat trout and one whitefish;average hourly rate of catch was 0.26 during April, zero during subsequent months.

Birch Creek

Testimony was presented at a Water Resources Board hearing supporting a Bureau of Land Management application for 30 cubic feet per second minimum flow from John Day Rest Area to below Reno diversion ditch during the non-irrigation season.

Big Lost River

Personnel participated in the Big Lost River 208 water quality project, including installing 300 feet of gabions to evaluate their effectiveness in stabilizing an eroding streambank in the Chilly fishing easement.

LITERATURE CITED

Jeppson, P. and K. Ball. 1979. Regional Fishery Management Investigations. Job performance Report, Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game. 44 pp.

Sgro, G., R. Sutlon, and R. Daggett. 1980. Aquatic Biology Technical Report For The Blackbird Project. Environmental Research and Technology, Inc. 48 pp.

APPENDIX

Appendix 1.

Analysis of Cutthroat Trout From Bruno Creek, Salmon River Drainage.

Richard L. Wallace Department of Biological Sciences University of Idaho Moscow, ID 83843 August 1980.

INTRODUCTION

Cutthroat trout native to the Salmon River drainage are the westslope cutthroat, Salmo clarki lewisi (Behnke, 1979). However, considerable stocking of cutthroat from Henrys Lake has occurred over the years. Hybri- dization between this subspecies (Salmo clarki bouvieri) and the native westslope cutthroat has likely taken place. The Henrys Lake cutthroat is considered part of the wide-ranging Yellowstone cutthroat subspecies (S. c. bouvieri).

A planned development project on or near Bruno Creek, Salmon River drainage, requires that an evaluation be made of the population of cutthroat inhabiting that stream. A sample of fish were analyzed to determine if the cutthroat trout inhabiting Bruno Creek were pure, native westslope cutthroat. The results of that analysis are presented herein.

METHODS

Standard morphological techniques were used to count gill rakers, pyloric caeca, scales (along the lateral line and above the lateral line), vertebrae, pelvic fin rays and basibranchial teeth. In addition, the spotting pattern was noted in all specimens. The sample is now housed in the fish collection at the University of Idaho.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The expected values of sample means of meristic characters of pure westslope and Yellowstone cutthroat trout are listed in Table 1. In addition, meristic characters for a sample of "pure" Henrys Lake cutthroat and the results of the analysis of the Bruno Creek sample are found in the table. The number of vertebrae and scales along the lateral line suggest that cutthroat from Bruno Creek belong to the S. c. bouvieri subspecies and are not westslope cutthroat. The number of basibranchial teeth are lower than expected if the sample is considered to represent S. c. bouvieri, but five of the 10 fish analyzed from Bruno Creek were small –(< 130 mm TL), and in these fish the full compliment of teeth may not have developed.

The most convincing evidence that these fish are not westslope cutthroat trout is the spotting pattern. Westslope cutthroat have small, irregular-shaped spots concentrated on the posterior part of the body. S. c. bouvieri has large, inky-black, circular spots, more evenly distributed over the body. The spotting pattern of the cutthroat from Bruno Creek is definitely not that of the westslope cutthroat. All specimens have large, circular spots. Some of the smaller individuals look just like the juvenile Henrys Lake cutthroat I have seen in the past.

It is my judgement that the cutthroat trout collected from Bruno Creek are not westslope cutthroat, but are more like representatives of the Henrys Lake - Yellowstone subspecies, S. clarki bouvieri.

I would like to thank Kent Ball for collecting and shipping the sample of trout to me for analysis.

LITERATURE CITED

Behnke, Robert J. (1979). Monograph of the native trouts of the genus Salmo of western North America. Manuscript, 215 p. mimeo.

Gill Pyloric Scales Basibranchial Material Vert Rakers Caeca along 11 above 11 Teeth

westslope cutthroat trout 60-61 18-19 30-40 155-175 38-42 5-13 Salmo clarki lewisi

Yellowstone cutthroat trout 60-63 20-21 35-43 165-190 36-48 20-21 S. c. bouvieri

Henrsy Lake cutthroat 60-62 19-23 33-45 156-181 37-44 10-38 S. c. bouvieri = 168.1 x = 61 6 x = 21 1 x = 37.9 x = 41.6 x = 24.3 n = 20

cutthroat trout 61-62 16-19 31-47 163-191 36-43 4-25 Bruno Creek x = 61.7 x = 17.1 x = 38 4 x = 180.9 = 39.7 x = 11 8 n = 10

Page 2.

Summer chinook salmon adults are also diverted into the holding facility. Adults have been trapped in 10 of the last 11 years and a total of 3,568 adult salmon have been handled (Table 4).

Not all of the adult fish are spawned at the hatchery facilities. Since 1969, 830 adult steelhead and 1,756 chinook salmon were counted and released to continue their spawning migration upstream (Table 5). The number of fish released to spawn naturally depends, in part, on the run size. During years when large numbers of fish return, more fish will be released to the upper river. The Pahsimeroi River is a very productive spring fed stream and has the capability of producing large numbers and pounds of fish. In 1979, 2.67 of the 384 adult steelhead passed above the weir were females and should have deposited 1,200,000 eggs in the gravel. These fish are rearing in the river right now and will migrate to the ocean in 1981 and 1982. Similarly, in 1972, the 152 female chinook salmon passed above the weir should have deposited 836,000 eggs in the gravel.

Fish reared under other programs are also released in the Pahsimeroi River. In 1978 and 1979, 196,000 steelhead fry were released into the upper Pahsimeroi River. The Cooperative Fishery Unit released 325,600 migrant- size steelhead raised by the Fish and Wildlife Service in 1979 and 1980 (Table 6).

Steelhead and salmon from the Pahsimeroi River are making a major contribution in Idaho fisheries as well as other fisheries downstream. The Department of Fish and Game monitors the steelhead fishery in the Salmon River below North Fork. Since 1969, we have been documenting the proportion of hatchery-reared steelhead in anglers' creels. Most hatchery-reared fish retain evidence of hatchery origin in their fins. Hundreds of known hatchery fish have been examined and we have correctly indentified rearing history on 91% of the fish. Adult steelhead from programs in the Pahsimeroi River have increased from about 20% of the catch in 1969-71 to 69, 75 and 74% in the last three years (Table 7).

On the average over the last 12 years, the estimated harvest of steelhead from the Salmon River between the South and North Forks is equal to the number of fish returning to the Pahsimeroi Hatchery. In other words, anglers have harvested about 20,000 adult steelhead of Pahsimeroi Hatchery origin from the aforementioned river reach since 1969. Substantial numbers of hatchery steelhead are also caught from the Salmon River between North Fork and the Pahsimeroi River, the lower Salmon River, and the Snake River.

Steelhead and salmon from the Pahsimeroi River make a substantial contribution to the economy. It's especially important to the local area. During the last 12 years, it has taken the anglers a seasonal average of 30 hours to catch a steelhead from the Salmon River between the South and North Forks. Therefore, I estimate that about 600,000 angler hours were expended since 1969 to catch the 20,000 Pahsimeroi hatchery fish from the Salmon River. The average angler spends about 4 hours fishing per day, so effort can be expressed as 150,000 angler days. Doug Gordon conducted an

extensive economic analysis of Idaho Sport Fisheries in 1968 and published a value of $30.58 per angler day for steelhead fishing. Using the consumer price index, I updated Gordon's value to the 1980 value of $71.87 per angler day. Therefore, the 150,000 angler days represents a net value of $10,781,000 over 12 years. Or, the average value per year can be expressed as $898,000. This estimated value is for hatchery steelhead harvested from about 80 miles of the Salmon River and only about half of these miles has road access. If economic values were available for hatchery steelhead and salmon caught elsewhere in the Salmon, Snake and Columbia Rivers, the total value could be approximately 1 million dollars per year. I did not make any attempt to estimate the economic value of summer chinook salmon or resident trout, but they also make an important contribution to the economy.

Adult steelhead are migrating upstream in February, March, April, and May. Adult chinook salmon are migrating upstream in June, July, August, and September. Juvenile steelhead and salmon are migrating downstream in the Pahsimeroi River during March, April, and May. Juvenile steelhead and salmon are rearing in the Pahsimeroi all year and the quantity and quality of rearing habitat is related to the amount of water flow within the stream channel.

Table 1. The number of steelhead juveniles released into the Pahsimeroi River at Idaho Power Company hatchery facilities. Year No. of Fish 1966 65,500 1967 1,365,000 1968 1,484,000 1969 1,645,000 1970 1,622,000 1971 1,630,000 *1972 1,555,000 1973 1,292,000 1974 1,847,000 1975 1,331,000 1976 1,610,000 1977 1,448,000 1978 1,300,000 1979 1,372,000 1980 1,097,060

*Since 1972, all releases were made at the adult facility.

Table 2. Number of juvenile summer chinook salmon released from ponds into the Pahsimeroi River at the unstream Idaho Power Company facility.

Year No. of Fish

1970 393,800

1971 400,300

1972 231,700

1973 217,100

1974 330,000

1975 114,600

1976 121,000

1977 234,400

1978 508,100

1979 ---

1980 ---

Table 3. Number of adult steelhead trout collected at the adult trapping facility at Idaho Power Company's Pahsimeroi hatchery. Year No. of Adult Steel head 1969 850 1970 508 1971 713 1972 4,904 1973 1,458 1974 1,795 1975 691 1976 585 1977 1,504 1978 2,803 1979 2,501 1980 1,620

Table 4. Number of adult summer chinook salmon collected at the adult trapping facility, Idaho Power Company's Pahsimeroi hatchery.

Year No. of Adult Summer 1969 538 1970 485 1971 262 1972 628 1973 546 1974 155 1975 89 1976 274 1977 558 1978 *--- 1979 33

* Trap not operated.

Table Numbers of adult steelhead trout and summer chinook salmon passed resume their spawning migration.

Year No. of Adult Steelhead No. of Adult Summer Chinook 1969 60 364 1970 41 358 1971 7 119 1972 40 444 1973 18 369 1974 0 69 1975 0 0 1976 0 0 1977 0 0

1978 244 1971 384 33

1980 36

*Trap nut operate

lahle G. Numbers of juvenile steelhead trout released into the Pahsimeroi River from programs other than Idaho Power Company mitigation.

Year No. of Steel head Fry No. of Steel head Migrants ~~ 1978 2 125,000 1979 10,800 157,700 1980 168,000

Table . The proportion of steelhead anglers' catch from the Salmon River below North Fork that originated from the Idaho Power hatchery program on the Pahsimeroi River.

Fall & Spring Seasons Percent Hatchery

1968-69 20% 1969-70 22% 1970-71 18% 1971-72 60% 1972-73 36% 1973-74 40% *1974-75 29% 1975-76 --- **1976-77 51% 1977-78 69% **1978-79 75% 1979-80 74%

*** Fall season only, no spring fishery. **Spring season only.

JOB PERFORMANCE REPORT

Name: REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT State of Idaho INVESTIGATIONS

Project No. _ F-71-R-5 Title: Region 6 Technical Guidance Job No. VI-d

Period Covered: 1 January 1980 to 31 December 1980

ABSTRACT

Technical assistance and services were provided to the Idaho Department of Water Resources regarding administration of laws related to stream channel protection, water rights, recreational gold dredging, geothermal drilling and stream maintenance flows and to various other agencies and individuals regarding water-related matters.

Authors:

Kent Ball Regional Fishery Biologist

Paul Jeppson Regional Fishery Manager

OBJECTIVES

To assist the Department of Water Resources and Corps of Engineers in evaluating the effects of habitat alterations on fish and fish habitat.

To recommend procedures that minimize adverse effects of stream and lake alterations.

To provide information on fisheries and aquatic habitat.

TECHNIQUES USED

We responded to all requests for data, expertise and recommendations from individuals, government agencies and corporations. Meetings were attended and field inspections conducted as needed.

FINDINGS

During 1980 we responded to 185 requests for technical assistance on various water-related matters, as listed below: Agency Number of Requests

Idaho Department of Water Resources 80 Idaho Department of Public Lands 26 US Forest Service 18 Corps of Engineers 15 US Bureau of Land Management 10 Idaho Department of Health and Welfare 9 Idaho Transportation Department 6 Other 21

Assistance was provided to VTN, consultants preparing the technical memoranda and the Environmental Impact Statement for the Cyprus Mine. Similar effort was provided to Environmental Research and Technology, consultants preparing the technical memoranda and EIS for the Black- bird Mine.

Specimens of bottom-feeding and predatory fish were collected from Henrys, South and main forks of the Snake River for the Department of Health and Welfare Basic Water Monitoring Program, because of high levels of DDT and PCB's persisting in areas flooded by the Teton Dam failure. Six individuals were advised regarding commercial fish ponds.

There were no fish kills detected that were attributable to pollution or pesticides.

JOB PERFORMANCE REPORT

State of: _____ Idaho ______Name: REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT INVESTIGATIONS ______Project No.: ___ F-71-R-5

Job No.: ____ VI-e ______Title: Region 6 Salmon and Steelhead Investigations

Period Covered: __1 January 1980 to 31 December 1980

ABSTRACT

Chinook salmon redd counts during 1980 were the lowest in history. We were unable to locate any spawning steelhead or redds in major spawning areas of Camas Creek. Eleven years of data collected at the North Fork steelhead check stations were summarized.

Author:

Kent Ball Regional Fishery Biologist

RECOMMENDATIONS

Continue chinook salmon and steelhead trout spawning ground surveys.

Conduct a creel census on the spring steelhead fishery between the Pahsimeroi River and East Fork Salmon River.

Continue to document the contribution of hatchery-reared steelhead trout in the fishery.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the relative abundance and age class frequency of spawning chinook salmon.

To assess the contribution of hatchery-reared fish in the steelhead fishery.

To monitor fish runs and make recommendations for anadromous fishery management.

To inform the public on the status of the fish runs and problem solutions.

TECHNIQUES USED

We conducted the spawning ground surveys on chinook salmon in the established trend areas. On the walking surveys, we counted redds, measured and sexed kelts and inspected fish for marks and prespawning mortality. On aerial surveys, we counted redds only.

We surveyed Camas Creek during the steelhead spawning season. Major spawning areas were checked for fish and redds by foot and on horseback. We also fished in holding pools in an attempt to observe fish distribution.

The steelhead fishery was monitored at the North Fork check station with the same procedures as in past years. We summarized the results of the check station results over the last 11 years. Fish checked were categorized by wild or hatchery origin in Salmon River sections four and five by examining for dorsal fin erosion.

FINDINGS

Chinook salmon redd counts were compiled with data from other regions in Department of Fish and Game Job Performance Report, Project F-49-R-19.

The total number of redd counts was the lowest in history.

We surveyed Camas Creek between 23 and 28 April to look for steelhead redds. The creek was high and roily from rain on 23 and 24 April, so observation conditions were only fair. We fished main Camas Creek from the upper falls to Meyers Cove and between White Goat Creek and the South Fork, but did not see or catch any steelhead. Water conditions were better in the South Fork, and we checked for redds up to 0.8 km above the Flume Creek trail, but didn't find any redds or fish. Visibility was good in the West Fork Camas Creek, but we didn't see any fish or redds in the lower 5.6 kilometers.

Total effort, harvest and proportion of hatchery fish in the catch during the fall, 1980 steelhead season was the highest in the past eleven years (Table 1). The catch rate was the lowest since 1971.

Total effort and harvest during the spring, 1980 season was only about 1,000 hours and 59 fish less than in 1971 (Table 2). Angler success during spring steelhead seasons is very dependent upon water conditions. Water conditions were very good during the 1980 spring steelhead season.

The combined fall and spring steelhead season results as measured at the North Fork check station are listed in Table 3. The proportion of fish observed at the North Fork check station which were of hatchery origin are listed in Tables 4 and 5.

Table 1. Summary of data collected from fall steelhead seasons, 1971-1980, at the North Fork check station.

No. No. No. Steelhead Anglers Hours Kept Released Total Hrs/Fish % Hatchery

1971 930 6,206 657 N.R. 657 9.4 61 1972 ' 898 7,154 254 N.R. 254 28.8 34 1973 650 5,828 247 N.R. 247 24 37 1974 360 3,354 53 N.R. 53 63.2 36 1975 ------1976 1,264 9,015 190 66 256 35 47 1977 1,849 13,031 580 118 698 18.7 66 1978 ------1979 946 6,338 171 50 221 29 75 1980 2,301 14,465 738 278 1,016 14 78

N.R. = Not Recorded

Table 2. Summary of data collected from spring steelhead seasons, 1971-1980, at the North Fork check station.

No. No. No. Steelhead Anglers Hours Kept Released Total Hrs/Fish % Hatchery

1971 1,416 10,370 366 N.R. 366 28.3 17 1972 12 543 23 N.R. 23 23.6 58 1973 1,318 10,164 257 N.R. 257 39.5 60 1974 780 3,083 97 N.R. 97 32 54 1975 ------1976 ------1977 735 3,885 107 18 125 31 58 1978 583 3,414 151 9 160 21.3 81 1979 372 1,966 52 52 84 75 1980 1,202 9,453 257 50 307 31 72 1981 1,663 12,656 335 85 430 29.4 65

N.R. = Not Recorded

Table 3. Summary of data collected at the North Fork check station by combining fall and spring steelhead seasons, 1971-72 through 1980-81.

No. No. No. Angler Hours Kept Released Tota Hrs/Fish % Hatchery

1971-72 942 6,749 578 X X 10 61

19 72- 73 2216 17,318 4 75 X 505 34 48 1973-74 1317 10,376 304 X 325 32 41

1974- 75 ------

1975-76 ------

1976-77 1999 12,900 297 84 381 34 51

1977-78 2432 16,445 731 127 858 19.2 68

1978-79 ------

1979-80 2148 15,791 428 100 528 30 73

1980-81 3964 27,121 1073 323 1396 19.4 74

Table 4. Number of steelhead checked and proportion that were of hatchery origin at the North Fork check station, 1971-1980.

Section 4 Section 5 No. Fish Ck'd % Hatchery No. Fish Ck'd % Hatchery

1971 151 60 423 69 1972 125 14 9642 1973 130 30 117 56 1974 24 29 2941 1975 ------1976 84 36 129 52 1977 182 58 387 72 1978 ------1979 45 79 128 75 1980 298 56 657 83

Table 5. Number of steelhead checked and proportion that were of hatchery origin at the North Fork check station, 1971-1980.

Section 4 Section 5 No. Fish Ck'd % Hatchery No. Fish Ck'd % Hatchery

1971 254 13 112 26 1972 8 38 4 100 1973 137 47 117 76 1974 32 50 2540 1975 ------1976 --- -- 1977 33 56 8966 1978 23 39 139 17 1979 --- -- 5368 1980 76 56 200 74