Risk Assessment for the Reintroduction of Anadromous Salmonids Upstream of Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee Dams, Northeastern Washington
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Prepared in cooperation with the Upper Columbia United Tribes Risk Assessment for the Reintroduction of Anadromous Salmonids Upstream of Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee Dams, Northeastern Washington Open-File Report 2017–1113 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover: Photograph showing Chief Joseph Dam tailrace, with Tribal fishing scaffold and fish ladder in immediate background, and Chief Joseph Dam in far background. Photograph by Casey Baldwin, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, August 15, 2015. Used with permission. Risk Assessment for the Reintroduction of Anadromous Salmonids Upstream of Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee Dams, Northeastern Washington By Jill M. Hardiman, Rachel B. Breyta, Craig A. Haskell, Carl O. Ostberg, James R. Hatten, and Patrick J. Connolly Prepared in cooperation with the Upper Columbia United Tribes Open-File Report 2017–1113 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior RYAN K. ZINKE, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey William H. Werkheiser, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2017 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit https://www.usgs.gov/ or call 1–888–ASK–USGS (1–888–275–8747). For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit https:/store.usgs.gov. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner. Suggested citation: Hardiman, J.M., Breyta, R.B., Haskell, C.A., Ostberg, C.O., Hatten, J.R., and Connolly, P.J., 2017, Risk assessment for the reintroduction of anadromous salmonids upstream of Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee Dams, northeastern Washington: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2017–1113, 87 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20171113. ISSN 2331-1258 (online) Contents Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 4 Geographic Area of Interest ........................................................................................................................... 5 Methods ......................................................................................................................................................... 7 General Approach ...................................................................................................................................... 7 Resident Fish Species ............................................................................................................................... 8 Disease/Pathogen Risks ............................................................................................................................ 8 Genetic Risks ............................................................................................................................................. 9 Donor Sources ......................................................................................................................................... 10 Ecological Impacts- Competition and Predation ....................................................................................... 12 Reintroduction Strategies ......................................................................................................................... 13 Results ......................................................................................................................................................... 14 Resident Fish Species ............................................................................................................................. 14 Disease/Pathogen Risks .......................................................................................................................... 14 Introduction Risk ................................................................................................................................... 14 Increased Pathogen Burden Risk ......................................................................................................... 15 Management Strategies for Mitigating Disease Risks .......................................................................... 15 Disease Risk Synthesis in Donors ........................................................................................................ 15 Donor Selection ....................................................................................................................................... 15 Steelhead Donors ................................................................................................................................. 16 Spring Chinook Salmon Donors ........................................................................................................... 18 Summer/Fall Chinook Salmon Donors ................................................................................................. 22 Sockeye Salmon Donors ...................................................................................................................... 25 Coho Salmon Donors ........................................................................................................................... 28 Ecological Impacts ................................................................................................................................... 30 Competition for Food and Space .......................................................................................................... 30 Redband Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri) ............................................................................. 30 Kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka) ....................................................................................................... 31 Triploid Rainbow Trout ...................................................................................................................... 32 Burbot (Lota lota) .............................................................................................................................. 32 Predator-Prey Relationships................................................................................................................. 32 Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) ........................................................................................ 33 Walleye (Sander vitreus) .................................................................................................................. 33 Northern Pike (Esox Lucius) ............................................................................................................. 33 White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) ..................................................................................... 34 Redband Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri) ............................................................................. 34 Burbot (Lota lota) .............................................................................................................................. 34 Northern Pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus oregonensis) .......................................................................... 35 Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) ............................................................................................................... 35 Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) .................................................................................................... 35 Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) ...................................................................................................... 36 Triploid Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) ............................................................................... 36 Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)....................................................................................... 36 Reintroduction Strategies ......................................................................................................................... 37 Discussion ................................................................................................................................................... 39 iii Donor Sources ......................................................................................................................................... 39 Steelhead Donors ................................................................................................................................. 39 Chinook Salmon Donors ...................................................................................................................... 40 Sockeye Salmon Donors ...................................................................................................................... 42 Coho Salmon Donors ........................................................................................................................... 43 Ecological Impacts ..................................................................................................................................