The document discusses the Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan, which aims to restore the Nisqually Fall Chinook population through an integrated approach involving habitat restoration, hatchery management, harvest guidelines, and adaptive management. The plan establishes long term goals of ensuring natural production in perpetuity through high quality habitat and locally adapted populations, while also providing for sustainable harvests. Progress to date includes restoration of over 900 acres of estuary habitat, with a 60% increase in fall Chinook production. The framework outlines conservation and harvest goals, monitoring, and an annual process of review and adaptation to support the transition from colonizing habitat to developing a locally adapted natural population.

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

2. Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan

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

4. Factors affecting the biological status of Nisqually Chinook Loss of critical habitat features. Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan

5. Forestry

6. Development

8. Factors affecting the biological status of Nisqually Chinook Hydroelectric facilities historically caused dramatic changes in streamflow patterns . Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan

9. Factors affecting the biological status of Nisqually Chinook Introduction of outside genetics from hatcheries, outplanting. Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan

10. Factors affecting the biological status of Nisqually Chinook Decades of overfishing - fisheries not managed to ensure natural production escapement until 2000. Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan

11. 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 Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan

12. 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 Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan

13. 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

14. 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 Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan

15. 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. Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan

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

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

18. 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

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

25. Result of this work – 60% increase in fall Chinook potential Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan

26. Since 2001 – colonization Fully seed available habitat Increase abundance and natural production Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan

27. 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

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

29. Framework contains three key elements: Clear, specific conservation and harvest goals Monitoring and Evaluation program Annual process to review, adapt, and implement Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan

30. Conservation goals Ensure natural production of fall Chinook by providing high quality habitat Achieve a self-sustaining, locally adapted natural population Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan

31. Harvest goals Terminal Treaty net fishery: 10,000-15,000 annual Chinook harvest Ensure a sustainable sport fishing opportunity targeting hatchery fish Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan

32. 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 Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan

33. Management Action Response Key to success: timely inclusion of information Annual audit of key assumptions Guide decisions and plan activities for coming year Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan

34. 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 Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan

35. 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 Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan

36. 2011 Action Plan – transition from colonization to local adaptation Agree on actions for hatchery, harvest, habitat, and weir operations Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan

37. This represents a commitment to: Integration of Hs Local adaptation Contribution to the ESU Transparency of decision making Innovative approach to adaptive management Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan

38. Nisqually Fall Chinook Stock Management Plan