The goals of this study are to develop methods to reduce wandering and straying of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) that are collected and barged from the Snake River to below Bonneville Dam. Salmon and steelhead that stray and spawn in non-natal streams are a significant conservation concern, because they may confound accurate assessment of the VSP parameters of recovering native populations and decrease the productivity of these populations through genetic introgression or ecological competition. These issues are a particular concern for listed mid-Columbia River stocks because salmon that are collected and barged downstream as juveniles have shown higher stray rates into these watersheds as returning adults relative to in-river migrants. However, while barging may contribute to elevated stray rates, there are substantial benefits from barging because transported Snake River steelhead consistently have higher smolt-to-adult returns than steelhead left to migrate in-river. Therefore, it is important to identify and develop strategies for reducing the stray rates of transported steelhead while maintaining the survival benefits consistently observed for barged steelhead. The specific aims of this proposal are as follows: 1) Conduct an analysis of existing coded wire (CWT) and PIT tag data to identify causative factors associated with straying by Columbia River salmonids, particularly as it relates to natural rates of straying and straying associated with transport. 2) Assess imprinting of barged and in-river migrants by monitoring imprinting associated changes in physiological function and gene expression as indicators of imprinting success. 3) Identify key environmental parameters (e.g. orienting current, water exchange rate, novel tributary water) that are important for imprinting barged fish and develop barging protocols to optimize imprinting success and thereby minimize straying using a controlled laboratory study. 4) Initiate tests of a modified barge protocol designed to maintain survival benefits while reducing wandering, delay, and straying behavior of returning adults. The work is being conducted by NWFSC scientists in collaboration with the University of Washington. Products for this project will include annual reports, peer-reviewed publications, presentation of results at local and national meetings, and consultation with the FCRPS managers. Physiological and field data on barged and in-river migrant steelhead.

Assist Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) in determining the extent to which genetic introgression exists between Snake River hatchery steelhead straying into the John Day Basin and the local ESA-listed summer steelhead, and to verify the existing Technical Recovery Team (TRT) population designations within the John Day system. Results of this research will be used to inform the management and conservation of John Day River Basin steelhead. Genetics.

Assist Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) in determining the extent to which genetic introgression exists between Snake River hatchery steelhead straying into the John Day Basin and the local ESA-listed summer steelhead, and to verify the existing Technical Recovery Team (TRT) population designations within the John Day system. Results of this research will be used to inform the management and conservation of John Day River Basin steelhead. Genetics.

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.

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. 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.

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, weight to the nearest gram, fecundity, and green egg weight to the nearest mg of every female spawned is recorded. The fork length to the nearest mm, weight to the nearest gram, milt weight to the nearest 0.01 gram, milt volume, spermatocrit, and milt motility of every male spawned is recorded. The eyed egg weight and % survival to the eyed stage for every batch of fertilized eggs is recorded. A record is maintained describing which male is crossed with which female.

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.

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. Information on the number of eyed eggs, juveniles, and adults received into the program is maintained and summarized by year. The production of adults spawned, adults transferred to Idaho for release, green eggs taken, and eyed eggs shipped to Idaho and Oregon facilities for restoration activities is also annually summarized.

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.