Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the

Duck Valley Indian Reservation

Fish Stocking and Operations/Maintenance

Project 1995-015-00

Located on ID/NV Located on ID/NV borderborder

Deemed sufficient Deemed sufficient to provide ample to provide ample fish and wildlife fish and wildlife resources for resources for subsistencesubsistence

Bruneau and Owyhee subbasinsBruneau and Owyhee subbasins

Southernmost drainages to Columbia RiverSouthernmost drainages to Columbia River Historic runs of anadromous salmonidsHistoric runs of anadromous salmonids Salmon and steelhead were a significant Salmon and steelhead were a significant

part of Tribal culture part of Tribal culture Used for subsistence as well as for trade Used for subsistence as well as for trade

goodsgoods Identified by NPCC (1995) as “blocked Identified by NPCC (1995) as “blocked

areas”areas”

Dam ConstructionDam Construction

Brownlee Dam - completed in 1958Brownlee Dam - completed in 1958

Oxbow Dam – completed in 1961Oxbow Dam – completed in 1961

Hells Canyon Dam – completed in 1967Hells Canyon Dam – completed in 1967

Mitigation for loss of Mitigation for loss of salmon/steelheadsalmon/steelhead

Construction of 3 reservoirs on DVIRConstruction of 3 reservoirs on DVIR– Sheep Creek ReservoirSheep Creek Reservoir

Completed in mid-50sCompleted in mid-50s ~855 acres~855 acres

– Mountain View ReservoirMountain View Reservoir Completed in 1969Completed in 1969 ~640 acres~640 acres

– Lake Billy ShawLake Billy Shaw Completed in 1998Completed in 1998 ~430 acres~430 acres

Reservoir ManagementReservoir Management

–managed as a put and take fisherymanaged as a put and take fishery

– originally funded by USFWSoriginally funded by USFWS

–BPA assumed funding in 1988BPA assumed funding in 1988

–Tribal and visiting anglers primary Tribal and visiting anglers primary usersusers

Fish StockingFish Stocking

Rainbow trout are target management Rainbow trout are target management speciesspecies

Sourced from two southern ID hatcheriesSourced from two southern ID hatcheries– College of Southern Idaho (Twin Falls, ID)College of Southern Idaho (Twin Falls, ID)– Black Canyon Trout Farm (Grace, ID)Black Canyon Trout Farm (Grace, ID)

Annually plant ~ 95K fishAnnually plant ~ 95K fish– LBS receives ~ 17K triploid rainbow troutLBS receives ~ 17K triploid rainbow trout– SCR and MVR receive ~ 78K rainbow troutSCR and MVR receive ~ 78K rainbow trout

Operations and MaintenanceOperations and Maintenance

Monitoring and Evaluation Monitoring and Evaluation – Important component used for adaptive Important component used for adaptive

managementmanagement– Biological dataBiological data

Fish health, growthFish health, growth

– Water quality dataWater quality data TemperaturesTemperatures Dissolved oxygenDissolved oxygen pHpH

– Angler informationAngler information CPUE, angler satisfactionCPUE, angler satisfaction

Operations and MaintenanceOperations and Maintenance

Key infrastructure components Key infrastructure components – Dams, boat launch facilities, docksDams, boat launch facilities, docks– Many at or near end of useful lifeMany at or near end of useful life– Significant component of angling satisfactionSignificant component of angling satisfaction– Replacement/upgrades neededReplacement/upgrades needed– Surrounding recreation areas (campgrounds) Surrounding recreation areas (campgrounds)

are vital to lure visitors to remote locationare vital to lure visitors to remote location Overnight stays are most commonOvernight stays are most common 98 miles north of Elko98 miles north of Elko 96 miles south of Mountain Home96 miles south of Mountain Home 150 miles south of Boise 150 miles south of Boise

Water Quality Water Quality

All reservoirs are relatively shallowAll reservoirs are relatively shallow– depth average of < 12 feetdepth average of < 12 feet

Inflow of water is tied to irrigation usesInflow of water is tied to irrigation uses Turbidity problem at SCRTurbidity problem at SCR

– Sources identified Sources identified – Project proposal developed, seeking fundingProject proposal developed, seeking funding

Issues related to temperature, DOsIssues related to temperature, DOs– Reservoirs routinely stratify in late July – mid Reservoirs routinely stratify in late July – mid

AugustAugust– Hypolimnion has low DO values Hypolimnion has low DO values

Future MonitoringFuture Monitoring

Bathymetric mappingBathymetric mapping Feasibility of steelhead re-introductionFeasibility of steelhead re-introduction Propose the use of elastomer tags to track Propose the use of elastomer tags to track

cohortscohorts– Unknown if over-winter survival is an issueUnknown if over-winter survival is an issue– Multiple stockings at different times of the year Multiple stockings at different times of the year

make tracking by size class difficultmake tracking by size class difficult

Questions?Questions?

Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the

Duck Valley Indian Reservation

Fish Stocking and Operations/Maintenance

Presented toNPCC – ISRP

January 18, 2012