February 2017
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February 2017 Table of Contents Table of Contents ......................................................................................................................................... i List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................ iii List of Tables .............................................................................................................................................. iv Acronyms .................................................................................................................................................... vi Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. viii Chapter 1. Background .............................................................................................................................. 2 1.1 Purpose of this Plan ............................................................................................................................ 2 1.1.1 Problem this Program Addresses ................................................................................................................... 2 1.1.2 Mid-Columbia Coho History ......................................................................................................................... 3 1.1.3 Local Adaptation ............................................................................................................................................ 5 1.2 Program Vision, Objective, and Guiding Principles ............................................................................. 7 1.2.1 Vision ............................................................................................................................................................. 7 1.2.2 Biological Objective ...................................................................................................................................... 7 1.2.3 Approaches to Achieving the Restoration Objective ..................................................................................... 7 1.2.4 Guiding Principles and Mandates .................................................................................................................. 8 1.3 Mid-Columbia Coho Master Plan History ............................................................................................ 9 1.4 Consistency with Council’s Requirements ........................................................................................ 10 1.4.1 Master Planning Guidelines ......................................................................................................................... 10 1.4.2 Partial Step Review ...................................................................................................................................... 16 1.4.3 Subsequent ISRP Reviews ........................................................................................................................... 17 1.5 Relationship to Other Programs, Projects, and Plans in the Region ................................................ 18 1.5.1 Treaty of 1855 and U.S. v. Oregon .............................................................................................................. 18 1.5.2 Columbia River Fish Management Plan (U.S. v. Oregon) ........................................................................... 19 1.5.3 Mitchell Act ................................................................................................................................................. 19 1.5.4 Wy-Kan-Ush-Mi Wa-Kish-Wit: Spirit of the Salmon Tribal Recovery Plan ................................................ 20 1.5.5 Wenatchee and Methow Subbasin Plans ...................................................................................................... 20 1.5.6 Yakima River Coho Restoration .................................................................................................................. 24 1.5.7 Clearwater Basin Coho Restoration ............................................................................................................. 24 1.5.8 Mid-Columbia HCP Hatchery Compensation Plans .................................................................................... 25 1.5.9 Mid-Columbia HCP Tributary Conservation Plans ..................................................................................... 25 1.5.10 Grant County PUD Settlement Agreement ................................................................................................ 26 1.5.11 Grand Coulee Fish Maintenance Project (GCFMP) ................................................................................... 26 1.5.12 Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund ..................................................................................................... 26 1.5.13 Salmon Recovery Funding Board .............................................................................................................. 27 1.5.14 Yakama Nation Habitat Improvement Projects.......................................................................................... 27 1.5.15 Columbia Basin Fish Accords .................................................................................................................... 27 1.6 Remaining Processes and Decisions ................................................................................................ 27 1.7 Master Plan Development Team ....................................................................................................... 28 Chapter 2. Existing Environment ........................................................................................................... 32 2.1 Description of the Subbasins ............................................................................................................. 32 2.1.1 Wenatchee Subbasin .................................................................................................................................... 34 2.1.2 Methow Subbasin ......................................................................................................................................... 34 2.2 Status of Coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in the Subbasins ................................................................ 36 2.3 Status of Other Anadromous and Resident Fish in the Subbasins ................................................... 39 2.3.1 Steelhead ...................................................................................................................................................... 39 2.3.2 Spring Chinook ............................................................................................................................................ 41 2.3.3 Upper Columbia Sockeye ............................................................................................................................ 42 2.3.4 Upper Columbia Summer/Fall Chinook ...................................................................................................... 43 2.3.5 Bull Trout ..................................................................................................................................................... 43 2.4 Status of Habitat ................................................................................................................................ 45 2.4.1 Habitat Descriptions from Subbasin Plans ................................................................................................... 46 2.4.2 Description of Wenatchee and Methow Subbasin Habitats Based on NPCC Habitat Condition Criteria ..................................................................................................................................................... 53 Mid-Columbia Coho Restoration Program Master Plan i 2.4.3 Description of Wenatchee and Methow Subbasin Habitats Based on Ecosystem Diagnosis and Treatment Method ................................................................................................................................... 55 Chapter 3. Summary of Feasibility Study Results, Resolution of Critical Uncertainties, and Program Monitoring Results to Date ......................................................................................... 62 3.1 Benefits to Coho ................................................................................................................................ 64 3.1.1 Coho Survival .............................................................................................................................................. 64 3.1.2 Spatial Distribution of Returning Adults ..................................................................................................... 66 3.1.3 Natural Production ....................................................................................................................................... 67 3.2 Risks to Other Species ...................................................................................................................... 67 3.2.1 Predation by Hatchery Coho on Other Species ............................................................................................ 68 3.2.2 Superimposition by Coho on Spring Chinook Redds .................................................................................. 70 3.2.3 Rates of Residualism ...................................................................................................................................