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1994 Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program |
| Council document 94-55 | |
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7.3 Develop, Implement and Evaluate Supplementation Plans
7.3A Regional Assessment of Supplementation
The Regional Assessment of Supplementation Project was created in late 1990 to provide a comprehensive framework for supplementation--the practice of using carefully selected stocks of hatchery fish to ?reseed? streams. The project is being carried out by technical representatives from the fishery managers, utilities, Bonneville, the Council and others. One of its products will be a recommended planning process. This process will include setting supplementation objectives in terms of post-release survival, reproductive success, long-term fitness and ecological interactions; analyzing benefits and risks; and developing monitoring strategies to contain risk. This project was completed in December 1992.
Bonneville
7.3A.1 Continue to fund workshops to assist agencies and tribes in understanding and using the planning concepts and guidelines developed by the Regional Assessment of Supplementation Project, particularly as they can be applied to updating subbasin plans. Continue to support the updating of the guidelines and further development of the ecosystem diagnosis and treatment method.
7.3B Final Planning and Implementation of Proposed Additional High Priority Supplementation Projects
For some time, the Council has urged the National Marine Fisheries Service to develop a clear policy to guide the use of supplementation. The fishery managers and the Council have developed and extensively reviewed a list of high priority supplementation projects from an original list of 19 proposed projects. The National Marine Fisheries Service has agreed to review these proposals on a case-by-case basis. Final planning is required to complete the necessary elements of the high priority supplementation projects before implementation. These projects will represent the first use and test of the Regional Assessment of Supplementation Project's Planning Guidelines and the Supplementation Guidelines of the 1991 Integrated System Plan.
Fishery Managers
7.3B.1 Use the supplementation guidelines described in Chapter III.C of the 1991 Integrated System Plan and in Regional Assessment of Supplementation Project to prepare evaluations, biological risk assessments, and final plans for the high priority supplementation projects recommended by the fishery managers. Complete evaluations, biological risk assessments, and final plans by June 30, 1995.
7.3B.2 Absent Council disapproval of the final plans, implement the high priority supplementation projects including design, construction, operation, maintenance, monitoring and evaluation. Provide progress reports on the implementation of the projects.
National Marine Fisheries Service
7.3B.3 To facilitate appropriate coordination under the Endangered Species Act, the National Marine Fisheries Service should expeditiously review the high priority supplementation projects identified by the fishery managers and provide a clear schedule for completing its review and rendering a decision.
7.3B.4 Immediately complete analysis and provide Council with decision regarding policy for supplementation of weak Columbia River Basin salmon and steelhead populations. At the latest, provide policy by January 31, 1995.
Bonneville
7.3B.5 Fund the evaluation, biological risk assessment, and final planning of the high priority supplementation projects recommended by the fishery managers.
7.3B.6 Absent Council disapproval of the final plans, fund implementation of the supplementation projects including design, construction, operation, maintenance, monitoring and evaluation.
Hatchery Operators Not Funded by Bonneville
7.3B.7 Monitor and evaluate future and ongoing major supplementation activities to answer critical uncertainties. Use the Regional Assessment of Supplementation Project planning tools when planning new projects or reevaluating ongoing project objectives. Report to the Council on progress implementing this measure by June 1995.
Chelan County Public Utility District
7.3B.8 Upon approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Chelan County Public Utility District should fund design, construction, operation and maintenance of a hatchery program, including satellite facilities, for Rock Island Project in accordance with Section E ?Hatchery-Based Compensation? of the Settlement Agreement dated April 24, 1987, filed in the relicensing proceeding for Project No. 943 and Docket Nos. E-9569, et al.