Bartlett River Salmon Escapement:

a case study in wilderness fisheries management

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Bartlett River• Historic commercial

fishery • Today it is a popular

recreational fishery for sockeye and coho salmon

• Accessed either by foot or by boat from Bartlett Cove

• Angler counts indicate a two fold increase in angler effort since the late 90’s

How many fish are there?

• Coho numbers were non-existent – largely due to late season runs under high discharge and turbid conditions

Why do we need to know?• To determine whether increased

fishing pressure can be sustained• Inform management actions that

protect the fishery and visitor experience

What did we already know?• Sockeye estimates are obtained

via visual enumeration and are currently estimated at 6,000 fish

What’s the best way to count coho?• Visual enumeration attempted• Weir proposed • Emerging technology! DIDSON

Sonar • Fisheries biologists proposed

to use Sonar to enumerate salmon abundance

Project Planning Steps1. Science in Wilderness Review2. Minimum Requirement Analysis3. Environmental Analysis4. Project implementation5. Removal and Remediation

Step 1. Science in Wilderness Review

• Benefits to Wilderness Stewardship – High

• Benefits to Science – Low• Impacts to the undeveloped

quality of Glacier Bay’s wilderness character.

Outcome:Proceed with MRA

Step 2: Minimum Requirement AnalysisIs Action Necessary in Wilderness?GLBA GMP• “Sport fishing will continue to be allowed subject to ADF&G and NPS regulations. Sport

harvest of any aquatic species threatened by excessive harvest pressure may be regulated in the future. However, the National Park Service will work closely with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for the establishment of such regulations. Stream surveys will be conducted by the Park Service or the Department of Fish and Game to ascertain their importance as spawning rivers.”

Does the action protect wilderness character?

YES

Step 2: Minimum Requirement AnalysisHow does counting fish protects wilderness character?

Without data, management recommendations cannot be made to preserve the following qualities of Glacier Bay’s Wilderness Character.• UNTRAMMELED• NATURAL• Opportunities for Solitude and PRIMITIVE AND UNCONFINED

RECREATION

Step 2: Minimum Requirement Analysis

What is the minimum activity?• Visual Enumeration• NO Action• DIDSON SONAR• WEIR

• The DIDSON is deemed the minimum activity

Alternative A No Action

Alternative B DIDSON Sonar

Alternative C Weir

Untrammeled -+ ++ --+ Undeveloped + - -

Natural +- +- -+ Solitude or Primitive

Recreation +- -+ -+

Unique components +- +- +- WILDERNESS CHARACTER ---/++++ --/++++ -----/+++

Step 3: Environmental Analysis

Step 4: Project Implementation

Step 5: Project ImplementationInstalled in 2011

ChallengesAccess• MRA and EA only provided for

non-motorized access• ANILCA allows public to use

motor boats on Alaska wilderness waters

• Internal discussions continue as to why we might limit our administrative access to non-motorized access

ChallengesGear and Material - closely related to access• 6+ tons of gear • 200-300 40# sand bags!

Authorization of motorized access for short duration may have reduced physical impacts and physical injury risk to personnel

ChallengesMaterial Sourcing• 200-300 40# sand bags!

Authorization of local fill would have eliminated the need to haul in sand

ChallengesHigh Flow Events and Erosion

ChallengesEquipment Failure

OutcomesCoho escapement estimates

Other gains:• Other species run timing• Contribution by coho jacks• Qualitative sense of returning coho

health (injuries)• Run strength and timing effects on

recreational fish effort and harvest success