Central Valley Steelhead Distinct Population Segment
1. Stock name: CNFH steelhead (Coleman steelhead [USFWS]).
Hatchery/collection site: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Coleman National Fish Hatchery (CNFH) is located on Battle Creek, a tributary to the Sacramento River. There is a trap at the hatchery and broodstock is also taken at Keswick Dam, 432 km from the San Francisco Bay.
Broodstock origin and history
Year founded: Although operations at the hatchery began in 1942, steelhead were first released from here in 1948.
Source: The steelhead broodstock used at this hatchery are derived from Sacramento River stock(s) captured at the Keswick Dam trap on the Upper Sacramento River (USFWS 2001). Historically, most steelhead adults collected for CNFH broodstock have come from Battle Creek or the Upper Sacramento River. Propagation of steelhead at the CNFH was initiated in 1947, with the collection of natural-origin steelhead adults at the Keswick Dam fish trap. In 1953, hatchery-origin adults began to return to Battle Creek and steelhead broodstock were collected from Battle Creek for the first time. From 1954 through 1977, steelhead broodstock were collected at both Battle Creek and the fish trap at Keswick Dam. In 1978, steelhead broodstock were collected at the Red Bluff Diversion Dam. From 1979 through 1983, all steelhead broodstock fish were collected from Battle Creek. Steelhead broodstock was collected from the Keswick Dam fish trap most recently in 1984. Since then, all steelhead broodstock have been collected from Battle Creek. Throughout the history of the steelhead program at the CNFH, both natural and hatchery adults have been used as broodstock. Steelhead collected at the Keswick Dam fish trap are considered to be natural origin, whereas steelhead collected from Battle Creek are considered to be a mix of natural- and hatchery-origin adults. As noted above, steelhead broodstock fish at CNFH have been collected primarily from Battle Creek or the Upper Sacramento River. However, transfers of steelhead broodstock and eggs from other locations occurred approximately eight times throughout the 55-year propagation program history. These transfers included; Feather River Hatchery (1983 and 1989), Nimbus Hatchery (1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, and 1984), and Mad River Hatchery (1978). With the exception of 1979, the majority of fish released from the CNFH were the progeny of fish returning to the Upper Sacramento River. During 1979, 72% of the juveniles released were of Mad River Hatchery origin. Juvenile releases of Nimbus Hatchery origin (1973, 1975, 1976,1977, 1978, and 1985), and Feather River Hatchery origin (1984) constituted 17% (on average)of the total number of fish released in those years. In all other years, broodstock were derivedwholly from Upper Sacramento River collections. Kamloops trout (O. m. gairdneri) were rearedat CNFH in the past and released primarily in reservoirs. The exception were in 1958,1962, 1963, and 1964, when small numbers (approximately 2,000 to 90,000) were releaseddirectly into the Sacramento River.
Broodstock size/natural population size: Trapped steelhead averaged 1,836, and 400 femalesspawned during the 1990s broodyears. There are no population estimates for Battle Creek or theUpper Sacramento River naturally spawning populations, but steelhead are widespread andabundant (USFWS 2000). New information: In 1998, all California anadromous steelhead hatchery programs initiated mass marking of those programs, enabling CNFH management to distinguish hatchery from natural steelhead, beginning with the 2000/2001 season. CNFH monitors all salmon and steelhead entering the facility (September to March), trapped at the CNFH weir (March to May), and captured by video (May to August). Annual total numbers of natural steelhead are bypassed above CNFH and are estimated from years 2001through 2008: (2001) 255; (2002)593; (2003)534; (2004)304; (2005) 344, (2006) 438; (2007) 346; and (2008) 279 (USFWS Report 2010). Up to 40 natural steelhead may be taken each year for incorporation into the broodstock. Once spawned and recovered at the hatchery, they are not bypassed into the upper basin but instead, are released downstream of the facility.
Subsequent events: Although undocumented, it is believed that a selection of larger-sizedsteelhead for broodstock may have occurred during some years. This practice, which may havebeen common in California hatcheries, is believed to have occurred until the mid-1980s. Beginning in 1986, exclusive selection for larger than 544 mm steelhead broodstock wasinstituted to “breed out” characteristics believed to exist due to non-anadromy. This selectivebreeding for size was based on scale analysis (USFWS 1979). In the mid-1990s, research wasconducted that showed that 1) growth rates of steelhead shorts were greater than those typical ofresident rainbow trout in the Upper Sacramento River; 2) Coleman Hatchery-origin steelheadwere not smaller than steelhead populations prior to the hatchery; and 3) steelhead shorts wereidentified as anadromous through otolith micro-chemistry (USFWS 2001). Based on thisinformation, steelhead shorts have been reincorporated into Coleman broodstock since 1999.
Recent events: A 100% marking program for steelhead was instituted for broodyar 1998. All fish returning in 2002 will be identifiable. Beginning with spawning-season 2002-2003, Coleman NFH will follow a strategy of incorporating 10% natural spawners (40 out of 499) into the broodstock each year.
New Information: Exceptions to the CNFHspawning protocol of incorporation ofnatural steelhead intothe hatchery broodstock spawning matrix occurred in season 2001/2002 (CNFH sought NMFS agreement for the protocol), and seasons 2007/2008 and 2008/2009, when numbers of natural steelhead returns to Battle Creek were extremely low. In years of low returns, nonclipped steelhead returning to Battle Creek are not utilized as CNFH broodstock, but rather,all are bypassed into the upper basin as part of the Battle Creek Restoration Project. There has been a downward trend of steelhead returns, and specifically, natural steelhead, to Battle Creek in recent years.
Relationship to current natural population:
Current program goals: The current goals are to produce 600,000 smolts to 4/lb. for release inJanuary.
Population genetics: Genetic evidence indicates that CNFH samples, along withFeather River Hatchery samples, cluster with wild Sacramento River steelhead in Deer and Mill Creeks (NMFS 1998). The Coleman Hatchery stock was derived from adult steelhead collected from the upper Sacramento River in 1947, and steelhead from the upper Sacramento River were regularly incorporated as hatchery broodstock until 1984 (K. Niemela, USFWS Region 1, pers. comm.) (Nielsen et al. 2003). These upper Sacramento River basin populations did not show the recent population reductions experienced by the rest of the Central Valley steelhead, based on a bootstrap consensus derived from allelic variation at 11 microsatellite loci (Nielsen et al. 2003).
Morphology/behavior/fitness:
Previous determination: NMFS (1998b) determined that the CNFH stock was in theESU and that the stock may be essential for recovery. The 2004 evaluation of the stock concluded that CNFH should be part of the Central Valley steelhead DPS.
Recent Information: USFWS collects and archives tissue samples on all natural and hatchery steelhead entering the CNFH trap for genetic tagging studiesand possible estimation of migration rates of hatchery steelhead to geographically proximate basins (Garza and Pearse 2008). The most recently published genetic analysis (Garza and Pearse 2008) on Battle Creek O. mykiss is based on a population sample of 180 adult fish collected at the CNFH fish weir on Battle Creek. Genetic analysis confirms that Battle Creek O. mykiss continues to beclosely related to Deer and Butte creeks. Branches with bootstrap values (2000 replicate trees) showed CNFH steelhead closely linked to the upper Sacramento River O. mykiss, and then with O. mykiss in Battle Creek. The hatchery stock has maintained its genetic degree of relatedness to the CV steelhead DPS since the 2004 stock evaluation through incorporation of natural steelhead into its broodstock program. However, since 2001, only natural steelhead are bypassed above CNFH into the upper basin. These fish may be one or more generations removed from the hatchery stock, and over time, may genetically diverge from the hatchery stock to some degree. Due to the recent decrease in steelhead returns, USFWS may change its management strategy to minimize potential genetic bottleneck risks in the natural population.
Category and rationale: Category 2a. CNFH steelhead stock was founded from UpperSacramento River indigenous stock. Additionally, throughout the history of the steelheadprogram at the CNFH, both natural and hatchery adults have been used as broodstock.
Steelhead collected at the Keswick Dam trap are considered to be natural origin, whereas
steelhead collected from Battle Creek are considered to be a mixture of natural- and hatchery-originadults.
Category and rationale in 2010: Category 2a. Very little has changed on management of this stock during the past 5 years. USFWS has instituted more research on kelt migration, and repeat spawners may be utilized in the program. CNFH incorporates wild steelhead into the hatchery broodstock to maintain an integrated hatchery stock and the potential use of hatchery stock to build a natural steelhead run in a restored upper Battle Creek.
2. Stock name: Feather River Hatchery steelhead (Feather River Steelhead [CDFG]).
Hatchery/collection site: The Feather River Hatchery (FRH) is located on the Feather River in the town of Oroville, California, 247 km from the mouth of San Francisco Bay. There have been a number of earlier steelhead hatcheries in the Feather River Basin. They are higher in the watershed now, behind Oroville Dam. These hatcheries used a mixture of natural-origin and out-of-ESU stocks. The present Feather River Hatchery production mitigates the loss of naturally spawning steelhead resulting from the construction of Oroville Dam.
New information: The FRH currently continues to spawn only steelhead volitionally entering the facility via the fish ladder. The majority (>95%) are of hatchery stock-origin, and the remaining few are nonclipped (naturally spawned) steelhead, one or more generations removed from the hatchery stock. It appears that the FRH steelhead hatchery program is maintaining the steelhead population in the lower Feather River basin, although plans for creating
Broodstock origin and history
Year founded: The hatchery was first operational in 1967. The first releases were in 1968.
Source: Beginning in 1967, steelhead adults were trapped in the Feather River to establish the hatchery broodstock. In addition to the use of returning adults, a domesticated broodstock (founded from adults collected from the Feather River) was reared at the hatchery to provide additional fish for release. The Nimbus Hatchery winter-run steelhead stock was incubated and released from the Feather River Hatchery in considerable numbers during the late 1970s and early 1980s. According to Reynolds et al. (1993), Nimbus Hatchery steelhead (founded from Eel River fish) may have introgressed into the Feather River Hatchery broodstock.
Broodstock size/natural population size: Adult returns averaged 1,613 fish during the 1990 broodyears. This is a terminal hatchery; however, there does appear to be some natural spawning in the Lower Feather and Yuba Rivers (McEwan and Jackson 1996). Steelhead returns to the FRH since 2001: (2001) 1,433; (2002) 2,907; (2003) 1,505; (2004) 2,086; (2005) 937; (2006) 1,139; (2007) 668; (2008) 312; (2009) 86 (pers. comm., Ryon Kurth, DWR, 9/2010).
Subsequent events: During the late 1970s and early 1980s, summer-run steelhead eggs from Nimbus Hatchery (Skamania stock) were reared and released from the Feather River Hatchery. This program was discontinued due to low return rates (NMFS 1998). It is unknown how much introgression occurred between summer and winter (fall) runs.
Recent events: Starting in 1998, releases are 100% marked with an adipose clip. Fish are included into the broodstock in proportion to their returns to the hatchery.
Beginning with BY 2010, tissues are collected from all steelhead utilized as FRH broodstock, and will be sent to CDFG’s Central Valley Salmonid Tissue Archive for genetic tagging studies and possible estimation of migration rates of hatchery steelhead to geographically proximate basins analysis. The FRH steelhead Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan will include hatchery tissue collection as a standard monitoring protocol for genetic management of the stock.
Relationship to current natural population:
Current program goals: The hatchery goal is 450,000 yearlings raised to 4/lb. and released in January and February. These hatchery goals currently remain the same.
Population genetics: Allozyme genetic evidence indicates that Feather River Hatchery samples along with CNFH samples, cluster with wild Sacramento River steelhead in Deer and Mill Creeks (NMFS 1998). Nielsen et al. (2003) used 11 microsatellite loci to describe population structure for Central ValleyO. mykiss and found FRH steelhead were most closely linked genetically to Feather River steelhead, and grouped in the Upper Sacramento/Battle Creek-Coleman NFH/upper Clear Creek complex. Garza and Pearse (2008) used 18 microsatellite molecular markers to analyze Central Valley O. mykiss population structure, and found close linkage between the upper Feather River O. mykiss with the upper Yuba River O. mykiss (lower Feather River O. mykiss tissues were not provided for this genetic study).
Morphology/behavior/fitness:
Previous determination: NMFS (1998) determined that the Feather River Hatchery stock was in the ESU and that the stock may be essential for recovery.
Category and rationale: Category 2a. Although introduced broodstock was used during the initial stages, and molecular genetic data indicate a similarity to other Upper Sacramento stocks, the stock has probably incorporated few natural fish over many years.
New Information: Feather River Hatchery stock remains in the ESU. DWR’s intent is to increase the naturally-spawning population of Feather River steelhead, and incorporate more natural fish into the hatchery broodstock, or if possible, only spawn nonclipped steelhead for the FRH steelhead program (long-term goal). In the latter case, the use of this hatchery stock for recovery purposes would be prioritized.
Likely category and rationale in 2010: Category 2a. The only change in FRH management has been to release hatchery steelhead juveniles lower in the Feather River system, to ensure greater probability of outmigration. It is possible that straying of steelhead within the Central Valley has increased during the past 5 years, and becoming more genetically homogenous with the upper Sacramento tributary steelhead populations (O. mykiss below dams). Tissues are currently being collected by DWR biologists for analysis.
3. Stock name: Nimbus Hatchery steelhead (Eel River Steelhead [CDFG]).
Hatchery/collection site: The Nimbus Salmon and Steelhead Hatchery is located on the
American River in Rancho Cordova, California, 129 km from the mouth of San Francisco Bay. The trap is located at the hatchery.
Broodstock origin and history
Year founded: The hatchery began operation in 1955 as mitigation for the construction ofNimbus and Folsom dams. The first releases were not until 1960.
Source: From 1956-1962, an average of 230 winter-run fish entered the hatchery (January-April) each year. Due to the low return, additional eggs were acquired from the Van ArsdaleStation (Eel River). During the first 7 years of operation, approximately 168,700 yearling smoltswere released annually. Changes in rearing protocol resulted in higher returns to the hatcheryand higher production. In 1978, 1988, and 1989, eggs from the Mad River Hatchery (Eel Riverstock) were transferred to the Nimbus Hatchery. During the 1980s, eggs from CNFHwere also transferred to the Nimbus Hatchery (Cramer et al. 1995). Fish from the Warm SpringsHatchery have also been utilized. In 1983 and 1990, 100,000 and 235,000 eggs (respectively)from the Warm Springs Hatchery were incorporated into the Nimbus Hatchery release in the
American River. Run timing would indicate that the current Nimbus stock is Eel River derived(Cramer et al. 1995)—although a later arriving (and physically smaller) portion of the steelheadrun may represent native fish (McEwan and Nelson 1991).
Broodstock size/natural population size: Adult returns averaged 1,421 in the 1990s
broodyears. This is a terminal hatchery and there is very little spawning area between the
hatchery and the confluence of the American and Sacramento rivers. In the fall of 2008, the Bureau of Reclamation introduced its gravel enhancement program in the American River to increase salmonid spawning and rearing habitat. Up to 75,000 cubic yards of gravel will be added to the river at seven sites over a 5-year period. Side channel habitat will be created or restored at three sites. Monitoring of the steelhead population commenced in 2001, and the number of identified steelhead spawning sites had increased. The naturally-spawning American River steelhead population has been estimated to be approximately225 to 424 fish, based on an estimated male to female ratio of 1.4 to 1.0, and assuming one to two redds per female (Brian Deason, Bureau of Reclamation, 2004).