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