OREGON FISHWORKS Winter 2006 News from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (ODFW) Fish Restoration and Enhancement (R&E) and Salmon and Trout Enhancement Programs (STEP) R&E Funds Lahontan Cutthroat Surveys his summer, crews from ODFW’s Native Fish Investigations Project surveyed Lahontan cutthroat trout populations and distribution in the TWillow and Whitehorse Creek basins in Harney County, funded in part with a $4,000 R&E Program grant. The surveys, which were completed in September, were done as part of an ongoing recovery effort. The last survey for these fish was conducted in 1999. The Willow and Whitehorse Creek basins provide some of the last remaining intact habitat for Oregon’s Lahontan cutthroat trout. Lahontan cutthroat trout in the Willow and Whitehorse Basins were designated as ‘threatened’ under the federal Endangered Species Act in 1991 — the year This 12.4-inch Lahontan cutthroat after angling for them was closed for their conservation. The fishing season was trout was one of the larger ones re-opened in 2001 on a catch-and-release, artificial flies or lures only basis. captured by ODFW survey crews. Populations improved during the 1990s largely due to better grazing Photo by Stephanie Gunckel management practices, which have resulted in much improved habitat conditions for the fish. The Trout Creek Mountains Working Group, a coalition of ranchers, government agencies and others that was formed in the late 1980s to lead Lahontan trout recovery efforts in the area, has been a driving force in the slow comeback of the fish. Although the data is still being evaluated, the overall picture looks promising. The surveyors found excellent habitat conditions along the creeks, including thick corridors of willows and other vegetation, and the cutthroat population healthy. “We saw what appeared to be very high densities of cutthroats at some of the survey sites and they seem to have weathered the recent drought years,” said Stephanie Gunckel, assistant project leader for the Native Fish Investigation Project, which is based out of ODFW’s Corvallis Research Lab. Data gathered for the study will be used to determine the effectiveness of current angling regulations and management and to assess the overall health of the population. STEP Expands Line Recycling Program In This Issue TEP will be expanding the Keep Oregon’s Rivers Clean Program in the coming months Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Sby adding new collection sites at various Line Recycling Program locations along lakes and streams throughout Middle Fork Willamette Oregon. Materials to construct the first round of Bull Trout new stations were purchased using a grant from STAC Meeting the R&E Program. Construction will be completed Angler’s Corner by STEP volunteers. Lost Creek Reservoir The program provides receptacles for anglers to Warmwater Project place discarded line, hooks, lures and other fishing Recent Grants gear. It was created by the Oregon Legislature in 2004 as a pilot program beginning with 26 collection stations. Because of its success, particularly with reducing the amount of discarded Anglers have responded positively fishing line, the Legislature recently made it a to the Keep Oregon’s Rivers Clean permanent ODFW program. Program. Photo by ODFW STAC Reviews Projects Bullish on Bull Trout At the January 27, 2006 meeting, the STEP Advisory Committee ODFW fish biologists found 11 bull trout redds in the Middle Fork (STAC) will review and provide Willamette River this fall for the first time in many years. comment to the Department on six To provide more bull trout spawning habitat in the river basin, ODFW STEP fish propagation projects in last August hired a helicopter to place gravel in two tributary streams in the Tenmile, Coos, and Coquille the Willamette National Forest near Hills Creek Reservoir. The R&E Basins. The projects include four Program contributed $31,625 toward the project. that rear and release juvenile Historically, the basin salmon for the Department’s Coos supported good bull trout River fall chinook program, a fall populations because it offered chinook project in the Coquille the clean, cold water and other Basin, and one that rears rainbow habitat conditions fish need to trout for a youth angling event at spawn and survive. Over the Eel Lake. years, a variety of human The meeting will be held from 9 activities including logging, road a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the ODFW South building and overfishing Willamette Watershed District degraded stream habitat and Office, 7118 NE Vandenberg Ave., led to the decline of bull trout in Corvallis, Oregon 97330. The review the basin. of the STEP propagation projects is “By the late 1990s,we scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. determined that there were no ODFW biologists Jeff Ziller and Vince Tranquilli spread newly-placed spawning Members are appointed to STAC or very few bull trout in the Middle Fork Willamette River gravel in Chuckle Creek. Photo by Jim by the Governor and advise ODFW Yuskavitch on the implementation of STEP. The basin,” said Mark Wade, project public is invited to attend this manager for ODFW’s Upper Willamette Bull Trout Project meeting to provide comment to Since 1997, ODFW biologists have planted more than 10,000 bull trout fry STAC and the Department on the into streams in the basin as part of a long-term plan to return the species to project proposals. its former habitat. These fish were transferred from the McKenzie River For more information on these basin where bull trout populations have fared better. projects or the project review and Because bull trout do not spawn until they are seven years old, the first approval process please contact the group of fish that were planted in the basin were old enough to spawn this STEP Coordinator at 503-947-6232. fall. Bull trout in the basin spend their adult lives in Hills Creek Reservoir but move into tributary streams in September and October to spawn. The next step will be to monitor the bull trout fry after they hatch. ODFW Grant Opportunities fish biologists plan to sample in April and May to get a population estimate R&E Program Grants of the young fish. If your non-profit organization is “We’re pretty excited about getting up there next spring to see what has seeking funds for a project that happened with those redds,” said Springfield-based District Fish Biologist improves fishing opportunities or Jeff Ziller. benefits Oregon’s fisheries, the R&E Program may be able to help. The next round of grant When the late-season weather applications is due March 20. For ngler’s an application, contact program A turns bitter on the lower staff at 503-947-6259 or log on to: orner Deschutes River and the fly www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/RE. C anglers have gone home, STAC Mini-Grants locals break out the If you’ve got a small project in spinning gear. need of a grant of $750 or less, the There are still plenty next STEP Mini-Grant application of summer steelhead deadline is February 24. Grants fund projects that benefit the goals in the river’s icy water of STEP. For more information or in November and an application, contact your local December — they just STEP biologist. need an extra nudge to entice To learn more about STEP, go to: them to strike. Spinners are often www.dfw.state.or.us/STEP. just the ticket. Recent R&E Want to continue receiving Program Grants Oregon FishWorks? The Oregon Fish and Wildlife We are updating our mailing list. To continue receiving Oregon Commission approved the 28 R&E grants listed below at its September and FishWorks, just fill out this form and mail it to: R&E/STEP December meetings. More information Programs, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, about these projects may be obtained by 3406 Cherry Ave, NE, Salem, OR 97303 contacting program staff at 503-947-6259. Enhancement Name No. 05-040, Necanicum River Riparian Restoration, $12,046 No. 05-045, Bylund/Oregon State Parks Street/P.O. Box Salmon Habitat Improvement, $30,193 No. 05-047, Keep Oregon Rivers Clean Line City/State/Zip Code Recycling Program, $8,143 No. 05-048, Curry Small Watersheds Spawning Survey, $10,457 No. 05-052, Coos-Coquille-Tenmile Winter Steelhead Study, $51,475 No. 05-053, Portland City Kids Fishing Club, $7,946 Lost Creek Reservoir Warmwater No. 05-055, La Pine Recreation Area Fish Habitat and Bank Protection, $5,840 Fish Habitat Enhanced No. 05-058, Thief Valley Road Improvement, $2,200 This winter, volunteers from various southwest Oregon warmwater No. 05-059, Statewide Warmwater Gamefish fishing clubs will plant sedges along the lake shore of Lost Creek Reservoir, Habitat Structures, $19,879 No. 05-063, Camp Polk Meadow Preserve in Jackson County, to help bring back what had been a high quality bass Channel Restoration, $42,720 fishery. No. 05-069, Marine Sport Fishing Educational Lost Creek Reservoir, completed in 1976, was created by the U.S. Army Kiosks, $8,000 No. 05-070, Derelict Commercial Crab Pot Corps of Engineers. Before the Retrieval Pilot Program, $25,000 reservoir was filled, the trees in the No. 05-080, Sunnyside Park Angler Access soon-to-be lake bed were harvested. Calendar Enhancement, $15,000 The remaining vegetation, logs and No. 05-081, Upper Midway Reservoir 2006 Warmwater Fishery Enhancement, rootwads provided cover and food $2,550 for the lake’s fish for years, but now Jan. 27-28 STAC Meeting have decomposed. This loss of Restoration Corvallis No. 941211, Butte Falls Hatchery Abatement habitat has resulted in declining Project, $466,500 warmwater fish populations.