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Fish and Wildlife Project Summary

Project 199800200

SNAKE RIVER NATIVE SALMONID ASSESSMENT


Location: SNAKE RIVER BASIN basin, including sites listed below.
SNAKE RIVER BASIN.

Summary Description: Investigate the life histories, habitat needs, stock status, population trends, threats and limiting factors of native salmonids (bull trout, redband trout, cutthroat trout, and whitefish) in the Snake River and tributaries in Idaho abv Hells Canyon Dam.

Background: Since the construction of Swan Falls Dam in 1901, the upper Snake River basin has been heavily impacted by hydroelectric development. Currently there are approximately 92 hydroprojects and countless irrigation diversions making use of Snake River water in the Idaho portion of the basin. These activities have had significant impacts on native salmonids. Anadromous salmon and steelhead that used to inhabit the Snake River and its tributaries below Shoshone Falls have been extirpated by dam construction and hydroelectric operations. Bull trout, redband trout, and Yellowstone cutthroat trout distribution, habitat, and populations have been reduced in much of their historic range. Despite the sensitive status of these salmonids, quantified data on the current distribution, trends, habitat, life history needs, limiting factors, extent of genetic introgresstion, and threats to persistence of native salmonids in the upper Snake River basin is minimal for most populations.

Milestones: Contract 1998BI01462 for $145,641 was issued in 1998. Mod 1 added $42,519 in 1998. Mod 2 was a no cost time extension in 1999. Determine the current population status and trends in native salmonid populations in the Snake River and tributaries in Idaho above Hells Canyon Dam. Accomplishments 1998: Conducted basin-wide population surveys of bull trout and other aquatic species in the headwaters of the North Fork Payette and upper Weiser River drainages. Conducted bull trout spawning surveys in selected portions of the Boise River drainage in an effort to identify critical spawning habitat and establish a baseline for future trend monitoring. Coordinated with other ongoing projects and entities to avoid duplicating data collection and to assist in prioritizing field work. Began construction of Native Fish Database.

Results: None identified.

Publications:
Publication Title Report Type Coverage Years Published Pages DOE/BP Number
Assessment of Native Salmonids above Hells Canyon Dam, Idaho Annual 2001 - 2001 Nov 2002 00004261-1
R 200
Assessment of Native Salmonids Above Hells Canyon Dam, Idaho Annual 1998 - 1998 Mar 1999 01462-1
R 140

Project Classification Keys:
Primary: All projects in the Anadromous 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
SNAKE RIVER BASIN/UPPERBasin (i.e. whole watersheds)Survey, study, research, monitor, evaluate

Project Budget and Obligation:
Fiscal
Year
Initially
Authorized
Latest
Authorized
Authorized
Change
Obligation
In Process
Bonneville
Overhead
Contracted
Obligation
Contracted
Agent
1998 $200,000 $188,160 $-11,840 $0 $0 $42,519 IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME
1998 $0 $0 $145,641 IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME
Totals: $200,000 $188,160 $-11,840 $0 $0 $188,160 .


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