Skagit game fish regulation proposal

Riverrun said:
It's not a genetic issue as I understand, rather an issue of predation and competition for a limited food source in tributary spawning creeks they share. He seemed to have plenty of research and data to back it up.
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My question about genetics was more so an interest in their origin not predation/competition. A lot of the alpine lakes are stocked and have been historically, with Twin Lakes (near lake Wenatchee) stock which are known to become over abundant and are extremely hearty fish. I’d be nice if we could move to 100% triploid stocking in the alpine lakes.
 
When and the source of the Twin Lakes introduction of cutthroat; referred to as an "intermontane cutthroat (clarki Lewisi) has been lost in history. However, records show that by 1915 the Department of Fisheries and Game had established an egg taking station on the lakes and that year took 1.4 million eggs. The Department of Game took over operation after it was created in 1933. Fish from that station have been planted across the Cascade over the decades and as you allude, they often exhibit a tendency to over-populate.

The use of 100% triploid stocking would end that development of new lakes planted but would not change the status of those lakes with populations already established. With minimal effort I came a list of more than a dozen lakes in the Skagit basin with self-sustaining "Twin Lakes" cutthroat population.

curt
 
@Smalma there is one lake where the trailblazers, who I volunteer with, is experimenting with WDFW with a stocked YY chromosome brook trout in an over abundant lake to see if that will work rather than putting rotenone in the lake. It’s showed success in Idaho but proving to be a bit more challenging in the lake here. The stocking approvals are a lot more strict these days I will say which is good even if they’re not all triploids.
 
I emailed in my comments/requests today. Curt, thanks for putting together the bull trout-oriented proposal. I cribbed heavily from that as part B of what I requested. In Part A I requested, again, that summer and fall gamefishing seasons be restored on the Central and N Sound S-Rivers where we've lost that opportunity, ostensibly to protect Chinook. I pointed out that with gear restrictions and reasonable angler choices helped by some education and outreach, it is very possible to fish for gamefish (e.g. trout) and not seriously bother any Chinook. In Part B I focused on the bull trout conservation measures that @Smalma has proposed.
 
Thanks to those that have taken the time to comment on all or part of the proposal that I put forth in my initial post.

In recent weeks a couple items have come to my attention that likely will raise the urgency to protect the resident rainbow component of the O. mykiss complex in the Skagit (and other rivers).

The first is that during Dr. Marisa Litz's NOF presentation covering ocean environmental conditions she point out the forming of a substantial warm blob in the NW pacific (off Japan) that is extending east to the point that the potential ocean pasture for this region's steelhead has been reduced. In the near future we may be seeing even further reduction in the marine survival of our local steelhead populations. If interested visiting WDFW's NOF site and the presentations for the forecast meeting will have her presentation.

The other is the announcement of the signing of an agreement of the interested parties in Seattle City light FERC application. The big items for fish include nearly a billion dollars in fish passage develop upstream of the dams, $75 million in estuary work, and $100 million for acquiring flood plain lands. What is not include is any significant changes in the management of the stream flows downstream of the project. The city has attempted to limit the fry straying of the newly emerging fry (salmon and steelhead). What remains to be addressed is the stranding of older salmonid fry and parr. The critical fact is the down ramping rate this time of year when those juvenile fry and parr salmonids are using over-winter habitats. The agreement would continue allow daytime down ramping rates of up to 10 inches/hour this time year. While the stranding rates may be low per event over time that can be significant. Consider that prior to becoming a smolt a juvenile steelhead during 2 it years in freshwater of the upper Skagit may experience 25 to 100 of those down ramping events. Even at low impacts per event over that number events the cumulative could be significant.

In both of the issue with lower steelhead survival having a more robust resident rainbow population would be a plus for the O. mykiss complex and it long term survival. The portion of resident and anadromous fish in the population would vary over time as marine survival of the anadromous component raises and falls.

Curt
 
Just review the proposed freshwater regulations for the Skagit.

Bull trout change a win-
With the exception of the Hwy 530 to Rockport to Cascade Road bridge (Rockport to Marblemount) release of bull trout will be required. Suspect that Rockport to Marblemount exception may have been a mistake, will see what the final regs look like.

Selective gear rules for all fisheries including the salmon season - continue the status quo.

An aside on the main stem Skagit here is a summary of the days without selective gear rules (SRG) by section. All these exceptions are for salmon season and due to their timing summer/fall both juvenile and adult trout will be most vulnerable.

Mouth to Hwy 526 bridge -76 days
Hwy 536 bridge to Gilligan creek - 147 days
Mouth of Gilligan Cr. to Dallas Bridge - 106 days
Dallas Bridge to Rockport - 45 days
Hwy 30 Bridge to Rockport to Cascade Road bridge - 105
Note an in-season update (ISU) for coho may result in additional days (given the forecast would not be surprised to see November to be added to the coho season, an additional 30 days per section.

Thank you to all that took the time to comment to WDFW during the NOF process!

A question - is there any support to continue the battle for expanded use of selective gear rules on the Skagit?

Curt
 
Smalma said:
Just review the proposed freshwater regulations for the Skagit.

Bull trout change a win-
With the exception of the Hwy 530 to Rockport to Cascade Road bridge (Rockport to Marblemount) release of bull trout will be required. Suspect that Rockport to Marblemount exception may have been a mistake, will see what the final regs look like.

Selective gear rules for all fisheries including the salmon season - continue the status quo.

An aside on the main stem Skagit here is a summary of the days without selective gear rules (SRG) by section. All these exceptions are for salmon season and due to their timing summer/fall both juvenile and adult trout will be most vulnerable.

Mouth to Hwy 526 bridge -76 days
Hwy 536 bridge to Gilligan creek - 147 days
Mouth of Gilligan Cr. to Dallas Bridge - 106 days
Dallas Bridge to Rockport - 45 days
Hwy 30 Bridge to Rockport to Cascade Road bridge - 105
Note an in-season update (ISU) for coho may result in additional days (given the forecast would not be surprised to see November to be added to the coho season, an additional 30 days per section.

Thank you to all that took the time to comment to WDFW during the NOF process!

A question - is there any support to continue the battle for expanded use of selective gear rules on the Skagit?

Curt
Click to expand...

Yes
SF
 
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