• Mike Faler - USFWS, Ahsahka, ID

• Glen Mendel - WDFW, Dayton, WA

Evaluate Bull Trout Movementsin the

Tucannon & Lower Snake Rivers

Background

• Occurrence of bull trout at the Snake River dams is only incidentally known

• Status of the Tucannon River population is considered healthy

• It’s unknown if the hydropower system limits Tucannon River bull trout in completion of their migratory behavior

Background

• Occurrence of bull trout at the Snake River dams is only incidentally known

• Status of the Tucannon River population is considered healthy

• It’s unknown if the hydropower system limits Tucannon River bull trout in completion of their migratory behavior

Background

• Occurrence of bull trout at the Snake River dams is only incidentally known

• Status of the Tucannon River population is considered healthy

• It’s unknown if the hydropower system limits Tucannon River bull trout in completion of their migratory behavior

Limiting Factors identified in the Subbasin Summaries

• Data gaps– Out-of-basin effects

migration corridor survival

– Fish passage

– Entrainment/Fall Back

– timing of bull trout usage & extent

Identified Needs(Mainstem Snake Subbasin)

• Determine passage requirements of bull trout at Lower Snake River dams

• Determine presence and use of bull trout in the mainstem Snake River

- distribution, timing, & usage at the dams and reservoirs

Identified Needs(Tucannon Subbasin)

• Full assessment of distribution, habitat use, life history…

• Expand monitoring and assessments to enhance understanding of bull trout…

Objectives

• Determine the spatial distribution, migration timing, and movements….

• Determine bull trout use and passage efficiency in fishways….

• Estimate frequency of bull trout fall back….

• Determine if bull trout losses result from FCRPS operation….

Objectives

• Determine the spatial distribution, migration timing, and movements….

• Determine bull trout use and passage efficiency in fishways….

• Estimate frequency of bull trout fall back….

• Determine if bull trout losses result from FCRPS operation….

Objectives

• Determine the spatial distribution, migration timing, and movements….

• Determine bull trout use and passage efficiency in fishways….

• Estimate frequency of bull trout fall back….

• Determine if bull trout losses result from FCRPS operation….

Objectives

• Determine the spatial distribution, migration timing, and movements….

• Determine bull trout use and passage efficiency in fishways….

• Estimate frequency of bull trout fall back….

• Determine if bull trout losses result from FCRPS operation….

Methods

• Collect bull trout each spring at the Tucannon Hatchery Weir

Methods

• Surgically implant 1 or 2 year radio tags in 15-40 bull trout at the Tucannon Hatchery

Methods

• Monitor movements with mobile receivers

Methods

• Track using fixed receivers, winter-spring, 2002-2005

Analysis

• Delineate distribution and migration timing

• Calculated passage rates

• Determine occurrence & frequency of fall back

• Determine % return back to the Tucannon River

• Determination of loss

Tucannon Hatchery Bull Trout Trapping Data 1998-2002

YearTotal

# BT

Capture

Dates

Ave.

Length

1998 82 4/1 - 8/29 396 mm

1999 40 5/20 - 7/12 449 mm

2000 41 4/17 - 8/29 437 mm

2002 134 5/17- 6/26 404 mm

0.00%

20.00%

40.00%

60.00%

80.00%

100.00%

4/1/

01

5/1/

01

6/1/

01

7/1/

01

8/1/

01

Date

Cu

mu

lati

ve

% o

f C

ap

ture

1998 n=821999 n=402000 n=41

Cumulative Capture at Tucannon Hatchery Weir

2002

Length Frequency of Bull Trout Captured at WDFW Tucannon Hatchery, 2002

(n=105)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

295 345 395 445 495 545

Length Categories (5 mm bins)

Ind

ivid

ual

Fre

qu

ency

Kilometers

0 3 6 9 -N-

Pataha Creek

Lo Mo Pool

Tucannon River

Little Tucannon River

Cummings Creek

Meadow/Panjab

Sheep Creek

Bear Creek

Tucannon Hatchery

Marengo

Fixed Telemetry Sites

Kilometers

0 3 6 9 -N-

Pataha Creek

Lo Mo Pool

Tucannon River

Little Tucannon River

Cummings Creek

Meadow/Panjab

Sheep Creek

Bear Creek

Tucannon Hatchery

Marengo

Spawning Distribution

Kilometers

0 3 6 9 -N-

Pataha Creek

Lo Mo Pool

Tucannon River

Little Tucannon River

Cummings Creek

Meadow/Panjab

Sheep Creek

Bear Creek

Tucannon Hatchery

Marengo

Current Distribution

Report Card

A+ Known distribution of migratory bull trout in the Tucannon River

Report Card I Known distribution of bull trout in the

Mainstem Snake River

Report Card

I Identified limiting factors in the FCRPS