Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery ComplexComplex

Program OverviewProgram OverviewNez Perce Tribe Nez Perce Tribe

Department of Fisheries Resources ManagementDepartment of Fisheries Resources Management

Teamwork

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

NPTH PurposeNPTH Purpose

• Develop, increase, and reintroduce natural Develop, increase, and reintroduce natural populations of spring, early-fall, and fall populations of spring, early-fall, and fall Chinook in the Clearwater River Basin.Chinook in the Clearwater River Basin.

• Sustain long-term preservation and genetic Sustain long-term preservation and genetic integrity of target fish populations.integrity of target fish populations.

• Keep the ecological and genetic impacts of Keep the ecological and genetic impacts of nontarget fish populations within nontarget fish populations within acceptable limits.acceptable limits.

• Provide harvest opportunities for Tribal Provide harvest opportunities for Tribal and non-Tribal anglers.and non-Tribal anglers.

NPTH Production GoalsNPTH Production Goals• SCS goal: 825K SCS goal: 825K

releaserelease– 200K Yearlings from 200K Yearlings from

NPTH into NPTH into Clearwater RiverClearwater River

– 150K Presmolts from 150K Presmolts from Yoosa/Camp AF into Yoosa/Camp AF into Lolo CreekLolo Creek

– 75K Presmolts from 75K Presmolts from Newsome AF into Newsome AF into Newsome CreekNewsome Creek

– 400K Parr from 400K Parr from NPTH into Meadow NPTH into Meadow Creek (no Creek (no acclimation)acclimation)

• FCS goal: 1.4M FCS goal: 1.4M releaserelease– 500K subyearlings 500K subyearlings

from NPTH into from NPTH into Clearwater RiverClearwater River

– 500K subyearlings 500K subyearlings from North Lapwai from North Lapwai Valley AF into Valley AF into Clearwater RiverClearwater River

– 200K subyearlings 200K subyearlings from Luke’s Gulch AF from Luke’s Gulch AF into S.F. Clearwater into S.F. Clearwater RiverRiver

– 200K subyearlings 200K subyearlings from Cedar Flats AF from Cedar Flats AF into Selway Riverinto Selway River

NPTHC Area of Influence

• Constructed in Constructed in June 2000 June 2000 through Oct. through Oct. 20022002

• Four ground Four ground water wellswater wells

• Four surface Four surface water pumpswater pumps

Nez Perce Tribal HatcheryNez Perce Tribal Hatchery

•Eight Krebs Eight Krebs sand filterssand filters

•Zero Gravity Zero Gravity filter Systemfilter System

•UV systemUV system•ChillerChiller•Automated Automated temperature temperature controlcontrol

•Backup Backup GeneratorGenerator

Sweetwater SpringsSweetwater SpringsEarly rearing facilityEarly rearing facility• Used by IDF&G until Used by IDF&G until

19781978• Upgraded and used Upgraded and used

by NPT beginning in by NPT beginning in 19931993

• Officially transferred Officially transferred in 1998in 1998

• Further modifications Further modifications in June – December, in June – December, 20012001

North Lapwai Valley North Lapwai Valley AcclimationAcclimation

500K FCS 500K FCS subyearlingssubyearlings

• Constructed in Constructed in Dec. 2000 through Dec. 2000 through Sep. 2001Sep. 2001

• Located on Lapwai Located on Lapwai Creek near Creek near Clearwater RiverClearwater River

• Pumped Lapwai Pumped Lapwai Creek waterCreek water

Luke’s Gulch AcclimationLuke’s Gulch Acclimation

• Constructed from Constructed from May through August May through August 20012001

• Located on S.F. Located on S.F. Clearwater RiverClearwater River

• Partial Partial setup/takedownsetup/takedown

• Portable pumps & Portable pumps & GeneratorGenerator

200K FCS subyearlings

Cedar Flat’s AcclimationCedar Flat’s Acclimation200K FCS subyearlings200K FCS subyearlings• Complete Complete

setup/takedown by setup/takedown by NPTH staff each yearNPTH staff each year

• Located on Selway RiverLocated on Selway River• Portable pumps & Portable pumps &

generatorgenerator

Newsome Creek Newsome Creek AcclimationAcclimation

75K SCS presmolts75K SCS presmolts• Constructed from Constructed from

Jun. 2000 through Jun. 2000 through Sep. 2001Sep. 2001

• Located on Located on Newsome Creek…Newsome Creek…tributary of S.F. tributary of S.F. Clearwater RiverClearwater River

• Gravity fed creek Gravity fed creek waterwater

Yoosa/Camp Creek Yoosa/Camp Creek AcclimationAcclimation

150K SCS presmolts150K SCS presmolts• Constructed from Constructed from

Jun. 2000 through Jun. 2000 through Sep. 2001Sep. 2001

• Located at Located at Confluence of Yoosa Confluence of Yoosa & Camp Creeks & Camp Creeks (tributaries of Lolo (tributaries of Lolo Creek)Creek)

• Gravity fed water Gravity fed water from both creeksfrom both creeks

Meadow Creek (Selway Meadow Creek (Selway River)River)

400K SCS parr400K SCS parr• Direct stream Direct stream

releaserelease• Helicopter Helicopter

outplantedoutplanted

EGG TAKEADULT

TRAPPINGSPAWN

EARLY REARING

FINAL REARING

ACCLIMATION & RELEASE

RELEASE WATER

FALL CHINOOK SALMON:

SPRING CHINOOK SALMON:

Flow of Fish

1.64 MillionGreen Eggs

NPTH

Selway River

S.F. Clearwater River

Clearwater River

Clearwater River

NPTHNPTH

NPTH

SweetwaterSprings

NLV AFSubyearlings

NPTHSubyearlings

Luke’s Gulch AFSubyearlings

Cedar Flats AFSubyearlings

1.0M

400K

500K

500K

200K

200K

500K

500K

200K

200K

Clearwater River

Meadow Creek

YoosaCreek

Newsome Creek

Newsome AFPresmolts

Yoosa/Camp AFPresmolts

NPTHYearlings

NPTH

NPTH

SweetwaterSpring

NPTHNPTH

ClearwaterHatchery

ClearwaterHatchery

Lolo CreekWeir

200K

625K

200K 200K 200K

150K

75K

150K

75K

550K

75K

750,000Green Eggs

400K

LGD

ClearwaterHatchery

Other Sites

Newsome CreekWeir

“NATURES” Rearing

Planned:• Low density index• Mimic stream

temperatures• Pathogen & silt free

river water• Natural “S” channel

rearing• Natural pond substrate• Exercise program• Volitional release

Currently Used:• Low density index• Partially treated river

water• Natural “S” channel

rearing• Natural pond

substrate• “S” channel only

exercise• Volitional release

Things That WorkThings That Work

• Incubation temperature controlIncubation temperature control• Early rearing temperature controlEarly rearing temperature control• Low density rearingLow density rearing• Well controlWell control

– Variable drivesVariable drives– Automated and prioritizedAutomated and prioritized

• Hatchery AutomationHatchery Automation• Round tanksRound tanks• ““Low impact” acclimation sitesLow impact” acclimation sites

Things That Didn’t WorkThings That Didn’t Work

• Acclimation site adult holding/spawningAcclimation site adult holding/spawning• Hatchery AutomationHatchery Automation• Some natures componentsSome natures components

– Stream temperature incubationStream temperature incubation– Exercise program mostly abandonedExercise program mostly abandoned– No predation controlNo predation control– ““S” Channels not culture friendlyS” Channels not culture friendly

• Production based on 100% eProduction based on 100% expectedxpected water water useuse

• Lack of flexibility in engineeringLack of flexibility in engineering

Key Challenges

• Well water issues• Acclimation site intakes• Limited river water treatment

– Filtration limitationsUV limitations

– Undersized heat exchanger• SCS adult holding mortality• Missing weirs

– Broodstock collection– Program evaluation

So You Want To Build A So You Want To Build A Hatchery?Hatchery?

• Budget some “extra” production waterBudget some “extra” production water• Design every component for flexibility and Design every component for flexibility and

adaptabilityadaptability• Hire your Manager before you buildHire your Manager before you build• Assemble a Technical Work Group in advanceAssemble a Technical Work Group in advance• Label every component in fish culture speakLabel every component in fish culture speak• Write your SOP in fish culture speakWrite your SOP in fish culture speak• Demand a water/alarm system mapDemand a water/alarm system map• Think long term and outside the boxThink long term and outside the box

– Energy efficiencyEnergy efficiency– What are the private growers doing? Our neighbors What are the private growers doing? Our neighbors

to the north? to the north?

Biggest key to success?