Management Implications of Co-Occurring Native and Introduced Fishes

Management Implications of Co-occurring Native and Introduced Fishes Proceedings of the Workshop October 27-28, 1998 Portland, Oregon Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife National Marine Fisheries Service April 1999 Recommended Citation: Entire Proceedings ODFW and NMFS. 1999. Management Implications of Co-occurring Native and Introduced Fishes: Proceedings of the Workshop. October 27-28, 1998, Portland, Oregon. 243 pgs. Available from: National Marine Fisheries Service, 525 N.E. Oregon St., Suite 510, Portland, OR 97232. Specific Paper Karchesky, C.M and D. H. Bennett. 1999. Dietary overlap between introduced fishes and juvenile salmonids in Lower Granite Reservoir, Idaho-Washington. In ODFW and NMFS. 1999. Management Implications of Co-occurring Native and Introduced Fishes: Proceedings of the Workshop. October 27-28, 1998, Portland, Oregon. 243 pgs. Available from: National Marine Fisheries Service, 525 N.E. Oregon St., Suite 510, Portland, OR 97232. Management Implications of Co-occurring Native and Introduced Fishes Proceedings of the Workshop October 27-28, 1998 Portland, Oregon Hosted by: Fish Division Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife & Sustainable Fisheries Division National Marine Fisheries Service April 1999 These Proceedings contain unedited, non-peer reviewed papers (unless otherwise specified) of oral presentations given at the workshop “Management Implications of Co- occurring Native and Introduced Fishes” held in Portland, Oregon, on October 27-28, 1998. Although care was taken to present the information in an accurate, standardized manner, errors may exist. Please contact the authors before interpreting or quoting any information presented. Reference in this document to trade names does not imply endorsement by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife or the National Marine Fisheries Service. ii Preface On October 27 and 28, 1998, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the National Marine Fisheries Service brought together scientists, fishery managers, fishing and conservation organizations, and other stakeholders for a snapshot of the issues and facts surrounding the management of introduced and native fishes. This volume contains the papers that were presented by those speakers; a record of the presentations for anyone with a stake in these issues no matter their perspectives. This symposium was occasioned by increased concern for native fish species, as evidenced by the numerous listings under the Endangered Species Act in the past several years, and the assumed role of introduced, non-indigenous species in many of those listings. The Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds identifies the need to examine these issues associated with steelhead and coho salmon, and to take management actions where they are warranted. In order to present a region-wide view of both anadromous and resident fish issues, as well as the associated issues of managing important recreational fisheries on introduced fisheries, this symposium was extended to include states well beyond the scope of the Oregon Plan. Speakers from throughout the West presented views and findings. Both the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the National Marine Fisheries Service will consider the papers presented here as they develop and implement policy direction for responding to the issues which occasioned this meeting. At issue is recovery of native fish species and the future of many fisheries on introduced species. The issues are complex, and the risks and remedies are often uncertain. We urge that stakeholders review the material presented here and participate in the public hearings of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission and review of NMFS documents on these vital questions. Ray Temple, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Lance Kruzic, National Marine Fisheries Service iii History, Distribution, and Recent Management of Introduced Fishes Session Chair: Herb Pollard National Marine Fisheries Service 1 “The Coming of the Pond Fishes” An Account of the Introduction of Certain Spiny-Rayed Fishes, and Other Exotic Species, into the Waters of the Lower Columbia River Region and the Pacific Coast States Herb Pollard National Marine Fisheries Service, 525 N.E. Oregon St. Suite 500, Portland, Oregon 97232 “The Coming of the Pond Fishes” by Ben Hur Lampman, published in Portland in 1946, summarizes the early history of exotic fish in the northwest. The book is written with the enthusiasm of an avid angler and friend of warm-water fish. It also points out some of the controversy and concern about introducing potential predators and competitors to waters that support native species that existed even in the 1800's. Two of the most important dates in the history of non-native fish to the western U.S. are 1869 and 1884. In 1869, the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railways met at Promontory Point, Utah in the famous “Golden Spike” ceremony. The first non-native fish, shad, arrived by rail and were released in the Sacramento River in 1871, courtesy of Seth Greene, one of the earliest American fish culturists (Table 1). The Oregon Short Line was completed in 1884, connecting the UP mainline at Granger, Wyoming to the Pacific Northwest via the Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation Company. By 1887, largemouth bass were established in the Snake River Drainage and other species were on the way. Although most of the new introductions were met with much enthusiasm, there was some opposition. As early as 1893 the Oregonian carried an editorial debate on the merits of bass introductions-at least five years after the introductions had occurred. And some of the introductions by state game wardens and early fishery biologists were clearly done without sanction of their commissions or real consideration of the impacts. Many of the very early introductions were made by private individuals, often with a profit motive. Some of the early enthusiasm for carp reads a lot like the recent publicity for ostrich and emu ranching. The only people to make any money were those that sold the brood stock and soon both the markets and natural waters were flooded. The U. S. Fish Commission was soon involved. Livingston Stone, first deputy to Spencer Baird, the first U.S. Fish Commissioner, developed and freely utilized the “Aquarium Car”. From the 1870's through the 1920's the Fish Commission operated a salvage station on the Illinois River. As spring floods receded, salvage crews seined the oxbow lakes and sloughs for bass, catfish and sunfish. The assorted fish were loaded on the aquarium cars and shipped westward. Some of the fish were delivered to state game wardens for distribution, others were consigned to individuals or sportsman’s club. Others were apparently dipped out and dumped at water stops or released where the train broke down. There must have been some sorting of fish, or the western waters would have received even more species, but the use of salvaged fish probably explains some of the unusual species and distribution that occurs today. Introductions of non-native fishes seems to have gone through three stages. From the 1870s through the 1920s there were numerous introductions without much thought or evaluation of impacts. By the 1920s, most of the species currently managed in the West were well established. From the 20s through the 60s, the state agencies proceeded to transplant from established stocks to suitable waters-- often with the unauthorized assistance of fishermen. There was a more scientific approach, especially as new reservoir habitat was created and managers attempted to match species with habitat. However, bass and panfish remained low priorities for most anglers and most fishery managers. In the 1970s tournament bass fishing and interest in warm-water fishing increased rapidly, leading to more intense management. 3 Table 1. Brief chronology of the coming of the pond fishes. Common Name Earliest introductions to western waters Shad 1871 Sacramento River; Seth Greene and California Fish Commission 1885 Columbia, Snake and Willamette; U.S.Fish Commission (Diverted from Puget Sound, due to blocked railroad) Striped Bass 1879 San Francisco Bay, Livingston Stone and California Fish Comm. (This introduction also included eels and lobsters) Tench 1895 Spokane Co., Washington and Kootenai County, Idaho, USFC Carp 1872 Sonoma County, California, private citizen, from Germany via ship and rail 1880 Troutdale, Oregon, private citizen from California 1882 USFC, California, Washington, Idaho and Oregon Catfish 1874 White catfish, brown bullhead, San Joaquin and Sacramento; USFC 1880 Bullheads, Willamette River, private citizens 1877 Channel catfish, Sacramento, USFC 1893 Channel Catfish, Boise River, USFC (also Willamette, but not reported in Willamette and Lower Columbia until 1940's) 1943 Blue Catfish (probably flatheads) Snake River, USFWS and IDFG (There are several species including black and yellow bullheads, flathead catfish, tadpole madtom and white catfish that were introduced with no clear records, probably in mixed loads of salvaged fish.) Largemouth Bass 1887 Boise River, private citizen 1888 Willamette River, private citizen 1892 USFC Boise, Willamette with mixed sunfish Smallmouth Bass 1874 California, USFC 1920 Blakely Island Washington, Private timber Company 1924 Willamette River, ODFW from Blakely Island 1925 Yakima River, Benton County Game Commissioners Crappie 1892 Boise River, USFC 1893 Willamette River, USFC mixed with other bass and sunfish. 1905 Willamette/Columbia, Releases from Lewis and Clark Centennial

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