This project addresses a key uncertainty for evaluating whether hatchery supplementation programs have a net positive contribution to recovery of listed populations. Specifically, what is the relative reproductive success of naturally spawning hatchery fish and what are causes of poor reproductive success of hatchery fish? We are addressing these questions by focusing on the spring Chinook salmon in the Wenatchee River, part of the endangered Upper Columbia River spring Chinook salmon ESU. Our study design uses genetic parentage analysis to assign progeny (sampled at both the smolt and adult life stages) to naturally spawning hatchery and wild origin fish. The progeny counts for each spawner are a measure of reproductive success, and by comparing the mean reproductive success of hatchery and wild spawners, we obtain an estimate of the relative reproductive success (RRS) of the hatchery origin fish. A key part of the study is to include co-variables, such as age, size, run timing, spawning location, and spawning behavior, in the analysis so that the proximate causes of differences in RRS between hatchery and wild fish can be evaluated. The study was initiated in 2004, and we have sampled 10 years of adults and 8 years of smolts. In several papers and reports generated by this project, we have reported on the RRS of spawners sampled in 2004-2007, and 2010, and have found that spawning age, size, and location, in addition to hatchery/wild origin, are important co-factors explaining variation in reproductive success. This has been a highly influential study that addresses a critical uncertainty identified in both recovery plans and biological opinions and has had strong support from the West Coast Regional Office. Microsatellite data from spring run Wenatchee River Chinook salmon.

In the early 1990s, Redfish Lake sockeye salmon from the Sawtooth Basin in Idaho were on the brink of extinction, and they were listed as endangered under the US Endangered Species Act in 1991. To prevent extinction, a gene rescue captive broodstock program was established for the stock that consisted of taking most of the remaining gene pool into captive culture at specialized conservation hatcheries at the Manchester Research Station and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Eagle Hatchery. Efforts through the decade of the 1990s consisted of developing techniques for successful culture of sockeye salmon to adulthood, establishing rearing and spawning protocols to ensure preservation of stock diversity, and habitat enhancement at the rearing lakes. In the early 2000s, the program began to include a demographic focus to boost the population through rearing and release of enough juveniles to produce some adult returns. For the last few years, NWFSC eyed egg production has resulted in over 150,000 smolts being released into the Stanley basin annually for recovery, with plans to increase NWFSC eyed egg production to support release of half a million smolts in the Stanley Basin by 2017. In 2011, and for the fourth year in a row, record numbers of sockeye adults have returned to their native home in Idaho. This work is collecting data on the length, weight, and survival of sockeye salmon ponded under two different incubation temperature profiles.

In the early 1990s, Redfish Lake sockeye salmon from the Sawtooth Basin in Idaho were on the brink of extinction, and they were listed as endangered under the US Endangered Species Act in 1991. To prevent extinction, a gene rescue captive broodstock program was established for the stock that consisted of taking most of the remaining gene pool into captive culture at specialized conservation hatcheries at the Manchester Research Station and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Eagle Hatchery. Efforts through the decade of the 1990s consisted of developing techniques for successful culture of sockeye salmon to adulthood, establishing rearing and spawning protocols to ensure preservation of stock diversity, and habitat enhancement at the rearing lakes. In the early 2000s, the program began to include a demographic focus to boost the population through rearing and release of enough juveniles to produce some adult returns. For the last few years, NWFSC eyed egg production has resulted in over 150,000 smolts being released into the Stanley basin annually for recovery, with plans to increase NWFSC eyed egg production to support release of half a million smolts in the Stanley Basin by 2017. In 2011, and for the fourth year in a row, record numbers of sockeye adults have returned to their native home in Idaho. This work is collecting data on the length, weight, and survival of sockeye salmon ponded in chilled and unchilled water crossed with fish sourced from Burley Creek Hatchery Broodstock and Eagle Hatchery Broodstock.

This BPA-funded study provides estimates of smolt survival and travel time through individual reaches and reaches combined in the Snake and Columbia Rivers hydropower system each year. Smolts are PIT tagged at Lower Granite Dam and combined with smolts tagged by other researchers in the basin to estimate survival and travel time. This project also operates the PIT tag trawl in the Columbia River estuary which provides detection data necessary to estimate survival through the final reach to below Bonneville Dam. This information is used to help the region focus on where passage improvements are needed to improve survival and travel time through the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS). Annual reach survival estimates.

Gene rescue captive broodstock program was established for ESA-listed endangered Snake River sockeye salmon from Redfish Lake, Idaho. The program has consisted of taking most of the remaining gene pool into captive culture at specialized conservation hatcheries at the Manchester Research Station and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Eagle Hatchery. Fish are being released to native habitats as part of recovery efforts. The fork length to the nearest mm and weight to the nearest gram of a subsample of fish is recorded on an approximately quarterly basis.

Gene rescue captive broodstock program was established for ESA-listed endangered Snake River sockeye salmon from Redfish Lake, Idaho. The program has consisted of taking most of the remaining gene pool into captive culture at specialized conservation hatcheries at the Manchester Research Station and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Eagle Hatchery. Fish are being released to native habitats as part of recovery efforts. Data is collected by broodyear on % survival to eye, % survival to spawning, % survival to smolt, % survival to adult, % maturity as two year olds, % maturity as three year olds, and % maturity as four year olds. Age of maturity data is available by sex.

This is a long-term (30-year) NWFSC Genetics and Evolution Program study to monitor the genetic characteristics and population dynamics of hatchery- and natural-origin Chinook salmon and steelhead in the Snake River Basin, which are both species listed as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act. Genetic tools are used to determine if naturally spawning hatchery fish are influencing the adaptive potential and viability of wild fish in the basin. This work involves long-term annual field work to collect DNA from threatened Chinook salmon and steelhead at numerous locations throughout the Snake and Salmon River Basin and analyze the genetic signatures from the collections in the context of a long-term historical baseline of hatchery production and natural variation in wild salmonid production there. Initiated in 1989, this study monitors genetic changes associated with hatchery propagation in multiple Snake River sub-basins for Chinook salmon and steelhead. We also derive estimates of reproductive success for individual families and groups of fish. The information obtained from this study directly addresses a critical knowledge gap identified by comanagers, which is: under what conditions does hatchery supplementation provide a sustained contribution to natural production? Co-managers are ODFW, CTUIR, NPT, WDFW, IDFG, and SBT. This type of monitoring work is now an essential part of hatchery reform and the goal of using widespread hatchery propagation in recovery of natural populations.

Gene rescue captive broodstock program was established for ESA-listed endangered Snake River sockeye salmon from Redfish Lake, Idaho. The program has consisted of taking most of the remaining gene pool into captive culture at specialized conservation hatcheries at the Manchester Research Station and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Eagle Hatchery. Fish are being released to native habitats as part of recovery efforts. Raw data on rearing density, loading density, water temperature, ration, and feed size may be available. Raw data on administration of therapeutic drugs may be available.

We are using genetic pedigree information to estimate the reproductive success of hatchery and wild fall-run Chinook salmon spawning in the Cedar River, Washington. Genotypes and associated phenotypes for Cedar River Chinook salmon.

In the early 1990s, Redfish Lake sockeye salmon from the Sawtooth Basin in Idaho were on the brink of extinction, and they were listed as endangered under the US Endangered Species Act in 1991. To prevent extinction, a gene rescue captive broodstock program was established for the stock that consisted of taking most of the remaining gene pool into captive culture at specialized conservation hatcheries at the Manchester Research Station and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Eagle Hatchery. Efforts through the decade of the 1990s consisted of developing techniques for successful culture of sockeye salmon to adulthood, establishing rearing and spawning protocols to ensure preservation of stock diversity, and habitat enhancement at the rearing lakes. In the early 2000s, the program began to include a demographic focus to boost the population through rearing and release of enough juveniles to produce some adult returns. For the last few years, NWFSC eyed egg production has resulted in over 150,000 smolts being released into the Stanley basin annually for recovery, with plans to increase NWFSC eyed egg production to support release of half a million smolts in the Stanley Basin by 2017. In 2011, and for the fourth year in a row, record numbers of sockeye adults have returned to their native home in Idaho. All fresh mortalities larger than 100 mm are sent to Fish Health for pathology. Autopsy data is maintained on their database.