The Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program and Non ... · The Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program and Non-Native Fish October 29, 2009. Northwest Power and Conservation Council

NorthwestPower andConservation

Council

The Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program

and Non-Native Fish

October 29, 2009


Councilslide 2

The Council’s Key Responsibilities Protect, mitigate and

enhance fish and wildlife affected by hydroelectric dams in the Columbia River

Assure an adequate, efficient, economical, and reliable power supply

Inform and involve the public

Columbia River


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Current Fish and Wildlife Program

2009 Program framework and basinwide provisions, includes the mainstem

2004-05 Subbasin Plans (57 plans)


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Independent Scientific Advisory Board

1996 - Jointly created by NOAA Fisheries and Council 2002 - Columbia River Basin Indian Tribes added as partners

Programmatic ReviewsState of Science Reviews


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Non-native Species Impacts on Native Salmonids in the Columbia River BasinNon-native Species Impacts on Native

Salmonids in the Columbia River BasinIncluding Recommendations for Evaluating the Use of

Non-native Species in Resident Fish Substitution Projects

Independent Scientific Advisory BoardISAB 2008-4July 15, 2008


Councilslide 6

Definitions to know

Non-native species (NNS)/Non indigenous species (NIS): species that are not native to an ecosystem– Examples: Bass, walleye, channel catfish, shad

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS): non-native species, whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental damage, directly or indirectly– Examples: Zebra and Quagga mussels,


Councilslide 7

Lower Columbia River Invasion Rates

B B B BB B BBB

BB

B

B

B

J

JJ

J J J

J J J

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1805 1855 1905 1955 2005

Num

ber o

f Spe

cies

Year of Discovery

green = fishes blue= invertebrates

• Fish

• High rate of introduction in 1800s, lower rate in 1900s

• Invertebrates

• New species every 5 years from 1880-1975

• New species every 5 months since 1995

-M. Systma


Councilslide 8

American shad

Bonneville Dam passage

0

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

5,000,000

1938 1948 1958 1968 1978 1988 1998 2008

Year

Am

eric

an s

had


Councilslide 9

Current Non-native Fish Species Distribution in the PNW

NNS make up 54%, 46%, and 60% of the resident fish species in WA, OR, and ID, respectively. (Sanderson et al survey).

Many of the subbasins in the CRB have from 20 to 38 species of non-native fishes.


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Role of Habitat Alteration in Facilitating Non-native Expansion

Hydrosystem development

Forestry practices Agricultural practices Urbanization

American Shad


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Habitat Alteration in the Columbia River Creates

Environmental Match for AIS

The Dalles Dam


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Biological Impacts and Risks to Native Salmonids

Predation Competition for food and habitat Food web alterations Interbreeding Disease transmission and parasites

Channel catfish


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Management actions

Eradication or reduction– Toxicants– Netting– Electrofishing

Barriers Targeted sport-angling

Walleye


Councilslide 14

Future Concerns

Climate change Human population growth and development

0500

1,0001,500

2,0002,500

3,0003,500

4,0004,500

1930

1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

2030

Thousands

ORWAIDBCMT

The latest climate model simulations show a +1 to +6 ºC warming for the PNW by 2100.

US and Canada censuses. State and regional district projections for 2010 and 2020


Councilslide 15

ISAB Recommendations

Exploratory Surveillance/Monitoring

Enforcement Prevention Fisheries

Management Habitat Restoration

Planning Education Research


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Councilslide 17

Non-native Fish in the F&W Program

Resident Fish Substitution – can utilize introduced species, artificial production can be used to sustain those species.

– compatible with the continued persistence of native resident fish species

– appropriate risk management


Councilslide 18

Risk management Risk Assessment

Risk assessment elements:

– interactions with other species in system – genetic effects– escape/dispersal– carrier of disease/parasites– monitoring for success or negative

consequences.


Councilslide 19

Program Example

Resident Fish Substitution Program:Kalispel Tribe Resident Fish Project

largemouth bass

brook trout


Councilslide 20

2008 FCRPS Biological Opinion RPA 44: Develop strategies

to reduce non-indigenous fish– recommendation for more

RM&E Adaptive Management

Implementation Plan– increased attention on

predation

RM&E under basin wide scrutiny


Councilslide 21

The future in the Columbia River

One size treatment does not fit all

Geographic difference: Lower River– May see changes to harvest regs, but long

term effectiveness is questionable– Some potential for removal in some areas– Need for research and evaluation


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The future, continued

Upper river/blocked areas: – Habitat too severely

altered to expect native species recovery in the near term

– Eradication unlikely, short term treatment

– Cultural & political issues very difficult to address Lake Trout


Councilslide 23

In the spotlight -

Quagga Mussels

Documents

The Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program and Non ... · The Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program and Non-Native Fish October 29, 2009. Northwest Power and Conservation Council