Coordinating Sockeye Smolt Release with Smoltification

Dan Baker, Eagle Hatchery Manager Doug Engemann, Springfield Hatchery Manager Marc Garst, Hatchery Production Coordinator Jesse Trushenski, Fish Pathologist Supervisor

Program background Review 2015 and 2016 Springfield Hatchery releases 2017 Coordination Model and Action Plan Collaborative Physiological Study with NOAA Fisheries

to determine Time of Release with Smoltification

Idaho Department of Fish and Game Eagle Hatchery: Captive Broodstock Springfield Hatchery: Smolt Rearing Sawtooth Fish Hatchery/RFLC: Adult Collection Sockeye Monitoring and Evaluation Sockeye Genetic Monitoring

NOAA Fisheries Burley Creek Hatchery: Captive Broodstock Manchester Research Station: Captive Broodstock

Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Limnology Monitoring and Evaluation

Bonneville Power Administration Funding Agency

Broodstock Rearing Juvenile Rearing Approximately 3,000 eggs retained to become future broodstock adults

Up to 1,250,000 eyed eggs produced for smolt production

In any spawn year

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

800,000

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Historical/Projected Smolt Production

Misc.'Smolt Production Sawtooth FH Smolt Production Oxbow FH smolt production Springfield FH smolt production

First Sockeye Salmon (BY13) smolt release from Springfield Fish Hatchery = 214,876

A total of 3,671 mortalities were collected at release site on second day of hauling

At Lower Granite Dam, fish in poor condition, frayed fins, lesions and other obvious signs of high TDG

TDG testing in the summer revealed levels at a measured max. of 102.5%.

Tank aerator function in question because mortality was limited to 1 compartment.

Elevation increase (Galena Summit) 4,380 ft. - 8,701 ft. Low pressure system with snow and rain on day 2 of

fish transport

Likely that high transport water TDG levels (and a possible non-functioning aerator)

combined with weather and elevation change caused the kill during transportation???

Tanker Fill Test LSRCP tanker delivered to Springfield Hatchery in Winter 2015. Tanker filled and gas levels measured with both ambient (9.8°C) and

chilled (8°C) water High TDG levels (>103%) measured in both ambient and mixed water

temperatures immediately after filling. Ambient Water: Post-fill 30 minute measurement = 102% 30 minutes aeration time = 100.9%

Chilled Water: 30 minute aeration time = 101.3% Tanker filled with chilled water, left overnight and measurements collected the

next morning Temperature avg. = 7°C TDGs avg. = 99.5%

Correspondence Data collected from the tanker test was sent to Pentair Aquatic for

analysis and recommendations Correspondence with Alaska Dept. Fish and Game for procedural

background and recommendations

Additional experienced hatchery personnel on site during loading and hauling operations

Water-up night before hauling to reduce TDG levels Pre-loading aeration New route (7,161 ft. vs 8,701 ft. max elevation) Use of anti-foaming agent Increased water quality monitoring throughout hauling

BY14 post-release mortality was observed five days after hauling began (at release site area/Little Redfish Lake)

Total release of 549,410 with post-release mortality estimated at 8,745 smolts

Tanker compartments resembled “snow globes” with smolts descaling and some evidence of physical trauma

Possible factors include… Exposed aerator blade in a tanker compartment Injuries during pumping Advanced smoltification (or “de-smolting”)

Management Paul Kline, Gary Byrne, Marc Garst, Bryan Grant,

and Gene McPherson

Fish Research Chris Kozfkay, Eric Johnson,

Kurtis Plaster, Sara Simmonds, Don Larsen (NOAA) and Brian

Beckman (NOAA)

Fish Health Jesse Trushenski, Doug Munson

Fish Production Springfield, Eagle, Sawtooth, McCall, Nampa, and Mackay

Hatcheries

New 6” fish pump has been purchased Installing LHO system to improve transport water

quality (to force out nitrogen) Possibly increase chilled water supply to slow down

development during incubation Stock fish earlier, add salt, and continue anti-foam use Beginning January 2017, various physiological

parameters will be analyzed to see if a negative impact related to advanced smoltification and/or stress is occurring