Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan for the Trinity River Hatchery
Central Valley Project – Trinity River Division, CA
Mid-Pacific Region
Contents
Page
General Program Description 9
Name of Hatchery 9
Species and Population (or Stock) Under Propagation, and Environmental Species Act (ESA) Status 9
Responsible Organization and Individuals 9
Funding Source, Staffing Level, and Annual Hatchery Program Operational Costs 10
Location(s) of Hatchery and Associated Facilities 11
Type of Program 11
Purpose (Goal) of Program 11
Justification for the Program 11
List of Program Performance Standards, Designated by Benefits and Risks 12
Performance Standards Addressing Benefits (prioritized in order of importance) 12
Performance Standards Addressing Risks (prioritized in order of importance) 12
List of Program Performance Standards and Applicable Performance Indicators, Designated by Benefits and Risks 12
Performance Standard B1: Fulfill mitigation goals for Coho salmon. 12
Performance Standard B2: Provide a predictable and stable opportunity for legally mandated Tribal harvest. 12
Performance Standard B3: Achieve within-hatchery performance standards. 13
Performance Standard B4: Genetic and life history diversity conservation. 13
Performance Standard B5: Restore and create viable natural spawning populations. 13
Performance Standard B6: Enhance local, state, Tribal, and National economies. 14
Performance Standard B7: Contribute carcasses to enhance ecosystem functioning. 14
Performance Standard R1: Unpredictable egg supply preventing hatchery production from maintaining commercial and Tribal fisheries and broodstock escapement. 14
Performance Standard R2: Will not achieve in-hatchery performance standards. 14
Performance Standard R3: Avoid disease transfer between hatchery and wild fish. 14
Performance Standard R4: Assess detrimental genetic effects among hatchery versus wild stocks where interactions exist. 15
Performance Standard R5: Evaluate habitat use and detrimental ecological interactions. 15
Performance Standard R6: Evaluate impact on life history traits of hatchery and wild fish from harvest and spawning escapement. 15
Performance Standard R7: Harvest management plan to protect weak populations where mixed population fisheries exit. 16
Performance Standard R8: Do not exceed the carrying capacity of fluvial, estuarine, or ocean habitats. 16
Performance Standard R9: Production costs outweigh program benefits. 17
Performance Standard R10: Cost-effectiveness of hatchery ranked lower than other actions in the region or subbasin. 17
Expected Size of Program 17
Proposed Annual Broodstock Collection Level (maximum number of adult fish) 17
Proposed Annual Fish Release Levels (maximum number) by Life Stage and Location 17
Current Program Performance, Including Estimated Smolt-to-Adult Survival Rates, Adult Production Levels, and Escapement Levels 18
Date Program Started (years in operation), or is Expected to Start 18
Expected Duration of Program 18
Watersheds Targeted by Program 19
Indicate Alternative Actions Considered for Attaining Program Goals and Reasons Why Those Actions are Not Being Proposed. 19
Program Effects on National Marine Fisheries Services Endangered Species Act-Listed Salmonid Populations 20
List all ESA permits or authorizations in hand for the hatchery program. 20
Provide descriptions, status, and projected take actions and levels for NMFS ESA-listed natural populations in the target area. 20
Description of NMFS ESA-listed salmonid population(s) affected by the program. 20
Status of NMFS ESA-listed salmonid population(s) affected by the program. 22
Describe hatchery activities, including associated monitoring and evaluation and research programs, which may lead to the take of NMFS-listed fish in the target area, and provide estimated annual levels of take (see Attachment 1 for definition of “take”). 24
Describe hatchery activities that may lead to the take of listed salmonid populations in the target area, including how, where, and when the takes may occur, the risk potential for their occurrence, and the likely effects of the take. 24
Provide information regarding past takes associated with the hatchery program (if known) including numbers taken and observed injury or mortality levels for listed fish. 24
Provide projected annual take levels for listed fish by life stage (juvenile and adult) quantified (to the extent feasible) by the type of take resulting from the hatchery program (capture, handling, tagging, injury, or lethal take). 25
Indicate contingency plans for addressing situations where take levels within a given year have exceeded, or are projected to exceed, take levels described in this plan for the program. 25
Relationship of Program to Other Management Objectives 26
Describe alignment of the hatchery program with any ESU-wide hatchery plan (Hood Canal Summer Chum Conservation Initiative) or other regionally accepted policies (the NPPC Annual Production Review Report and Recommendations - NPPC document 99-15). 26
List all existing cooperative agreements, memoranda of understanding, memoranda of agreement, or other management plans or court orders under which program operates. 26
The Pacific Fisheries Management Act 1976 26
Federal SONCC Coho Salmon Recovery Planning 26
California State Recovery Strategy for SONCC Coho 26
Trinity River Restoration Program 27
Five County Program 27
Memorandum of Agreement Between CDFG and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) 27
Coastal Salmonid Monitoring Plan 27
Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund 27
Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act 27
Relationship to harvest objectives. 28
Describe fisheries benefiting from the program, and indicate harvest levels and rates for program-origin fish for the last 12 years (1988-99), if available. 28
Relationship to habitat protection and recovery strategies. 28
Ecological interactions. Please review Addendum A before completing this section. If it is necessary to complete Addendum A, then limit this section to NMFS jurisdictional species. Otherwise complete this section as is. 28
Water Source 29
Provide a quantitative and narrative description of the water source (spring, well, surface), water quality profile, and natural limitations to production attributable to the water source. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Broodstock collection facilities including the fish ladder, fish trap, and adult circular holding tanks. 30
All of these three structures collectively use approximately 15 cfs. Of the 15 cfs, 5 cfs is used for the fish ladder and trap while 10 cfs is used for the circular holding tanks. 30
The hatchery building. 30
Concrete raceways. 30
Indicate risk aversion measures that will be applied to minimize the likelihood for the take of listed natural fish as a result of hatchery water withdrawal, screening, or effluent discharge. 30
Facilities 31
Broodstock collection facilities (or methods). 31
Fish transportation equipment (description of pen, tank truck, or container used). 31
Broodstock holding and spawning facilities. 31
Incubation facilities. 31
Rearing facilities. 31
Acclimation/release facilities. 31
Describe operational difficulties or disasters that led to significant fish mortality. 32
Indicate available back-up systems and risk aversion measures that will be applied that minimize the likelihood for the take of listed natural fish that may result from equipment failure, water loss, flooding, disease transmission, or other events that could lead to injury or mortality. 32
Broodstock Origin and Identity 33
Source. 33
Supporting information. 33
History. 33
Annual size. 33
Past and proposed level of natural fish in broodstock. 33
Genetic or ecological differences. 33
Reasons for choosing. 34
Indicate risk aversion measures that will be applied to minimize the likelihood for adverse genetic or ecological effects to listed natural fish that may occur as a result of broodstock selection practices. 34
Broodstock Collection 34
Life-history stage to be collected (adults, eggs, or juveniles) 34
Collection or sampling design. 35
Identity. 35
Program goal (assuming 1:1 sex ratio for adults) 35
Broodstock collection levels for the last 12 years, e.g., 1988-99, or for most recent years available: 35
Disposition of hatchery-origin fish collected in surplus of broodstock needs. 35
Fish transportation and holding methods. 35
Describe fish health maintenance and sanitation procedures applied. 35
Disposition of carcasses. 36
Indicate risk aversion measures that will be applied to minimize the likelihood for adverse genetic or ecological effects to listed natural fish resulting from the broodstock collection program. 36
Mating 36
Selection method. 36
Males. 36
Fertilization. 37
Cryopreserved gametes. 38
Indicate risk aversion measures that will be applied to minimize the likelihood for adverse genetic or ecological effects to listed natural fish resulting from the mating scheme. 38
Incubation and Rearing 38
Incubation. 38
Number of eggs taken and survival rates to eye-up and/or ponding. 38
Cause for, and disposition of, surplus egg takes. 39
Loading densities applied during incubation. 39
Incubation conditions. 39
Ponding. 39
Fish health maintenance and monitoring. 39
Indicate risk aversion measures that will be applied to minimize the likelihood for adverse genetic and ecological effects to listed fish during incubation. 40
Rearing 40
Provide survival rate data (average program performance) by hatchery life stage (fry to fingerling, fingerling to smolt) for the most recent 12 years (1995-2006), or for years dependable data are available. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Density and loading criteria (goals and actual levels). 40
Fish rearing conditions 40
Indicate biweekly or monthly fish growth information (average program performance), including length, weight, and condition factor data collected during rearing, if available. 40
Indicate monthly fish growth rate and energy reserve data (average program performance), if available. 41
Indicate food type used, daily application schedule, feeding rate range, e.g., Percent B.W./day and lb/gpm inflow), and estimates of total food conversion efficiency during rearing (average program performance). 41
Fish health monitoring, disease treatment, and sanitation procedures. 41
Smolt development indices, e.g., gill ATPase activity), if applicable. 41
Indicate the use of natural rearing methods as applied in the program. 42
Indicate risk aversion measures that will be applied to minimize the likelihood for adverse genetic and ecological effects to listed fish under propagation. 42
RELEASE 42
Proposed fish release levels. 42
Specific location(s) of proposed release(s). 42
Actual numbers, sizes, and dates of fish released by age class through the program. 42
Actual and description of release protocols. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Fish transportation procedures, if applicable. 43
Acclimation procedures (methods applied and length of time). 43
Marks applied and proportions of the total hatchery population marked, to identify hatchery adults. 43
Disposition plans for fish identified at the time of release as surplus to programmed or approved levels. 43
Fish health certification procedures applied prerelease. 43
Emergency release procedures in response to flooding or water system failure. 43
Indicate risk aversion measures that will be applied to minimize the likelihood for adverse genetic and ecological effects to listed fish resulting from fish releases. 44
Monitoring and Evaluation of Performance Indicators 44
Describe plans and methods proposed to collect data necessary to respond to each Performance Indicator identified for the program. 44
Table 23. Proposed monitoring and evaluation activities. Error! Bookmark not defined.
ACTIVITY 46
DESCRIPTION 46
SPECIES 46
STATUS 46
FUNDING STATUS 46
ENTITY OR 46
POTENTIAL 46
COHO 46
STEELHEAD 46
CHINOOK 46
Indicate risk aversion measures that will be applied to minimize the likelihood for adverse genetic and ecological effects to listed fish resulting from monitoring and evaluation activities. Error! Bookmark not defined.
RESEARCH Error! Bookmark not defined.
Objective or purpose. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Cooperating and funding agencies. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Principle investigator or project supervisor and staff. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Status of stock, particularly the group affected by project, if different than the stock(s) described in Section 2. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Techniques: Include capture methods, drugs, samples collected, tags applied. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Dates or time period in which research activity occurs. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Care and maintenance of live fish or eggs, holding duration, transport methods. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Expected type and effects of take and potential for injury or mortality. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Level of take of listed fish: number or range of fish handled, injured, or killed by sex, age, or size, if not already indicated in Section 2 and the attached “take table” (Table 1). Error! Bookmark not defined.
Alternative methods to achieve project objectives. Error! Bookmark not defined.
List species similar or related to the threatened species; provide number and causes of mortality related to this research project. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Indicate risk aversion measures that will be applied to minimize the likelihood for adverse ecological effects, injury, or mortality to listed fish as a result of the proposed research activities. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Attachments and Citations 53
Certification Language and Signature of Responsible Party 57
Attachment 1. Definition of terms referenced in the HGMP template. 61
Attachment 2. Age class designations by fish size and species for salmonids released from hatchery facilities. Generally from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, November 1999). 64
List of Tables
Table 1. Trinity River Hatchery salmon and steelhead production goals. 17
Table 2. Survival rates at different life stages for TRH produced coho salmon for brood years 1994-2004. 18
Table 3. Lower Trinity River estimates of juvenile coho abundance. Data provided by USFWS and YTFP downstream migrant monitoring at the Willow Creek rotary screw-trap. 23
Table 4. Estimates of coho spawner escapement to natural areas. Data provided by CDFG. 23
Table 5. Number of coho salmon returns to Trinity River Hatchery by sex, age, and eggs harvested from BY 1993 through 2004. Data provided by CDFG. 25
Table 6. Number of coho salmon caught in the Lower Klamath River by Yurok Tribal Fisheries. 28
Table 7. Number of eggs taken and survival rates to eye-up at the Trinity River Hatchery. Data provided by CDFG. 38
Table 8. Coho salmon weight counts by month for BY 2004. Data provided by CDFG. 40
Table 9. Actual dates, number, and average size of coho salmon releases from the Trinity River Hatchery for BY 1994 to BY 2004. Data provided by CDFG. 42
Table 10. Monitoring activities associated with the monitoring and evaluation of performance indicators. 44
Table 11. Description and current status of proposed monitoring activities. 46
General Program Description
Name of Hatchery
Trinity River Hatchery (TRH).
Species and Population (or Stock) Under Propagation, and Environmental Species Act (ESA) Status
Trinity River coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) are included in the Southern Oregon/Northern California Coasts (SONCC) Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU). On May 6, 1997, the Federal Register (62 FR 24588) declared a threatened status for coho salmon in the SONCC. On June 28, 2005, the Federal Register (70 FR 79202) promulgated final listing determinations and 4(d) protective regulations, which included Trinity River Hatchery (TRH) coho salmon as a part of the SONCC, as well as amended 4(d) protective regulations to provide for management of artificial propagation programs and consistency with the conservation needs of the ESA-listed SONCC ESU.
The California Fish and Game Commission listed coho salmon as a threatened species pursuant to the California Endangered Species Act within the California portion of the SONCC on March 30, 2005.
Responsible Organization and Individuals
Hatchery and provider of operation and maintenance funding:
Name (and title): James De Staso, Fish Biologist
Agency or Tribe: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Address: Northern California Area Office
16349 Shasta Dam Blvd.
Shasta Lake, CA 96019
Telephone: 530-276-2046
Fax: 530-275-2441
E-mail:
Party responsible for operation and maintenance (O/M) of hatchery: