Kootenai River Fisheries

Recovery Investigations

KOOTENAI RIVER ECOSYSTEM REHABILITATION PROJECT

Ecosystem disturbances1) Diking of the river (loss of flood plain connection)2)Channelization and some dredging (loss of habitat diversity)3) Eutrophication4) Mining (possible heavy metals)5) Dam

a. River regulationb. Temperature changesc. Nutrient trapping

Effects On Ecosystem : Nutrients

• Nutrients bind to sediment

river productivity Libby Dam (1972)

• 63% of total P and 25%available N is retained by Libby (Woods 1982)

• 95% trapping efficiencies(Snyder et al. 1996)

Effects On Ecosystem : Primary Production

• Main source of bioenergeticdevelopment of higher trophic levels (Vanote et al. 1980; Allen 1995)

• Kootenai River P/R ratios < 1indicating heterotrophic system (Snyder and Minshall 1996)

• Potential for autotrophicsystem if nutrient levels higher (Snyder and Minshall 1996)

Effects On Ecosystem : Secondary Productivity

• Pre-dam 3,520 insects/ m2

(Bonde and Bush 1972)

• Post-dam 917 insects/ m2

(Snyder and Minshall 1996)

• Lower densities thanother Pacific Northwest systems (Holderman et al. 2000)

Community Type Change

• Degrading ecosystems:fish communities shift to habitat and feeding generalists (Karr 1991, 1995)

(Mylocheilus caurinus)

• Shift from habitat andfeeding specialist occurred in Kootenai River (Paragamian 1994)(Catostomus macrocheilus)

Population Estimates for Hemlock Bar (RKM 265)

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

Mountain Whitefish

Nu

mb

er

of

Fis

h

1980

1981

1993

1994

1998

1999

Are There Solutions?

• Ecosystem rehabilitation is needed to reversedeclining fish populations (Holderman et al. 2001)

• In-river nutrification to stimulate productivity

• Increases in primary production wouldstimulate fish production (Snyder and Minshall 1996)

• Proven to be successfulin fisheries management

Successful Nutrient Enhancement :

Kootenay Lake :

Increase escapement from 300,000 in 1991 to 2.1 million in 1998 (Ashley et al.

1997a)

Arrow Reservoir :

99-00, kokanee abundance increased 4.4 million to 10 million (Holderman et al. 2001)

The Next Step?• Pre-treatment Biomonitoring until 2004

• Currently in feasibility faze:

- Costs

- Application

- Location

- Permitting

- Public

• Tanks treated with 0, 1.5, and 5 µm/L P

Direct effects on fish community?

• Test hatch success and yolk absorption rate of white sturgeon larvae

• Preliminary results: no effect on hatching success

Angler Destination

Kootenai River White Sturgeon Recovery

Investigations

Statement of the problem:The future of Kootenai River white

sturgeon is in jeopardy

Main reasons:

1) Ecosystem and habitat changes

2) Recruitment of wild sturgeon is limited

3) Nutrients may be limiting

4) Stock limitations and population trends

5) Overharvest

Flow during spring freshetlost - sturgeon spawning season

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

1/1 1/31 3/2 4/1 5/1 5/31 6/30 7/30 8/29 9/28 10/28 11/27 12/27

Date

Flo

w (

m3

/s)

1928 - 1972

2002

1973-19901991-2001

Shorty’sIsland

Kootenai River white sturgeonspawning reach rkm 228 to 246

Bonners Ferry

Rkm 228

Rkm 246

Sampling mats were distributed from 1991 through 2001.

Examination of sturgeon eggsto determine age (h) and back calculate spawning date (event)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

5/1 5/5 5/9 5/13 5/17 5/21 5/25 5/29 6/2 6/6 6/10 6/14 6/18 6/22 6/26 6/30

Date

Flow (

m3/s)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Temp

eratur

e (oC)

Spawn EpisodeTemperature

Flow

Increasing temperature decreasing flow 18 spawning events

Flow

Temperature

1996

Recommendations

1) Mitigated flows should follow local inflow

2) Maintain flows between630 and 1,200 m3/s

3) Maintain stable or increasingtemperatures - 9.5 - 12.5oC

0.75 km upstream from Myrtle Creek

5

7

11

9

Dep

th, i

n m

e te r

s

Spawning location

Habitat issue a limiting factorSurvival bottleneck

Hatchery juveniles60% S year one90% thereafter

Thousandsof eggs collected

One Larvaecollected

Few wildjuveniles

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

5/7-5/20 5/21-5/27 5/28-6/3 6/4-6/10 6/11-6/17 6/18-6/28

Date category

Nu

mb

er e

gg c

olle

ctio

ns

LowerMiddle

Chi square analysis p<0.01

529.800530.000530.200530.400530.600530.800531.000531.200531.400531.600531.800532.000532.200532.400532.600532.800533.000533.200533.400533.600533.800534.000534.200534.400534.600

5/1

5/5

5/9

5/13

5/17

5/21

5/25

5/29

6/2

6/6

6/10

6/14

6/18

6/22

6/26

6/30

Date

Lak

e el

evat

ion

(m)

225.0

226.0

227.0

228.0

229.0

230.0

231.0

232.0

233.0

234.0

235.0

236.0

237.0

238.0

Riv

er k

ilom

eter

96elev rkm

530

531

532

533

534

535

536

537

538

1931 1941 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991

Year

Ele

vatio

n(m

eter

s abo

ve se

a le

vel)

May June

Kootenay Lake elevations

228.0

230.0

232.0

234.0

236.0

238.0

240.0

242.0

244.0

246.0

530.0 530.5 531.0 531.5 532.0 532.5 533.0 533.5 534.0 534.5 535.0 535.5 536.0 536.5 537.0

Median lake elevation (meters)

Med

ian

spaw

n lo

catio

n (r

km)

Historicspawning reach?

0 Section K-18, above Deep CreekLeft Bank

Right Bank

Gravel

M.-C. Sand

F. Sand

Clay

EXPLANATION

Sand

Pre-Libby Dam Lacustrine Clay

GravelGravel

Proper temperature and flowmitigation will enhance white sturgeon spawningbut the issue of spawning location and habitat and survival of eggs and larvaeis still unresolved.

Percent recaptures

0

20

40

60

80Capture probabilit

y (%

)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Estim

ated wild popula

tio

n (1,000's)

0

2

4

6

8

10

4920

167

177

83

12

2 10

230

130 5662

110193 258

180

127165

10914190

N2000 = 760

(95% CI = 430 - 1,090)

N1996 = 1,470

(95%CI = 1,170 - 1,770)

96

Population dynamics

How are we addressing the problem ?

Monitoring and EvaluationSet lining and angling

Egg mats

Larval sampling

Radio and sonic telemetry

Gill netting

Trawling

Monitoring and evaluation

Net and jet program – unite sturgeon with “better” spawning habitat in upper river location

Net and Jet summary:

1) Brought 9 males and 3 females up to hemlock reach (rkm 262.0)

2) All females and 2 males radio and sonic tagged

3) 2 out of 3 females stayed in general area for a week or more

4) 4 eggs found on substrate mats at rkm 262.0 on June 5th. Unable to tell if eggs were fertilized

5) Additional research: pheromone drip station set up at rkm 262.5 to help to keep males in the area of females

Dual beam SONAR (BIOSONICS)

With fixed radio telemetry station

1) Estimate spawning stock

2) More behavioral data

3) Timing of migration

USGS subcontracts

1) Sedimentation transport

why ? We need to know where sedimentation is occurring.

Habitat improvement is futile if done in depositional areas.

2) Acoustic Doppler Current Profiling

why? Sturgeon may be seeking out specific current velocities (versus substrate) and we need to know what these requirements are, and the relationship between lake elevation and micro current velocities (habitat improvement ramifications or larval

stocking).

3) Bathymetric mapping – detailed account of river substrate and depth

Acoustic doppler current profile (ADCP) of Kootenai River

Relationship between lake elevation and micro current velocities

Bathymetry mapping

Where are our best opportunities

to improve spawning habitat?

1) Rehabilitation of historic reach2) Spawning channels/islands constructed in popular spawning locations3) New ideas or thoughts?

Summary

How are we addressing the problems ?

1) Mitigation flows from Libby dam – best possible conditions for successful spawning

2) High tech research from USGS contracts – determine optimal current velocities for spawning and best locations for habitat improvement

3) Net and Jet – unite sturgeon with better habitat, novel ways to promote wild recruitment

4) Depth sensitive telemetry – behavioral data and habitat improvement ramifications

5) Continued monitoring and evaluation – population level

6) Experimental studies – Dual beam SONAR

Kootenai River Rainbow and Bull Trout Research

Rainbow Trout

Last major sport fishery left in the Kootenai River

“The Problem”

The Kootenai River has:

- low density trout population

- low trout catch rates

Hypotheses:

-Recruitment Limited

-High Angling Exploitation

-Nutrient Limited

Objective 1

Quantify rainbow trout recruitment (out-migrants) to the Kootenai River

BonnersFerry

Lake

Cr.Callahan Cr.

MTID

Mo

yie

R.

Kootenai R.

Kootenai R.

Boulder Cr.

Debt Cr.

Caboose Cr.

Star Cr.

Dee

p C

r.

Trail Cr.

Ko

ote

nai R

.

To Kootenay Lake, B. C.

Adfluvial stockMature in Kootenay Lake

Fluvial stockSpawn in Tributaries rear In river

Weekly Catch of Rainbow Trout JuvenilesCallahan Cr. Screw Trap

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Week

Nu

mb

er o

f R

ain

bo

w T

rou

t C

aug

ht

Change in Regulations ???

Kootenai River Trout Regulations

Bag Size Bait Closed

Limit Limit Restrict. Season

2001 6 None None None

2002 2 16” None None

- Protect most fish until they can spawn at least once

- Improve the size structure for a more quality fishery

Bull Trout Life History Investigations

Locations for bull trout 30.160

240.0

250.0

260.0

270.0

280.0

290.0

300.0

310.05/

3/20

02

6/3/

2002

7/3/

2002

8/3/

2002

9/3/

2002

10/3

/200

2

11/3

/200

2

12/3

/200

2

1/3/

2003

2/3/

2003

3/3/

2003

4/3/

2003

5/3/

2003

6/3/

2003

7/3/

2003

Riv

er K

ilo

met

er

O'Brien Cr., MT

Bonners Ferry, ID

ID-MT Border

Kootenai Falls

Locations for bull trout 31.032

210.0

220.0

230.0

240.0

250.0

260.0

270.0

280.0

290.0

300.0

310.0

3/22

/200

1

5/22

/200

1

7/22

/200

1

9/22

/200

1

11/2

2/20

01

1/22

/200

2

3/22

/200

2

5/22

/200

2

7/22

/200

2

9/22

/200

2

11/2

2/20

02

1/22

/200

3

3/22

/200

3

5/22

/200

3

Riv

er K

ilo

met

er

Bonners Ferry, ID

O’Brien Cr.

ID-MT Border

Burbot in the Kootenai River may be near Demographic extinction

Goal:Restore the population to a

fishable level.

A long range goal!

Recommended Flows for Burbot

Spawning Migrations

in the Kootenai River

In Idaho endemic only to the Kootenai River

Once provided important winter commercial and sport fishery in Kootenai River and Kootenay Lake

BurbotEgg 1 mmin diameter

Pelagic(open water)Feed onplankton

As young growin length they move to shorelineand feed on insectsand small fish

Burbot life stages and foodLarger burbot moveTo deeper water andFeed on fish and shrimp

Adults migrate to streamsIn winter and form “spawning balls”

0255075

100125150175

Nu

mb

er

of

Fis

h

01234567

Tem

pera

ture

(o C

)

25 30 1 5 10 15 25

1996

20

weir removed536 fish

050

100150200250300350

Nu

mb

er

of

Fis

h01234567

Tem

pera

ture

(o C

)

1997

1 5 10 15 20 253025

0255075

100125150175

Nu

mb

er

of

Fis

h

01234567

Tem

pera

ture

(o C

)

1998

1 5 15 2025 30

05

101520253035

Nu

mb

er

of

Fis

h

01234567

Tem

pera

ture

(o C

)

January February

1999

1 5 2025 2510

malesfemalessex unknown

Spawning synchrony (Arndt and Hutchinson 2000)

Highly synchronizedin timing of maturityand arrival tospawning habitat

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Water velocity cm/second

Bu

rbot

len

gth

cm

0

10

2

0

25

3

0

35

4

0 Burbot swimming endurance (Jones et al. 1974)

Even largest burbotCannot sustain their swimming for 10 minafter velocity reachesabout 24 cm/s

Act

ivit

y

Jan April July Sept Dec Month

Burbot Activity – time of year Paakkonen (2000)

Spawningseason

Burbot are capable of movinglong distances (120 km) but

they are slow

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1-Oct

15-O

ct

29-O

ct

12-N

ov

26-N

ov

10-D

ec

24-D

ec7-

Jan

21-J

an

4-Feb

18-F

eb

4-M

ar

18-M

ar

Date

Dis

char

ge

(m3/s

)

1962-19711973-1982Winter flow

Post Libby Dam

Pre Libby Dam

Libby Dam1972

Bonners Ferry

Bu

rbot

Time

1973

Lake

Kooca

nusa

Libby Dam (rkm 352)

KootenaiFalls (rkm 310)

Yaa

k

River

Mo

yie

R

ive

r

Deep

BonnersFerry(rkm 246)

Boundary Cr.

Goa

tR

iver

(rkm 170)

Nelson

Duncan

LakeK

ootenay

Lake

South

Arm

West Arm

North

Arm

(rkm 120)

Cre

ek

0 50

Kilometers

BRITISH COLUMBIA

MONTANAWASHINGTON IDAHO

rkm 228

N

S

EW

Primaryburbot study area

Goat RiverOnly knownConsistentSpawning site

Sensitive Life History Factors

(1)Low swimming endurance

(2)Winter spawners - highly synchronized

(3)In Kootenai River must travel long distances (Kootenay Lake and lower river), up to 120 km.

(4)Larvae need immediate source of food (winter)

Objectives 1993-1994

Determine the population status of burbot in the Kootenai River

(1) Size structure

(2) Distribution

(3) Abundance

(4) Movement (winter telemetry)

Bu

rbot

tra

vel a

nd

riv

er lo

cati

o n

Time

December January February

Flo

w f

rom

Lib

by

Dam

Burbot movement

Flow

Spawning season - telemetry 1994-1995

Objectives 1995-present1) Determine genetic differences

2) Estimate population size

3) Determine blood physiology (stress)

4) Determine flow vs. movement relationships

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Date

Dis

char

ge a

t L

ibb

y D

am

(cm

s)

Test Test Test

Controlled flow tests

Hypothesis h : Libby Dam flows do not inhibit burbot spawning migration simulate pre-dam

o

Results of three low flow tests during the winter of 1997-1998

(1)Significantly more movement during low flow - movement started in late October but more movement in January (need 90 days for migration)

A Conservation Strategy was prepared but flow recommendations were necessary for the next step-

A Conservation Agreement.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Date

Dis

char

ge a

t L

ibb

y D

am

(cm

s)Rate/day and distance

Test

Hypothesis h : flow from Libby Dam does not impair Burbot travel rate or distance.

o

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Date

Dis

char

ge a

t L

ibb

y D

am

(cm

s)Rate/day and distance

Test

1999-2002 no tests

135

140

145

150

155

160

165

October-98

November-98

December-98

January-99

February-99

March-99

Date

Fis

h lo

catio

n (

rkm

)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Lib

by

dis

cha

rge

24

ho

urs

prio

r (c

ub

ic m

/s)

Burbot 30.832Discharge

Test – only 3 days

Search for an alternative method to determine suitable flows for burbot migration !

(1)Search all burbot telemetry records from 1994-2000 (68 burbot with transmitters).

(2) Examined all telemetry records – 1,835 contacts.

(3) Travel rate criteria based on distance from Kootenai River in British Columbia to spawning tributaries in Idaho (~ 45 km) and a total travel time of 90 days.

Criteria- Burbot must travel 5 km or more in10 days or less. “Stepwise movement”

Stepwise movement –1994-2000

Flow range (m /s) Number of cases100-200 20201-300 10301-400 3401-500 5501-600 5601-700 1700+ 0Total 44

3

Spawning migration and spawningExamined all stepwise movements of burbotand flow in two class intervals, Oct-Feb 1994-2000 only

Cases of Cases of(m /s) movement flow days (m /s)100- 15 186300

301- 11 538700Fisher exact test (p = 0.001)

33

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Date

Dis

char

ge a

t L

ibb

y D

am

(cm

s)

Flow 1994-2000

Burbotspawn

1) Flow of 176 m /s from Libby Dam2) For period of 90 d

3Recommendations

Burbot migration

Examination of temperature and burbot behavior

Locations for burbot 12 (sonic 96) by temperature and date

70

90

110

130

150

170

190

210

230

250

6/28

/199

47/

26/1

994

8/23

/199

49/

20/1

994

10/1

8/19

9411

/15/

1994

12/1

3/19

941/

10/1

995

2/7/

1995

3/7/

1995

4/4/

1995

5/2/

1995

5/30

/199

56/

27/1

995

7/25

/199

58/

22/1

995

9/19

/199

510

/17/

1995

11/1

4/19

9512

/12/

1995

1/9/

1996

2/6/

1996

3/5/

1996

4/2/

1996

4/30

/199

65/

28/1

996

6/25

/199

67/

23/1

996

8/20

/199

69/

17/1

996

Date

Riv

er k

ilom

eter

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

Tem

pera

ture

( oC

)

B12_96

DegC

Locations for burbot 234 (sonic 2632) by temperature and date

130

135

140

145

150

155

160

2/1/

2001

2/22

/200

13/

15/2

001

4/5/

2001

4/26

/200

15/

17/2

001

6/7/

2001

6/28

/200

17/

19/2

001

8/9/

2001

8/30

/200

19/

20/2

001

10/1

1/2

001

11/1

/200

111

/22/

2001

12/1

3/20

011/

3/20

021/

24/2

002

2/14

/200

23/

7/20

023/

28/2

002

4/18

/200

25/

9/20

025/

30/2

002

6/20

/200

27/

11/2

002

8/1/

2002

8/22

/200

29/

12/2

002

10/3

/200

210

/24/

2002

11/1

4/20

0212

/5/2

002

12/2

6/20

021/

16/2

003

2/6/

2003

2/27

/200

3

Date

Riv

er k

ilom

eter

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Tem

pera

ture

(oC

)

B234_2632

DegC

Fidelity forGoat River

Free rangingtransboundary

New ideas for rehabilitation?

1) Use donor stocks2) Use a captive signal stock to

a. Concentrate spawnersb. Establish spawners in individual

tributaries c. Rehabilitation measure with wild fish – improve recruitment

Goal: Rehabilitate the Kootenay River stock of burbot in Idaho to population abundance that can

sustain a harvest of surplus fish.

Objective: Determine the extent of the spawning stock of burbot in selected tribs.

Objective: Determine if burbot spawner numbers can be concentrated with a signalStock of burbot.

Objective: Use a donor stock of burbot to Enhance recruitment - burbot are stock limited

Experiment with tributaries

A B C

Weir

Captive fish

An International Conservation Strategy has been prepared

What is next?

(1) A Conservation Agreement is needed now. Implementation of Recommended flows

from Libby Dam during winter could range from 100 – 300 m /s but must average about 176 m /s for 90 days (Nov-Jan).

3

33