Operational Plan for the Restoration of Diadromous Fishes to the ...

increasing escapement and increasing natural spawning we hope to reduce the
emphasis on fry stocking to populate freshwater habitat. An additional series of tasks
are designed to evaluate all aspects of stocking, from which products are stocked to
when, where, and how many of each are stocked. Currently, we know that the best
adult return rates are from stock smolts. However, fry stocking has not been evaluated
successfully to returning adults. We are not able to distinguish between wild salmon
and those stocked as fry. Furthermore, no stocking effort has been assessed for
lifetime fitness, which is the critical measure of a stocking program geared to
restoration. Stocked smolt may not produce successful adult spawners in the wild. This
operational plan incorporates an adaptive management approach that will facility
changes in hatchery production to that increase adult escapement and increase
freshwater production. In the future, that may or may not include a fry stocking
program. With that said, this operational plan, with a lifespan of five years, was
developed to maximizing the benefit from hatchery products within the boundaries of the
current salmon program.
Comment: The Service, NOAA-Fisheries and the State of Maine are currently working
on an Atlantic salmon recovery framework, which is not yet completed. The Plan’s
operational objectives will need to align with this framework so the Plan will have to
have some provision to modify the objectives to be consistent with the framework.
Response: In introductory material we highlight the importance of the framework and in
Section 5 there are two tasks that clearly indicate the plan will be integrated with
regional and local management groups. [1: Participate in regional fisheries management
and assessment efforts at both administrative and scientific levels and 5: Work closely
with the Atlantic salmon Action Teams.] We could not delay this plan until the
framework was completed. However, we believe that the operational objectives are
consistent with objectives discussed during the framework process. The priority of the
objectives is likely what will be affected as the framework is used to develop portfolios.
Comment: Since Atlantic Salmon can navigate beyond the exclusion devises at the
West Enfield and Howland Dams, why would you authorize the removal of exclusion
devices at both of these dams before passage by other target species is required at
either dam?
Response: There is currently no plan to remove the hydraulic barrier at the Howland
and West Enfield Projects until it is necessary for restoration. For example, the state
would not consider removing the West Enfield barrier until adult shad or river herring
return to the site. However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA-Fisheries
may require an assessment of the barrier for Atlantic salmon under the Endangered
Species Act. Based on this assessment, the Services may request changes to the
barrier if it delays or impedes the upstream migration of salmon.
Section 2 - Connectivity
Comment: It was suggested that an MOU between IFW and DMR to agree upon
species dispositions at dams be completed before the plan is finalized.
Response: DMR and IFW will develop and sign a MOU to identify the disposition of nonnative
species that will be revisited annually.
PRFP Page 339