Contact
About

Integrating energy and the environment in the Columbia River Basin

About the Council
Mission and Strategy Members and Staff Bylaws Policies Careers / RFPs
News

See what the Council is up to.

Read the Latest News
Read All News Press Resources Newsletters International Columbia River

Explore News By Topic

Fish and Wildlife Planning Salmon and Steelhead Wildlife Energy Planning Energy Efficiency Demand Response
Fish and Wildlife

The Council works to protect and enhance fish and wildlife in the Columbia River Basin. Its Fish & Wildlife Program guides project funding by the Bonneville Power Administration.

Fish and Wildlife Overview

The Fish and Wildlife Program

2020 Addendum 2014/2020 Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program Subbasin Plans Project Reviews and Recommendations

Independent Review Groups

  • Independent Economic Analysis Board (IEAB)
  • Independent Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB)
  • Independent Scientific Review Panel (ISRP)

Forums and Workgroups

  • Asset Management Subcommittee
  • Ocean and Plume Science and Management Forum
  • Regional Coordination
  • Science and Policy Exchange
  • Toxics Workgroup
  • Columbia Basin Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Workgroup
  • Informal Hatchery Workgroup
  • Strategy Performance Indicator Workgroup

Topics

  • Adaptive Management
  • Anadromous Fish Mitigation
  • Blocked Areas
  • High-level Indicators
  • Invasive and Non-Native Species
  • Lamprey
  • Predation: Sea lions, pike, birds
  • Protected Areas
  • Research Plan
  • Resident Fish
  • Resource Tools and Maps
  • Sockeye
  • Sturgeon
  • Hatchery Map
Energy

The Council develops a plan, updated every five years, to ensure the region’s power supply and acquire cost-effective energy efficiency.

Energy Overview

The Northwest Power Plan

The 2021 Northwest Power Plan 2021 Plan Supporting Materials Planning Process and Past Power Plans

Technical Tools and Models

  • Regional Portfolio Model
  • Generation Evaluation System Model (GENESYS)

Energy Advisory Committees

  • Regional Technical Forum
  • Conservation Resources Advisory Committee
  • Demand Forecast Advisory Committee
  • Demand Response Advisory Committee
  • Generating Resources Advisory Committee
  • Natural Gas Advisory Committee
  • Resource Adequacy Advisory Committee
  • System Analysis Advisory Committee
  • RTF Policy Advisory Committee
  • System Integration Forum
  • Resource Strategies Advisory Committee (Not Active)

Energy Topics

  • Energy Efficiency
  • Demand Response
  • Power Supply
  • Resource Adequacy
  • Energy Storage
  • Hydropower
  • Transmission

Energy Forums and Workgroups

  • Pacific NW Demand Response Project
  • Northwest Wind Integration Forum (Archive)
Meetings
See next F&W and Power Committee Meetings and Council Meeting July 06 - 07, 2022 in Webinar › See all meetings ›

Recent and Upcoming Meetings

Swipe left or right
AUG 2021
MON
23
1:00 pm—2:30 pm
Council Meeting Webinar to Discuss the Draft 2021 Power Plan and Decision to Release for Public Review and Comment
AUG 2021
TUE
31
9:00 am—2:45 pm
RTF Meeting
SEP 2021
MON
13
9:00 am—12:00 pm
Strategy Performance Indicator Workgroup
SEP 2021
TUE WED
14 - 15
Council Meeting
SEP 2021
TUE
21
10:00 am—11:00 am
Informal Hatchery Workgroup Meeting
SEP 2021
TUE WED
21 - 22
RTF Meeting
SEP 2021
MON
27
Power Plan Public Hearing Hosted by Montana
SEP 2021
WED
29
9:00 am—11:30 am
RTF Policy Advisory Committee Meeting
OCT 2021
THU
07
Power Plan Public Hearing Hosted by Washington
OCT 2021
TUE
12
Power Plan Public Hearing Hosted by Oregon
OCT 2021
TUE WED
12 - 13
Council Meeting
OCT 2021
THU
14
Power Plan Public Hearing Hosted by Idaho
OCT 2021
TUE
19
9:30 am—3:00 pm
RTF Meeting
NOV 2021
TUE
09
9:00 am—1:00 pm
RTF Meeting
NOV 2021
TUE WED
16 - 17
Council Meeting
NOV 2021
TUE
30
1:00 pm—3:00 pm
RTF Policy Advisory Committee Meeting
DEC 2021
TUE WED
07 - 08
RTF Meeting
DEC 2021
MON
13
9:00 am—11:00 am
Strategy Performance Indicator Workgroup
DEC 2021
TUE WED
14 - 15
Council Meeting
JAN 2022
TUE WED
11 - 12
Council Meeting
JAN 2022
WED
19
1:00 pm—5:00 pm
Ocean and Plume Science and Management Forum
JAN 2022
TUE
25
9:00 am—12:00 pm
RTF New Member Orientation: January 25, 2022
JAN 2022
WED
26
9:00 am—1:00 pm
RTF Meeting
JAN 2022
FRI
28
8:30 am—11:30 am
Power Committee Meeting
FEB 2022
MON
14
9:00 am—10:30 am
Informal Hatchery Workgroup Meeting
FEB 2022
TUE WED
15 - 16
Council Meeting
FEB 2022
WED
23
9:00 am—2:30 pm
RTF Meeting
MAR 2022
WED
02
9:30 am—3:00 pm
System Integration Forum: Scope of Work on Potential Lower Snake River Dam Analysis
MAR 2022
TUE
08
1:30 pm—2:30 pm
Public Affairs Committee Meeting
MAR 2022
MON TUE
14 - 15
Council Meeting
MAR 2022
FRI
18
9:00 am—11:00 am
Fish and Wildlife Committee Meeting
MAR 2022
TUE WED
22 - 23
RTF Meeting
MAR 2022
WED
30
9:30 am—12:00 pm
RTF Policy Advisory Committee Q1 Meeting
APR 2022
TUE WED
12 - 13
Council Meeting
APR 2022
TUE WED
19 - 20
RTF Meeting
MAY 2022
TUE WED
10 - 11
F&W and Power Committee Meetings
MAY 2022
WED
18
Council Meeting
MAY 2022
TUE
24
9:00 am—2:30 pm
RTF Meeting
JUN 2022
WED
08
1:00 pm—3:30 pm
System Analysis Advisory Committee
9:30 am—11:30 am
RTF Policy Advisory Committee Q2 Meeting
JUN 2022
TUE WED
14 - 15
Council Meeting
JUN 2022
WED
22
9:00 am—2:00 pm
RTF Meeting
JUL 2022
WED THU
06 - 07
F&W and Power Committee Meetings and Council Meeting
JUL 2022
FRI
08
9:00 am—10:30 am
Resource Adequacy Adv Comm - Steering Committee
JUL 2022
TUE WED
12 - 13
Council Meeting
JUL 2022
TUE WED
19 - 20
RTF Meeting
AUG 2022
TUE
09
9:00 am—4:00 pm
RTF Meeting
AUG 2022
TUE WED
16 - 17
Council Meeting
SEP 2022
TUE WED
13 - 14
Council Meeting
SEP 2022
TUE WED
20 - 21
RTF Meeting
SEP 2022
WED
28
9:00 am—12:00 pm
RTF Policy Advisory Committee Q3 Meeting
OCT 2022
TUE WED
04 - 05
F&W and Power Committee Meetings
OCT 2022
TUE WED
11 - 12
Council Meeting
OCT 2022
TUE WED
18 - 19
RTF Meeting
NOV 2022
TUE
08
9:00 am—4:00 pm
RTF Meeting
NOV 2022
TUE WED
15 - 16
Council Meeting
NOV 2022
WED
30
9:00 am—12:00 pm
RTF Policy Advisory Committee Q4 Meeting
DEC 2022
TUE WED
06 - 07
RTF Meeting
DEC 2022
TUE WED
13 - 14
Council Meeting
View Council Meetings View All Meetings
Reports and Documents

Browse reports and documents relevant to the Council's work on fish and wildlife and energy planning, as well as administrative reports.

Browse Reports

REPORTS BY TOPIC

Power Plan Fish and Wildlife Program Subbasin Plans Financial Reports Independent Scientific Advisory Board Independent Scientific Review Panel Independent Economic Analysis Board

COLUMBIA RIVER HISTORY PROJECT

Summary Review of the Lower Snake River Compensation Plan 2011-2014

Council Document Number: 
ISRP 2014-6
Published date: 
June 18, 2014
Document state: 
Published

Share

See the ISRP's July 8, 2014 presentation to the Council >

This report summarizes the Independent Scientific Review Panel’s (ISRP) review of the Lower Snake River Compensation Plan’s (LSRCP) three hatchery programs. The ISRP completed a review of the spring Chinook program in 2011 (ISRP 2011-14), the steelhead program in 2013 (ISRP 2013-3), and the fall Chinook program in 2014 (ISRP 2014-4). The reviews were requested by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Scientific foundation: The ISRP found that the LSRCP’s hatchery programs for steelhead and spring and fall Chinook salmon are largely consistent with the scientific foundation, artificial production strategy, and artificial production principles contained in the Council’s Fish and Wildlife Program. Each hatchery program has objectives, including targets for broodstock abundance, egg-to-smolt survival rates, smolt size-at-release, and contributions to fisheries and, in the case of supplementation programs, to natural spawning populations. Adequate monitoring and evaluation programs are in place to ascertain if these objectives and outcomes are realized. Data produced from project experiments are being used to refine how fish are reared, released, and identified. Interactions between hatchery and wild fish are being examined, and methods used to estimate the survival and contribution of project fish to fisheries and natural spawning populations are being employed and refined. Data gaps have been identified, and program activities designed to address these issues are either underway or planned in the future. The hatchery programs have provided substantial fish and wildlife benefits. These have ranged from preventing extinction of natural populations via supplementation and captive broodstock programs to providing valuable recreational and commercial fishery opportunities. Materials presented at symposiums and associated reports covering LSRCP activities demonstrated that the cooperators are dedicated, innovative, and collaborative. The ISRP compliments them for their fine technical performance. 

In-hatchery performance standards for broodstock abundance, pre-spawning survival of broodstock, egg-to-smolt survival, and numbers of released smolts were established for many of the LSRCP hatcheries. Currently, adequate numbers of broodstock are being collected, and mortality prior to spawning has been low. While under artificial culture, fish will experience some mortality during incubation and rearing. Since 1995, egg-to-smolt survival rates in hatcheries have averaged 84% for steelhead and 70 to 80% in Chinook. These high survival rates are indicative of well-run hatchery programs. Goals for smolt size at release have been set, and with some exceptions, the hatchery programs have met these objectives. Each hatchery is programmed to release a fixed number of smolts. Over the past decade, LSRCP hatcheries for spring Chinook, steelhead, and fall Chinook reached their juvenile release goals 36%, 60%, and 70% of the time, respectively. Failure to reach release goals occurred for a variety of reasons, including the desire for reduced rearing densities and greater size at release. In a few instances, water shortages and scarcity of broodstock also limited fish production. 

Post-release performance of hatchery fish was evaluated by examining survival of smolts from release to Lower Granite Dam, calculating smolt-to-adult survival prior to removal from fisheries (SAS) and smolt-to-adult return (SAR) to Lower Granite Dam. Additionally, the number of recruits produced per fish spawned (R/S) was estimated along with harvest numbers and frequency of straying. The survival of smolts to Lower Granite Dam varied from one year to the next but typically ranged from 60 to 70%. Standards for SAS and SAR rates were established for the steelhead and Chinook hatchery programs. Considerable annual variation in SAS and SAR values was observed. Substantial differences in these values occurred among hatcheries rearing the same type of fish; however, they tended to increase or decrease in a synchronous fashion. Consequently, survival of smolts to the adult stage appears to be shaped by conditions the fish experience in the mainstem and ocean. To be self-sustaining, a hatchery needs on average to consistently achieve R/S values that are equal to or greater than 1, and this has been accomplished by all the hatcheries in LSRCP program. One of the primary objectives of the LSRCP was to restore fisheries in areas below and above the project area. Harvest goals for the ocean and mainstem Columbia River originally envisioned for the LSRCP have never been reached. Lower than expected SAS values and the need to constrain fisheries to protect Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed species are largely responsible. Nevertheless, the hatchery programs have significantly increased the total abundance of spring and fall Chinook and steelhead, and thus the program has contributed to important commercial and recreational fisheries.

Potential demographic, ecological, and genetic impacts of the hatchery programs were assessed. Chinook reared in hatcheries produced more early maturing males and fewer older maturing fish than wild counterparts. Age data were collected over time on hatchery and natural populations of spring Chinook, and no identifiable trend toward an increasing number of younger fish was detected in either group. This result suggests that changes in age observed in hatchery populations were mainly caused by environmental conditions the fish experienced during artificial culture. Nevertheless, naturally spawning hatchery fish influence the age structure of natural populations because they currently represent a high proportion of natural spawners. The ISRP encourages LSRCP cooperators to continue to test and evaluate changes in age structure, including genetic linkages, and its effect on productivity. The migration timing of adult hatchery and natural-origin salmon and steelhead was examined and found to differ in some projects.

New research is examining the spawning distribution of hatchery and natural-origin fish in streams; some hatchery fish formed spawning aggregations adjacent to release locations. Straying of hatchery fish was evaluated annually, and it varied by year and species. In a few cases, straying percentages for project steelhead to out-of-basin watersheds exceeded 20%. After this degree of straying was identified, the LSRCP implemented a number of strategies, including the use of endemic broodstocks and the wide-scale use of acclimation ponds, which reduced the incidence of straying. However, transport of juveniles in barges around the dams remains a key factor contributing to the straying of steelhead. Potential interactions between juvenile hatchery and wild fish were considered and some protocols have been implemented to minimize disease transmission and the possible occurrence of competitive and predaceous interactions.

The effects of supplementation on adult abundance and productivity of natural populations are also being investigated. Results of these studies have been mixed. Spring Chinook supplementation programs have increased the total abundance of spawners in their rivers (hatchery plus wild) but have not produced an increase in natural-origin adults. Fall Chinook supplementation has likely contributed to the recent increases in natural-origin fish abundance in the Snake River Basin, but the productivity of the natural-spawning population remains very low. Clear evidence for density dependence has been observed in supplemented populations, especially in spring Chinook, and this ecological response may inhibit desired increases in abundance and productivity. In fall Chinook, there has been a marked increase in natural-origin fish, and it is reasonable to believe that a number of these represent the progeny of naturally spawning hatchery fish. For logistical reasons, assessing the role of supplementation versus improvements in survival and harvest reductions is not complete. Additional research is needed to understand how genetic and environmental factors, including habitat restoration, affect the consequences of supplementation on natural populations. The LSRCP’s supplementation programs offer important opportunities for such work.

Monitoring and evaluation programs established by the LSRCP have allowed its three hatchery programs to make informed changes to hatchery infrastructure, broodstock sources and collection locations, mating protocols, and rearing and release procedures. Ongoing refinements to run reconstruction procedures are helping to quantify harvest numbers and to estimate natural escapements of project fish. Parentage based tagging will be used in the future to identify all the hatchery steelhead and spring and fall Chinook produced by the LSRCP. Accurate identification of hatchery origin fish will allow additional refinements to 1) the contribution rates of hatchery and natural origin fish to harvests and spawning escapements and 2) estimates of natural origin productivity and abundance.

After Snake River spring and fall Chinook and steelhead were listed by the ESA, the LSRCP recognized the need to assist in the recovery of these species in addition to meeting original program objectives. The ISRP encourages the LSRCP to continue collaborative efforts with ESA recovery planning while also providing the harvest opportunities originally sought by the LSRCP. Overall, the hatchery component of the LSRCP is scientifically sound. It has established goals, quantitative targets, and objectives for research, monitoring, and evaluation. Finally, as indicated above, it has demonstrated the ability to be managed adaptively as new challenges develop.



Topics: 
Fish and wildlife
Tags: 
SteelheadSpring ChinookFall ChinookLower Snake River Compensation PlanISRP

ISRP 2021-05 LibbyMFWPfollow-up1June.pdf

Download the full report

Sign up for our newsletter

  •    

Contact

  • Central Office
  • Idaho Office
  • Montana Office
  • Oregon Office
  • Washington Office
  • Council Members

Social Media:

Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Vimeo Flickr

Copyright 2022

Privacy policy Terms & Conditions Inclusion Statement