Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan Overview, David Troutt

The Path Forward to Local Adaptation and Sustainability
Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan

Habitat
Hatcheries
Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan Hatcheries Harvest Hydropower Factors Affecting Decline

Factors affecting the biological status of Nisqually Chinook
Loss of critical habitat features.

Forestry

Development

Hydroelectric facilities historically caused dramatic changes in streamflow patterns .

Introduction of outside genetics from hatcheries, outplanting.

Decades of overfishing - fisheries not managed to
ensure natural production escapement until 2000.

Nisqually – resulting impacts on biological status of the stock
Probable extinction of wild native Nisqually Chinook genetics.
Current stock is not locally adapted, same genetics as hatchery stock.
Current habitat supports reduced productivity, capacity, and life history diversity.

Nisqually Chinook Recovery Plan released in August 2001
Submitted to the regional Puget Sound Chinook Endangered Species Recovery Plan in 2005
Adopted as official plan by the federal govt. in 2007
Using adaptive management process the plan is updated yearly and resubmitted to the region and federal science panel for review

Strategy for Success : Outlines a path to meet 15 year, 50 year and 100 year goals
Integrated Approach:
Habitat Action Plan
Hatchery Operation Guidelines
Harvest Management
4. Adaptive Management Strategy - plan is dynamic and flexible as new information is available, annual reports and meetings ensure continual reevaluation of the plan Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan

Clear, specific stock goals
Based on biological status of the stock.
Based on specific community goals.
Make a significant contribution to recovery of ESU.
Clear prioritization of goals when they might be in conflict.

Nisqually Goals – long term (next 100 years)
Assure natural production of fall Chinook in perpetuity by providing high quality functioning habitat and by promoting the development of locally adapted, functioning populations.
Assure sustainable harvest opportunities.
Provide significant contributions to ecosystem functions
Secure and enhance natural production of all salmonids
Assure the economic, cultural, and social benefits are perpetually sustained.

Priority Areas and Projects Estuary Restoration Mainstem Protection Ohop Restoration Mashel Restoration Hatchery Stray Reduction

Goals Estuary Restoration (Acres) Mainstem Protection (% Protected) Ohop Restoration (Miles) Mashel Restoration (Miles) Hatchery Stray Reduction (% Hatchery Origin Strays) 10

Hatchery Stray Reduction (% Hatchery Origin Strays) 10 10 Progress to Date Estuary Restoration (Acres) Mainstem Protection (% Protected) Ohop Restoration (Miles) Mashel Restoration (Miles) Goal Projected 900 1 5 Nisqually Priority Areas: Progress by end of 2011 2.5 0.5

Nisqually Estuary Restoration: Over 900 acres restored since 2002 Nisqually Estuary March 2010 Nisqually Estuary June 2009

Result of this work – 60% increase in fall Chinook potential

Since 2001 – colonization
Fully seed available habitat
Increase abundance and natural production

We are now ready and committed to moving away from colonization to local adaptation
Require changes to harvest management
Effective operation of a weir
Modification of hatchery program to support natural population

Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan Nisqually Fall Chinook Terminal Area Management Plan January 2011 Prepared by the Nisqually Chinook Recovery Team

Framework contains three key elements:
Clear, specific conservation and harvest goals
Monitoring and Evaluation program
Annual process to review, adapt, and implement

Conservation goals
Ensure natural production of fall Chinook by providing high quality habitat
Achieve a self-sustaining, locally adapted natural population

Harvest goals
Terminal Treaty net fishery: 10,000-15,000 annual Chinook harvest
Ensure a sustainable sport fishing opportunity targeting hatchery fish

Key Indicators
Habitat conditions
Abundance, distribution, and composition of escapement
Hatchery brood stock composition
Annual estimates of catch by all fisheries for hatchery and natural origin

Management Action Response
Key to success: timely inclusion of information
Annual audit of key assumptions
Guide decisions and plan activities for coming year

Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Review previous year’s performance
Update and review status & trend analysis
Update key assumptions from M&E results
Apply the decision rules to generate targets for upcoming season
Develop annual action plan for harvest, hatcheries, and habitat

Decision Rules
Harvest Management
Maintain high harvest rate on hatchery fish
Reduce terminal area harvest rates on natural fish, consistent with recovery
Manage all fisheries not to exceed recovery exploitation rate for natural fish
Hatchery Management
Modify hatchery program to support conservation
Escapement management
Utilize mainstem weir to manage escapement composition

2011 Action Plan – transition from colonization to local adaptation
Agree on actions for hatchery, harvest, habitat, and weir operations

This represents a commitment to:
Integration of Hs
Local adaptation
Contribution to the ESU
Transparency of decision making
Innovative approach to adaptive management

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Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan Overview, David Troutt

by Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission

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