Comprehensive Hatchery Management Plan Carson National Fish Hatchery U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Planning Report: Number 1 October 2002 Carson National Fish Hatchery - Comprehensive Hatchery Management Plan - October 2002 COMPREHENSIVE HATCHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN Carson National Fish Hatchery Planning Report: Number 1 Prepared by: Carson National Fish Hatchery 14041 Wind River Highway Carson, WA 98610 Columbia River Fisheries Program Office 9317 Highway 99, Suite 1 Vancouver, WA 98665 Lower Columbia River Fish Health Center 61552 State Route 14 Underwood, WA 98651 Columbia River Gorge Information and Education Office 122 Coho Road Cook, WA 98605 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Region One October 2002 Carson National Fish Hatchery - Comprehensive Hatchery Management Plan - October 2002 Explanation of Purpose Carson National Fish Hatchery - Comprehensive Hatchery Management Plan This Comprehensive Hatchery Management Plan (CHMP) for the Carson National Fish Hatchery (NFH) is an operational management plan which outlines policy, legal mandates, goals and objectives relevant to the overall management of the station. This document is a planning and reference tool and is not a decision-making or policy-making document. Additional documents developed in separate processes are referenced in this CHMP and provide biological, policy, legal, and management analysis of the Carson NFH. These documents are the Biological Assessment and Biological Opinion on Artificial Production in the Columbia River Basin, the Federal Columbia River Power System Biological Opinion, the Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan, and the U.S. v Oregon Columbia River Fisheries Management Plan. The correct citation for this plan is: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2002. Comprehensive Hatchery Management Plan for the Carson National Fish Hatchery. Planning Report Number 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Carson National Fish Hatchery, Carson, Washington. i Carson National Fish Hatchery - Comprehensive Hatchery Management Plan - October 2002 This Comprehensive Hatchery Management Plan for the Carson National Fish Hatchery (Planning Report: Number 1) addresses the Pacific Region’s requirement to integrate U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service objectives and priorities with those of co-managers, other agencies, and resource programs; fulfill obligations under the Endangered Species Act and relevant fisheries conservation, mitigation, and management programs; identify and define in specifics what hatchery reforms are implemented to achieve objectives; and, provide a foundation for future program and budget development and review. Submitted by: Project Leader, Carson NFH Date Project Leader, Columbia River FPO Date Project Leader, Lower Columbia River FHC Date Approved: Assistant Regional Director, Fisheries Date Approved: Regional Director, Pacific Region Date ii Carson National Fish Hatchery - Comprehensive Hatchery Management Plan - October 2002 Acknowledgments Dan Diggs and Doug DeHart coordinated the initial development of this plan, along with Chuck Dunn, Lee Hillwig, Ed Forner, Kate Benkert, Bob Semple, Larry Marchant, Ed Lamotte, Bob Wunderlich, Ron Wong, Ray Jones, Thomas Trock, Brian Cates, and Rich Johnson. Donna Allard provided assistance in the publication of this report. iii Carson National Fish Hatchery - Comprehensive Hatchery Management Plan - October 2002 CONTENTS Page Explanation of Purpose ......................................................... i Signature Page .............................................................. ii Acknowledgments ............................................................ iii List of Attachments.......................................................... viii Executive Summary............................................................x CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND Purpose of and Need for Plan ....................................................1 Description of Planning Process ..................................................2 Composition of Planning Team...................................................2 Review and Update of Plan..................................................... 3 Fisheries Program Mission, Goals, and Priorities .....................................3 National Fish Hatchery System Overview...........................................4 Regional Fishery Goals and Priorities ..............................................5 Legal and Policy Guidance ......................................................7 CHAPTER 2. HATCHERY AND RESOURCE DESCRIPTIONS Hatchery Overview ............................................................8 Hatchery Purpose..............................................................8 Facility and Site Descriptions ....................................................8 Archeology/Cultural Resources ...................................................9 Watershed/Ecosystem Setting ....................................................9 General Description......................................................9 Geology...............................................................9 Climate and Hydrology..................................................10 Fish and Wildlife.......................................................10 Vegetation ............................................................11 Habitat Condition .......................................................12 Current and Future Development ..........................................12 History of Hatchery Stocks .....................................................13 Legal Authority ........................................................13 Production and Management History .......................................14 Biological Risks and Ecological Interactions .......................................16 Hatchery Water Intake and Use............................................17 Brood Stock Collection ..................................................17 Genetic Introgression....................................................18 Hatchery Production ....................................................18 iv Carson National Fish Hatchery - Comprehensive Hatchery Management Plan - October 2002 Disease...............................................................18 Competition ...........................................................19 Predation .............................................................20 Residualism...........................................................22 Migration Corridor/Ocean ................................................22 Harvest...............................................................23 Cutthroat Trout ........................................................23 Bull Trout.............................................................23 Beneficial Uses ..............................................................23 Public Uses ...........................................................23 Harvest Contribution....................................................24 Economic Benefit .......................................................24 Cultural Values ........................................................24 CHAPTER 3. HATCHERY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Hatchery Goals, Objectives, and Tasks............................................26 Current Practices to Achieve Goals, Objectives, and Tasks............................31 Water Use and Management ..............................................31 Screening.............................................................32 Conveyance System to Hatchery and Ponds ..................................32 Effluent Treatment and Monitoring.........................................33 Brood Stock Management ..................................................... 33 Surplus Adult Returns...................................................34 Spawning Protocol......................................................35 Other Acceptable Stocks .................................................35 Upstream Passage ......................................................35 Special Concerns.......................................................36 Incubation Strategies and Procedures .............................................36 Rearing Strategies ............................................................36 Release Strategies ............................................................38 Fish Health Management Program ...............................................38 Fish Health Policy......................................................38 Fish Health Examinations ................................................39 Chemotherapeutant Use..................................................40 Other Fish Health Precautions .............................................41 Monitoring, Evaluation and Coordination ..........................................42 Database Management...................................................42 Marking/Tagging Program ...............................................42 Bio-sampling and Reporting ..............................................43 Hatchery Evaluation Studies..............................................43 v Carson National Fish Hatchery - Comprehensive Hatchery Management Plan - October 2002 Stock Assessment and Contribution to Fisheries...............................44 Juvenile Monitoring.....................................................44 ESA Assessments, Ecological Interactions, and Natural Production Studies .........45 Environmental Monitoring ...............................................46 Coordination/Communication.............................................46