Chiwawa Hatchery
Proposed Modifications for Steelhead

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• Executive Summary
  The Chiwawa Hatchery was built in 1989 to raise spring Chinook (that originated from the Chiwawa River Basin) through the winter prior to release from the hatchery site. The primary goal of the hatchery was to increase the number of spawning Chiwawa River origin spring Chinook in the Chiwawa Basin. This program has showed very promising results to date, and further monitoring and evaluation is planned that will more directly answer whether the goals of the program are being met.

  Chelan PUD's steelhead hatchery program has been proceeding since the 1960s, after Rocky Reach Dam was constructed. Currently, adult steelhead are captured in the Wenatchee River Basin, held at Wells Dam until spawned and then incubated and initially reared at the Chelan PUD's hatchery facilities near Chelan Falls and immediately upstream of Rocky Reach (Eastbank Hatchery). In the fall of their 12-14 month rearing period, the fish are currently moved to Chelan PUD's Turtle Rock rearing ponds, where they are reared on Columbia River water until loaded on a truck in April and planted directly into the upper Wenatchee River Basin (Nason Creek, Chiwawa River, and upper Wenatchee River).

  Current monitoring and evaluation results show that a large number of the returning adults from this program are returning to areas upstream of Rocky Reach Dam, bypassing the Wenatchee River. The cause for this is most likely related to the fish being reared at Turtle Rock on Columbia River water that originates upstream of that site.

  Within Chelan PUD's habitat conservation program's (HCP's) hatchery committee, a decision was made to investigate sites within the Wenatchee Basin, upstream of Icicle Creek, where a central steelhead rearing facility could be located. Out of many options, the Committee agreed to investigate the feasibility of increasing the existing Chiwawa hatchery facility to accommodate rearing steelhead over the winter. Some portion of the fish to be reared at the Chiwawa hatchery would still be released into the Chiwawa River, while others would be trucked to Nason Creek and the upper Wenatchee for planting in these basins. (these areas correspond to where the majority of steelhead currently spawn within the Wenatchee Basin). Some portion of these fish may be released downstream of Tumwater Dam as well.

  In 2006 & 2007, meetings have taken place with the Chiwawa Communities Association, other local stakeholders, and members of the District's Habitat Conservation Plan Rocky Reach and Rock Island Hatchery Committees. A conceptual plan has been developed and construction of a new facility is expected to start in 2010 or 2011, with the majority of the project being completed in the same year it begins. For more information, please see the June 2008 Update to Chiwawa Communities Association and other Stakeholders.

   

• History
  The current Chiwawa Hatchery was built in 1989 for spring Chinook supplementation program. The existing facility consists of two ponds, a weir that spans the Chiwawa River, two water sources - Chiwawa and Wenatchee Rivers, and a smolt trap downstream of the facility.
   

• Background on Steelhead Programs
  Current hatchery rearing practices split the incubation and early rearing of steelhead between Eastbank and Chelan Falls hatcheries. Final rearing occurs at Turtle Rock after Columbia River temperatures begin to cool in the fall. In the spring, fish are placed in trucks and driven to release locations in the Wenatchee River Basin.

Stray rates from the steelhead program have been documented to be greater than 10% outside of the Wenatchee Basin, which is inconsistent with recommendation by the Interior Columbia River Technical Recovery Team (TRT). As such, the steelhead program is not meeting some of the ecological objectives established by the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) Hatchery Committee (HC).

It is reasonable to assume that because fish are reared over winter on a water source upstream of the Wenatchee River, that homing fidelity to the Wenatchee River may be compromised. The HCP HC, in accordance with the HCP, have directed Chelan PUD to begin work to locate a facility in the Wenatchee River Basin to rear steelhead over winter.

A subcommittee of the HCP HC was formed and that committee evaluated multiple potential locations and recommended to the HCP HC that investigations begin to increase the capabilities of the Chiwawa River site to rear steelhead over winter.

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