Current efforts to restore coho salmon in the clearwater river sub-basin rely heavily upon releases based solely on adult returns to the clearwater basin

This $275,406 Cooperative Agreement from the Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, under the Columbia River Fisheries Development Program (CFDA 11.436), will support efforts by the Nez Perce Tribe to restore coho salmon populations in the Clearwater River sub-basin in Idaho. Funding will enable the Tribe to increase localized broodstock releases and support one full-time research biologist to implement monitoring and evaluation of hatchery production performance. Specifically, additional staffing and supplies will be provided for broodstock collection and spawning to transition to local Clearwater River stock. The research biologist will collect, analyze, and report data to assess hatchery performance, as outlined in the Clearwater Coho Reintroduction Monitoring and Evaluation Plan. The award period is from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023.

Limited staffing due to budget constraints was hindering our ability to fully transition to local broodstock. Funding from mitchell act has allowed US to increase our localized clearwater river stock releases. In addition, boost our monitoring and evaluation of the program is being performed, and what little is being collected is not analyzed/reported. With this proposal we are seeking funding to: 1) additional staffing and supplies for brood stock collection and spawning; and 2) support one FTE research biologist to implement aspects of the clearwater coho reintroduction monitoring and evaluation plan (chapter 5 in master plan) associated with the collection, analysis and reporting of hatchery production performance.