Biodiversity Guide - The Intertwine

egional conservation strategybiodiversity guideChapter 5 Fish and Wildlife of the RegionWildlife released its Lower Columbia River andOregon Coast White Sturgeon Conservation Planin 2011 to address requirements under Oregon’sNative Fish Conservation Policy. The plan coversthe white sturgeon population segment withinthe mainstem lower Columbia River downstreamof Bonneville Dam and gives consideration tofish inhabiting the lower Willamette River andOregon’s coastal rivers, bays and estuaries. Theaim of the plan is “to ensure a healthy, viableand productive white sturgeon population in thelower Columbia River downstream of BonnevilleDam for use and enjoyment of present and futuregenerations.” In 2011, the Oregon and Washingtondepartments of fish and wildlife issued the2011 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheriesfor Fall Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, ChumSalmon, Summer Steelhead and White Sturgeon,which describes catch limits for white sturgeon inspecific watershed areas; these catch limits vary innumber and size depending on various watershedzones. Numbers are being watched carefully toensure appropriate management of this speciesover time.Green SturgeonThe southern Distinct Population Segment forNorth American green sturgeon, which includesfish in the Columbia River from the estuary upto Bonneville Dam, was listed as threatened byNOAA Fisheries in 2006; the agency is working toconserve green sturgeon. The species is primarilyassociated with oceanic waters, bays, and estuaries.Critical habitat designated in 2009 includesthe Columbia River estuary from the mouth upto River Mile 74 but not the area from River Mile74 to Bonneville Dam (which is at River Mile146). In addition to Endangered Species Actprotections, Oregon and Washington fisheriesregulations that protect this species are currentlyin effect in the Columbia River.Climate ChangeIt is likely that all of the region’s fish species,both native and non-native, will be affectedby the potential increase in water temperatureand hydrologic changes associated with globalclimate change. Many non-native fish species mayactually expand their range as increasing watertemperature allows them to successfully forageand reproduce in rivers and streams flowingthroughout the region. Most isolated lakes andponds and the entire Columbia River estuary,which includes the Lower Willamette River, providehabitat conditions suitable for non-native,warm-water fish species to thrive. Introduced,non-native fish species often compete with nativefish for food and space; many non-native fish feedon other fish species and have the potential tofeed on native fish species if they co-occur in thelower Willamette and Columbia rivers and lowerreaches of larger tributary streams. Conversely, itis likely that the range of cold-water fish, includingsalmonids and lamprey, will be reducedbecause of climate change-related increases instream temperature, alterations in hydrology, andcompetition with non-native species.Priority Conservation and Restoration StrategiesCoordinated recovery efforts for Oregon andWashington currently are being implemented.In Oregon, the Oregon Department of Fish andWildlife completed the Lower Columbia RiverConservation and Recovery Plan for OregonPopulations of Salmon and Steelhead in 2010 andadopted the Upper Willamette River Conservationand Recovery Plan for Chinook Salmon andSteelhead in 2011. In Washington, the LowerColumbia River Fish Board completed the LowerColumbia Salmon Recovery and Fish & WildlifeSubbasin Plan in 2004 and updated it in 2010.These documents outline threats and limitingfactors for the survival and recovery of ESA-listedfish populations that spend part of their life cyclewithin the greater Portland-Vancouver region.The Lower Columbia Salmon Recovery and Fish& Wildlife Subbasin Plan identifies watersheds ofimportance to threatened and endangered salmonidsin the lower Columbia River (Table 5-3). Inboth states’ recovery plans, limiting factors andthreats are divided into specific groups relatedto habitat, hydropower/irrigation/flood control,hatcheries, and harvest. Actions are identifiedTable 5-3Roles of the Region’s Salmon and Steelhead Populations in the Recovery of Lower Columbia River EvolutionarilySignificant Units: Summary of Designations for Each Population, According to the Preferred Recovery ScenarioP = primary = targeted for restoration to high persistence probabilityC = contributing = low to medium improvements needed to reach moderate persistence probabilityS = stabilizing = to be maintained at current levels (generally low persistence probability)Watershed Fall Chinook Fall Chinook Spring Chum Winter Summer Coho(Tule) (Bright) Chinook steelhead steelheadScappoose P -- -- P n/a 1 -- PKalama C -- C C P P CNF Lewis X P* P X C S CEF Lewis P -- -- P P P PSalmon S -- -- S S -- SWashougal P -- -- P C P CSandy C P* P P P* -- PClackamas C -- -- C P -- P*Lower Gorge C -- -- P* P -- P1 Not listed under U.S. Endangered Species Act.Source: Lower Columbia Salmon Recovery and Fish & Wildlife Subbasin Plan, 2010.X refers to subset of larger population.Primary populations designated for a very high level of viability are denoted with *.Dashes indicate that the species is not present.84 85