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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHMP for MEP2007-00009 - HMP Habitat Managment Plan - 3/2/2007 �g0N C06, MASON COUNTY � Tp Shelton (360) 427-9670 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Belfair (360) 275-4467 Planning _ Mason County Bldg. 1 411 N.5th Elma (360) 482-5269 P.O.Box 279 Shelton,WA 98584 1854 February 5, 2007 Skokomish Indian Tribal Center ATTN: Marty Ereth N 80 Tribal Center Road Shelton, WA 98584 RE: Mason Environmental Permit (MEP) for the installation of Rotary Screw Traps in the Skokomish, Dewatto and Tahuya Rivers. Dear Marty: The enclosed Habitat Management Plan (HMP) has been provided by NOAA Fisheries (Skokomish River), Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (Dewatto and Tahuya Rivers), and the Skokomish Tribe (Skokomish River), who are applying for a MEP. The Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas chapter of the Resource Ordinance requires that the MEP be accompanied by a Habitat Management Plan. The proposed activity is the installation of Rotary Screw Traps in order to quantify the number of out-migrating steelhead smolts and juvenile salmonids to monitor and evaluate the effects of the supplementation project. Pursuant to Section 17.0 1 .11 O.J, the Resource Ordinance provides for comment opportunity for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the SquaxinTribe. Please review the enclosed HMP and let me know if you have comments, question, or concerns about this plan. I can adopt your comments as conditions into any approval that the County may grant. I have included my e-mail address if you find this method of correspondence more convenient. Our ordinance allows for a 28-day comment period. Closing date for comments is March 6, 2007. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. r Sincerely, Jamjyu'-. O-c-,Jt Tammi Clark, Planner Mason County Department of Community Development (360) 427-9670 x295 tammic@co.mason.wa.us Enclosures: (1) Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application (JARPA) (1) Habitat Management Plan (HMP (3) Mason Environmental Permit Applications (MEP) (1) Mason County Environmental Review Checklist (SEPA) Habitat Management Plan Rotary Screw Trap Installation and Operation in the Skokomish,Dewatto, and Tahuya Rivers Key component of a Steelhead Supplementation Study implemented by NOAA Fisheries, along with collaborators: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife,US Fish and Wildlife Service, Skokomish Tribe,Long Live the Kings, and the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group Introduction: Salmon and steelhead hatcheries in the Pacific Northwest primarily provide fish for harvest. In the past decade, hatcheries have developed new programs (termed `supplementation programs') with different goals: to aid in the conservation and rebuilding of depleted natural populations. Results of a small-scale supplementation project in the Hamma Hamma River suggest that the strategy of collecting natural-origin embryos and rearing them for release at two different life-history stages (smolt and adult) has substantially increased the number of redds constructed in the Hamma Hamma River. This approach contrasts markedly with hatchery programs commonly implemented in the past,which released large numbers of out-of-basin fish in Pacific NW rivers,with many negative consequences. Though the strategy of supplementation has proved promising in theory and in small-scale or laboratory situations, a large experimental approach has not been taken. NOAA Fisheries has undertaken a collaborative project which will look at the large-scale effects of supplementation, as measured through the comparison of four treatment(Hamma Hamma, Skokomish, Duckabush, and Dewatto)with three control (Dosewallips,Tahuya, and Big Beef Creek) streams located throughout the Hood Canal region(Figure 1). One key component to evaluating the benefits and impacts of supplementation is to measure the abundance of juvenile production within each of these streams before, during, and after treatment. Project Description: Within the context of this project, we propose that a rotary screw trap be installed in the Skokomish, Dewatto, Tahuya, and Duckabush Rivers (see Figure 1). A similar trap is already in operation on the Hamma Hamma River, and plans are underway to install a trap on the Dosewallips as well,though timing for this action is not certain. The trap is prefabricated and will be trailered into each site. In some cases, a small crane may be required to relocate the trap from the trailer to the river site. Twenty- two foot(Skokomish)and 17 foot 4 inch(Dewatto and Tahuya) aluminum pontoons will hold the trap on the surface of the water, and an attached cone(diameter= 8 ft for Skokomish, 5 ft for Dewatto and Tahuya)uses the hydraulic energy of the current to revolve on a central shaft(Figure 2). The cone is situated halfway beneath the surface of the water, and guides migrating juvenile salmonids into a flow-through trap box that is located downstream of the cone (Figure 3). In this way, a certain percentage of fish are enumerated and access is gained so as to obtain biological and genetic samples. After target fish(Steelhead and Cutthroat) are separated from non-target fish(Chinook, Chum and Coho),they will be lightly anesthetized and sampled. Cutthroat will be used for trap efficiency tests in the event that large enough numbers of steelhead are not encountered. Non-target fish will be released after enumeration. The trap will be operational between the approximate dates of April 1 and June 1 (2007-2022). Effects on associated resources Resource Impact Impact Minimization Practice Fish Juvenile salmon will be in various Mortality is typically less than 1%for stages of their outmigration. juvenile salmonids in similarly crafted Runs of Chinook,Chum,and traps. Protocols for trap operation include Coho salmon,as well as bull mortality minimization procedures such as trout,exist on each of the study 1)removing the trap from fishing streams, so non-target species operations during high stream flow events, will be present during trapping 2)checking the trap at least once daily, 3) periods. There will be no adverse impacts on adult anadromous monitoring the trap consistently salmonids, as their presence in throughout operation for debris freshwater will coincide with obstruction and functionality,4)minimal times during which the trap will handling of the entrained fish, and 5) not be operational. making sure that fish being sampled are kept in cold,fresh,oxygenated water prior to release. Aquatic No impact life Water No impact—the trap is operated Quality by hydraulic energy,and thus there are no fuels associated with operation. Water No impact Supply Recreation The trap will be situated above Effects would be minimized by 1) the surface of the water, so will positioning the structure close to the bank, obstruct the path of recreational 2) installing appropriate signs upstream users such as kayakers,rafters, that would indicate the presence of water and fishermen. hazards and describe the location of the trap,and 3)installation of a buoy line that will warn and divert recreationalists. Signs will also be posted on the trap itself. Bank No impact Stability Aesthetics In some instances,the trap may Sites will be located as far as possible be visible from rural roads. from major highways, so the fewest numbers of people will view the trap. Also,the trap will only be in the river for three months, after which it will be removed to an offsite location. Land owners in proximity to each site will be consulted before installation. Listed Species ■ Puget Sound Chinook Salmon (Oncorhunchus tshawytscha)were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act(ESA)in 1999, a designation that was reaffirmed in June, 2005. Chinook salmon are an anadromous salmonid species that inhabit the Skokomish River,though are not indigenous to the Duckabush, Dosewallip, Dewatto or Tahuya Rivers. It is possible that small numbers of juvenile Chinook will become entrained in the Skokomish trap. However,personnel will be very cautious in handling these fish in particular, and will release them as soon as possible upon removing them from the trap. Individuals in the adult stage of their life history will be unaffected by trapping activities, as they will not be present in freshwater during the months of operation. ■ Hood Canal Summer-Run Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta)are listed as endangered under the ESA. Another anadromous salmonid species,these fish spawn lower down in the watershed, and spend less time in freshwater than other salmonid species. Populations of summer chum are present in all of the rivers involved in the Supplementation Study. However,the juvenile migration out of study rivers will overlap for only a short time with trap operation,thus minimizing the risk of capturing these individuals. Data for Big Beef Creek, WA indicates that the peak of the juvenile outmigration occurs in mid-February,with numbers tapering off until April 5 (Barry Berejikian,unpublished data). Should the trap operator encounter juvenile chum salmon,these fish will be minimally handled and released as soon as possible upon removing them from the trap. As with adult chinook, adult chum will not be affected by trapping activities. ■ Puget Sound Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss)have been proposed for listing under the ESA, and thus are currently a candidate species. Steelhead have a diverse and complicated life history, with varying strategies of freshwater residency and migration patterns and timing. Migrating juveniles are the main target for the trapping component of this project, and will thus be significantly affected by the proposed action. However, care will be taken to alleviate risk of stress and mortality to the entrained fish. The trap will be checked at least once a day,but the frequency will be increased if large amounts of debris or high catch rates are encountered. Fish will be maintained in fresh, cold, oxygenated water for as little time as possible during sampling. All fish will be released near the site of capture after being given sufficient time to recover from sampling procedures. It is possible that adult steelhead will become entrained in the rotary screw trap, due to the fact that these fish recondition and migrate back down stream as opposed to the species mentioned above that expire after spawning. It is very unlikely that damage will be incurred as a result of the trap, and cautious handling and immediate release will be practiced. ■ Bull trout(Salvelinus confluentus)were listed under the ESA in June 1998 as threatened. Hood Canal rivers are included in the NW bull trout distribution, making it a possibility that the proposed traps may entrain juveniles or adults. Bull trout exhibit both resident and migratory life history strategies. Resident fish both spawn and rear in freshwater, while migratory forms of the species spawn in their natal stream and may migrate to either lake, river, or saltwater to mature. It is widely accepted that bull trout are distributed primarily in higher-order, colder streams (Rieman et al. 1997), so the encounter rate of these fish in the proposed traps will likely be low since all traps are relatively low down in the respective watersheds. However, should bull trout of any developmental stage be caught in the traps,they will be released immediately. Project guidance: Trapping and sampling protocols have been established based on personal communications with ODFW and WDFW personnel, as well as through review of documents written by state fish and wildlife experts. Traps of similar build have been installed and operated for several years, with great scientific benefit, in a number of watersheds (Seiler et al. 1981, Seiler et al. 2003, Solazzi et al. 2003). Further guidance has resulted from communications with the trap manufacturer(EG Solutions). References Rieman,B.E., D.C. Lee, and RF. Thurow. 1997. Distribution, status, and likely future trends of bull trout within the Columbia River and Klamath River Basins. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 17:1111-1125. Seiler, D.,Neuhauser, S., and M. Ackley. 1981. Upstream/downstream salmonid trapping project 1977-1980. Prog. Rpt.No. 144. Washington Department of Fisheries. Olympia, WA. 195p Seiler,D., S. Neuhauser, and L. Kishimoto. 2003. 2002 Skagit River wild 0+chinook production evaluation annual report. FPA 03-11. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Olympia, WA. Solazzi, M.F., S.L. Johnson,B. Miller, T. Dalton and K.A. Leader 2003. Salmonid Life-Cycle Monitoring Project 2002. </Dept/ODFW/progress- reports/annual2002ver2.pdf>Monitoring Program Report Number OPSW-ODFW-2003- 2, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife,Portland, Oregon. Appendix 2. Estimating Smolt Production This protocol does not address the topics of trap site selection and installation,permitting, and safety. Screw trap site selection and installation will be coordinated between the agency/organization operating the screw trap and NOAA. Guidance on screw trap site selection and installation can be found in Volkhardt et al. (2007)or from experienced screw trap operators. Permitting is the responsibility of the agency/organization operating the screw trap. Safety regulations and requirements vary among agencies and organizations, so personnel operating screw traps should follow the safety guidance of their respective employers. Yearly trapping season will be April 1st through June 1" Trapping_principles: Consistency: Each year of the study, rotary screw traps should be installed in the same location within each stream to the maximum extent practicable,provided that the location allows for efficient trap operation. Standardizing the location, placement, and hours of operation from year to year allows catch of steelhead or catch-per-unit effort to be used as an index of downstream migrant production. If we are consistent in our trap operation,yet unable to collect sufficient fish to calculate good numerical estimates of production, at least we will have reliable indices of smolt production for supplemented and control streams. Adaptive management of operation: There will be a need to adapt our trap protocols as more information about the steelhead populations in each stream is obtained. This will be articular) evident regarding trap efficiency estimates � b particularly g g p Y which will be poor if low numbers of steelhead smolts are available for mark- recapture procedures. This is more likely to occur in all streams during the presupplementation phase and the control streams during the entire project. Frequency of trap checking: Catch rates and debris loads determine the frequency of trap maintenance. Initially, screw traps will be checked once a day in the early morning. If large numbers of fish are being caught,high debris loads are encountered, or the level of mortality is high in the trap box,the frequency of trap maintenance will be increased to two or more occasions per day,with two scheduled trap checks at dawn and dusk. Staf n : It is preferable to have two people operate the trap for increased safety, efficiency, and accuracy of data collection. When operating a trap continuously or counting large numbers of fish,a larger crew is required. Three people make up a good- sized crew during the peak of the migration when the workload is high. Each person can be put on an alternating six-day on/three-day off schedule so that there are always 2 people available to work the gear. Later in the season when fewer fish migrate and flows subside,the crew can be reduced down to two. Safety: I General-Trap operators are expected to follow the safety regulations and requirements of their employers. At no time should a trap operator attempt to collect the data if conditions are unsafe. Criteria to cease operation—High flows, severe weather, inability to safely access screw trap. Removal of debris- Large pieces of debris might be difficult to remove from the screw trap. If required get assistance,or if possible move trap to the bank to avoid strong currents. Quantifying fishing effo : Accurate accounting of the duration of trap operation is required for the most precise estimates of steelhead smolt production. Hub-odometer-Debris can prevent operation of rotary screw traps. To estimate when rotation of the trap ceased, a hub-odometer, identical to those used by the trucking industry can be used. The hub-odometer is placed on the front or rear of the central shaft of the trap. The hub-odometer records the"distance"that the screw turns between trap checks. By monitoring the number of revolutions per minute, and knowing the"distance"that the screw turned,the length of time the trap fished before jamming can be estimated. If the hub-odometer used records 1.0 mile for every 500 revolutions of the trap shaft,then the length of time the trap fished can be estimated by: Hrs Trapped= (Total Revolutions/(Measured Revolutions/minute))/60 where, Total Revolutions = (Ending Odometer Reading—Beginning Odometer Reading) *500 Use the following procedure at each trap check to record data on the TRAP OPERATION LOG data sheet. This data sheet will also be used to record any periods the trap is not operated due to dangerous or hazardous conditions. 1. The START columns are filled in when the trap starts fishing and the END columns are filled in when the fish captured in the trap are processed. Each screw trap should have a "hub-odometer" attached to the center shaft of the cone. The reading on the "hub-odometer" is recorded in the ODOMETER column each day. (The odometer reading at the END of each day is the same value as recorded at the START of the next day.) Count the number of revolutions per minute that the cone is turning and record the number in the "REVOLUTIONS PER MIN" column. 2. The staff gage reading in feet and inches should be recorded in the STAFF GAUGE column. If alternative measures of stream discharge(i.e., stream gauge)are available,we will collect and use those data as well. 3. If the trap is not deployed indicate so in the TRAP DEPLOYED column. If the trap is not operational,indicate the date and time operation ceased in the NOTES/COMMENTS section. Similarly, indicate the date and time of redeployment when operation commences. 4. Any changes in the screw trap site,placement within the stream, or modifications made to the trap should be noted along with the date the change occurred in the NOTES/COMMENTS section of the TRAP OPERATION LOG. Equipment and supplies: Each screw trap station will require the following. 1. A means to access the trap (boat or plank) 2. dip nets for handling fish 3. clip board 4. data sheets as indicated in the data collection protocol and pencils 5. anesthetic(MS-222 stock solution @ 40 grams/liter) 6. marking equipment 7. scissors 8. buckets 9. trap cleaning equipment(brooms, and/or scrub brushes) 10. light source 11. species identification cards 12. scale cards 13. DNA sample vials for fin clips 14. digital balance 15. measuring board Data Collection: We will stratify our trap efficiency estimates by sampling week. The sampling week begins on Monday and ends on Sunday. Each day the trap is operated the following data should be collected and recorded on the specified data sheet indicated in the procedure below. All original data sheets should be printed on"Write-in-the-Rain" waterproof paper, and all data should be collected in pencil or waterproof ink. Basic Procedure The screw trap can usually remain operating during the data collection procedure. Record the date and time of the trap check. Remove any debris that has accumulated in the live well,and remove captured fish to buckets using a dip net. Enumerate catch by species on the CATCH SUMMARY DATA SHEET. Retain all steelhead and cutthroat for additional processing and data collection. Place all other species captured in a separate bucket(s) for release. 1. For all species, count all unmarked fish of each species and record in "CAUGHT" column. If necessary, lightly anesthetize fish with MS-222 to make them easier to handle and identify. (The concentration of MS-222 should be approximately 50 mg/L;prepared using 5 ml of a 40g/L stock solution per gallon of water) 2. For steelhead, count all marked fish and record in"RECAP-r/v" or"RECAP- 1/v"column(r/v&1/v stand for right ventral fin and left ventral fin respectively). This refers to fish that were previously marked with a fin clip and released back upstream and have been captured for a second time. a. If cutthroat are being marked as surrogates for trap efficiency estimates,they will have a different mark(anal fin clip)than steelhead. For cutthroat,record counts of marked fish in the "RECAP-a/f' column(a/f stands for anal fin). 3. We will mark ALL newly captured steelhead in the screw trap to estimate trap efficiency. The number of newly marked steelhead should be recorded in the "NEW MARK"column. Retain steelhead for processing described in step 7. 4. Record any mortality observed for each species category in the MORT column. 5. Release all recaptured steelhead and all other species collected at the designated release site below the screw trap. These fish can be released as soon as they have recovered from anesthetic(if used). The designated release site should be far enough downstream to minimize the potential for recapture. 6. Separate steelhead from cutthroat. If aid in species identification is needed, refer to the laminated color plates showing key characteristics of each species. a. If cutthroat are being used as surrogates for trap efficiency estimation,retain them separately for marking as described in step 8. 7. Anesthetize steelhead in small batches using MS-222 (approximately 50 mg/L; prepared using 5 ml of a 40g/L stock solution per gallon of water). Care needs to be taken that no more fish are anesthetized at one time than can be safely processed. This will vary with the experience of the sampler and the amount of information being collected. Anesthetic water should be regularly changed to keep it cool and well oxygenated. Collect the following data, scale sample,and fin clip as described below. Record the data on the STEELHEAD SMOLT DATA SHEET. We will be collecting a large quantity of data, so it is important to work efficiently and handle smolts r carefully to reduce stress and/or mortality. a. DATE - enter the date of capture. b. FISH ID# - Each fish captured will have a unique identification number so that scales and DNA can be matched with lengths and weights. Generate and enter a unique FISH ID# following this system. i. Each river will have a 2 letter code: 1. Big Beef Creek=BB 2. Dosewallips=Do 3. Dewatto=De 4. Duckabush=Du 5. Tahuya=Ta 6. Hamma Hamma=HH 7. Skokomish= Sk ii. The river code will be followed by the last 2 digits of the year. iii. After the 2 digit year code,fish will be numbered sequentially using three digits. iv. Example: A complete FISH ID#for the 23`d fish caught in the Skokomish River in 2007 would be: Sk07-023. c. FORK LENGTH - Measure from tip of snout to fork in caudal(mm) using the measuring board. d. WEIGHT - Lightweight balances will be provided to collect wet fish weight to the nearest tenth(0.1) of a gram(g). e. DNA- The application of the"mark"by fin clip will also double as the DNA specimen. Therefore it is extremely important to apply the fin clip to the appropriate fin(which will allow us to stratify efficiency by week)and to save the fin clip from each fish. A schedule of the appropriate fin clip will be posted at each trap and is included in this protocol. Using scissors collect a small pencil eraser-sized(1 cm long) fin clip from the proper fin and place in an ethanol filled vial labeled with the FISH ID#. i. To apply a LEFT VENTRAL fin clip hold the fish"belly up" with its head is pointing to the left. The LEFT VENTRAL fin will be the ventral fin FARTHEST away from you. ii. To apply a RIGHT VENTRAL fin clip hold the fish"belly up" with its head is pointing to the left. The RIGHT VENTRAL fin will be the ventral fin CLOSEST to you. f. SCALES - collect 10 to 12 scales from the"key area" and mount directly to the scale card—label row the scales are mounted in with the same fish ID#from DNA vial and the data sheet. The key area is 2 to 3 rows of scales above the lateral line on a straight line between the posterior insertion of the dorsal fin and anterior insertion of the anal fin. These scales contain the most complete record of fish growth. g. SMOLT INDEX - We will categorize steelhead captured in the trap with the following index. Enter the number(1,2, or 3)corresponding to the classes below in the column"SMOLT INDEX." i. Class 1—(non-smolt): parr marks distinct, showing no signs of smolting characteristics as described in Class 3. ii. Class 2—(pre-smolt):parr marks becoming faint, smolting characteristics beginning to appear. iii. Class 3—(smolt): parr marks absent or clearly assuming smolting characteristics such as, silvery appearance with black banded tail,nose, or dorsal fin; loosening of scales. h. SCALES AND DNA?- Indicate whether scale and DNA samples are collected for each steelhead smolt captured(yes or no). i. IMPORTANT! - Items"a"through"g"will be collected for ALL steelhead smolts captured. If large numbers of steelhead are being captured we will institute a subsampling procedure for scale and DNA samples and will then need to indicate whether scale and DNA samples were collected for each fish. However,we will continue to mark ALL steelhead smolts with the appropriate fin clip. i. Place all newly marked steelhead smolts into fresh water to recover completely before transporting to the upstream release site. If any smolts die during the data collection process update the MORT column of the CATCH SUMMARY DATA SHEET. 8. If cutthroat are being used as surrogates for estimating trap efficiency, follow the procedure below. Data will be collected and recorded on the CUTTHROAT DATA SHEET a. Anesthetize cutthroat in small batches using MS-222 (approximately 50 mg/L;prepared using 5 ml of a 40g/L stock solution per gallon of water). Care needs to be taken that no more fish are anesthetized at one time than can be safely processed. b. FORK LENGTH - Measure from tip of snout to fork in caudal(mm) using the measuring board and record in the"FORK LENGTH" column. c. Mark each fish by using scissors to remove a small pencil eraser-sized (1 cm long) fin clip from the anal fin. There is no need to save the fin clip. d. Place all newly marked cutthroat into fresh water to recover completely before transporting to the upstream release site. Record the number of newly marked cutthroat in the"NEW MARK"column of the CATCH SUMMARY DATA SHEET. If any cutthroat die during the data collection process update the"MORT"column of the CATCH SUMMARY DATA SHEET. 9. Transport all newly marked fish to the designated upstream release site that was previously selected by the trap operator. 10. After all marked fish have been released, clean and inspect the trap as follows. a. Look for and remove debris inside the cone b. Make sure trash screens are clean c. Look for worn or broken parts and report any damage to trap d. Inspect straps, cables, and trap rigging and report any damage Coordination with other study objectives: Steelhead smolts will be collected with the screw traps for acoustic tracking studies. When steelhead are needed for acoustic tagging,there will be slight deviations from the protocols above, and you will be notified of the changes in advance. The acoustic tracking studies will be coordinated by Skip Tezak,NWFSC,Manchester Research Station, 360-871-8320 (office), 360-731-5113 (mobile), skip.tezaknnoaa.gov. Communication and Data management: At the end of each week, all data sheets will be photocopied. The trap operator will place the photocopies in a binder in chronological order. The originals will be sent to Chris Tatara,NWFSC, Manchester Research Station, P.O. Box 130, Manchester, WA 98353. Alternatively, data sheets may be delivered by FAX 206-842-8364 or email chris.p.tatara(i�noaa.gov. Chris Tatara can be reached by phone at 360-871-8304 (office)or 360-731-8917 (mobile). In the event that Chris Tatara can't be reached, direct calls to Barry Berejikian 360-871-8301 (office) or 360-731-3841 (mobile). DNA and scale samples: DNA sample vials (containing fin clips) and scale cards should be kept in a safe dry place until the end of the trapping season, when they will be transferred to Megan Petrie,NWFSC, Manchester Research Station 360-871-8315 (office), 360-731-4427 (mobile), me ag n.e.petrie@noaa. og_v.