Management Plan for North Dakota and Montana Paddlefish Stocks and Fisheries A Cooperative Interstate Plan January 2008 DR. DENNIS L. SCARNECCHIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO MOSCOW, ID 83844-1136 (208) 885-5981 FAX (208) 885-6226 [email protected] L. FRED RYCKMAN NORTH DAKOTA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT 13932 WEST FRONT STREET WILLISTON, ND 58801 (701) 774-4320 FAX (701) 774-4305 [email protected] BRAD J. SCHMITZ MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF FISH, WILDLIFE AND PARKS BOX 1630 MILES CITY, MT 59330 (406) 232-0914 FAX (406) 232-4368 [email protected] SCOTT GANGL NORTH DAKOTA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT 100 NORTH BISMARCK EXPRESSWAY BISMARCK, ND 58501 (701) 328-6300 FAX (701) 328-6352 WILLIAM WIEDENHEFT MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF FISH, WILDLIFE AND PARKS RT 1- 4210 GLASGOW, MT 59230 (406) 228-3706 FAX (406) 228-8161 LAURA L. LESLIE MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF FISH, WILDLIFE AND PARKS 2165 HWY 2 HAVRE, MT 59501 (406) 265-6177 ext 226 FAX (406) 265-265-6123 and YOUNGTAIK LIM DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO MOSCOW, ID 83844-1136 Table of Contents List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... iv List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... vii Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... viii Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... ix Overview of Paddlefish ................................................................................................................. 1 Rationale for a Cooperative Management Plan ......................................................................... 4 Review of Montana and North Dakota Paddlefish Stocks and Fisheries ................................ 5 Yellowstone-Sakakawea Stock and Fishery ............................................................................... 6 Habitat .................................................................................................................................... 6 Stock History ......................................................................................................................... 10 Life History ........................................................................................................................... 12 Life History Strategy ............................................................................................................. 15 Ecology ................................................................................................................................. 30 Fishery .................................................................................................................................. 30 Management Chronology ...................................................................................................... 36 Period 1 (1963-1977) ........................................................................................................ 36 Montana ........................................................................................................................ 36 North Dakota ................................................................................................................. 52 Period 2 (1978-1989) ........................................................................................................ 53 Montana ........................................................................................................................ 53 North Dakota ................................................................................................................. 55 Period 3 (1990-1995) ........................................................................................................ 55 Montana ........................................................................................................................ 55 North Dakota ................................................................................................................. 56 Period 4 (1996- 2007) ....................................................................................................... 57 Montana ........................................................................................................................ 58 North Dakota ................................................................................................................. 58 Other Fishery Components ................................................................................................... 60 Non-tribal snag and archery fisheries............................................................................ 60 Tribal fishery ................................................................................................................. 60 Hatchery Production ............................................................................................................. 61 Stock Assessment.................................................................................................................. 61 Biological and Fisheries Data from Cleaning Stations ..................................................... 65 Adult Fish Jaw Tagging .................................................................................................... 65 Reservoir Sampling of Age-0 and Age-1 Fish, Zooplankton, and Reservoir Habitat ...... 68 Early Warning System for Reproduction and Recruitment Success or Failure .................... 68 The Age-0 Index ................................................................................................................ 70 The Sub-adult Index .......................................................................................................... 72 The Young Male Recruit Index ......................................................................................... 72 Five-Year Recruitment Estimate and Harvest Cap ........................................................... 72 A Combination of Methods ............................................................................................... 73 Fort Peck Stock and Fishery ..................................................................................................... 73 Table of Contents Habitat ................................................................................................................................... 73 Stock History......................................................................................................................... 75 Life History and Ecology ...................................................................................................... 77 Fishery ................................................................................................................................... 81 Management Chronology ...................................................................................................... 85 Hatchery Production ............................................................................................................. 86 Stock Assessment.................................................................................................................. 86 Population size .................................................................................................................. 86 Age structure ..................................................................................................................... 87 Indices of reproductive success and year class strength .................................................. 87 Young male recruit index .................................................................................................. 87 Oahe Stock ................................................................................................................................ 88 Habitat ................................................................................................................................... 88 Life History and Ecology ...................................................................................................... 88 Management .......................................................................................................................... 88 Hatchery Production ............................................................................................................. 88 Stock Assessment.................................................................................................................. 88 Habitat Requirements and Protection ...................................................................................... 89 River Water Quantity ............................................................................................................ 89 Overview ........................................................................................................................... 89 Yellowstone River Compact .............................................................................................. 90 Irrigation withdrawals ...................................................................................................... 90 Protecting flows for paddlefish ......................................................................................... 91 Fort Peck Dam flow releases ...........................................................................................