Hood River Subbasin Plan Including Lower Oregon Columbia Gorge Tributaries May 28, 2004 Submitted to the Northwest Power and Conservation Planning Council Writer/editor Holly Coccoli Hood River Soil and Water Conservation District List of Contributors Gary Asbride US Forest Service Chuti Fieldler, US Forest Service Catherine J. Flick, US Forest Service Bonnie Lamb, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Erik Olsen, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Phil Roger, Columbia Intertribal Fisheries Commission Alexis Vaivoda, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs of Oregon Mick Jennings, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs of Oregon Rod French, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildllife Table of Contents Page No. 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY………………………………………………………..1 2. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………3 3. HOOD RIVER SUBBASIN ASSESSMENT……………………………………..7 Subbasin Overview…………………………………………………………..7 Focal Species Characterization and Status………………………………….23 Out of Subbasin Effects……………………………………………….….…67 Environment and Population Relationships……………………… ………71 Limiting Factors and Conditions……………………………………………91 Synthesis and Interpretation………………………………………………...94 4. LOWER OREGON COLUMBIA GORGE TRIBUTARIES ASSESSMENT…………………………………………………………………….101 Subbasin Overview…………………………………………………………101 Focal Species Characterization and Status…………………………………112 Out of Subbasin Effects……………………………………………………134 Environment and Population Relationships………………………………..135 Limiting Factors and Conditions…………………………………… ……141 Synthesis and Interpretation………………………………………… …….143 5. INVENTORY OF EXISTING ACTIVITIES …………………………….…….148 6. MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR HOOD RIVER SUBBASIN……………………175 Vision for the Subbasin…………………………………………………….176 Biological Objectives………………………………………………………178 Prioritized Strategies…………………………………………………… …190 Consistency with ESA and Clean Water Act Requirements…………… . 198 Research, Monitoring and Evaluation…………………………………… ..200 7. MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR LOWER OREGON COLUMBIA GORGE TRIBUTARIES………………………………………………….…….210 Vision for the Subbasin……………………………………………………..210 Biological Objectives…………………………………………………… …211 Prioritized Strategies………………………………………………………..214 Consistency with ESA and Clean Water Act Requirements…………… .…219 Research, Monitoring and Evaluation………………………………………220 References…………………………………………………………………..222 APPENDICES Appendix A- Maps Appendix B- Aquatic Supplement Appendix C- Wildlife Supplement List of Tables List of Figures List of Tables Table 1. Land ownership in the Hood River Subbasin Table 2. List of fish species present in the Hood River Subbasin. Table 3. Fish and wildlife species listed as threatened in the Hood River subbasin. Table 4. Selected wildlife species that are known to occur in the Hood River subbasin that are recognized as rare, uncommon and/or sensitive. Table 5. Focal species list and selection criteria for the Hood River Subbasin Table 6. Focal wildlife species in the Hood River Subbasin and associated IBIS vegetative land cover types. Table 7. Comparison of subbasin habitat production potential estimates from three different models to actual steelhead juvenile migrant trap data in the mainstem Hood River at river mile 4.5. Table 8. Comparison of subbasin habitat production potential estimates from three different models to actual chinook juvenile migrant trap data in the mainstem Hood River at river mile 4.5. Table 9. Current high lake stocking program in the Hood River subbasin. Table 10. Current target anadromous fish releases in the Hood River. Table 11. Historic releases of anadromous fish in Hood River subbasin streams. Table 12. Hatchery summer steelhead Columbia and Hood River harvest, 1996-2000. Table 13. Annual estimates of harvest rate on hatchery winter steelhead in the Hood River Table 14. Estimates of in-river sport catch of salmon and steelhead obtained from punch card returns. Table 15. Partial list of introduced non-native animal species in the Hood River subbasin Table 16. Current and historic land cover types for focal wildlife species in the Hood River Subbasin as indicated by the IBIS map data. Table 17. Mapped human travel corridors in the Hood River subbasin by 6 HUC watersheds. Table 18. EDT estimates of adult focal species population metrics based on current and template conditions in the Hood River Subbasin Table 19. EDT estimates of juvenile focal species population metrics based on current and template conditions in the Hood River Subbasin. Table 20. Summary of the primary limiting factors or key environmental correlates identified by EDT for focal species by life stage. Table 21. Current adult abundance (estimated by EDT) and the estimated percent increase in abundance for the 6 scenarios modeled for four focal species in the Hood River subbasin. Table 22. Current juvenile outmigrant abundance (estimated by EDT) and the estimated percent increase in abundance for the 6 scenarios modeled for four focal species in the Hood River subbasin. Table 23. Land ownership in the Lower Oregon Columbia Gorge Tributaries Watershed Table 24. Streamflow regime by REO 2003 Sixth Hydrologic Unit Code subwatersheds. Table 25. Stream survey information with notes on barriers and flow regime Table 26. Fish and wildlife species designated as Threatened or Endangered inLower Oregon Columbia Gorge Tributaries Watershed. Table 27. List of selected wildlife species considered rare or significant to the Lower Oregon Columbia Gorge Tributaries Watershed. Table 28. Focal species list and selection criteria for the Lower Orgeon Columbia Gorge Tributaries watershed. Table 29. Focal wildlife species and land cover or subcover types in the Lower Oregon Columbia Gorge Tributaries Table 30. Stream Habitat loss and changes in anadromous fish distribution due to human disturbance. Table 31. Lake stocking information for the Lower Oregon Columbia Gorge Tributaries Watershed. Table 32. Average estimated recreational harvest of salmon and steelhead trout in Herman and Eagle creeks, 1976-1994. Table 33. Selected stream habitat survey information for major anadromous streams in the Lower Oregon Columbia Gorge Tributaries watershed Table 34. Partial list of introduced non-native animal species in the Columbia Gorge Subbasin Table 35. Current and historic land cover or habitat types for focal species in the Lower Oregon Columbia Gorge Tributaries watershed. Table 36. Human travel corridors in the Lower Oregon Columbia Gorge Tributaries by 6 Level HUC watersheds Table 37. Assumptions about optimal habitat characteristics for steelhead and rainbow trout. Table 38. Overall percentage of land in each Land Protection Status category based on NWHI map layers and definitions Table 39. Instream water rights established by the State of Oregon in Hood River County. Table 40. Proposed hatchery and harvest strategies before/after Powerdale Dam removal scheduled in 2010 List of Figures Figure 1. Location of Hood River Subbasin in Oregon. Figure 2. Flow duration statistics for the Hood River based on daily discharges at U.S.G.S. Gage 14120000 Hood River at Tucker Bridge Figure 3. Stream segments where 1998 Oregon temperature standards are exceeded. Figure 4. Relation of the Hood Subbasin to the Columbia Gorge Province. Figure 5. Mt. Hood Recovery Bull Trout Recovery Unit within the Columbia River Distinct Population Segment. Figure 6. Number of adult hatchery and wild adult winter steelhead captured at Powerdale Dam for run years 1994-2001. Figure 7. Number of adult hatchery and wild adult summer steelhead captured at Powerdale Dam for run years 1992-2001. Figure 8. Number of adult hatchery and wild spring chinook captured at Powerdale Dam for run years 1992-2001. Figure 9. Adult bull trout captured in the Powerdale Dam trap for years 1992 to 2003. Figure 10. Annual counts of adult cutthroat trout captured at Powerdale Dam 1992-2004. Figure 11. Wild and hatchery winter steelhead adult return to Powerdale Dam Figure 12. Total harvest of spring chinook in the Hood River subbasin, including ocean and Columbia River harvest Figures 13-16. Relative Importance of Geographic Areas for Protection and Restoration Measures for Steelhead and Chinook focal species Figure 17. Hood River Summer Steelhead Protection and Restoration Strategic Priority Summary Figure 18. Hood River Winter Steelhead Protection and Restoration Strategic Priority Summary Figure 19. Hood River Spring Chinook Protection and Restoration Strategic Priority Summary Figure 20. Hood River Fall Chinook Protection and Restoration Strategic Priority Summary Figure 21. Number of steelhead smolts versus streamflow at Tucker Bridge during late summer and early fall rearing in the year prior to outmigration Figure 22. Relation of the Columbia Gorge Subbasin to the Columbia River Basin. Figure 23. Relation of the Lower Oregon Columbia Tributaries watershed to the Columbia Gorge Subbasin. 1. Executive Summary The Subbasin Plan defines fish and wildlife goals, objectives, and strategies for the Hood River Subbasin and the adjacent Lower Oregon Columbia Gorge Tributaries for the next 10 to 15 years. The plan will be submitted to the Northwest Power Planning Council for adoption under the Council’s Fish and Wildlife Program. Its purpose is to help direct Bonneville Power Administration funding to projects that address fish and wildlife populations adversely impacted by the Columbia River hydropower system. The Subbasin Plan components are a 1) Assessment, or evaluation of current and historic biological and physical conditions; 2) Inventory of existing fish and wildlife programs and measures;