851 S.W. Sixth Avenue, Suite 1100 Telephone: 503-222-5161 Fax: 503-820-2370 

 Portland, Oregon 97204-1348 Toll free: 800-452-5161 Web site: www.nwcouncil.org

Melinda S. Eden 

Chair 

Oregon

Jim Kempton 

Vice-Chair 

Idaho

Joan M. Dukes 

Oregon 

Frank L. Cassidy Jr. 

“Larry” 

Washington 

Tom Karier 

Washington 

Judi Danielson 

Idaho 

Bruce A. Measure 

Montana 

Rhonda Whiting 

Montana

March 15, 2005 

Dear Interested Party: 

For Fiscal Year 2001, projects in the Columbia Gorge Province were subject to the indepth province-based review. This province includes the Klickitat subbasin. The primary fish 

and wildlife management activities in the Klickitat subbasin have been passage and artificial 

production initiatives dating back to the early 1950s. Most of this work was funded by sources 

other than Bonneville, with Mitchell Act funding being a substantial fund source. More recently, 

Bonneville funding has been provided to the activities in the Klickitat as a component of the 

Yakama Nation’s Yakima-Klickitat Fisheries Project. 

As part of the Council decision for the Columbia Gorge Province, the Council staff 

worked with the Yakama Nation fisheries staff to outline a review sequence encompassing the 

proposed passage and production facilities.1

 

A master plan, as the first step in the Major Project Review process2 for this project, was 

prepared by the Yakama Nation and the Bonneville Power Administration and submitted to the 

Council on May 11, 2004. The tribal master plan proposes supplementation and natural 

production efforts in the Klickitat subbasin on spring chinook and steelhead, while maintaining a 

 

1

 The proposals listed (#198811525, #198812025, #199506325 and #199701725) all link to new production 

initiatives by construction of significant new production facilities (i.e., Lyle Falls Broodstock Collection and Adult 

Monitoring Facility) and the initiation of funding of an existing facility (i.e., Klickitat Hatchery). Until completion 

and approval of the step review, all activities associated with these projects should be funded for this specific task. 

The master plan (Step 1) will describe the comprehensive plan for all species of interest including assessment plans 

and the design of the supplementation strategy as requested by the ISRP (ISRP Document 2000-9). 

2

 The Council (September 1997) adopted a policy that built upon the master plan element of the 1995 Program to 

ensure that 1) new artificial production projects would be considered by the Council while the Artificial Production 

Review was under way, 2) ensure that these projects would be considered in the context of their roles and potential 

impacts within specific subbasins, and 3) receive the detailed scrutiny recommended by the ISRP prior to approval. 

This policy was known as the “Three-Step Review.” It called for “new production initiatives” to follow a basic 

development process that has three main steps or phases: (Step 1) conceptual planning, represented under the 1995 

Program primarily by master plan development and approval; (Step 2) preliminary design and cost estimation, and 

environmental (i.e., National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act) review; and (Step 3) final 

design review prior to construction. In adopting the Three-Step Review process, the Council agreed with the ISRP’s 

recommendation to make use of independent peer review for projects as they move through each stage of the 

process. On October 18, 2001 the Council adopted an updated review process called the Major Project Review 

process that incorporates the three-step review process (Council Document 2001-29). 
Klickitat Subbasin Anadromous Fishery Master Plan, March 2005, NPCC. 

2

focus on harvest augmentation for fall chinook and coho. In doing so, the project would increase 

production of spring chinook and steelhead at the Klickitat Hatchery and eliminate in-basin 

artificial production of coho. In-basin fall chinook production levels would remain the same, but 

half the production would be transferred from Klickitat Hatchery to a proposed new facility at 

Wahkiacus. The program proposes further improvements to existing facilities that would 

increase the ability of spring chinook and steelhead to access high quality habitat, thus improving 

natural production; and that would allow collection of spring chinook and steelhead broodstock 

to meet supplementation goals for those two species.

Council staff has prepared an issue paper (Council Document 2005-03) on the master 

plan that can be found on the Council’s web site, www.nwcouncil.org . The Council invites 

comment on this issue paper and on the master plan. In particular, public comment is requested 

on key issues listed in the issue paper. The issue paper is not intended to constrain alternatives 

the Council may consider or limit Council action on this project. Copies of the issue paper are 

available by calling the Council’s central office in Portland (1-800-452-5161) and requesting 

Council Document 2005-03. 

Oral comments on this issue paper can be made at the Council’s April 12 - 14, 2005, 

meeting in Boise, Idaho, and at the Council’s May 10 - 12 meeting in Walla Walla, Washington. 

Written comments will be accepted through May 13, 2005. Comments should be mailed to Mark 

Walker, Director of Public Affairs, at the Council’s central office in Portland and referencing 

Council Document 2005-03. In addition, the master plan has been submitted to the Independent 

Scientific Review Panel (ISRP), and this review is anticipated in April. Based on comments and 

reviews received, Council staff will develop a list of alternative actions that will be considered 

by the Council. At the July 12 - 14, 2005 meeting in Portland the Council will consider whether 

to approve the Klickitat Subbasin Anadromous Fishery Master Plan (see attachment). 

 Thank you for your interest in the Council’s review of this project. 

 Sincerely, 

Stephen L. Crow 

Executive Director 
Klickitat Subbasin Anadromous Fishery Master Plan, March 2005, NPCC. 

3

Step 1 Review Process - Klickitat Subbasin Anadromous Fishery Master Plan 

Week3

 Description

1 (November 12, 2004) Yakama Nation submits revised Master Plan to NPCC 

 2 (November 18, 2004) BPA/NPCC initiates Peer Review 

13(February 8, 2005)4 NPCC staff Comments regarding Master Plan and draft Issue 

Paper to Fish and Wildlife Committee (packet) 

2- 22 Additional materials provided to Peer Review, if necessary 

14 (February 15, 2005) NPCC Fish and Wildlife Committee reviews the Master Plan and 

draft Issue Paper 

17 (March 8, 2005) Fish and Wildlife Committee Recommendation to Council 

(packet) regarding draft Issue Paper 

18 (March 15 - 17, 2005) NPCC considers releasing Master Plan and Issue Paper for 

review and comment 

 22 (April 12 - 13, 2005) NPCC takes comments on Master Plan at Council Meeting 

 26 (May 10 - 12, 2005) NPCC takes public comments at Council Meeting 

 26 (May 13, 2005) Peer Review findings submitted to NPCC 

26 (May 13, 2005) Due date for all written comments on Master Plan 

 23-30 NPCC staff prepares a summary of comments and potential 

alternatives for decision 

 30 (June 7, 2005) NPCC staff provides summary of comments and potential 

alternatives to Fish and Wildlife Committee to consider 

recommendation (packet) 

31 (June 14, 2005) Fish and Wildlife Committee considers potential alternatives for 

recommendation 

 34 (July 5, 2005) NPCC staff provides Decision Memo with Fish and Wildlife 

Committee recommendation to Council (packet) 

35 (July 12 - 14, 2005) Council considers approval of Master Plan 

 

________________________________________ 

w:\mf\ww\hatchery\klickitat\031605finalklickitatissuecoverletter.doc 

 

3

 Due to the needed coordination with Fish and Wildlife Committee and Council meetings, this schedule is based on 

the minimum amount of time required. 

4

 Due to the December ‘04 Council agendas with subbasin plans and the backlog of reviews for the ISRP, this period 

of the schedule was extended. 
851 S.W. Sixth Avenue, Suite 1100 Steve Crow 503-222-5161 

Portland, Oregon 97204-1348 Executive Director 800-452-5161 

www.nwcouncil.org Fax: 503-820-2370 

Melinda S. Eden 

Chair 

Oregon

Jim Kempton 

Vice-Chair 

Idaho

Joan M. Dukes 

Oregon 

Frank L. Cassidy Jr. 

“Larry” 

Washington 

Tom Karier 

Washington 

Judi Danielson 

Idaho 

Bruce A. Measure 

Montana 

Rhonda Whiting 

Montana

ISSUE PAPER 

Klickitat Subbasin Anadromous Fishery Master Plan1

March 15, 2005 

Council Document 2005-03 

 

1

 The master plan was prepared for Bonneville Power Administration by the Yakama Nation (Project # 1988-115-

35, YKFP - Klickitat Design and Construction). You may obtain a copy of the master plan and support documents 

from Bonneville Power Administration's web site. 

http://www.efw.bpa.gov/Integrated_Fish_and_Wildlife_Program/KlickitatPlan110804web.pdf 

The document can be viewed or downloaded for printing. If you do not have access to the Internet, please call 

David Byrnes at 503-230-3171.
Klickitat Subbasin Anadromous Fishery Master Plan, March 2005, NPCC.

2

Staff Issue Paper2

Klickitat Subbasin Anadromous Fishery Master Plan 

I. Introduction

The master plan, submitted by the Yakama Nation, is intended to provide information to 

address passage improvements and upgrading existing production facilities (i.e., Klickitat 

Hatchery) in the Klickitat subbasin to implement an artificial production program 

(supplementation and augmentation) for spring Chinook, fall Chinook, coho salmon, and 

steelhead. Spring Chinook and steelhead production is aimed at increasing natural spawners 

(i.e., supplementation), while the coho and fall Chinook elements are primarily aimed at 

augmenting harvest opportunities. 

In addition to proposed artificial production facility upgrades, the program proposes 

improvements to existing passage facilities that would increase the ability of spring Chinook and 

summer steelhead to access additional habitat, thus improving natural production, and allow for 

the collection of spring Chinook and steelhead broodstock to meet supplementation goals as well 

as additional monitoring associated with these two species. The proposed monitoring and 

evaluation elements of the master plan are designed to use, to the maximum extent possible, 

work that is being or has been done in other basins on key issues (e.g., research from the Yakima 

subbasin), such as domestication selection and ecological interactions, that remain the subject of 

scientific debate on supplementation. 

II. Relationship to the Council’s Fish and Wildlife Program 

The primary fish and wildlife management activities in the Klickitat subbasin have been 

passage and artificial production initiatives, dating back to the early 1950s. Most of this work 

was funded by sources other than Bonneville, with Mitchell Act funding being a substantial fund 

source. More recently, Bonneville funding has been dedicated to the Klickitat as a component of 

the Yakama Nation’s Yakima-Klickitat Fisheries Project (YKFP)3. To date, most of that 

Bonneville funding has been directed toward planning and analysis. There has been Bonneville 

funding of a riparian and in-channel habitat project since 1997 (now titled Klickitat Watershed 

Enhancement Project - KWEP, Project #1997-056-090). This project has focused on tributaries 

to the Klickitat River.

 For Fiscal Year 2001, projects in the Columbia Gorge Province were subject to the indepth province-based review. This province includes the Klickitat subbasin. The primary fish 

and wildlife management activities in the Klickitat subbasin have been passage and artificial 

production initiatives dating back to the early 1950s. As described in the subbasin summary, the 

major plans driving the management approach within the Klickitat are artificial production 

agreements in the U.S. v. Oregon forum and the Klickitat component of the YKFP project. The 

 

2

 This issue paper was prepared by the staff of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. 

3 The YKFP was first approved by the Council in 1982. At that time, the Council envisioned the Project as a cluster of 

production facilities in both the Yakima and Klickitat River Basins designed to enhance the fishery for the Yakama Indian Nation 

and other harvesters. 
Klickitat Subbasin Anadromous Fishery Master Plan, March 2005, NPCC.

3

subbasin summary describes the Klickitat fisheries enhancement element of the YKFP as 

“qualitatively different than its sister program in the Yakima.” That is, the Klickitat component 

was still relatively new, it contains a major harvest augmentation element, and basic elements of 

the supplementation plan (for spring Chinook and steelhead), monitoring plan, and watershed 

assessment are still being developed. 

The Yakama Nation proposes to complete the design phase of passage improvements at 

Lyle Falls and upgrade existing production facilities in the Klickitat subbasin to implement an 

artificial production program (supplementation and augmentation) for spring Chinook, fall 

Chinook and coho salmon and steelhead. Spring Chinook and steelhead production is aimed at 

increasing natural spawners (i.e., supplementation), while the coho and fall Chinook elements are 

primarily aimed at augmenting harvest opportunity (YKFP-Klickitat Design and Construction, 

Project #1988-115-35).4 The riparian and in-channel habitat project was proposed to continue, 

as well. 

 The details of the proposal submitted by the Yakama Nation for funding in Fiscal Years 

2001 to 2003 addressing passage improvements and upgrading existing production facilities 

include the following: 

• Completion of final design for passage improvements, and adult broodstock collection 

and monitoring facilities at Lyle Falls near the mouth of the Klickitat River; 

• Completion of final design to repair and improve the existing fish ladder at Castile Falls 

in the upper part of the Klickitat River; 

• Upgrades of the water supply and additional facilities at the Klickitat Hatchery, currently 

funded by the National Marine Fisheries Service with Mitchell Act Funds and operated 

by the Washington Department of Fisheries. The hatchery would be managed by the 

Yakama Nation for YKFP production objectives. 

• Construction of one on-site acclimation facility at the Klickitat Hatchery and construction 

of four additional acclimation sites elsewhere in the subbasin. 

 The Klickitat Hatchery and the existing passage facilities at Lyle and Castile Falls were 

originally funded through the Mitchell Act. NOAA Fisheries provided flood damage repair 

funds that allowed repairs to the Castile Falls fishway but not upgrades proposed at Lyle Falls. 

 The Yakama Nation project proposal recommends that Bonneville augment existing 

Mitchell Act operation and maintenance of the passage facilities and implement the upgrades 

proposed for the Klickitat Hatchery as well as Yakama Nation management of the 

supplementation program5

. The Yakama Nation also recommends increased Bonneville funding 

for the ongoing habitat restoration project. 

The Independent Scientific Review Panel (ISRP) during the Columbia Gorge Province 

review expressed a number of concerns about implementing the Yakama Nation’s artificial 

 

4

 As part of the Columbia Gorge Province the project was reviewed as Yakima/Klickitat Fisheries Project Design 

and Construction, Project # 1988-115-25. 5

 NOAA Fisheries, through annual appropriations to the Mitchell Act funds operating and maintenance (O&M) on 

the order of $521,379 (Fiscal Year 2005 Klickitat Hatchery O&M) and 416,962 (Fiscal Year 2005 Castile and Lyle 

Falls (O&M). 
Klickitat Subbasin Anadromous Fishery Master Plan, March 2005, NPCC.

4

production objectives. Its rating of “fundable” was conditioned upon having its concerns 

addressed in further review. The ISRP anticipated that its concerns about implementing the 

Klickitat production program as proposed would be addressed in the Council’s Three-Step 

Review process for artificial production projects and return to the ISRP for further review. 

As part of the Council decision on March 16, 2001, for the Columbia Gorge Province, the 

Council outlined a three-step review sequence encompassing the proposed passage and 

production facilities.6 This sequence, proposed to be completed within the near future, is a 

reasonably optimistic schedule considering National Environmental Policy Act requirements and 

other necessary reviews. The actual schedule also depends on completion of an agreement 

between the Yakama Nation and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for transfer or 

co-management of the Klickitat Hatchery.7 

 Using the three-step review process, the entire program will return to the Council, with 

the recommendations of the ISRP, for decisions to continue planning, design and to proceed with 

construction at key planning milestones. These reviews will also define long term operation, 

maintenance and monitoring costs. The Council specifically intends this guidance to mean that 

master planning and NEPA review must be completed before the Council will consider 

recommending project construction funding. 

III. Historical and Current management of Fish in the Subbasin8

The Klickitat River subbasin supports two species of Pacific salmon, Chinook 

(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and coho (Oncorynhcus kisutch), as well as steelhead 

(Oncorhynchus mykiss). These three species of anadramous fish are composed of six stocks: 

three Chinook (spring, early run fall [tule], late run fall [upriver bright]); two steelhead (summer, 

winter); and one coho stock. Spring Chinook and summer steelhead are known to have existed 

historically in the watershed; winter steelhead (“discovered” in the early 1980s) are presumed to 

have existed historically. Steelhead are part of the Mid-Columbia Evolutionarily Significant Unit 

(ESU), which has been listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. 

Tule fall Chinook and coho are not native to the Klickitat. They were introduced in the 

late 1940s and early 1950s, with the Washington Department of Fisheries Hatchery, and 

construction of the fishway at Lyle Falls (1952). 

All salmon stocks, except possibly winter steelhead, have been augmented or even 

sustained by the Klickitat Hatchery. Completed in 1952, the hatchery is located on the Klickitat 

River at RM 42.4. The hatchery was constructed and is currently operated by the Washington 

 

6

 The proposals listed (#198811525, #198812025, #199506325 and #199701725) all link to new production 

initiatives by construction of significant new production facilities (i.e., Lyle Falls Broodstock Collection and Adult 

Monitoring Facility) and the initiation of funding of an existing facility (i.e., Klickitat Hatchery). Until completion 

and approval of the step review, all activities associated with these projects should be funded for this specific task. 

The master plan (Step 1) will describe the comprehensive plan for all species of interest including assessment plans 

and the design of the supplementation strategy as requested by the ISRP (ISRP Document 2000-9). 

7

 On June 2, 2003, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was completed that describes the proposed transfer of 

ownership and operational responsibility of the Klickitat Hatchery and the Lyle Falls and Castile Falls fishways 

from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. 

8

 Klickitat Subbasin Plan, 2004. 
Klickitat Subbasin Anadromous Fishery Master Plan, March 2005, NPCC.

5

Department of Fish and Wildlife for hydropower mitigation under the Mitchell Act of 1936. The 

U.S. v. Oregon Columbia River Fish Management Plan (1998) governs fish production at this 

facility. 

Hatchery production dominates natural production of Chinook and coho. Four million 

eyed eggs of fall “upriver bright” (URB) Chinook stock are delivered annually to the Klickitat 

Hatchery from Priest Rapids and Lyons Ferry hatcheries for final rearing and on-station release 

into the Klickitat River. The purpose of the URB release is to provide ocean, Columbia River, 

and terminal fishery for tribal and other fishers. A total of 3.85 million coho smolts are also 

released into the Klickitat River annually, approximately 1 million smolts are reared at the 

Klickitat Hatchery for an on-station release. The remaining 2.5 million are released directly into 

the river at several locations downstream of the Klickitat Hatchery. Recent attempts have been 

made to develop and test coho acclimation sites in the lower basin. To date acclimation sites 

have been tested for 600,000 of the direct-released coho, which also provide for a late fall 

terminal fishery. 

Pacific lamprey (Lampetra tridentatus) is another anadromous species of interest and 

cultural importance in the Klickitat subbasin, although historic and present distribution and status 

are relatively unknown. Fine sediment delivery from the Klickitat Glacier provides required 

rearing conditions during the ammocoete life stage of the species. 

Resident fish in the Klickitat include rainbow, westslope cutthroat, and brook and bull 

trout. Naturally reproducing populations of rainbow trout are found within the mainstem from 

the Columbia River confluence to RM 85, and in virtually all tributaries. Cutthroat were 

observed in limited numbers within McCreedy and Summit creeks during the1980s; however, 

none was observed during a late 1990s reinvestigation. The historic and present distribution and 

status are relatively unknown. Brook trout were introduced into the Klickitat subbasin in the late 

1970s and early 1980s, primarily in high mountain lakes. Currently, natural reproducing 

populations are found throughout the upper Klickitat mainstem and in major tributaries upstream 

of Big Muddy Creek (RM 53.8). 

Bull trout are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The presence 

of both brook trout and bull trout in Fish Lake Stream and the West Fork Klickitat below its 

confluence with Fish Lake Stream could potentially result in hybridization and competitive 

interactions and are of concern to fisheries managers in this area.

IV. Summary of the Proposed Production Plan 

Fisheries programs in the Klickitat River subbasin that are managed primarily by the 

Yakama Nation are part of the Yakima/Klickitat Fisheries Project (YKFP). The YKFP is 

designed to use artificial propagation in an attempt to re-establish, supplement, or increase 

natural production and harvest opportunities of anadromous salmonids while maintaining the 

long-term fitness of the target population, and while keeping ecological and genetic impacts on 

non-target species within specified limits. 

The plan identifies overall goals for the four production species of anadromous fish (i.e., 

spring Chinook, steelhead, fall Chinook and coho) in the Klickitat basin, and proposes changes 

to existing production practices and facilities. It also establishes goals, objectives, and strategies 
Klickitat Subbasin Anadromous Fishery Master Plan, March 2005, NPCC.

6

for each of the five species targeted by the YKFP, and shows the relationship of ongoing and 

proposed facility and habitat improvements to the basinwide and species-specific goals. 

The Yakama Nation proposes to focus supplementation and natural production efforts on 

spring Chinook and steelhead, while maintaining a focus on harvest augmentation for fall 

Chinook and coho. In doing so, the project would increase production of spring Chinook and 

steelhead at the Klickitat Hatchery and eventually eliminate in-basin artificial production of 

coho. In-basin fall Chinook production levels would remain the same, but half the production 

would be transferred from Klickitat Hatchery to a proposed new facility at Wahkiacus (rivermile 

17.0). The program proposes further improvements to existing facilities that would increase the 

ability of spring Chinook and steelhead to access high quality habitat, thus improving natural 

production; and that would allow collection of spring Chinook and steelhead broodstock to meet 

supplementation goals for those two species. The monitoring and evaluation (M&E) measures 

proposed in this plan are designed to use, to the maximum extent possible, work that is being or 

has been done in other basins (particularly the Yakima subbasin) on key issues such as 

domestication selection and ecological interactions that remain the subject of scientific debate on 

supplementation.

A. Potential Production Goals 

The principle object of the proposal is to focus spring Chinook and summer steelhead 

programs on supplementation, and focus the coho and fall Chinook programs on harvest 

augmentation. The strategy is to increase production of spring Chinook and summer steelhead at 

Klickitat Hatchery by eliminating in-basin hatchery production of coho and transferring half the 

fall Chinook production to the lower Klickitat River (i.e., Wahkiacus Hatchery and Acclimation 

Facility (WHAF)). The Yakama Nation is proposing initially (year one of implementation) to 

decrease coho smolt production at Klickitat Hatchery by one million smolts and increase 

production of spring Chinook at the hatchery from 600,000 to 800,000 smolts. Two hundred 

thousand of these spring Chinook smolts would be acclimated in the upper Klickitat Basin above 

Castile Falls, the remaining 600,000 would be released from the Klickitat Hatchery. Summer 

steelhead supplementation would consist of 200,000 steelhead using local stock, also released 

from the upper acclimation site above Castile Falls (i.e., McCreedy Creek Acclimation Site). 

Following the initial effort the Yakama Nation is proposing to transfer half the fall Chinook 

production (2 million) from Klickitat Hatchery to the Wahkiacus facility, lower in the basin. The 

following table shows transition from the current production at the Klickitat Hatchery to the 

proposed production numbers for each target species. 

Klickitat Hatchery Implementation Year 

Production 

Current 

Production 1 2 3 4 5 

Coho 1,000,0009 0 0 0 0 0 

Spring Chinook 800,00010 800,000 800,000 800,000 800,000 800,000 

Steelhead 200,00011 200,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 

 

9

 A total of 1,000,000 coho are transferred as eyed eggs to Klickitat Hatchery for station rearing and release. An 

additional 2,500,000 coho smolts are directly released in the basin to address harvest objectives. It is proposed that 

coho production will shift to a total of 1,000,000 acclimated pre-smolts released from the new Wahkiacus facility. 

If it is determined that this does not meet harvest objectives, a portion of the “direct river release” coho may resume. 

10 The current production plan calls for the release of 600,000 smolts and approximately 200,000 fry out-planted in 

upper basin. 
Klickitat Subbasin Anadromous Fishery Master Plan, March 2005, NPCC.

7

Fall Chinook 4,000,000 4,000,000 2,000,000 2,000,000 2,000,000 2,000,000

 Sources of the hatchery broodstock for the target species will be aligned to the purpose of 

the proposed production. Emphasis will be placed on the fitness of the spring Chinook 

population with a transition from hatchery-origin broodstock to natural-origin broodstock so as 

to achieve a release of progeny that have at least one natural-origin parent. Summer steelhead 

broodstock will have a similar approach, but emphasis is to transition from a non-local to a 

Klickitat stock. 

B. Fishery Benefit and Harvest 

1. Spring Chinook 

Increase the number of spring Chinook returning to the Klickitat basin to an average of 5,000 

to 10,000 fish annually. 

2. Fall Chinook 

Maintain the Klickitat fall Chinook program for harvest augmentation, with a combined 

annual average harvest (ocean, Columbia River, and Klickitat basin) of 14,000 fish.

3. Summer Steelhead 

Rebuild natural populations of steelhead in the Klickitat subbasin. Use supplementation to 

enhance the summer-run steelhead stock.

4. Coho 

Focus the coho program on harvest augmentation, with a combined annual average harvest 

(ocean, Columbia River, and Klickitat basin) of approximately 14,000 coho, while releasing 

in-basin production capacity for priority species (spring Chinook and steelhead).

The master plan generally outlines the harvest plan for the target four species. For spring 

Chinook, coho and fall Chinook harvest would be managed consistent with the guidelines 

established under U.S. v. Oregon agreements. With steelhead, the Yakama Nation and 

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will work cooperatively to minimize the risks 

associated with the proposed production and ESA limitations. 

C. Facilities and Sites 

To meet the proposed production goals, improvements are being requested for the 

Klickitat Hatchery facilities. This includes work at the hatchery, but also includes off site 

efforts. Improvements at the hatchery includes the replacement and construction of the water 

intakes and delivery systems, chiller, and sediment settling pond improvements, construction of a 

more water efficient and larger adult holding pond, hazardous materials building, two houses, 

 11 120,000 direct-release from Skamania Trout Hatchery and Vancouver Hatchery, and 200,000 eyed eggs from 

Wells Hatchery incubation, early rearing and rearing at Klickitat Hatchery and Ringold. 
Klickitat Subbasin Anadromous Fishery Master Plan, March 2005, NPCC.

8

and predator control measures (e.g., bird netting). Off-site improvements include construction of 

upstream acclimation sites for spring Chinook and steelhead in the upper basin upstream from 

Castile Falls (i.e., McCreedy Creek Acclimation Site), and the construction of the Wahkiacus 

Hatchery and Acclimation Facility for the full hatchery production of fall Chinook and 

acclimation of coho pre-smolts. 

In addition, the Yakama Nation proposes improvements to Lyle Falls fishway and to a 

lesser extent to Castile Falls fishway. These proposed new facilities at the falls are to assist in 

the collection of broodstock and monitoring the production goals for the target species. 

At Castile Falls an installation of an adult trap and video monitoring facilities would 

allow collection of natural-origin spring Chinook and steelhead for broodstock that are locally 

adapted to the upper Klickitat basin. The trap also would allow the sampling of returning fish for 

biological characteristics and marks. Installation of video equipment and PIT tag (Passive 

Integrated Transponder tags) detection in the fishway would improve counting of natural- and 

hatchery-origin recruits returning to the upper basin. 

Proposed improvements at Lyle Falls Fishway (i.e., Lyle Falls No. 5 at the upper-most 

falls in the series) would focus on passage but are also needed for spring Chinook and steelhead 

broodstock and all species monitoring efforts. Improvements would include addition of an adult 

trap and video monitoring, a directional orifice at the entrance, additional baffles to meet design 

criteria, increased attraction flow, a 180-foot extension of the fishway exit to bypass the 

aggraded reach, and addition of adult PIT tag detection equipment in the fishway. 

D. Capital and Future Costs 

Planning so far has cost $1,116,365 and includes master plan completion and submittal, 

conceptual engineering designs and costs, and staffing to complete necessary work for the 

submission of the master plan. Additional planning expenses include the cost of compliance 

with National Environmental Policy Act requirements, staffing, and planning associated with 

steps 2 and 3 for preliminary and final designs. Construction of all the project elements outlined 

in the Klickitat Subbasin Anadromous Fishery Master Plan is estimated to cost $9,069,484 and 

assumes the major project construction to occur in 2007 and 2008. Annual operation and 

maintenance costs after all facilities are fully developed would be $441,351.12 Monitoring and 

evaluation is estimated to cost about $754,720 annually. These cost figures are based on 

estimates from the engineers’ opinion of probable construction costs, and are accurate to +/- 35 

to 50% as described in the master plan. 

V. Key Questions and Issues 

The Council invites comment on any aspect of the issue paper or master plan. Particular 

emphasis is encouraged on the following questions: 

1. Funding Sources and Program Concept

 

12 This amount assumes $566,000 in Mitchell Act funds for the Klickitat Hatchery. 
Klickitat Subbasin Anadromous Fishery Master Plan, March 2005, NPCC.

9

The production and passage components of this program were developed with Mitchell 

Act funds for Mitchell Act mitigation purposes aimed at what is fairly described as state and 

federal fish and wildlife fishery manager objectives. The master plan states that these facilities 

would now be refocused on the restoration and harvest objectives of the Yakama Nation. This 

refocusing or expansion of purpose is consistent with language included in prior versions of the 

Council’s fish and wildlife program. One of the topics that the Council, Bonneville and others 

need to address in order to support this initiative is the appropriateness of Bonneville 

contributing funding to the redirection or expansion of the use of this facility to more squarely 

address tribal objectives. Comment on that issue is sought. 

Related to that point, it would be important to receive comment evidencing that the tribal 

and state fishery managers, NOAA, and BPA (as the proposed funding entity) have a definite 

and agreed upon set of goals and objectives for the use of this facility. On that point, what if any 

relationship is there to US v. Oregon harvest/production agreements or harvest and/or production 

agreements deriving from other venues? 

On the issue of funding, the Council and Bonneville need to understand clearly what the 

continuing Mitchell Act funding contribution will be for the passage elements of the program 

and/or the production elements of the program. Comment on this issue is welcomed. 

2. Subbasin Planning 

The Council anticipates that subbasin plans will be adopted into the Council’s program in 

2005. Comment on how the purposes, goals, and activities proposed are consistent with the 

subbasin plan for the Klickitat that was recommended to the Council for adoption into its fish 

and wildlife program. 

The Artificial Production Review and Evaluation that is underway is intended to yield 

coordinated policy recommendations for hatcheries basinwide. How can the program as 

proposed be considered in that APRE and adapt to its results? 

3. Lamprey and Habitat Actions 

 

The lamprey and habitat actions outlined in the master plan were not part of the original 

scope of the proposal as recommended in the Columbia Gorge Province review. Currently, there 

are regional lamprey workgroup formulating critical uncertainties13 and an ongoing habitat 

project (Klickitat Watershed Enhancement Project, #1997-056-09014) that seem to be addressing 

these topics. Is it appropriate at this time, as part of the master plan and the information 

provided, to address the proposed lamprey and habitat actions? 

Oral comments on this issue paper can be made at the Council’s April 12 - 14, 2005 

meeting in Boise, Idaho, and at the Council’s May 10 - 12 meeting in Walla Walla, Washington. 

Written comments will be accepted through May 13, 2005. Comments should be mailed to Mark 

 

13 The Columbia River Basin Lamprey Technical Workgroup is a subcommittee of the Anadromous Fish Committee 

of CBFWA. 

14 The Council on July 17, 2002, approved an expanded scope of this project to include the entire Klickitat subbasin. 

The purpose of the expanded scope was to allow flexibility in implementing restoration activities and align the scope 

of the project to the other projects in the basin. 
Klickitat Subbasin Anadromous Fishery Master Plan, March 2005, NPCC.

10

Walker, Director of Public Affairs, at the Council’s central office in Portland and referencing 

Council Document 2005-??. In addition, the master plan has been submitted to the Independent 

Scientific Review Panel (ISRP), and its review is anticipated in April. Based on comments and 

reviews received, Council staff will develop a list of alternative actions that will be considered 

by Council. At the July 12 - 14, 2005, meeting in Portland the Council will consider whether to 

approve the Klickitat Subbasin Anadromous Fishery Master Plan. 

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