Comprehensive Assessment of Chinook Salmon Smolt Survival and Adult Return Rates in South Fork Salmon River Basin Projec

1. Chinook Salmon Smolt Survival and Smolt to Adult Return Rate Quantification, South Fork Salmon River, Idaho Nez Perce Tribe Department of Fisheries Resources Management New Project #28034 Principal Investigator: Jerry Lockhart

2. South Fork Salmon River Basin

3. Project Goal Calculate and monitor smolt-to-adult returns (SARs) and recruits per spawner ratios (R/S) of summer chinook salmon in the South Fork Salmon River basin.

4. Redd counts Poverty Flats Annual redd counts, moving five year average, and regression of annual redd counts versus year for chinook salmon in the mainstem South Fork Salmon River from 1957 to 2000.

5. Relationship to NMFS 2000 Biological Opinion: • Action 179: Monitors population status in support of of recovery goals (estimate of adult abundance). • Action 180: Provides Tier 2 level of life-stage specific survival performance standards (smolt-to-adult survival, juvenile emigration, and Lower Granite Dam to tributary survival of adults for wild/natural chinook salmon). • Action 193: Implements novel, state-of-the-art fish detection methods (expanded antennae PIT tag detectors in tributary streams). • Support of Actions 9, 20, 47,107, and 118 via PIT tag marking of wild chinook salmon.

6. Salmon River Subbasin Summary Needs: • Section 5.4.1: (3) Life history diversity of SFSR populations; (4) Metapopulation dynamics and status; (7) Non-invasive monitoring techniques • Section 5.4.2: (1,3, and 4) Stray rate monitoring; (10) Hatchery:natural interactions; (1)Smolt-to-adult survival; (1) Recruit per spawner rates; (5) Metapopulation structure; (13) Lower Granite Dam to natural production area movement and survival of adults

7. South Fork Salmon River Basin

8. Juvenile Monitoring • Juvenile monitoring will be accomplished with an emigrant trap and a PIT tag marking program

9. Sample Size • Mark enough fish to calculate survival estimates to the hydrosystem • Ensure enough fish are PIT tagged to obtain 30 adult returns to the natal stream • Supplement the Comparative Survival Study (CSS)

10. Juvenile Monitoring Cont. Expected Results • Abundance Estimates of mainstem SFSR • Survival Estimates to the Hydrosystem • Quantify Smolt to Adult Return Rates to Lower Granite Dam (LGR)and to the Mainstem SFSR

11. Adult Monitoring • Monitor PIT tag detections at hydro system to quantify Smolt to Adult Return rates to LGR • Utilize expanded PIT tag antennae technology to detect PIT tags at natal streams to estimate adult escapement

12. Expanded PIT Tag Antennae Reader

13. Expanded PIT Tag Antennae Reader

14. Adult Monitoring Cont. • Expected Results • Quantify SAR’s to LGR and to mainstem SFSR and Secesh River • Estimate adult abundance in the mainstem SFSR and Secesh River • Quantify R/S for mainstem SFSR and Secesh River

15. SFSR Basin Analysis • Coordination with IDFG ISS for activities above SFSR Weir • Coordination with NPT ISS for activities in the Secesh River • Coordination with NPT JCAPE for activities in Johnson Creek • Coordinate with the CSS study for Hydrosystem effects

16. SFSR Basin Analysis • Results • SFSR basin juvenile abundance • SFSR basin survival to and through hydrosystem • SFSR basin Smolt to Adult Return Rates • To LGR, to Individual Stream, Aggregate of Basin • SFSR basin adult escapement numbers • SFSR basin Recruit per Spawner Ratios • Ultimately quantify the status and performance of the SFSR basin spawning aggregate