Our Fish Story Brochure

Our Fish Story

Idaho Power’s Fish Conservation Program IDAHO POWER FISH FACILITIES COLUMBIA RIVER A Hells Canyon Fish Trap Water B Oxbow Hatchery

C Rapid River Hatchery

WASHINGTON D Niagara Springs Hatchery E Pahsimeroi Hatchery

7 8 6 5 Since 1916, water provided Idaho Power COLUMBIA RIVER 4 customers with low-cost, clean hydroelectric 1 2 3 energy. And for longer than that, it provided OREGON A 1 SALMON RIVER some of the best fishing in the country.

FEDERAL IDAHO POWER B 2 C HYDRO PROJECTS HYDRO PROJECTS Some people, though, wonder if the 3 two uses can live together. While there 1 Bonneville 1 Hells Canyon 10 Lower Salmon are many complex challenges involving 4 2 The Dalles 2 Oxbow 11 Upper Salmon E dams and electricity generation and the Payette 3 John Day 3 Brownlee 12 Thousand Springs impacts they have on the health of the

4 McNary 4 Cascade 13 Clear Lake northwest fisheries, Idaho Power remains committed to environmental stewardship 5 Ice Harbor 5 Swan Falls 14 Shoshone Falls Boise IDAHO to maintain balance between energy 6 L. Monumental 6 C.J. Strike 15 Twin Falls generation and protection and enhance- 5 7 Little Goose 7 Bliss 16 Milner 9 ment of Snake River fishery resources. 6 17 8 Lower Granite 8 Lower Malad 17 American Falls 7 8 12 Pocatello 10 13 9 D Upper Malad SNAKE RIVER 11 15 16 14 Twin Falls Idaho Power’s Fish Development of Conservation Program Chinook Salmon

2. Eyed Eggs In 1955, Idaho Power began construction simple, yet revolutionary idea –develop Photo by Jeff Heindel, IDFG of the most ambitious engineering effort a hatchery program to transfer the Snake 3. Sac Fry/Alevin in its history—the three-dam Hells Can- River’s natural salmon and steelhead yon Complex (HCC) on the Snake River. runs to the undammed Salmon River, the 1. Green Eggs According to the federal license that was Snake’s largest tributary. Years later, the issued for the project, Idaho Power was plan would expand to include releases of mandated to preserve the anadromous salmon and steelhead in the Snake River fish (fish that spawn in fresh water, -mi below Hells Canyon Dam. Idaho Power grate to salt water to reach adulthood and hoped that the hatchery program would 4. Swim-Up Fry return to freshwater to spawn) runs that mitigate for the loss of upstream runs would be affected by this hydroelectric associated with construction of the Hells development. Canyon Complex and continue to provide To comply with the mandate, the com- a resource to the people of the Northwest. pany launched an experimental program The government agencies approved using traps and trucks to ferry the salmon the plan and the ambitious hatchery and steelhead around the dams. The plan program began. had the cooperation of everyone involved The new program required the construc- 8. Spawning Adult except one very important group—the tion of four fish hatcheries. Fully funded fish. Smolts, on their way downriver from by Idaho Power, the hatcheries were, and their spawning beds, could not or would continue to be, staffed and operated by not swim through Brownlee Reservoir to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. the trap above Brownlee Dam. The slack It’s a substantial investment for the com- 5. Fingerling/Parr water was like a wall and the tiny salmon pany but the program yields large gains and steelhead could not climb it. in its ability to release millions of salmon 7. Adult The company, along with federal and and steelhead into the Snake and Salmon 6. Smolt state fishery officials, agreed upon a rivers and their tributaries each year. How Our Hatcheries Work

Our hatcheries focus on maintaining abundant salmon and steelhead populations for Rapid River Hatchery the purpose of providing harvest opportunities to both recreational anglers and tra- Tucked within a tributary of the main two to three feet longer and 15 to 20 ditional Native American fishers. Our hatchery program relies on returning hatchery- Salmon River near Riggins, Idaho, the pounds heavier. origin adults that can be captured and artificially spawned to produce the next genera- Rapid River Hatchery is the largest tion of fish. As the returning adults fight their way collection, spawning and rearing facility back to Rapid River, they are collected at After capture, adult fish are held in large holding ponds until they are ready to be of spring Chinook salmon in Idaho. It has a man-made barrier near the hatchery. spawned. The females’ eggs are harvested, fertilized and incubated using leading- the ability to produce 3 million juvenile They are transferred to a holding pond edge techniques to maximize egg viability and disease control. Once the eggs hatch, spring Chinook salmon annually. until it’s time to gather and fertilize the the young fish are reared and fed at the hatcheries in large raceways or ponds until Juvenile spring Chinook salmon spend eggs. In roughly two years, long after they are ready to be released back into the rivers where they can migrate to the ocean almost two years at Rapid River. They these adults have died, the cycle begins to live and grow. grow to a length of four to six inches and again with the release of their offspring are then released for their 45- to 60-day, into Rapid River, the Little Salmon River Oxbow Hatchery 600-mile journey to the ocean. At this and the Snake River below Hells Canyon Located downstream from the Oxbow of development here. They are delivered In 2000, Idaho Power added raceways to point, the juvenile salmon are referred Dam. Of those released, about one-half Dam powerhouse at the mouth of Pine to the Niagara Springs Hatchery to hatch rear up to 200,000 fall Chinook salmon to as smolts. One to three years later, as of one percent can be expected to make Creek, the Oxbow Hatchery is a holding and grow for approximately 11 months for release below Hells Canyon Dam. adults, they return to the hatchery ready it back to Idaho as adults. and spawning facility for adult steelhead before they are ready for release into the The company also funds the production to spawn. While in the ocean, they grow migrating up the Snake River above Snake below Hells Canyon Dam. of an additional 800,000 fall Chinook Rapid River Hatchery its confluence with the Salmon River. Spring Chinook salmon that return to salmon at a non-Idaho Power Company Steelhead are collected in a trap at Hells Hells Canyon are also held at Oxbow for hatchery located in Oregon. Each year, Canyon Dam, and are held to maturity at a short time but then are transferred to a combined total of up to 1,000,000 Oxbow then stripped of their eggs. the company’s Rapid River Hatchery for juvenile fall Chinook salmon are released Slightly more than one million eggs are spawning. into the Snake River below Hells Canyon fertilized and go through their first stages Dam. Pahsimeroi Hatchery Niagara Springs Hatchery The Pahsimeroi River slides through The Niagara Springs Hatchery, located in a peaceful valley near the east central the Hagerman Valley of southern Idaho, Idaho town of Challis. The hatchery once is one of America’s largest privately- specialized in only steelhead, but in 1981 owned steelhead rearing facilities with raceways and ponds were built for raising a production goal of nearly 2 million Chinook salmon. Today, approximately smolts annually. Named after the spring one million smolts are released into the that feeds it, the hatchery’s water is Pahsimeroi River each year. warmer than that in which naturally spawned steelhead grow up. This ideal For steelhead, the Pahsimeroi Hatchery Pahsimeroi Hatchery environment allows the fish to achieve is used as a maternity ward. Over one the equivalent of two year’s growth in million eggs are collected, fertilized and just one year. developed to the point at which they can be handled safely, then transferred to Conditions at Niagara Springs are strictly the Niagara Springs Hatchery where they controlled. When eggs arrive from the Niagara Springs Hatchery are raised to the release stage—six to ten Oxbow or Pahsimeroi hatcheries, they inches. Eleven months after arriving at are disinfected, placed in incubators and Niagara Springs, the smolts are returned remain there until they have hatched and When they reach release size, the fish are The Niagara Springs Hatchery has proven to the Pahsimeroi River for release. developed into fry approximately one placed in 5,000 gallon steel tank trucks to be a tremendous asset in the rearing of inch in length. They are later transferred and transported to release sites in the juvenile steelhead. In the wild, less than to large, concrete raceways where they Snake, Little Salmon and Pahsimeroi 5 percent of the eggs hatch and survive are fed a special, high nutrient diet. rivers. The water temperature in the to migrate to the ocean. At Niagara, more Hatchery workers monitor bacterial and tanks is lowered to slow the fish’s meta- than 80 percent of the eggs received from viral levels and maintain strict standards bolic rate allowing them to be transport- Pahsimeroi and Oxbow hatcheries sur- of cleanliness. ed with minimal stress. vive to make their ocean journey. Activities At Idaho Power Hatcheries

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Oxbow Hatchery Pahsimeroi Hatchery Trap adult steelhead Trap adult steelhead Spawn adult steelhead Spawn adult steelhead Incubate steelhead eggs Incubate steelhead eggs Ship steelhead eggs to Niagara Springs Ship steelhead eggs to Niagara Springs Trap adult spring Chinook Trap adult summer Chinook Haul adult spring Chinook to Rapid River Spawn adult summer Chinook Incubate fall Chinook eggs and fry Incubate summer Chinook eggs and fry Rear juvenile fall Chinook in raceways Rear juveniles in vats (indoor) Transport fall Chinook smolts for release Rear juveniles in ponds (outdoor) Release summer Chinook smolts Niagara Springs Hatchery Receive steelhead eggs Rapid River Hatchery Incubate steelhead eggs and fry Trap adult spring Chinook Rear juveniles in vats (indoor) Spawn adult spring Chinook Rear juveniles in raceways (outdoor) Incubate spring Chinook eggs and fry Transport steelhead smolts for release Rear juveniles in raceways Rear juveniles in ponds Release spring Chinook smolts Times Are Changing Idaho Power’s Fish Monitoring Efforts

We are proud of our hatchery program and the added value we are able to bring to Warm Water Fish Native Americans, anglers and people of the Northwest. In addition to providing fish Warm water fish such as bass, crappie level, especially in the spring and sum- for harvest, surplus broodstock captured at our hatcheries are donated to food banks and catfish were introduced into the mer months. and Native Americans for subsistence and ceremonial purposes. Idaho Power shares Snake River early in the 20th century. any excess eggs from its hatcheries with state and federal agencies to maintain existing Idaho Power factors warm water fish Construction of reservoirs, such as hatchery programs in Idaho and throughout the Northwest. into the mix of considerations as part of Brownlee, Oxbow and Hells Canyon Today, Idaho Power has a large balancing these multiple demands on The HCC license was issued over 50 years ago and the hatchery program is still central created large areas of habitat ideal for staff of aquatic scientists who Brownlee Reservoir. Through 10 years to the fish conservation program at Idaho Power. However, the world has changed and these fish populations to thrive—and study fish, tiny snails and of research to understand the spawning Idaho Power’s recognition of additional fish conservation needs has followed suit. thrive they have. aquatic insects. They study period and habitats used by warm water We’ve expanded the program to include stocking of catchable-sized rainbow trout the biology of these organisms Brownlee Reservoir is now one of the top fish, the company now secures a 30-day in many Snake River locations from American Falls to C.J. Strike Dam. In addition, as well as their habitat needs locations in Idaho that anglers come to window each spring to protect spawning Idaho Power also recognizes the affects of operating the HCC on natural populations to determine how different seek quality fishing. However, there are habitat. In addition, Idaho Power biolo- of salmon, steelhead and other species of fish downstream of the HCC that call the flow levels from Idaho Power multiple demands on the reservoir. From gists continue to monitor these popula- Snake River home. dams affect these habitats. regional flood control to flow augmenta- tions to understand long-term popula- The company has also Lastly, Idaho Power is committed to achieving a greater understanding of the tion for anadromous fish downstream tion trends as they relate to changing developed programs for affects the HCC has on warm water fish, white sturgeon, bull trout and other aquatic to electricity generation, these demands environmental factors. monitoring the quality of the species. Idaho Power is taking measures to ensure these will be around for future require that Brownlee Reservoir experi- water in the Snake River. Water generations. ence large seasonal draw downs in water quality affects habitat needs of fish and insects. The monitoring program tracks water quality Steelhead Largemouth Bass relative to the standards and criteria established to maintain the various organisms that use Smallmouth Bass the river. Rainbow Trout White Crappie Black Crappie Bull Trout Monitoring Fall Chinook Salmon While bull trout is in the trout and salmon family it is not a true trout. It is the only Fall Chinook salmon are one of three tice ensures that the fish have a stable member of the char family (genus Salvelinus) that is native to the state of Idaho. It was races of ‘King Salmon’ that enter Idaho environment for spawning and that the originally classified by taxonomists in 1856 as a trout under the nameSalmo spectabi- waters. They arrive in Idaho during late developing embryos are protected lis. It was later grouped with Savelinus malma which goes by the common name Dolly summer and into the fall and spawn during the entire incubation period. Varden. In 1980, it was recognized as its own species, separate from Dolly Varden, primarily in the Snake River during the Idaho Power also monitors the number based on its geographical distribution and physical characteristics and acquired the late fall months from late October to and locations of redds constructed each entrapment as they occupy near shore name it has today—Salvenilus confluentus—or commonly called bull trout. Dolly Department of Fish and Game and the mid-December. year by conducting weekly helicopter habitats to feed and grow. The company Varden are mostly associated with coastal rivers, whereas bull trout are found in the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Fall Chinook salmon spawning habits flights and searching deep water areas has worked closely with the National interior of the Northwest, and into Montana. In the early 1900’s, the Eastern brook Idaho Power is working with these agen- can be impacted by water level fluctua- that cannot be observed from the air Marine Fisheries Service to develop trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), also a char, was introduced into the Northwest from cies in the Hells Canyon area to develop tions in the river. If water levels change, using underwater video cameras. protocols for the operations of Hells their native range in the Eastern United States. Eastern brook trout have done well in a population monitoring program and the shallower spawning nests (called Idaho Power biologists have also been Canyon Dam. These protocols ensure Idaho and are now distributed in many of the same areas that bull trout occupy. Their a bull trout passage program for those redds) can be exposed to air and the eggs studying fish entrapment for several entrapment pools are reconnected to the physical appearance and spotting pattern is similar to bull trout making it difficult for populations potentially affected by the or fry will dry up. In 1990, Idaho Power years. Entrapments occur when fish are main river on a daily basis before water anglers to distinguish between the two. They can also apparently confuse each other, HCC. The company is also monitoring initiated a flow program at the HCC that caught in isolated pools of water, often temperatures become too warm. This because they often spawn together in areas where their populations overlap. This has the potential effects that fluctuating river creates a stable flow during spawning near the shore as water levels fluctuate process allows the fish to continue to caused problems in some areas, where brook trout have entirely replaced bull trout. flows may have on bull trout that spend and protects the redds throughout the in the Snake River. Young fall Chinook grow and migrate downstream when the Bull trout are a federally protected species and important to the states of Idaho and the winter in the Snake River below Hells entire period of incubation. This prac- salmon are especially vulnerable to time is right. Oregon. They are managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Idaho Canyon Dam.

Brook Trout—Male

Bull Trout Char Brook Trout—Female Chinook Salmon Chinook Salmon—Spawning Phase White Sturgeon White sturgeon are a primitive bottom-dwelling fish. They are the largest freshwater numbers of fish exist in the remaining fish in North America and can weigh as much as 1,500 pounds and reach lengths reaches. It’s for these reasons that Idaho over 12 feet. Power developed a white sturgeon conservation program that focuses on moni- White sturgeon spawn in large rivers in the spring months, usually in areas of fast, toring the health of Snake River white deep and turbulent water. They can spawn multiple times within their life span with sturgeon populations from Shoshone some larger females producing several million eggs with each spawning. Falls downstream to the Hells Canyon Over the past century, the effects of overharvest and habitat alteration and fragmen- reach of the Snake River. The white tation through river regulation have significantly reduced population numbers. Today, sturgeon conservation plan allows the many sturgeon populations are land-locked because of the presence of dams. company to share this information with Dams have negatively impacted sturgeon by altering large river habitats and creating fish management agencies and coopera- migration barriers, often blocking access to critical habitats such as spawning areas. tively identify measures that can be taken In the Snake River, dam construction has also fragmented what was once a contiguous to improve or maintain populations of large population of white sturgeon into several smaller populations between dams this great fish. resulting in isolated sections of river that do not have all of the necessary habitats to support a reproducing population. In Idaho, the two largest reproducing populations of white sturgeon are found below Bliss and Hells Canyon dams while only small

White Sturgeon Is the Idaho Power Fish Our fish conservation Conservation Program Working? program remains focused on balancing environmental steward- Idaho Power’s hatchery program has Warm water and trout fisheries in our ship and recreational Idaho Power contributed significantly to the popular- reservoirs continue to provide quality opportunities with ity and growth of steelhead and salmon recreational experiences to people of all P.O. Box 70 fishing in Idaho. The Idaho Department ages. Our expertise not only in anadro- Boise, ID 83707 reliable and efficient of Fish and Game estimates that anglers mous fish populations but other Idaho 208-388-2323 or 1-800-488-6151 hydroelectric operations. buy more than 55,000 tags each year to fish such as bull trout and white sturgeon outside of the Treasure Valley test their skill at catching a powerful steel- continues to serve Idahoans and the www.idahopower.com head. Chinook salmon fishing, although Northwest—anglers, fish managers and it occurs on a more limited basis, is also a other environmental interests alike. very popular recreational opportunity— Idaho Department of AH thanks in part to our hatchery program. D O Fish and Game I P.O. Box 25

Boise, ID 83707 F I E 208-334-3700 S H M A fishandgame.idaho.gov & G

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 3406 Cherry Avenue NE Salem, OR 97303 503-947-6200 www.dfw.state.or.us For more information, please visit www.idahopower.com/fish.

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