Summary Description: Identify the seasonal distribution and life history characteristics of bull trout and redband trout in the Malheur River Basin through the use of radio telemetry, PIT tags, genetic sampling, spawning surveys, and habitat surveys.

Background: Past land use practices and construction of hydroelectric facilities have degraded the North Fork Malheur River to the point where survival of the remaining native salmonids are severely threatened. The goal of this project is to gain an understanding of the life history of bull trout and redband trout in the Malheur River Basin and to apply this knowledge to better the management and conditions of the ecosystem that these fish depend on. Little information is available concerning their population, seasonal migration and distribution, and movements throughout the basin. What information there is indicates that management and land practice need to be revised in order to preserve the persistence of these species.

Milestones: Accomplishments 1998: Identified bull trout entrainment over Beulah Reservoir. Identified a larger distribution range of spawning bull trout throughout the North Fork Malheur River tributaries. Documented 1 year of bull trout seasonal migration from Beulah Reservoir to the headwater streams. Monitored use of Beulah Reservoir prior to migration. Gathered genetic samples of radio tagged bull trout. Spawning surveys on all North Fork tributaries. Documented entire seasonal migration patterns of all radio tagged bull trout. Gathered infrared thermal imaging data for the NorthFork River

Results: None identified.

Publications:

Publication Title	Report Type	Coverage Years	Published	Pages	DOE/BP Number
Evaluation of the Life History of Native Salmonids in the Malheur River Basin Cooperative Bull Trout/Redband Trout Research Project	Annual	1999 - 2000	Nov 2000		00006313-1 R 168

Project Classification Keys:
Primary: All projects in the Resident Fish Program
Secondary: Research, evaluation, and studies
Tertiary: Primarily studies of either whole life cycles or several phaseses thereof

Work Sites

Site/Subsite Names	Site Type	Types of Work Performed
/
No work site classification available

Project Budget and Obligation:

Fiscal Year	Initially Authorized	Latest Authorized	Authorized Change	Obligation In Process	Bonneville Overhead	Contracted Obligation	Contracted Agent
No budget or expense information available
Totals:	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	.