The Unknown Rogue River Spring Chinook Salmon Tragedy

It is time to understand the damage being done but not seen to Rogue River Spring Chinook Salmon and to recognize that the lack of fiduciary duty the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Army Corps of Engineers has brought to management of the once world famous Rogue River Spring Chinook runs. Both Wild and Hatchery Spring Chinook runs have been brought to their knees and are fighting for survival.

• The Rogue Basin Flood Control Project was started in 1935 paused during the war years and then heated up in 1956 just after the destructive Flood of 1955. The authorization for the Rogue Basin Project came in the Rivers and Harbors Act of October 23rd, 1962, two years prior to the devastating Christmas Day Flood of 1964.
• The Final (EIS) Environmental Impact Statement for Lost Creek Dam was published in May of 1972, which gave direction of how the Lost Creek Project was to be operated and impacts mitigated for.
• “Do No Harm statement” This statement came from a public meeting in 1956 and followed all authorization documentation forward. “On the fact that any flood control plan detrimental to the fishery resource would be unacceptable, both locally and to the Federal and State fishery agencies”.
• Cole Rivers Hatchery was ordered to be built and in operation before Lost Creek Dam could be built. Hatchery construction was completed in 1973 and the dam construction was begun and completed in 1977. The primary purpose of Cole Rivers Hatchery was to mitigate for Spring Chinook spawning and rearing habitat lost. Cole Rivers Hatchery was to produce 13,020 returning Adult Spring Chinook at the hatchery to meet the projects authorization requirements.
• Over the last 14 years Hatchery Spring Chinook shortfalls average 63% and Wild or Natural Spawning runs of Spring Chinook are now 60% below expected levels. Wild / Natural Producing Spring Chinook populations are shattered by predictable but unaddressed habitat issues. Wild Spring Chinook harvest has virtually been closed down with a huge economic impact.
• It is time to hold the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and ODFW accountable for their management failures in sustaining the once famous Rogue River Spring Chinook run. The combined agency inaction has resulted in higher sport license fees and severely restricted sport harvest regulations. These two events when combined spell FAILURE. It is time for the counties, ports, and all user groups to demand that fisheries be restored to levels intended in the EIS of 1972. The public has lost trust in these two agencies.

Cole Rivers Hatchery Mitigation Results 2005 – 2018

Statement from 1972 Final Environmental Impact Statement for Lost Creek Lake “The project will effectively isolate the upstream drainage area from use by anadromous fish. Maintenance of anadromous and resident fish populations will be dependent upon the fish hatchery (Cole Rivers) for artificial spawning and rearing”.

Final EIS Summary Sheet – 3. a. Environmental Impact:

Flooding of river valley behind dam used for timber production, farming, pasture, and wildlife habitat; loss of an 11-mile stretch of natural stream to be covered by the lake; reduction of flood damage downstream along Rogue River; provision of water for irrigation, municipal and industrial water supply, recreation, fish and wildlife, and water quality improvement; hatchery production to compensate for fishery losses and power production.

Final EIS Page 1-9

“Included in the project is the construction of Cole M. Rivers Fish Hatchery. That work is in progress and will be completed January 1973. The hatchery will be capable of producing 425,100 pounds of fish per year. That capacity is based on requirements to provide restitution for loss of spawning and rearing areas at Lost Creek as well as the other authorized Rogue Basin projects, Elk Creek and Applegate. The species to be reared are spring chinook, summer and winter steelhead, Coho salmon, rainbow trout, and kokanee salmon”.

Final EIS Page 3-8

It’s also stated that by 1980 there will be 3.3 million visits along the Rogue River.

Final EIS Page 3-10

“It is estimated that the stretch of river from the dam upstream provides spawning area for 13,020 spring chinook and 500 summer steelhead. Production at Cole M. Rivers Hatchery will be sufficient to cover those losses. Annual production will be about 425,000 pounds which is equivalent to about 3,500,000 fingerlings. The 11-mile length of free-flowing stream to be inundated, considered to be of excellent quality for spawning, also will be lost as natural habitat for resident rainbow and cutthroat trout. Stream fishing for the resident and anadromous species along the inundated stream will be lost and replaced by a reservoir fishery and an improved downstream fishery. While the total harvest of the resources is expected, by the fishery agencies, to increase, the type of the fishing experience in the 11-mile reach will change to a lake-type fishery. The natural run of anadromous fish which utilizes the river above the dam will be blocked”.

Final EIS Page 3-10

Resumption of studies for a water resource project by the Corps was initiated by a public hearing in Grants Pass on 15 November 1956. At that hearing the emphasis of testimony was on:

(1) Prevention of flood damages, with associated irrigation, power generation, and recreation benefits;
(2) On the fact that any flood control plan detrimental to the fishery resource would be unacceptable, both locally and to the Federal and State fishery agencies.

The Final Environmental Impact Statement May 8, 1972 clearly states Spring Chinook return above Lost Creek Dam required being 13,020 adults at the hatchery for authorization of the Lost Creek Dam Project.

Rogue Spring Chinook Salmon Conservation Plan Assessment and Update Draft 11/15/2018 Page 11

“The percentage of hatchery fish among Spring Chinook spawning naturally in the Rogue River was less than 1% in 2017, and has averaged less than 5% over the last 10 years. These values are far below the desired status identified in the Plan of 15%, and have dropped substantially from the percentage of hatchery spawners at the time the Plan was adopted.” (2007)

Appendix A. Hatchery Program Update (same document)
Page 40

“Background: Cole Rivers Fish Hatchery was built by the Corps of Engineers to replace the fish and fishery that were lost due to dam construction and operation. The primary purpose of Cole Rivers Hatchery is to produce Spring Chinook Salmon for mitigation for lost spawning habitat inundated by William Jess Dam which was completed in 1977, blocking 10 miles of the mainstem and portions of both the Middle Fork and South Fork of the Rogue River”.

What fish does Cole Rivers Hatchery produce for the Rogue River? (same document)

“Cole Rivers produces fish to meet the mitigation obligation for William Jess Dam (Lost Creek Dam). The primary purpose of the hatchery is production of Spring Chinook salmon. William Jess Dam/Lost Creek Reservoir stopped production of about 1/3 of the spawning population of Rogue spring Chinook. The mitigation goal is 13,020 adult Spring Chinook at the hatchery. Cole Rivers hatchery also has mitigation goals for Coho Salmon, Summer Steelhead, Winter Steelhead, and Rainbow Trout”.

Does Cole Rivers Hatchery mark all the hatchery Spring Chinook with a fin clip?

“Beginning with the smolt release in 2007, the spring Chinook produced at Cole Rivers Hatchery have been all been released with an adipose fin clip. The fin clipping is accomplished using an automated process in a marking trailer that moves around the state. The hatchery goal is for a 100% fin clip rate. Recently, the fin clipping has taken place in March at Cole Rivers”.

The above 100% fin clipping allows us to have a finite assessment of Cole Rivers Hatchery Pond collection data, 2012 thru 2018 and beyond.

Prior to 2007 not all hatchery released stocks were fin clipped. After 2007 all returning Spring Chinook of Hatchery Origin were fin clipped. Prior to 2007 estimates of return were used with about 90% marked before release.

Counts for Naturally Produced (Wild) Spring Chinook entering the hatchery collection pond were not counted or made available until 2016, 2017 and 2018. In the graph below the Release Return is the percentage of adults that returned from hatchery smolt release.

Hatchery Spring Chinook Returns – required return at Hatchery per Final EIS of 13,020 Adults.

YEAR	HATCHERY RETURN	LESS WILD & JACKS	HATCHERY ADULTS	DEFICIT OF 13,020 RETURN % OF RELEASE RETURN
2018	5,027	233 Wild = 4.5% 720 Jacks = 14.5%	4,074 Shortfall -8,947	69% Deficit 0.28% Release Return
2017	4,280	338 Wild = 7.9% 973 Jacks = 21%	2,969 Shortfall -10,051	77% Deficit 0.23% Release Return
2016	2,698	182 Wild = 7% 670 Jacks = 25%	1,846 Shortfall -11,174	85% Deficit 0.15% Release Return
2015	8,278	406 Wild = 4.9% 310 Jacks = 4%	7,562 Shortfall -5,458	54% Deficit .46% Release Return
2014	8,563	Estimate 7.75% Wild = 663 Estimate Jacks = 20% = 1,712	6,188 Shortfall -6,832	53% Deficit 0.47% Release Return
2013	9,759	Estimate 7.75% Wild = 759 Estimate Jacks = 20% = 1,952	7,044 Shortfall -5,976	46^ Deficit 0.51% Release Return
2012	10,995	Estimate 7.75% Wild = 825 Estimate Jacks = 20% = 2,198	7,972 Shortfall -5,048	39% Deficit 0.57% Release Return
2011	6,748	Estimate 7.75% Wild = 523 Estimate Jacks = 20% =1,350	4,051 Shortfall -8,969	69% Deficit 0.30% Release Return
2010	8,243	Estimate 7.75% Wild = 639 Estimate Jacks = 20% = 1,648	5,956 Shortfall -7,064	54% Deficit 0.43% Release Return
2009	5,526	Estimate 7.75% Wild = 429 Estimate Jacks = 20% = 1,106	3,991 Shortfall -9,029	69% Deficit 0.28% Release Return
2008	5,703	Estimate 7.75% Wild = 442 Estimate Jacks = 20% = 1,140	4,121 Shortfall -8,899	68% Deficit 0.29% Release Return
2007	5,271	Estimate 7.75% Wild = 411 Estimate Jacks = 20% = 1,140	3,763 Shorfall -9,257	72% Deficit 0.27% Release Return
2006	5,243	Estimate 7.75% Wild = 404 Estimate Jacks = 20% = 1,048	3,784 Shortfall -9,236	72% Deficit 0.27% Release Return
2005	8,875	Estimate 7.75% Wild = 688 Estimate Jacks = 20% = 1,776	6,410 Shortfall -6,610	51% Deficit 0.46% Release Return
Avg.	6,800	14 yr. Wild Average = 541 14 yr. Jack Average – 1,575	Avg. Return 4,881 Shortfall -8,139	63% Deficit 0.37% Release Return
		Required Adult Annual Hatchery Return 13,020 Adults 182,280 over 14 years. Actual 14 yr. return total 68,334 Hatchery Adult for a 4,881 Avg. Annual Hatchery Adult Return. 14 year Shortage 113,945	Used 2009 Economic Study of Rogue River Salmon Dollar amounts are in 2007 Dollars	Annual Average (14 year) economic In river harvest loss @ $576.00 per fish = $4,688,064.00 per year 14 yr. Deficit = $65,632,896.00

Hatchery returns broke down by decade. Notice the Release Return percentage tumble. This shows a management issue not river or ocean conditions.

10 YEAR AVG.	HATCHERY RETURN AVG.	JACKS AVG. NO WILD INFO. *	HATCHERY ADULTS	PERCENTAGE OF 13,020 GOAL / RELEASE RETURN
1981-1990	34,062	14,419* 43% Jacks	19,643	151% 2.6% Return
1991-2000	28,589	4,071* 14% Jacks	24,518	189% 1.9% Return
2001-2010	9,602	1,704 Est. 18% Jacks	7,898	-40% .54% Return
2011-2018	*6,419 (8 year)	1,247 Est. 18% Jacks	5,172	-62% .38% Return

1. 37 year average return of Jacks (under 24”) to hatchery is 23.25% we use a 20% Jack return in our estimates where data is yet available.
2. Currently less than 1% of hatchery Spring Chinook are found spawning in the wild.
3. ODFW currently produces 365,125 pounds of hatchery mitigation of salmon, steelhead and trout. The EIS allows 425,000 pounds of mitigation. 174,688 pounds of Spring Chinook are now produced.
4. Cole Rivers Hatchery stated primary purpose is to mitigate for lost spawning habitat for Spring Chinook Salmon. It is unclear why ODFW only allots 47.7% of mitigation production to Spring Chinook production while returning only 37% of required adults over last 14 years.
5. Cole Rivers Hatchery Spring Chinook smolt to adult return is just 0.38% with the return in 2016 at just 0.15%. Other state operated hatchery’s boast a 1.58% avg. return of Chinook over 12 yrs.
6. Hatchery Steelhead return at 1.4%, 3.7 times more returning steelhead per smolt (same hatchery same river). Hatchery Coho returned at 1.8% or 4.7 times greater returns.
7. The Final EIS in referring to trout production says 50,000 pounds for Lost Creek Reservoir. Cole Rivers mitigation for trout now stands at 162,337 pounds of trout.
8. We used “The Economic Value of Rogue River Salmon from ECONorthwest 2009” to arrive at economic value of $576.00 per Spring Chinook Salmon. It was the lowest price of options given, basically the less fish returning the higher the value as harvest availability plays apart. More salmon that return, the lower the value of each salmon, the less that return, the cost to harvest goes up. Next step up being $821.00 each, which really fits the situation better, so we use a conservative economic impact estimate. Page 20
   http://www.oregoncoastalliance.org/documents_13/ECON_Rogue_Salmon_Study.pdf
9. ODFW tells us they are releasing 1,703,000 Spring Chinook smolt? The actual release over last 8 years averaged only 1,656,390 over 46,600 less than reported annually releases.
10. At the same time ODFW cut Coho Salmon hatchery releases to 75,000 smolt from 225,000 smolt and were to add the reduction of 150,000 smolt to hatchery Spring Chinook releases, this was not done. Spring Chinook smolt releases are down 46,600 smolt and then the missing 150,000 for a shortage of 196,600 smolt promised. 196,600 smolt equates to 747 Spring Chinook adults at the hatchery return rate of @0.38%. / @1.5% return it equates to 2,949 Spring Chinook at hatchery. Economic hit, 747 x $576.00 = $430,272.00 @0.38% or 2,949 x $576.00 = $1,132,416.00 @1.57% on missed hatchery production levels annually over last 8 years.

Rearing and Release Strategies:

The hatchery program for Spring Chinook Salmon is a mitigation program intended to replace lost natural production. Approximately 1,703,250 smolts are supposed to be released between mid-August and mid-March for 174,688 pounds of Spring Chinook smolt. Not met over last 8 years with a 196,000 smolt shortfall.

Mid-August 652,000 @ 13 fish per pound – 56,154 pounds on-station release at hatchery
Mid-August 78,000 @ 13 fish per pound – 6,000 pounds released in Rogue Estuary (new)
Mid-September 730,000 @ 9 fish per pound – 81,111 pounds on-station release at hatchery
Mid-October 193,250 @ 6.5 fish per pound – 29,730 pounds on-station release at hatchery
Mid-March 50,000 @ 6.5 fish per pound – 7,692 pounds release off site at Gold Hill

“The smolts are released primarily into the mainstem at the hatchery at river mile 157. Some releases (128,000 smolt) are trucked and released downstream to minimize impacts on Wild / NP produced Spring Chinook Salmon fry. The (down river) smolt release strategy maximizes survival rates and minimizes interaction (preditation) with naturally produced fishes in the Rogue River, as they out migrate to sea soon after release”. (Per ODFW)

ODFW has been asked for years why release Spring Chinook Hatchery Smolt in mass in August – Sept. – Oct. when the river is warmest (up to 76 degrees) and in some timeframes lowest flows of the year. Only 128,000 smolt are released down river, 1,575,250 are still released at hatchery. Predatory Birds and fish like the Squaw Fish or Northern Pike Minnow (an invasive species); are most active in the peak of summer release timeframes as are Cormorants, all released hatchery production except 128,000 smolt are available to this peak preditation.

There were studies done by (Mike Evenson ODFW) in the 1980’s and early 90’s that show preferred smolt release dates in August. The Dam was completed in 1977 and Squaw Fish were introduced to the river in 1979. This old study does not allow for changing conditions and river water flow management changes.

It is possible ODFW is concerned about even more preditation on Wild / Natural Producing Spring Chinook fry if releases were earlier in year at hatchery. Current release dates can have a 7% to 10% preditation rate on Wild/NP fry. It would even be higher in April or May just after eggs hatch. ODFW has been asked many times to truck Smolt downstream below old Gold Rey Dam site for release, protecting Wild / NP Spring Chinook fry and being more adaptable in release dates.

Given the low populations and return rates of both Wild/NP and Hatchery Spring Chinook all smolt releases should be reviewed for release timing to increase hatchery and Wild/NP production.

We were asked by Curry County Commissioner Sue Gold to include some solutions. These are ideas that need vetting but show that solutions are available. It is important to note that Commissioner Gold voted against the Curry County “No Confidence” letter because she did not want to offend agencies, not because of what was needed for Fish and the economy.

Restoring Hatchery Component of the Rogue River Spring Chinook Population

SMOLT RELEASE SITES

• Hatchery Operations are to return a minimum of 13,020 adults to the hatchery annually.
• Smolt releases are mostly volitional in nature – Onsight swim out release.
• Onsight releases are the least costly because all that needs to be done is open the gate.
• However there are costs not seen to Onsight release. 7% to 10% of Wild/NP fry are eaten by Onsite smolt releases. (ODFW)

WILD RETURN AVERAGE LAST 8 YEARS	HATCHERY SMOLT PREDITION RATE	ESTIMATED LOSS	ECONOMIC VALUE LOST
9,663	10%	966 Adults	966 x $576.00 = $556,416.00
	Equates to 96,232 Wild / NP Fry eaten

• This hatchery smolt preditation is eliminated on Wild / NP Spring Chinook / Steelhead / Coho Salmon (a listed Threatened species) with offsite releases below critical Upper Rogue spawning and rearing areas.
• Spring Chinook, Coho and Summer & Winter Steelhead should have their hatchery releases below critical Upper Rogue spawning and rearing areas.
• ODFW resists mightily in trucking Spring Chinook smolt down river below Wild/NP Spring Chinook Spawning and rearing areas because of costs. It is not reasonable to think transportation costs would come anywhere near $556,416.00 impacts cited.

Budget $70,000.00 for offsite hatchery releases @ $400.00 per load that is 175 truckloads. 100 truckloads = 11,000 smolt per load for about 2 million smolt or about 0.035 cents per smolt. Downriver releases of hatchery production critical Wild Spring Chinook / Steelhead and Threatened Coho while saving $500,000.00 or more in Wild Fish assets. As an estimate it costs about $0.75 to rear a to smolt stage 3.5 cents in transportation for release seems appropriate.

SMOLT RELEASE TIMING

• Currently about 1.6 million smolt are released volitionally in August – Sept. and October at the hatchery.
• Umpqua Pike Minnow (Squaw Fish) are an evasive species introduced to the Rogue River illegally by idiot in 1979. Changes in water temperatures and winter flows levels by the dams (Lost Creek and Applegate) have altered the ability to favor Umpqua Pike Minnow colonization of the Rogue River.
• Their population has exploded and Umpqua Pike Minnow are most active in warm summer water temperatures which allows them to expand their population and eat smolt a greater and greater rates. Hatchery releases should be timed to avoid peak feeding activity of Umpqua Pike Minnow
• The vast majority of hatchery Spring Chinook are now released in Aug. – Sept. and October. This time frame for Hatchery Spring Chinook smolt must be avoided for productive Hatchery Spring Chinook returns.

Umpqua Pike Minnow Illegally Introduced to Rogue River in 1979

DECADE	AVERAGE RUN SIZE
1978-1987	40,631
1988-1997	31,240
1998-2007	19,834
2008-2017	16,382

• Currently Hatchery Summer & Winter Steelhead have a 1.4% survival rate back to Cole Rivers hatchery. Coho Salmon have a 1.8% return rate. Spring Chinook have a 0.38% return rate. Steelhead and Coho are released in April and May when water is higher and colder. 1.6 million Spring Chinook are released Aug. – Sept. and October a time of Lower flows and warmer water.
• Solution; move Spring Chinook releases to late April to mid-May for improved survival rates. @ 1.4% (mimics steelhead April releases) Spring Chinook would improve from 0.38% (14 year return average) survival to 1.4% survival a 3.6 times increase in survival.
• At 3.6 increased return rate of Spring Chinook Adults using 14 year hatchery return average of 4,881 Adults x 3.6 increased return rate = 17,571 returning hatchery Spring Chinook.
• If we used the hatchery Coho Salmon May release return percentage of 1.8% which is 4.7 times greater than the 14 year return average hatchery Spring Chinook of:
  4,881Adults x 4.7 increased return rate = 22,941 returning hatchery Spring Chinook.
• At the $576.00 economic value for an adult Spring Chinook the 1.8% return rate of hatchery Coho Salmon equates to a $10 million annual improvement. If you apply the 1.4% return rate of hatchery Steelhead you still get a staggering $7.3 million annual economic gain.
• Oregon’s Salmon River Hatchery had a 1.58% Chinook smolt to adult return over 12 year period.
• By releasing Spring Chinook smolt in April and May instead of Aug. – Sept. – Oct. rearing costs may decrease as 54% of rearing cost is feed related. 4 to 5 months less feeding.
• Rearing Pond Densities: High rearing pond densities reduce smolt to adult returns.

The Lost Creek Project has been in place for 41 years and each 10 year average there has been a decline over the previous 10 year average. The dam was completed in 1977, the 1978 to 1987 ten year average return was 40,631, four decades later the 2007 to 2017 ten year average was just 16,382 a 24,249 fish drop in run size, a 60% decline over all. Efforts to restore Spring Chinook runs have been based on harvest restrictions. Harvest restrictions do not rebuild fish runs they just prolong the real problems not addressed.

Concerning Wild or Naturally Producing Spring Chinook

Naturally Producing (NP) Spring Chinook annual returns have plummeted 60% from pre-dam numbers. The dam was completed in 1977 with primary purposes of Flood Control and Fisheries.

Final EIS 3-10 – “any flood control plan detrimental to the fishery resource would be unacceptable”,

YEARS	WILD/NP AVG.	AVERAGE RUN SIZE	HATCHERY COMPONENT AVG.	DEFICIT RELATED TO DAM COMBINED WILD + HATCHERY	ANNUAL AVG ECONOMIC LOSS
1978-1987		40,631		+6,631 avg.
1988-1997		31,240		-2,760 avg.
1998-2007	7,598	19.834	12,238 avg.	-14,166 avg.	$ 8,159,616
2008-2017	9,663	16,382	4,940 avg.	-17,618 avg.	$10,147,968
				21 yr. Economic Loss Total	$366,151,680.00

• Wild or NP Spring Chinook have declined 60% in compared to historical returns with hatchery production removed.
• Hatchery returns have also decline by 63% over the last 14 years. Hatchery Spring Chinook are not habitat challenged and do not need spawning gravel nor are affected by water temperature during hatching as Wild NP Spring Chinook are.
• There was an average annual return 2,067 Wild/NP Spring Chinook return increase in last 10 year between 1998 – 2007 ten year block and the 2008 – 2017 year block.
• There was an average annual return 12,356 Hatchery Spring Chinook decrease in the same 10 year blocks of 1998 – 2007 and 2008 – 2017 year block.
• Important to note there was very restrictive fishing on Wild/NP Spring Chinook where hatchery Spring Chinook were harvested.
• Only conclusion we can draw is very poor hatchery management to create a 14,423 Spring Chinook bifurcation.

Final Environmental Impact Statement Page 8-14 & 15
U.S. DEPT. OF INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY.

1. Public Comment:
   Another downstream impact expected is loss of salmon and steelhead spawning habitat below the Lost Creek Dam. Natural Replenishment of gravel supply will not occur as a result of the reservoir and dam construction.
2. USACE Response: True for Fall Chinook but not Spring Chinook
   As an impact from Lost Creek Dam and resulting flow augmentation and temperature control, it is expected that salmon and steelhead spawning habitat will be improved. Though replenishment of gravels in the Rogue River downstream from the dam will be stopped, it has been the experience at other Corps projects that the naturally-occurring supply of gravels from tributaries and from natural shoreline erosion is sufficient to maintain spawning habitat.

Author Comment: The public was misled by USACE in public comment. It is a mystery why ODFW who was present allowed this blatant falsehood to stand and not be addressed in relation to Upper Rogue Spring Chinook Salmon. Lack of Spawning Gravel below Lost Creek Dam is one of the top two reasons Wild/Naturally Produced Spring Chinook have declined over 63% in population and resulted in a conservation status with sever harvest limitations resulting in local economic harm.

The USACE spokesman cited tributaries for naturally-occurring supply of gravels. What tributaries, Elk Creek was to be Dammed so no gravel from there. Big Butte Creek is gravel poor, Trail Creek has very low supplies of gravel. There are no significant gravel recruitment sources in the entirety of Upper Rogue River Spring Chinook Spawning areas. Very inaccurate and uncorrected (by ODFW) comments and direction.

I refer back to the guiding premise for the Lost Creek Project:

Final EIS Page 3-10

Resumption of studies (after World War II) for a water resource project by the Corps was initiated by a public hearing in Grants Pass on 15 November 1956. At that hearing the emphasis of testimony was on:

(1) Prevention of flood damages, with associated irrigation, power generation, and recreation benefits;
(2) On the fact that any flood control plan detrimental to the fishery resource would be unacceptable, both locally and to the Federal and State fishery agencies.

Possible Solutions in restoring historic Wild/NP Spring Chinook runs

Management of Wild / NP Spring Chinook

When it comes to addressing Wild/ NP Spring Chinook populations that have crashed by 60%, almost everything is habitat related. Sports harvest has been severely limited. ODFW has mostly ignored habitat issues or continue to study and monitor, expense is a big factor. Focusing on expense never got anything done.

Habitat issues are expensive to address and take much staff time which for ODFW is two strikes against any sound habitat restoration. To be more than fair ODFW was dealt a bad hand on much of the habitat issues facing Wild/NP Spring Chinook. The USACE has a high level of ownership in unaddressed Spring Chinook habitat degradation below the dam. The Authorization Documents and the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Lost Creek Dam Project does not deny that there will be negative impacts above the dam but fisheries will benefit, stating: that any flood control plan detrimental to the fishery resource would be unacceptable, both locally and to the Federal and State fishery agencies. Wild/NP Spring Chinook have not benefited as USACE testified too.

Some concerns facing Wild/NP Spring Chinook below and then possible solutions.

• Not only did the Lost Creek Project block 11 miles or 33% of Spring Chinook habitat it changed the very environment that allowed the Rogue River to have a Spring Chinook Salmon run. Very few rivers have Spring Chinook runs because of the special needs required by Spring Chinook. Without this specialized environment the Rogue River will cease to have a Spring Chinook run as we know it.
• The most critical of these needs is wintertime water temperatures that allow proper egg incubation in the gravel. Lost Creek dam has the ability to release colder water during summer months due to the 325 ft. depth of the lake and the ability to store vast amounts of water to increase and cool summertime water flow’s both very good things in most cases.
• The issue with water temperatures arises in wintertime where the lake actually warms water in the winter months, a bad thing. Warmer release temperatures speed the hatching of the incubating eggs in the gravel. Fry hatch too soon and face starvation as the natural springtime food sources have not kept up to new hatch dates. ODFW and USACE have spent a great deal of time trying to bring colder winter flows back but have been unsuccessful, the upper river below the dam has become lethal to newly born Spring Chinook fry.
• Spawning gravel has been greatly depleted in the mainstem below the dam and as explained earlier in this document the USACE stated spawning gravel migration below the dam will be stopped but tributaries and bank erosion will supply the gravel needed for spawning. That premise went unchallenged by ODFW in the Environmental Impact Statement formation, a big error. There is no real gravel bearing tributaries in the Spring Chinook spawning habitat as championed by USACE, so replenishing of spawning gravel is only likely to happen with a major flood which the dam was built to control.
• Wild Fall Chinook have expanded their spawning habitat from lower in the Rogue Drainage to well into Spring Chinook habitat. Higher cooler summer and fall flows are drawing more and more Fall Chinook into the Upper River. Fall Chinook in some cases are displacing Spring Chinook on to little available spawning gravels in other cases cross spawning is occurring. This all puts pressure on Spring Chinook survival as we know Spring Chinook; especially the early run Spring Chinook that enter the river in March – April and early May.

We are left with a picture of 4 major impacts to the health of Wild / NP Spring Chinook.

• Mainstem wintertime warm water temperatures detrimental to Spring Chinook egg incubation.
• Deteriorated Spring Chinook spawning gravel much of which will likely never significantly improve in the mainstem.
• Encroachment of Fall Chinook in competing for too little spawning gravel with higher and Cooler River flows in mainstem.
• Fall Chinook interbreeding with Spring Chinook. There are no Hatchery Fall Chinook that can impact Wild / NP Spring Chinook.

ODFW addresses these habitat deterioration issues by curtailing harvest of Wild/NP Spring Chinook, it cheaper approach than any other alternative, but does not address the real issue, mainstem habitat.

Wild/NP Spring Chinook Habitat Solutions

1. Wintertime water temperatures during egg incubation.
   Mainstem wintertime water temperatures are lethal to a great many of Wild/NP Spring Chinook fry as they hatch too early into a wintertime environment of little available food.
   A. Solution: Redirect Spring Chinook spawner to Big Butte Creek where water temperatures during winter mimic historic mainstem water temperatures. Nearly 10 % of all Rogue River Wild Spring Chinook currently spawn in Big Butte Creeks first 1 mile of habitat.
   B. Solution: In addition research and Introduce food sources to sustain early hatching Spring Chinook fry to prevent starvation. Example: Gammarus, also known as Scuds, a shrimp-like crustaceans.
   
   
   Scuds are easy to culture live food that is an excellent rich food source that produce rapidly. Many Eastern Oregon water bodies have great numbers of Scuds with fast growing trout devour.
   
   Planting aquatic insects for food sources to strengthen fisheries populations in both tributaries and the mainstem Rogue River could give a lifeline to many fish species within the Rogue River.
   
   Fry
   ”Salmon fry may go to sea shortly after they hatch or may spend several years in freshwater. Most species of salmon fry have parr marks (bars and spots along their sides) that act as camouflage to help to avoid predators and hide among the cover provided by rocks, stumps, undercut banks and overhanging vegetation. Parr markings vary for fry of different species. As salmon fry grow larger, they move out into more open, faster moving water. During their fresh water residence, fry feed chiefly on terrestrial insects. Fry may form into schools during their freshwater residence”.
   https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Togiak/wildlife_and_habitat/fish/salmon_lifecycle.html
   
   There is no permit needed to plant insects for food source. We are sure other food source insects are available and would benefit all fish populations. Scuds could be produced and released at the hatchery. Estimated cost $25,000 per year.
2. Deteriorated Spring Chinook spawning gravel.
   Upper Rogue River Spring Chinook spawning gravel is scarce and depleting even more every year, so it is a long term continuing issue. Coupled with incubation water temperatures it is double hit to Wild/NP Spring Chinook survival, especially the depleted early portion of the run.
   A. Solution: A reintroduction of spawning gravel to the Upper Rogue would require an ongoing effort with gravel being added annually but must be done for any chance of fully recovering Wild/NP Spring Chinook. A recommend minimum of 2500 yards per year. Estimated cost at $150,000 to $300,000 annually.
   B. Solution: Little Butte Creek Tributary Spawning
   Move early Spring Chinook spawning to Big Butte Creek this will entail habitat improvements. Big Butte Creek a spawning gravel poor and water flows challenged because its flows are heavily diverted. Big Butte Creek is loved by Spring Chinook as nearly 10% of Spring Chinook spawn in just 1 mile of Big Butte Creek.
   Big Butte Creek is a major Upper Rogue River tributary that joins the mainstem Rogue River approximately 1.5 miles below Lost Creek Reservoir. In places the gradient is steep. Gravel migration studies have been done by ODFW with surprisingly good results. Big Butte Creek has about 14 miles of potential spawning habitat below the major fish passage obstacle, Butte Falls. There are stream flows of about 70 cfs during peak spawning time of Sept. thru early October with likely 150 CFS to 200 CFS being diverted.
   1. Solution: Purchase additional permanent water rights to Big Butte Creek during spawning time September 1 thru Oct. 15th of 50 cfs to 100 cfs.
   A.) Medford Water District diverts 25 to 50 cfs from Big Butte Springs. Medford Water District has a second source of water at Duff Treatment Plant on Table Rock Rd. Recommend purchasing Medford Water Districts water right during September 1 thru Oct.15th time frame. Using a document on page 152 we were able to find a CFS value in 1987 dollars. 1 CFS = $6,385.00 annually or $159,600.00 for 25 CFS for one year. $437.00 per day for 25 CFS. Medford Water District 25 CFS diversion would cost about $437.00 x 25 cfs x 45 days = $19,665.00 annually. Converting 25 CFS diversion to a permanent 25 CFS instream water right for around $500,000.00 http://www.nationalaglawcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/assets/bibarticles/neumanchapman_wading.pdf
   B.) Eagle Point Irrigation District diverts 100 CFS from Big Butte Creek. They also do a 2 week maintenance shutdown every year where they are not diverting water. Purchasing a 45 day water right for 100 CFS would be in the area of $80,000.00 annually or $1,966,500.00 for permeant 45 day water right to aid tributary spawning of early run Wild/NP Spring Chinook. This habitat is available nowhere else in the Upper Rogue. Estimated $3.0 million dollar water right purchase will assure 195 to 220 CFS flow permanently in Big Butte Creek for Wild Spring Chinook spawning.
   2. Fix fish passage at Crowfoot Falls. Estimated cost $100,000 onetime expense. Possible ODFW Fish Passage Task Force funding.
   3. Spawning Gravel in Big Butte Creek is poor and gradient is steep in some areas. Nearly all stream restoration projects incorporate some form of grade control in the project design. Too properly access spawning potential with stream habitat improvements the USACE and ODFW should design a plan for instream gradient reduction and spawning gravel placement. A series of 20 to 40 small weirs that include scour pools and spawning gravel holding capabilities while removing large to medium coble would be advantageous. The plan should include vegetation protection and planting as well as planting aquatic insects for food sources to strengthen fisheries populations. This should be a compressive plan with a significant budget of perhaps $10 million for design and completion. Goal would be to create a major tributary spawning area for early run Spring Chinook with a capacity of 1500 to 2000 spawning Spring Chinook over a 10 to 14 mile area with a 5 year completion time frame.
   4. Solution: Elk Creek Tributary Spawning. The Elk Creek Dam site is 3 miles from the confluence with the Rogue River. Notice the mountains of gravel and rock stockpiled for Elk Creek Dam that will likely never see completion. This gravel might be added to needy areas for spawning gravel, might be a great use. An assessment of restoration should be made to see if there are benefits to restoring spawning habitat and water flow to Elk Creek. ODFW, USACE BLM & USFS could partner on an Elk Creek Salmon project. A large number of Coho use Elk Creek for spawning. Having the watershed inaccessible for 20 years blocked by a partially completed dam seems like a negative impact gone unaddressed by USACE and ODFW.
   
   5. Fall Chinook Encroachment: into historical Upper Rogue Spring Chinook spawning habitat, exceeds a 7 fold increase over historic levels. Fall Chinook which are all Wild/NP now outnumber by almost 2,000 the Wild/NP Spring Chinook in the Upper Rogue with an ever increasing presence to the detriment of Wild/NP Spring Chinook. This really quite a threat to early run Wild/NP Spring Chinook.
   

DECADE Lost Creek Dam Completed 1977	AVERAGE FALL CHINOOK PRESENCE ABOVE GOLD RAY DAM Count station removed in 2010
1960-1969	1,431
1970-1979	3.637 (’77 – ’79 3 yr. avg. 4,717)
1980-1989	7,108
1990-1999	6,772
2000-2009	11,572 (7 fold increase from pre-dam)

• A. Solution: If Off Site Hatchery Releases were done at Tou Velle Park Boat Ramp in late April and early May there would be a natural preditation on Fall Chinook fry much as there was before Wild/NP Spring Chinook smolt production was decimated. Lack of natural preditation in Spring Chinook habitat may contribute to Fall Chinook encroachment.
• B. Solution: Little Butte Creek Tributary Spawning would allow Wild/NP Spring Chinook to access historical spawning areas in Little Butte Creek drainage. As with the Big Butte Creek plan, secure water rights within critical areas. However water rights need to be Permanente and year around. It might be a good idea to try to secure ½ of diverted flow and help with pipe irrigation instead of the flood irrigation used now. Flood irrigation uses a vast amount more water. Diverter could still have water and sell some water right to instream water rights. Over 12% of Coho Salmon returning above Gold Ray Dam spawned in Little Butte Creek, Coho are a listed species. A 50 cfs water right is needed.
  
  The plan should include vegetation protection and planting as well as planting aquatic insects for food sources to strengthen fisheries populations. This should be a compressive plan with a significant budget of perhaps $10 million for design and completion.
  
  Both the USFS and BLM have a great interest in rehabilitating Little Butte Creek. A group of agencies including ODFW, USACE, BLM, Water Resources, and Little Butte Watershed Council could design a recovery plan for Little Butte Creek with $20 million – $15 million – $10 million – $5 million dollar budgets to identify what can be done in recovery.

Supplementation: Incubation Boxes

Incubation boxes are special protective heavy duty plastic boxes holding 1000 eggs each in individual cells that protect and incubate eggs within the natural river environment until they hatch. Once hatched egg sac fry will remain in the protected incubation box for up to two weeks while the fry consumes its egg sac and then can swim free through the provided escape hole in each cell. The Incubation Box offers protection from environment and predators during the most venerable life stages for hatching Salmon and Steelhead and greatly increases survival. The more eggs that survive to fry stage, the more fry have a chance of surviving to adulthood

A $45 Incubation box holding 1000 eggs can produce survival rates of eggs to fry stage of 65 percent to 95 percent, compared to natural survival rates of 5 percent to 20 percent for very little cost. Incubation boxes are cost effective and can be easily cleaned and stored after use for use in following years.

The Jordan/Scotty incubator, sometimes referred to as the Salmon Condominium, is a Scientifically designed and tested plastic incubation unit and was developed to provide an efficient aid in the stream incubating of salmon or trout eggs. The unique design either eliminates or minimizes most of the problems experienced by natural spawning. Fungus infection is virtually eliminated and eggs are protected from predators and silt suffocation. Pilot testing indicates that survival rates from egg to fry is often better than 90% as compared to natural spawning survival rates of between 5% and 20%.

     The Oregon Hatchery Research Center says Fry from instream     
     incubation boxes are considered Wild / Naturally Produced  
     because they were born in the stream not a hatchery.

The Rogue River has faced declining Spring Chinook runs do to habitat loss, depleted spawning gravel and water temperatures for many decades in the mainstem and in tributaries. Water withdrawals in tributaries make access to historic spawning grounds difficult if not impossible.

Early run Spring Chinook preferred spawning areas were where the water ran cold on the winter months. Water temperatures were in the high 30’s in winter with snow on the river banks. The dam blocked access to the mainstem cold water early Spring Chinook habitat, now this cold water habitat is only available in tributary streams unaffected by the dam. Many of these historic early run Spring Chinook tributary streams are plagued with excessive water withdrawal. Only by addressing in stream water flows coupled with supplementation will early run Spring Chinook ever survive.

ODFW has not been able to stem the loss of fish populations only slow the ongoing decline.

The critical need to enhance our Wild/NP Spring Chinook stocks is well documented. Natural spawning has declined dramatically over the past 50 years for many reasons. Many of our spawning areas no longer exist. Many of the spawning areas that still exist are only partially effective and many of our original Salmon stocks are in trouble.
Goals of supplementation is to fully restore historic Wild/NP Spring Chinook Salmon population levels in the Rogue River and tributaries with naturally in river produced salmon using native stocks, with a focus on the restoring the decimated early run Spring Chinook.

Why Incubation Box

1. It is much cheaper.
2. Better hatch production per egg up to 90% or more compared to 5% to 20% hatch rate in wild. Upper Rogue hatch rate might be much lower.
3. Better survival with a higher quality and stronger juvenile production.
4. Adult is unmarked and is identical genetically to a Wild Fish – spawns in the Wild after returning which builds Wild Stocks.
5. Can be placed in tributaries where adults spawners cannot always access.
6. Eggs in In-Stream Incubation Boxes are much more likely to survive floods that wash out spawning beds.

ODFW at Cole Rivers Hatchery, hatch over 3 million Spring Chinook eggs annual to be sure they have enough for their 1.7 million smolt release. This year 2019 has seen another mass fish loss at the hatchery having lost 1.3 million eggs due to Blue Green algae.

If ODFW would place 225,000 eggs of the 3 million eggs they produce into cold water tributaries; the likelihood of mass debilitating die offs would be reduced. Incubation box insurance.

• Big Butte Creek Supplementation: 75,000 eyed Spring Chinook eggs into Upper Big Butte Creek where water temperatures mimic historical early run Spring Chinooks habitat; with water in the high 30’s during incubation.
• Elk Creek Supplementation: 75,000 eyed Spring Chinook eggs into Upper Elk Creek where water temperatures mimic historical early run Spring Chinooks habitat; with water in the high 30’s during incubation.
• Little Butte Creek Supplementation: 75,000 eyed Spring Chinook eggs into Upper Little Butte Creek where water temperatures mimic historical early run Spring Chinooks habitat; with water in the high 30’s during incubation.

Each tributary supplemented could return 1000 Early Run Spring Chinook annually with a 1.3% fry to adult return level. Even if these returning Early Run Spring Chinook cannot access the tributary of birth the returning adults would infuse early run tendencies into mainstem spawning. This would help stem the Fall Chinook invasion of historic Spring Chinook spawning areas and solidify the most at risk population segment of Rogue River Spring Chinook.

The Unknown Rogue River Spring Chinook Salmon Tragedy

In Conclusion:

In our opinion, a No Confidence declaration naming the Army Corps of Engineers and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for lack of commitment and transparency in management of Rogue River Spring Chinook Salmon is not only fully appropriate but a fiduciary duty to the citizens of the Rogue Basin and the State of Oregon in general.

It is the intent of the author and supporters to bring this collection of documentation forward to the Rogue Basin County Commissioners; With the hope of No Confidence finding and support for rectifying Spring Chinook habitat degradation and ongoing social and economic disaster.

The Final Environmental Impact Statement of 1972 was the official directive for the Lost Creek Dam Project. It outlined steps to take in the construction of the dam and operation of the hatchery as well as mitigation for effects of the dam. Every detail was addressed, where roads and recreation areas would be, where fill would come from, how debris would be removed and when and how hatchery operations would be managed. The EIS even set flow and storage levels.

The failure to adhere to the steps outlined in the Environmental Impact Statement of 1972 for the Lost Creek Dam Project concerning mitigation and hatchery production is both a violation of the EIS but also Dam Authorization and the contract with local governments and the public who supported the project.

It is our view that violation of Dam Authorization Documents and local governmental and public binding agreements put Lost Creek Dams Authorization in question and the Dam is likely operating illegally.

Reference Material used in this Report

• Effects of Lost Creek Dam on Spring Chinook Salmon in the Rogue River
  https://digital.osl.state.or.us/islandora/object/osl%3A35566
• Rogue River Fisheries Evaluation Project 1991 United States Army Corps of Engineers Portland District https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16021coll3/id/219/

ODFW Cole Rivers Hatchery Collection Pond Data used in creating this Document

• 2018 Hatchery Return Report – https://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/fish_counts/rogue_river/cole_rivers/2018/ColeRivers_SpringChinook.pdf
• 2017 Hatchery Return Report – https://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/fish_counts/rogue_river/cole_rivers/2017/ColeRivers_SpringChinook.pdf
• 2016 Hatchery Return Report – https://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/fish_counts/rogue_river/cole_rivers/2017/ColeRivers_ChS.pdf
• Lost Creek final EIS Document (go to item 10) http://140.211.107.158/knowvation/app/consolidatedSearch/#search/v=grid,c=1,q=qs%3D%5Bhouse%20bill%20566%2C%20authorizing%20document%5D%2Csubject%3D%5BRogue%20River%20Basin%20Project%2C%20Oregon%20(U.S.)%5D%2Ccreator%3D%5B(United%20States.%20Army.%20Corps%20of%20Engineers.%20Portland%20District)%5D%2Cfield1%3D%5BBioregion%5D%2CqueryType%3D%5B16%5D,sm=s,sb=0%3Afield9%3ADESC,l=library1_lib%2Clibrary2_lib,a=t
• Rogue Spring Chinook Salmon Conservation Plan Draft comprehensive Assessment and Update of 11/15/18 https://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/CRP/docs/rogue_spring_chinook/Rogue_CHS_Comprehensive_Assessment_11-15-18.pdf
• Lost Creek Project Authorization Document file:///C:/Users/Steve/Documents/Chief%20of%20Engineers%20H%20Doc%20566.pdf
  lood Control Act of 1962
  TITLE II—FLOOD CONTROL PUBLIC LAW 87-874-OCT. 23, 1962 / Page 1192
• The Economic Value of Rogue River Salmon 2009 http://www.oregoncoastalliance.org/documents_13/ECON_Rogue_Salmon_Study.pdf
• Cole Rivers Hatchery Program Management Plan 2019 https://digital.osl.state.or.us/islandora/object/osl:79759
• PASSAGE ESTIMATES OF SPRING CHINOOK SALMON AT GOLD RAY DAM https://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/local_fisheries/rogue_river/goldray/historical/Annual_GRD_Counts_CHS.pdf
• HATCHERY AND GENETIC MANAGEMENT PLAN file:///C:/Users/Steve/Documents/rogueriver_springchinook_hgmp8-17-16.pdf

Author Information

This Document compiled by Steve Beyerlin of Oregon Strong LLC.
Steve is starting his 49th year of private Rogue River fisheries study and conservation efforts.

Steve started fishing the Rogue River for Salmon – Steelhead and Trout on the Upper Rogue in 1967 with his Dad. In 1970 he joined the new Rogue Fly Fishers and began on a volunteer career of fisheries projects that included fish ladder repair, instream gabions, fish screening and Savage Rapids Dam removal.

In 1992 Steve and wife Eva took on replying to an Endangered Species Petition on Illinois River Winter Steelhead which was the first listing proposed outside of the Columbia River Basin. ODFW had no comment nor were there any other responses filed against the petition. The petition for Endangered Species was defeated with Steve & Eva’s 300 page response now housed in the Library of Congress. This was the first Endangered Species Listing ever defeated.

Steve spent 13 years on the Oregon Fish Screening and Passage Task Force – 4 years as Chairman. Under his leadership the funding for Fish Screening and Passage went from $400,000.00 per year to 7.4 million dollars. Steve spent a decade as the legislative Chairman of the Oregon Guides and Packers, served as the President of the same group. Steve was founding member of the Curry Guide Association which for over a decade was the strongest Guide Association in the State of Oregon.

During his time as Legislative Director for Oregon Guides and Packers he was named one of the top 3 Fish Conservation Advocates by Governor John Kitzhaber and was a finalist for Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commissioner but was denied Senate confirmation by Sen. Brady Adams of Grants Pass because of his work to remove Savage Rapids Dam.

Steve also wrote the Watershed Council Legislation setting up Watershed Councils around the state; now a national model. Although Steve has some concerns how the councils are formed and doing today.

Steve also wrote and shepherded the Measure 66 legislation through the state legislature that gave 7.5% of lottery funds to Salmon Recovery. He wrote the bill that directed the money to different agencies. He has grave concerns how this voter unitive funds are spent today. Steve worked with Rep. Bob Repine of Grant Pass a heck of a legislator.

Steve has to date spent over 23 years on Oregon State Fish & Wildlife Boards or committees as a volunteer added to his 52 years of fishing and 30 years as a Rogue River Fishing Guide, fishing the entire Rogue River from before the Dam to today.

Contact Information:
Steve Beyerlin
Oregon Strong LLC(541) 247-4138
Steve@fishoregon.com

Executive Summary

The Rogue River Spring Chinook fishery was once a jewel of Spring time fisheries returning 35,000 top quality Spring Chinook Salmon. Only a very few rivers have a Spring Chinook run. The Rogue River Spring Chinook runs are extremely depressed. In 1977 Lost Creek Dam was completed 157 mile upriver from the ocean. There was 11 miles of Spring Chinook spawning habitat lost to by Lost Creek Reservoir. US. Army Corps of Engineers was to mitigate for effects of Lost Creek Dam by producing at Cole Rivers Hatchery 13,020 hatchery reared Spring Chinook Adults. They have failed to do so.

• Over the last 14 years the required return of 13,020 hatchery Spring Chinook avg. 4881 a 63% below required levels. This is an economic loss of $4,688,064.00 per year a 14 yr. of Deficit = $65,632,896.00
• The Environmental Impact Statement of 1972 and the Authorizing Document for the Lost Creek Project was guided under a “Do No Harm to Fisheries” statement.
• In addition to the hatchery production failures the Wild/ Natural Producing Rogue Spring Chinook population has declined 60% to just an average of 9,663 over last 8 years.
• The average loss of 11,317 Wild NP Spring Chinook economic loss of $6.5 million annually.
• Combined loss over last 21 years = $366 million. “Do No Harm to Fisheries”
• The Rogue River