At the Council’s January 7, 2013 request, the ISRP conducted a review of the Yakama Nation’s response to the ISRP’s Step 2 review of the Klickitat River Anadromous Fisheries Master Plan (project 1988-115-35).
The ISRP organized its review and recommendations around three components of the Master Plan:
1. Segregated Steelhead Harvest: Response Requested
The ISRP requests a response from the sponsors that addresses the questions raised in the attached report concerning the segregated steelhead harvest program. The Master Plan has two goals for steelhead: to provide harvest opportunities to tribal and non-tribal members through a segregated hatchery program and to enhance or restore natural populations in the future through habitat restoration and supplementation. More information is needed on how a balance between conservation and harvest objectives will be achieved. There is not enough information to conclude that the proposed segregated steelhead hatchery can be operated in a manner that protects and conserves the ESA-listed natural populations in the Klickitat. Data are presented that suggest the current program, which involves out-planting of out-of-basin Skamania steelhead in the Klickitat, has had a low genetic impact on natural steelhead. What is needed, however, is a description of the yearly research, monitoring, and evaluation efforts that will be employed to ensure this determination remains valid in the future. Along with this description of methods, there should also be an explanation of how data will be used to help determine if the program should be maintained as is, or changed from its current design. It would be very helpful if explanatory text, similar to the spring Chinook appendix, could be produced for the segregated hatchery program. Such a document could be used to address the questions raised in this review.
2. McCreedy Creek Steelhead Supplementation: Meets Scientific Review Criteria (Qualified)
Questions raised in the ISRP’s comments can be addressed in the Step Three review.
3. Spring Chinook Integrated Harvest and Colonization: Meets Scientific Review Criteria (Qualified)
The ISRP appreciated the thorough explanation of this project. A few questions about this program, however, still remain. These can be addressed in the Step Three review.
Please see the attached report for details.
