Potlatch River has been as an Intensively Accuracy of GSI to identify this • • Monitored Watershed (IMW) by IDFG and is being population needs to be treated for improved instream structure, channel determined. diversity, and other habitat improvements. NOAA No coefficient of variation (CV) • Funded PCSRF Contract $187K/yr. estimates. One hatchery weir on Clear Creek operated by • USFWS/NPT for Chinook is not efficient during high flows (operation not planned for 2009). Natural-origin River Steelhead MPG and • population abundance via GSI at LGR began in 2008 $150K/yr (ISMES). PIT tag arrays in Potlatch and Lapwai Creeks • will allow escapement estimates in these streams. Age structure information, sex ratios, hatchery Need better estimates of natural Develop surveys of hatchery spawner • • • percentage estimated at IMW weirs. cohort age and sex structure. fraction in index streams. Hatchery percentage estimated at PIT tag arrays. Estimates of natural population Reevaluate juvenile sampling design • • • PIT-tags scanned at IMW weirs; however, sample incidental mortality from and verify age structure assumptions • size is too small for precise estimates. recreational fisheries are needed for productivity estimates. IDFG phone survey estimates sport harvest in imprecise. Develop habitat and life cycle model(s) • • Adult productivity recreational fisheries. Estimating adult steelhead to synthesize available data to • Sport fishing for adult steelhead within population abundance cannot be done extrapolate from index samples to an • boundaries is permitted in mainstem Clearwater River accurately using current methods appropriate population scale. and MF Clearwater (to Clear Creek) only. in high and turbid flows, juvenile Annual parr density monitoring (surrogate for adults) estimates are important as a proxy • conducted by IDFG within population. for adult productivity. Two screw traps and two PIT tag arrays operated by time frame for Potlatch trap Increased PIT or roll up SARs Explore feasibility of sampling • • • • Juvenile IDFG in upper Potlatch River (IMW). data. to larger scale. smolts at LGD for GSI and age productivity Representativeness of Potlatch Explore alternative method of composition. • • to entire population. estimating SARs with precision.
• Potlatch River has been as an Intensively Monitored Watershed (IMW) by IDFG and is being treated for improved instream structure, channel diversity, and other habitat improvements. NOAA Funded PCSRF Contract $187K/yr. • One hatchery weir on Clear Creek operated by USFWS/NPT for Chinook is not efficient during high flows (operation not planned for 2009). • Natural-origin River Steelhead MPG and population abundance via GSI at LGR began in 2008 $150K/yr (ISMES). • PIT tag arrays in Potlatch and Lapwai Creeks will allow escapement estimates in these streams. • Accuracy of GSI to identify this population needs to be determined. • No coefficient of variation (CV) estimates. Adult productivity • Age structure information, sex ratios, hatchery percentage estimated at IMW weirs. • Hatchery percentage estimated at PIT tag arrays. • PIT-tags scanned at IMW weirs; however, sample size is too small for precise estimates. • IDFG phone survey estimates sport harvest in recreational fisheries. • Sport fishing for adult steelhead within population boundaries is permitted in mainstem Clearwater River and MF Clearwater (to Clear Creek) only. • Annual parr density monitoring (surrogate for adults) conducted by IDFG within population. • Need better estimates of natural cohort age and sex structure. • Estimates of natural population incidental mortality from recreational fisheries are imprecise. • Estimating adult steelhead abundance cannot be done accurately using current methods in high and turbid flows, juvenile estimates are important as a proxy for adult productivity. • Develop surveys of hatchery spawner fraction in index streams. • Reevaluate juvenile sampling design and verify age structure assumptions needed for productivity estimates. • Develop habitat and life cycle model(s) to synthesize available data to extrapolate from index samples to an appropriate population scale. Juvenile productivity • Two screw traps and two PIT tag arrays operated by IDFG in upper Potlatch River (IMW). • time frame for Potlatch trap data. • Representativeness of Potlatch to entire population. • Increased PIT or roll up SARs to larger scale. • Explore alternative method of estimating SARs with precision. • Explore feasibility of sampling smolts at LGD for GSI and age composition.