The majority of fall chum fry releases from southwest Hood Canal hatcheries are now made after the estimated summer chum out migration period, and therefore interaction with summer chum is likely limited. However, to meet hatchery programming schedules, some fall chum groups ( e. g., McKernan Hatchery), and most pink salmon cohorts in Hood Canal, are still released in mid to late March in most years. Although these releases may overlap with wild summer chum in the estuary temporally, the degree to which the hatchery fish and wild summer chum interact is affected by the estuarine realm used by the groups during seaward emigration. The smaller, wild summer chum fry likely migrate in shallow waters along the shoreline, until the fish reach a larger size ( 45 60 mm) that decreases their susceptibility to predation, enabling off shore movement. Fed chum and pink salmon fry released from hatcheries at a size of 50 mm and larger tend to be found in pelagic areas during migration, separating them spatially from wild summer chum fry. Unfed fall chum and pink salmon releases from hatcheries during the summer chum emigration period are of greater concern, because of their greater propensity to use the same nearshore feeding and migratory areas within the estuary as wild summer chum fry. Unfed fry release may therefore have a greater potential for interaction, posing an increased risk of adverse competitive effects. As noted above, researchers have postulated that food resources preferred by chum salmon may be limited during the Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 191 summer chum emigration period ( Simenstad et al. 1981). Any level of hatchery fall chum or pink salmon present in the estuary during the summer chum emigration period may pose risks to summer chum.

Behavioral Modification Effects Interactions with hatchery origin salmonids may lead to behavioral changes to summer chum that are detrimental to productivity and survival. Hatchery fish might alter wild salmon habitat use, making them more susceptible to predators ( Hillman and Mullan 1989; Steward and Bjornn 1990). Hatchery origin fish may also alter wild salmonid migratory responses or movement patterns, leading to a decrease in foraging and/ or spawning success ( Steward and Bjorrn 1990; Hillman and Mullan 1989). A negative change in growth and condition of summer chum through a change in their diet or feeding habits could occur following the release of hatchery salmonids during the summer chum emigration period. Effects on wild fish, including summer chum, would depend on the degree of dietary overlap, food availability, size related differences in prey selection, foraging tactics, and differences in microhabitat use ( Steward and Bjorrn 1990).

Hatchery chum and pink salmon fry releases of large magnitude could potentially cause displacement of migrating/ rearing wild summer chum from normal migratory areas, leading to abandonment of advantageous feeding areas. The presence of large numbers of hatchery fish may also alter wild fish behavioral patterns, which may increase their vulnerability to predation ( USFWS 1994). Non indigenous hatchery produced fall chinook, pink, and early timed fall chum salmon adults returning to a summer chum at the same time as summer chum may cause displacement of summer chum spawners from preferred, advantageous spawning areas.

Summary The likelihood for high spatial and temporal overlap and, therefore, potentially significant interaction with summer chum on the spawning grounds or during fry emigration will be used to assign a " high" risk rating for hatchery release programs. For the purposes of this assessment, it is assumed that there is some as yet undefined, but critical food resource carrying capacity in Hood Canal that limits chum and pink salmon fry population survival during the summer chum emigration period ( March). To identify practices that may result in adverse competitive effects to summer chum, a " high" risk ranking is assigned for releases of fall chum and pink salmon from individual hatcheries during the main portion of the Hood Canal summer chum egression and estuarine arrival period ( prior to April 1). Fall chum and pink salmon fry releases after April 1 will be assigned a " low" risk rating. The risk of adverse competitive and behavioral modification effects will also be assessed as " high" in instances where the release timing is unknown.

Risks will be assessed as " high" for hatchery origin adult fall chinook, fall chum, or pink salmon that are not part of a formal recovery program returning to, or straying into, summer chum spawning areas during the summer chum adult migration, spawning or egg incubation period. " Moderate" ratings will be assigned where spatial and temporal overlap with summer chum is lower, or tempered by hatchery management actions. Ratings will be assigned as " low" in instances where little overlap on the spawning grounds or in the estuary between the hatchery fish and summer chum is expected, and the risk of adverse interactions Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 192 with summer chum are considered insignificant. Table 3.12 rates competition and behavioral modification risks to summer chum posed by adult and juvenile hatchery origin salmonids within the Hood Canal and Strait of Juan de Fuca regions.

Table 3.12. Basis for " Competition and Behavioral Modification" risk ratings assigned to hatchery programs for summer chum effects.

Risk Level Criteria " High" Risk is " high" if any one of the following criteria are met: Risks posed by adult fish  1. Hatchery fall chinook, coho, fall chum, or pink salmon that are not a part of a formal recovery program are released into a summer chum stream without avenues for removing $ 90% of returning spawners. Risks posed by juvenile fish  2. Unfed or fed fall chum or pink salmon fry are released prior to April 1; 3. Release timing of hatchery fish is unknown;

" Moderate" Risk is " moderate" if no " high" criteria are met and any one of the following criteria is met: Risks posed by adult fish  1. Hatchery fall chinook, coho, fall chum, or pink salmon that are not a part of a formal recovery program are released into a summer chum stream with high likelihood for removing > 90% of returning spawners. 2. Unacclimated hatchery fall chinook, fall chum, or pink salmon are released into a stream lacking summer chum. 3. Fall chinook salmon are released from marine area net pens.

" Low" Risk is " low" where the following applicable criteria are met: Risks posed by adult fish  1. ( a) Hatchery fall chinook, coho, fall chum, or pink salmon that are part of a formal recovery program, or ( b) are not a part of a formal recovery program and are released into a summer chum stream with high likelihood for removing 100% of returning spawners. 2. Hatchery chinook, fall chum or pink salmon are acclimated and released as smolts into a stream where no summer chum population exists. 3. Hatchery chinook, fall chum or pink salmon are acclimated and released into a large river system where timing overlap with summer chum adults exists, and spatial separation during spawning is known to exist. Risks posed by juvenile fish  4. Unfed or fed fall chum or pink salmon fry are released after April 1. 5. Coho and steelhead are released as fingerling or smolts. 6. Acclimated chinook, coho, or steelhead fry or fingerlings are released into a stream that lacks a summer chum population. Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 193 Fish Disease Transfer This category addresses the risk of acute or chronic mortality, or elevated susceptibility to predation, resulting from the potential transfer of fish diseases from hatchery origin fish species to summer chum. The risk of this hazard will be assessed through consideration of operational practices applied to minimize the likelihood for disease outbreaks at a hatchery facility, and of disease transfer to wild fish.

Under certain conditions, hatchery effluent has the potential to transport fish pathogens out of the hatchery, where natural fish may be exposed to infection. Interactions between hatchery fish and natural fish in the environment may also result in the transmission of pathogens, if either the hatchery or natural fish are harboring a fish disease. This latter impact may occur in tributary areas where hatchery fish are planted and throughout migration corridors where hatchery and wild fish may interact. As the pathogens responsible for fish diseases are present in both hatchery and natural populations, there is some uncertainty associated with determining the source of the pathogen ( Williams and Amend 1976; Hastein and Lindstad 1991). Hatchery origin fish may have an increased risk of carrying fish disease pathogens because of relatively high rearing densities that increase stress and can lead to greater manifestation and spread of disease within the hatchery population. Under natural, low density conditions, most pathogens do not lead to a disease outbreak. When fish disease outbreaks do occur, they are often triggered by stressful hatchery rearing conditions, or by a deleterious change in the environment ( Saunders 1991). Consequently, it is possible that the release of hatchery fish may lead to the loss of natural fish, if the hatchery fish are carrying a pathogen, if that pathogen is transferred to the natural fish, and if the transfer of the pathogen leads to a disease outbreak. Although hatchery populations can be considered to be reservoirs for disease pathogens because of their elevated exposure to high rearing densities and stress, there is little evidence to suggest that diseases are routinely transmitted from hatchery to wild fish ( Steward and Bjornn 1990).

To address concerns of potential disease transmission from hatchery salmonids to wild fish, the comanagers developed a Fish Health Policy, which established guidelines to ensure that fish health is monitored and that hatchery fish are reared and released in good condition, thus minimizing impacts to natural fish ( NWIFC and WDFW 1998). WDFW has also developed a Fish Health Manual that sets forth policies and procedures for the production of quality, healthy fish by the Department's Hatcheries Program ( WDFW 1996). The WDFW manual also serves as a guide for training Fish Hatchery Specialists in fish culture and fish health practices. Compliance with NPDES permit provisions at hatcheries also acts to minimize the likelihood for disease epizootics and water quality impacts that may lead to increased wild fish susceptibility to disease outbreaks. Full compliance with the co manager's Salmonid Disease Control Policy is used to assign a " low" risk rating for fish disease transfer. Degree of deferral from Policy guidelines will be used to assign a " high" or " moderate" risk rating. Table 3.13 presents criteria used to assign risk ratings for this hazard category. Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 194 Table 3.13. Basis for " Fish Disease Transfer" risk ratings assigned to regional hatchery programs for summer chum effects.

Risk Level Criteria " High" Risk is " high" if the following criterion is met: 1. Co manager Salmonid Disease Control Policy procedures not followed, e. g.: a. Hatchery fish health condition is not monitored and recorded during broodstock spawning and juvenile fish rearing. b. Hatchery fish not examined and certified as free of regulated pathogens prior to release. c. Fish released during disease outbreak. d. Transfers of fish not documented or out of compliance with transfer policies specified in co manager's Salmonid Disease Control Policy.

" Moderate" Risk is " moderate" if the following criterion is met: 1. Co manager Salmonid Disease Control policy procedures are not consistently followed, e. g.: a. Broodstock certified by Fish Health professional but fish health during rearing is monitored only by hatchery staff. b. Hatchery fish not fish health certified prior to release. c. Fish released in good health with relatively low (< 0.1%) daily mortalities in previous week.

" Low" Risk is " low" if the following criterion is met: 1. Co manager Salmonid Disease Control policy procedures are consistently followed, e. g.: a. Hatchery broodstock and juvenile fish health is monitored by fish health professional during operation. b. Hatchery fish health are examined and certified by fish health professional as free of regulated pathogens prior to release. c. Fish transfers documented and in compliance with transfer policies specified in comanager's Salmonid Disease Control Policy.

Risk Rating Summary The risk of the above hatchery operational and ecological hazards to summer chum are assigned based on the preceding text for each of the hatchery programs listed in Table 3.9. A summary of assigned risk levels for the programs is presented in Table 3.14.

Risk levels are assigned for each age class produced through the programs, and grouped by species produced. Criteria set forth in Tables 3.10 through 3.13 were used to determine risk levels. Criteria applied from the tables to assign the risk level for each hazard are identified by number. Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 195 Table 3.14. Assessment of risks to wild summer chum juveniles and adults posed by the production and release of anadromous salmonids by artificial propagation programs in the HC SJF summer chum region.

Species Hazard Categories and Assigned Risk ( criteria # from risk ranking within category applied)

Agency Project Release Class Hatchery Operations Predation Competition and Behavioral Modification Disease Transfer Fall chinook WDFW Hoodsport FH George Adams FH Sund Rocks Net pens Fingl. Fingl. Yearl. Low ( 1, 5, 6, 7)

Low ( 1, 5, 6, 7)

Low ( 1, 7) Low ( 1)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 1) Low ( 2)

Low ( 2) Moderate ( 3) Low ( 1 a c)

Low ( 1 a c)

Low ( 1 a c)

Port Gamble Tribe L. Boston Fingl. Low ( 1, 7) Low ( 1) Low ( 2) Low ( 1 a c)

Skokomish Tribe Enetai Fingl. Low ( 1, 7) Low ( 1) Low ( 2) Low ( 1 a c)

Citizen Groups Union River Tahuya River Dewatto River Big Beef Creek Skokomish River Hamma Hamma River Johnson Ck. ( Duckabush)

Unnamed tribs.

Pleasant Harbor Net Pens HC Marina Net Pens Fingl.

Fing. Unfed Fry Fingl. Fingl. Yearl.

Fingl. Fingl. Fingl. Unfed Fry Yearl. Yearl. Low ( 2, 5, 6, 7)

Low ( 1, 5, 6, 7)

Low ( 1, 5, 6, 7)

Low ( 1, 5, 6, 7)

Low ( 3, 5, 6, 7)

Low ( 1, 5, 6, 7)

Low ( 1, 5, 6, 7)

Moderate ( 2)

Low ( 2, 5, 6, 7)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 1, 7)

Low ( 1, 7) Low ( 1)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 2)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 3)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 1) High ( 1)

High ( 1)

High ( 1)

High ( 1)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 2)

Low ( 2)

Low ( 3)

Low ( 3, 5)

Low ( 6) Moderate ( 3)

Moderate ( 3) Moderate ( 1 a, b)

Moderate ( 1 a, b)

Moderate ( 1 a, b)

Moderate ( 1 a, b)

Moderate ( 1 a, b)

Low ( 1 a c)

Low ( 1 a c)

Low ( 1 a c)

Moderate ( 1 a, b)

Moderate ( 1 a, b)

Low ( 1 a c)

Low ( 1 a c)

Chinook WDFW Dungeness FH Fry Fingl. Fingl. smolt. Low ( 4, 5, 6, 7)

Low ( 4, 5, 6, 7)

Low ( 4, 5, 6, 7) Low ( 2)

Low ( 2)

Low ( 1) Low ( 1, 3)

Low ( 1, 3)

Low ( 1, 3) Low ( 1 a c)

Low ( 1 a c)

Low ( 1 a c) Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 196 Table 3.14. Continued Species Hazard Categories and Assigned Risk ( criteria # from risk ranking within category applied)

Agency Project Release Class Hatchery Operations Predation Competition and Behavioral Modification Disease Transfer Coho WDFW Dungeness FH Pt. Gamble Net pens Quilcene Net pens George Adams FH Tarboo Ck.

Snow Ck. Yearl. Yearl. Yearl. Yearl.

Fingl. Unfed fry Pre smolts Low ( 4, 5, 6, 7)

Low ( 1, 7)

Low ( 1, 7)

Low ( 1, 5, 6, 7)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 4)

Low ( 4) Low ( 1)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 3)

High ( 3)

High ( 3) Low ( 5)

Low ( 5)

Low ( 5)

Low ( 5)

Low ( 6)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 1) Low ( 1 a c)

Low ( 1 a c)

Low ( 1 a c)

Low ( 1 a c)

Low ( 1 a c)

Low ( 1 a c)

Low ( 1 a c)

USFWS Quilcene NFH Yearl.

Fing. Low ( 3, 5, 6, 7)

Low ( 3, 5, 6, 7) Low ( 1)

High ( 3) Low ( 1)

Low ( 1) Low ( 1 a c)

Low ( 1 a c)

Pink WDFW Hoodsport FH Dungeness FH Fed fry Fed fry Low ( 1, 5, 6, 7)

Moderate ( 1) Low ( 4)

High ( 6) High ( 2)

Low ( 1, 3) Low ( 1 a c)

Low ( 1 a c)

Fall Chum WDFW Hoodsport FH George Adams FH McKernan FH Fed fry Fed fry Fed fry Low ( 1, 5, 6, 7)

Low ( 1, 5, 6, 7)

Low ( 1, 5, 6, 7) Low ( 4)

Low ( 5)

Low ( 4) High ( 2)

Low ( 2)

High ( 2) Low ( 1 a c)

Low ( 1 a c)

Low ( 1 a c)

Skokomish Tribe Enetai FH Fed fry Low ( 1, 5, 6, 7) Low ( 5) Low ( 2) Low ( 1 a c)

Pt. Gamble Tribe Pt. Gamble FH Fed fry Low ( 1, 5, 6, 7) Low ( 5) Low ( 2) Low ( 1 a c)

USFWS QNFH Fed fry Low ( 3, 5, 6, 7) Low ( 5) Low ( 2) Low ( 1 a c) Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 197 Table 3.14. Continued Species Hazard Categories and Assigned Risk ( criteria # from risk ranking within category applied)

Agency Project Release Class Hatchery Operations Predation Competition and Behavioral Modification Disease Transfer Fall chum  continued Citizen Groups Mills Ck.

Tahuya R.

Union R.

L. Mission Ck.

Skull Ck. Sweetwater Ck.

Unnamed 14.0124 Chinom Pt. ( Ck.)

Unnamed 14.0136 Skokomish R.

Jump off Joe Ck. Unfed fry Unfed fry Unfed fry Unfed fry Unfed fry Unfed fry Unfed fry Unfed fry Unfed fry Unfed fry Unfed fry Low ( 1)

Low ( 1, 5, 6, 7)

Low ( 1, 5, 6, 7)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 1) Low ( 4)

High ( 6)

High ( 6)

Low ( 4)

Low ( 4)

Low ( 4)

Low ( 4)

Low ( 4)

Low ( 4)

Low ( 4)

Low ( 4) High ( 2); Low ( 2)

High ( 1, 2)

High ( 1, 2)

High ( 2); Low ( 2)

High ( 2); Low ( 2)

High ( 2); Low ( 2)

High ( 2); Low ( 2)

High ( 2); Low ( 2)

High ( 2); Low ( 2)

High ( 2); Low ( 2)

High ( 2); Low ( 2) Moderate ( 1 a, b)

Moderate ( 1 a, b)

Moderate ( 1 a, b)

Moderate ( 1 a, b)

Moderate ( 1 a, b)

Moderate ( 1 a, b)

Moderate ( 1 a, b)

Moderate ( 1 a, b)

Moderate ( 1 a, b)

Moderate ( 1 a, b)

Moderate ( 1 a, b)

Steelhead WDFW Skokomish R.

Dosewallips R.

Duckabush R.

Dungeness FH Yearl. Yearl. Yearl. Yearl. Low ( 2)

Low ( 2)

Low ( 2)

Low ( 4, 5, 6, 7) Low ( 1)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 1)

Low ( 1) Low ( 5)

Low ( 5)

Low ( 5)

Low ( 5) Low ( 1 a c)

Low ( 1 a c)

Low ( 1 a c)

Low ( 1 a c)

Citizen Groups Hamma Hamma R. 2+ Yearl. Low ( 2) Low ( 1) Low ( 5) Low ( 1 a c) Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 198 Risk Aversion and Monitoring and Evaluation Measures Proposed to Reduce the Risks of Hatchery Operational and Ecological Hazards to Summer Chum Following are risk aversion and monitoring and evaluation measures proposed to reduce the risk of hazards to wild summer chum productivity that may result from regional hatchery salmonid production programs. These measures were designed to compliment risk aversion and monitoring and evaluation measures included in section 3.2 of this plan that pertain to summer chum directed supplementation programs. Proposed measures are included here to minimize risks, as needed, of the aforementioned operational and ecological hazards posed by hatchery programs producing other anadromous species in the Hood Canal and Strait of Juan de Fuca summer chum region. These measures are also set forth to identify monitoring and evaluation work needed to answer critical questions regarding hatchery program impacts to the summer chum populations. Monitoring and evaluation results will be used to adaptively manage the hatchery programs to reduce the risk of hazards to summer chum that may be affected.

Generally, risk aversion measures are proposed for application in instances where risks of hazards to summer chum are assigned as " high" or " moderate." Monitoring and evaluation programs are also proposed to address risks judged as " high" or " moderate," or where the uncertainty of the effects on summer chum associated with a particular release program is high. The intent is to adjust assessed " high" and " moderate" impact programs through application of the following measures, as appropriate, so that the risk of adverse effects on wild summer chum becomes " low." Requirements for monitoring and evaluation will allow for the adaptive management of programs, if needed, as new information regarding the occurrence and effects of each hazard is gathered.

The assignment of risk aversion and monitoring evaluation measures to programs judged as potentially hazardous to summer chum productivity is consistent with the approach applied by NMFS in biological assessments of hatchery salmonid production in the Columbia River Basin ( NMFS 1999). In forming biological opinions regarding whether or not Basin hatchery programs jeopardize the survival of listed fish, " reasonable and prudent alternatives" are developed and applied as requirements for certain hatchery operations and practices to minimize or avert perceived risks to listed fish. Similarly, NMFS also applies " conservation measures" within the biological opinions as required or suggested methods to reduce the risk of negative effects or to study their potential for impacting ESA listed fish. These alternatives and measures included in the NMFS hatchery biological opinions serve the same risk minimization purpose as the risk aversion and monitoring and evaluation measures set forth in this plan. All are mechanisms for reducing the likelihood that the hatchery programs will negatively affect ESA listed or depressed salmonid populations requiring protection.

Hatchery Operations The following proposed measures and programs should apply to all hatchery programs in the region. The risk aversion approach will be directed towards minimizing harm to summer chum that may be encountered during adult salmonid trapping directed at other species, and ensuring compliance with state, tribal, and Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 199 federal hatchery operational and reporting guidelines and laws designed to minimize adverse effects on wild fish attached with hatchery operational practices.

Risk aversion measures 1. All weirs used to capture non ESA listed anadromous salmonid adults will be designed and operated with a primary intent of passing incidentally captured summer chum upstream with minimal harm or delay in migration. Handling of summer chum will be minimized to the extent feasible to meet this measure. 2. All weirs will be operated by individuals trained in proper and safe fish handling procedures that will be protective of any summer chum adults encountered. 3. All fish weirs where summer chum may be captured incidentally will be monitored continuously to ensure that captured fish are held under safe conditions, including maintenance of adequate flow in fish holding boxes and protection from poaching. 4. Summer chum captured incidentally in fish weir or broodstocking operations shall be held for no longer than 12 hours prior to release upstream to minimize delay in migration. 5. All fish weirs will be placed and removed in a manner that does not lead to adverse changes in summer chum spawning areas, spawning distributions, or to summer chum redds upstream or downstream of the weir location. 6. All fish weirs and hatchery operations, including annual fish removal, egg take, and juvenile production criteria set forth for the weir or hatchery in the Future Brood Document, should be consistent with the provisions of this plan.. 7. All hatchery intakes and other structures shall be operated to prevent dewatering of adjacent spawning or migration areas that may be used by summer chum. 8. All hatchery intake and outfall screens shall be maintained to prevent harm to summer chum adults or juveniles. 9. All hatcheries producing over 20,000 pounds of fish production or applying more than 5,000 pounds of feed per calendar month shall be operated in accordance with NPDES permits issued to minimize adverse water quality effects resulting from hatchery effluent.

Monitoring and Evaluation Programs 1. All fish weir or trapping programs will record the daily number by species of salmonids captured, the disposition of all fish trapped ( i. e. passed upstream, downstream, or removed as broodstock), and trap mortalities by species. These data will be provided to the WDFW Hatcheries Program weekly through the seasonal duration of trapping. Similar data for Tribal and Federal agency hatchery programs should also be provided. 2. Broodstock removal data by date, including number and sex of fish by species and estimated egg take will be reported to the WDFW Hatcheries Program weekly over the duration of the trapping season. Similar data for Tribal and Federal agency hatchery programs should also be provided. 3. To address hatchery effluent quality concerns, the release of harmful fish pathogens into downstream waters will be controlled by monitoring the fish health status of all salmonids reared in summer chum Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 200 watersheds, or destined for release into summer chum watersheds, on a regular basis by State, Tribal, or Federal agency fish health professionals. 4. Fish production data for each species released from regional hatcheries, including fish health certification data, release numbers, age class at release, size at release, date of release, and location of release will be reported to the WDFW Hatcheries Program during the month in which the release occurred. Similar data for Tribal and Federal agency hatchery programs should also be provided. 5. Data regarding hatchery effluent monitoring will be recorded and reported consistent with NPDES permits that may be required and issued for each hatchery operation.

Predation The following measures and programs are either species specific or applicable to all artificial propagation operations. Risk aversion measures will be based on the concept that the risk of predation can be minimized by reducing the likelihood for interaction between hatchery fish and wild summer chum using spatial and temporal separation measures. Therefore, the size, timing, and location of hatchery salmonid releases are the factors subject to control through the risk aversion measures. Monitoring and evaluation measures are included to help address uncertainties regarding hatchery fish effects, and to ensure compliance with standing, required hatchery practice and reporting standards.

Risk aversion measures 1. All steelhead, coho, and chinook smolt releases from regional hatcheries, truck plants, or marine area net pens will occur no earlier than April 15 to allow for the clearance of juvenile wild summer chum from freshwater and Hood Canal estuarine areas, minimizing the likelihood of interaction between the hatchery fish and summer chum. A maximum coefficient of variation in average smolt length of 10% shall be pursued to help ensure that the majority of fish meet target smolt size criteria, minimizing the likelihood for migration delay or residualization resulting from the release of undersize fish. 2. Releases of coho, chinook, or steelhead fry, fingerlings, or sub yearlings into summer chum streams that are not part of a formal recovery program, and that will have a high likelihood of residualizing or being present as yearling fish in freshwater during the summer chum egression period, shall be avoided. 3. All salmonids released from regional hatcheries or transferred from out of watershed facilities for planting into summer chum streams will be volitionally migrating smolts that are acclimated to the stream of release to reduce the risk of residualization, and straying as returning adults, respectively. 4. Hatchery fall chum and pink salmon ( George Adams, McKernan, or Hoodsport lineage) fed and unfed fry populations should be released after April 1 each year to reduce the risk of predator attraction to summer chum fry in estuarine areas where they may aggregate with hatchery fish. Releases that are part of a formal recovery program are exempt from this measure. 5. Resident trout shall only be released into lakes, ponds, or stream sections within the HC SJF summer chum region that are land locked or have screened outlets, or where access to anadromous waters is unlikely.

Monitoring and evaluation programs Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 201 1. Fish production data for each species released from regional hatcheries, including fish health certification data, release numbers, age class at release, size at release, date of release, and location of release will be reported to the WDFW Hatcheries Program during the month in which the release occurred. Similar data for Tribal and Federal agency hatchery programs should also be provided. 2. Yearling fish resulting from the planting of indigenous origin, chinook, coho, and steelhead fry and fingerlings, or other resident fish, released into a summer chum stream as part of a formal recovery program shall be monitored to identify survival rates, distribution within the stream, and potential predation effects on wild summer chum.

Competition and Behavioral Modification The following measures and programs are either species specific or applicable to all artificial propagation operations. Risk aversion measures will focus on application of timing and area of release criteria for hatchery juveniles, and return area and removal criteria for non indigenous hatchery adults, to minimize adverse competition and behavioral modification effects that may result from the release and adult return of hatchery fish. Suggested monitoring and evaluation measures are directed towards collection of data to address uncertainties regarding the competitive and behavioral modification effects of a hatchery fish release program on summer chum productivity.

Risk aversion measures 1. No fed fall chum salmon or Hoodsport Hatchery pink salmon fry will be released from individual hatcheries prior to April 1 each year to minimize the risk of food resource competition with emigrating summer chum fry in estuarine areas and to reduce the risk of adverse behavioral modifications, including changes in summer chum fry feeding behavior, predator avoidance, and preferred migration areas. 2. No unfed fall chum or pink salmon fry shall be released from all artificial production facilities prior to April 1 to reduce the risk of food resource competition from hatchery fish that may utilize the same estuarine realm as wild summer chum fry. 3. No Finch Creek lineage ( George Adams, Hoodsport, or McKernan) fall chum or pink salmon fry shall be released into existing summer chum watersheds where there is no ability to remove 100% of returning spawners, or where it is not advisable to do so ( i. e. where removal would impose further risks to summer chum by trapping fish), to reduce the risk of spawning ground space competition, redd superimposition, and behavioral modification posed by early returning hatchery origin adults, and to reduce the risk of genetic introgression by early returning fall chum. 4. Unless part of a formal stock recovery program, no fall chinook salmon shall be released into eastside Hood Canal or Strait of Juan de Fuca summer chum streams in instances where there is no ability to capture 100% of adults upon freshwater return, or where it is not advisable to do so ( i. e., where removal would impose further risks to summer chum by trapping fish). This provision is necessary to reduce the risk of spawning ground space competition, redd superimposition, and behavioral modification to summer chum. Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 202 5. Fall chinook, fall chum, and pink salmon released into streams with no existing summer chum populations shall be fully acclimated to the stream of release to minimize the risk of adult straying to summer chum streams. 6. Hatchery under yearling chinook, fall chum, or pink salmon that are indigenous to a summer chum watershed and are part of a stock maintenance or formal recovery program shall be released after April 1 to minimize overlap with summer chum fry. 7. Net pen fall chinook and coho salmon shall be acclimated to a freshwater or marine return location to minimize the risk of straying to summer chum streams.

Monitoring and evaluation programs 1. Fall chinook, fall chum, pink, and coho salmon originating from artificial propagation programs that are allowed to spawn naturally will be monitored to determine the location of spawning relative to summer chum streams or spawning areas and the effects of any spawning on summer chum spawning success and redd integrity. 2. All RSIs producing unfed fall chum and fall chinook fry for direct release will be monitored to determine the timing of emergence and number of fish emigrating from the incubators. 3. Smolts resulting from the planting of indigenous origin, non migrant chinook, coho, and steelhead fry and fingerlings released into a summer chum stream shall be monitored to identify survival rates, stream distribution, and to evaluate potential competitive effects on wild summer chum.

Fish Disease Transfer The following measures and programs are applicable to all artificial propagation operations. Proposed risk aversion and monitoring and evaluation measures are designed to ensure compliance with accepted fish health monitoring and management standards, and adherence to applicable NPDES permit conditions to protect downstream water quality.

Risk aversion measures 1. Hatchery broodstock and juvenile fish health will be monitored by a fish health professional during operation of broodstock capture and juvenile fish incubation and rearing programs. 2. Co manager's of Washington Salmonid Disease Control procedures and WDFW Fish Transfer policy procedures will be followed for all hatchery practices, including broodstock capture, fish rearing and fish releases. 3. The condition and health of all anadromous salmonids reared by a facility will be certified by a fish health professional prior to release. 4. All fish shall be released in a healthy condition into regional waters. 5. The hatchery will be in compliance with permitted water rights, and with applicable NPDES permit conditions and best management practices. Monitoring and evaluation programs 1. Hatchery broodstock and juvenile fish health will be monitored and evaluated by a fish health professional during operation of broodstock capture and rearing programs. Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 203 2. The fish health condition of hatchery fish over the duration of rearing and at release shall be reported to WDFW within one month after the time of release. Summary of Risk Aversion and Monitoring and Evaluation Measures Proposed to be Applied to Reduce Harm to Wild Summer Chum by Hatchery Program Table 3.15 summarizes, by regional hatchery program, proposed risk aversion and monitoring and evaluation measures that will be applied to reduce the risk of harm to wild summer chum populations. As mentioned above, risk aversion and monitoring and evaluation measures are assigned to programs assessed as of " high" or " moderate" risk within a particular hazard category. In some instances where risks have been assessed as " low," monitoring and evaluation measures may be required, due to uncertainty of the effects on summer chum associated with a program or when a consistent, reliable avenue for receiving information regarding the project is viewed needed. If it is infeasible to adjust a program in accordance with these measures so that the risk of hazards to summer chum across hazard categories becomes " low," options including reduction in production levels or termination of the program shall be considered. In no instances shall a program be adjusted in a manner that reduces the risk of hazards in one category, while increasing the risk of adverse effects in another category.

Compliance with appropriate risk aversion and monitoring and evaluation measures shall be indicated in annual reports assembled for each program. Annual reports for regional hatchery production will be prepared by WDFW for WDFW managed programs, the PNPT tribes for tribal programs, and by private and volunteer enhancement groups, with technical assistance from WDFW, for citizen managed production programs. Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 204 Table 3.15. Summary of Risk Aversion ( r. a.) and Monitoring and Evaluation ( m& e) measures proposed to be applied to artificial propagation programs in the Hood Canal summer chum ESU.

Species Hazard Categories and Assigned Risk ( criteria # from risk ranking within category applied)

Agency Project Release Class Hatchery Operations Predation Competition and Behavioral Modification Disease Transfer Fall chinook WDFW Hoodsport FH George Adams FH Sund Rocks Net pens Fingl. Fingl. Yearl.                 r. a. # 7; m& e# 1       Skokomish Tribe Enetai Fingl.     m& e# 1   Port Gamble Tribe Little Boston Fingl.         Citizen Groups Union River Tahuya River Dewatto River Big Beef Creek Skokomish River Hamma Hamma River Johnson Ck. ( Duckabush)

Unnamed tribs.

Pleasant Harbor Net Pens HC Marina Net Pens Fingl.

Fing. Unfed Fry Fingl. Fingl. Yearl.

Fingl. Fingl. Fingl. Unfed Fry Yearl. Yearl. m& e # 3 5 m& e # 3 5 m& e # 3 5 m& e # 3 5 m& e # 3 5 m& e # 3 5 m& e # 3 5 r. a. # 4, # 6; m& e # 1 5 m& e # 3 5 m& e # 3 5 m& e # 3 5 m& e # 3 5 m& e# 1 m& e# 1 m& e# 1 m& e# 1 m& e# 1 m& e# 1 m& e# 1 m& e# 1 m& e# 1 m& e# 1 m& e# 1 m& e# 1 r. a. # 4; m& e# 1, 2 r. a. # 4; m& e# 1, 2 r. a. # 4; m& e# 1, 2 r. a. # 4; m& e# 1, 2 r. a. # 4; m& e# 1 m& e# 1 m& e# 1 m& e# 1 m& e# 1 m& e# 1, 2 r. a. # 7; m& e # 1 r. a. # 7; m& e # 1 r. a. # 1 4; m& e 1, 2 r. a. # 1 4; m& e 1, 2 r. a. # 1 4; m& e 1, 2 r. a. # 1 4; m& e 1, 2 r. a. # 1 4; m& e 1, 2 m& e 1, 2 m& e 1, 2 m& e 1, 2 r. a. # 1 4; m& e 1,2 r. a. # 1 4; m& e 1,2 m& e 1, 2 m& e 1, 2 Chinook WDFW Dungeness FH Fry Fingl. Fingl. smolt.       m& e # 2 m& e # 2               Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 205 Table 3.15. Continued Species Hazard Categories and Assigned Risk ( criteria # from risk ranking within category applied)

Agency Project Release Class Hatchery Operations Predation Competition and Behavioral Modification Disease Transfer Coho WDFW Dungeness FH Pt. Gamble Net pens Quilcene Net pens George Adams FH Tarboo Ck.

Snow Ck. Yearl. Yearl. Yearl. Yearl.

Fingl. Unfed fry Pre smolts                         m& e # 2 m& e # 2   r. a. # 7 r. a. # 7     m& e # 3 m& e # 3               USFWS Quilcene NFH Yearl.

Fing.       r. a. # 2, 3         Pink WDFW Hoodsport FH Dungeness FH Fed fry Fed fry   r. a. # 1 5 r. a. # 4   r. a. # 1, 2 r. a. # 6     Fall Chum WDFW Hoodsport FH George Adams FH McKernan FH Fed fry Fed fry Fed fry       r. a. # 4   r. a. # 4 r. a. # 1, 2   r. a. # 1, 2       Skokomish Tribe Enetai FH Fed fry         Pt. Gamble Tribe Pt. Gamble FH Fed fry         USFWS Quilcene NFH Fed fry         Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 206 Table 3.15. Continued Species Hazard Categories and Assigned Risk ( criteria # from risk ranking within category applied) 1 Agency Project Release Class Hatchery Operations Predation Competition and Behavioral Modification Disease Transfer Fall chum  continued Citizen Groups Mills Ck.

Tahuya R.

Union R.

L. Mission Ck.

Skull Ck. Sweetwater Ck.

Unnamed 14.0124 Chinom Pt. ( Ck.)

Unnamed 14.0136 Skokomish R.

Jump off Joe Ck. Unfed fry Unfed fry Unfed fry Unfed fry Unfed fry Unfed fry Unfed fry Unfed fry Unfed fry Unfed fry Unfed fry m& e # 3 5 m& e # 3 5 m& e # 3 5 m& e # 3 5 m& e # 3 5 m& e # 3 5 m& e # 3 5 m& e # 3 5 m& e # 3 5 m& e # 3 5 m& e # 3 5 m& e # 1 r. a. # 4; m& e # 1 r. a. # 4; m& e # 1 m& e # 1 m& e # 1 m& e # 1 m& e # 1 m& e # 1 m& e # 1 r. a. # 4; m& e # 1 m& e # 1 r. a. # 3; m& e # 1, 2 r. a. # 3; m& e # 1, 2 r. a. # 2, 3; m& e # 2 r. a. # 2; m& e # 2 r. a. # 2; m& e # 2 r. a. # 2; m& e # 2 r. a. # 2; m& e # 2 r. a. # 2; m& e # 2 r. a. # 2; m& e # 2 r. a. # 2; m& e # 2 r. a. # 2; m& e # 2 r. a. # 1 4; m& e 1, 2 r. a. # 1 4; m& e 1, 2 r. a. # 1 4; m& e 1, 2 r. a. # 1 4; m& e 1, 2 r. a. # 1 4; m& e 1, 2 r. a. # 1 4; m& e 1, 2 r. a. # 1 4; m& e 1, 2 r. a. # 1 4; m& e 1, 2 r. a. # 1 4; m& e 1, 2 r. a. # 1 4; m& e 1, 2 r. a. # 1 4; m& e 1, 2 Steelhead WDFW Skokomish R.

Dosewallips R.

Duckabush R.

Dungeness FH Yearl. Yearl. Yearl. Yearl.         r. a. # 1 3 r. a. # 1 3 r. a. # 1 3 r. a. # 1 3                 Citizen Groups Hamma Hamma R. 2+ Yearl. r. a. # 4, # 6; m& e # 1 5 r. a. # 1 3; m& e # 1 m& e # 3 m& e # 1, 2 Risk aversion (" r. a.") and monitoring and evaluation (" m& e") measures indicated as required for each project are keyed by number to measures described in 1 the preceding text under each hazard. Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 207 Hatchery Program Effects on Individual Hood Canal and Strait of Juan de Fuca Summer Chum Populations and Measures Applied to Minimize the Risk of Adverse Effects This section summarizes potential hatchery operation and fish release impacts to individual summer chum populations within the region, and risk aversion and monitoring and evaluation measures that will be applied to help address or alleviate the risk of those impacts. The list of summer chum populations included in this summary was taken from Table 1.12 of the overall summer chum conservation plan. Included are existing stocks, populations in the process of being reintroduced, and populations that were recently extirpated from watersheds that were major summer chum producers and have been identified for reintroduction programs in the near future.

The intent of this section is to indicate how specific hatchery programs may affect individual summer chum populations, both as adult and juvenile fish. The intent is also to specify those measures proposed to reduce the risk of harm to the each population, and to discuss why and how those measures will be applied. As stated previously, risk aversion measures are proposed for application in instances where risks of hazards are " high" or " moderate". Programs assessed as having a " high" and " moderate" risk of negative impact will be modified through application of these measures, as appropriate, so that the risk of adverse effects on wild summer chum becomes " low." Monitoring and evaluation measures are proposed when risks are " high" or " moderate," or where further information is needed in order to assess the effects of a program on summer chum. Requirements for monitoring and evaluation will allow for the adaptive management of programs, if needed, as new information regarding the occurrence and effects of each hazard is gathered.

There may be some instances where risk aversion measures proposed to address one hazard create a conflict by increasing risk of another hazard. Therefore, in some cases, a further assessment and judgement of risks and of the applicability and implementability of aversion measures will be presented. Risk minimization measures actually applied to hatchery operations or release practices may be adjusted based upon this assessment.

Union Adult hatchery salmonid effects  Hazards to Union River summer chum include a " high" risk of adverse competitive and behavioral modification effects resulting from interactions on the spawning ground with hatchery origin fall chinook and fall chum adults. Adult fall chinook originating from volunteer enhancement group releases into the river, or from Hood Canal regional net pen operations, that escape into summer chum spawning areas may compete for spawning sites and adversely affect summer chum productivity through redd superimposition. Redd superimposition concerns also apply for on station or WDFW hatchery origin Finch Creek lineage fall chum that return earlier in the season than indigenous fall chum. The risk of these hazards is exacerbated by the constrained spawning area available in the river due to low late summer early fall stream flows and the relatively small size of the stream channel. Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 208 Juvenile hatchery salmonid effects  Moderate to high risks of adverse competitive and behavioral modification hazards have been assigned for hatchery fall chum and pink fry releases from on station ( fall chum) and WDFW southwest Hood Canal programs ( fall chum and pink salmon). These risks are associated with competition for potentially limiting food resources, and behavioral changes effected by the releases that may adversely alter summer chum foraging success, posed by fall chum released into the river and/ or estuary, and by pink salmon fry released from Hoodsport Hatchery, during the summer chum emigration period. Enhanced risks of predator attraction potentially caused by on station fall chum liberations are of concern, as is the potential for disease transfer from Union River based hatchery programs.

Proposed risk aversion strategies  Measures proposed to decrease the risk of adverse competitive and behavioral modification effects that may be caused by spawning hatchery origin fall chinook and fall chum adults include cessation of on station releases of stocks not a part of a formal recovery program. The existing hatchery fall chinook and fall chum projects on the Union River are therefore candidates for termination. Fall chinook released from Hood Canal marine area net pen operations shall be imprinted so there is a high likelihood for their return as adults to Hoodsport or George Adams Hatchery. The intent of this measure is to minimize the risk of straying to summer chum streams, including the Union River. An alternative to acclimation, if not feasible, is elimination of the net pen program. The above measures will be linked with monitoring and evaluation requirements to determine the location of spawning of hatchery fall chinook and fall chum escaping into the Union River, and the effects of any spawning on summer chum productivity. The results of monitoring and evaluation may be used to help determine the actual risks of hazards to summer chum spawners attached with non indigenous fall chinook and fall chum escapement.

The risk of competition and behavioral modification hazards associated with hatchery juvenile fall chum interactions will be minimized by requiring that all fall chum and pink salmon fry releases in Hood Canal be made after April 1. This measure should minimize the likelihood for interactions with emigrating summer chum, allowing clearance of the majority of the fish from Hood Canal. Risks associated with fish disease transfer from hatchery origin fish can be minimized through compliance with co manager fish health monitoring and pre release certification procedures.

Discussion  Union River summer chum have been judged to be at " moderate" risk of extinction ( Table 1.12). If the current Union River fall chinook and fall chum programs are not considered formal recovery programs, further releases of these fish into the Union River will no longer be allowed. Measures to control releases from marine net pen operations will be necessary to minimize risks to summer chum posed by fall chinook straying. A delay in hatchery fall chum and pink fry releases into Hood Canal marine waters until after April 1 will require changes in pond loading and fish production regimes at Hoodsport, McKernan, and George Adams hatcheries to maintain safe fish rearing densities. These changes may lead to reduced annual production levels of certain species at these hatcheries, potentially including pink salmon, yearling fall chinook, and fall chum salmon. Lilliwaup Adult hatchery salmonid effects  Summer chum that are part of the regional recovery program are the only hatchery salmonids intentionally released into Lilliwaup River through the programmed hatchery Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 209 operation. Any adverse competition or behavioral modification effects that may impact summer chum spawners would therefore originate from fall chinook or pink salmon that may stray into the watershed from Hood Canal marine area net pen and other chinook hatchery projects, or from Hoodsport Hatchery, respectively. Adult chinook and pink salmon that escape into summer chum spawning areas may compete for spawning sites and adversely affect summer chum productivity through redd superimposition. These hazards are assessed as posing a " moderate" risk to summer chum. The risk of these hazards is exacerbated by the low available spawning area accessible to spawners below Lilliwaup Falls (~ 0.7 miles), low late summer early fall stream flows, and the relatively small size of the stream channel. These factors act to limit the availability of spawning sites, and increase the risk of adverse competition and behavioral effects to summer chum spawners.

Juvenile hatchery salmonid effects  High risks of adverse competitive and behavioral modification hazards have been assigned for hatchery fall chum and pink salmon releases mainly from WDFW southwest Hood Canal programs. Neither of these species are released through the Lilliwaup Hatchery program. High risk levels were assigned based on potential competition for potentially limiting food resources posed by fall chum and pink salmon fry released into the estuary during the summer chum emigration period, and behavioral changes effected by the releases that may adversely alter summer chum foraging success.

Proposed risk aversion strategies  Measures proposed to minimize the risk of adverse competitive and behavioral modification effects that result from spawning in Lilliwaup River by straying hatchery origin fall chinook and pink salmon adults may include removal of stray fish at the Lilliwaup weir, which is operated primarily to collect summer chum. Fall chinook released from Hood Canal marine area net pen operations shall be imprinted so there is a high likelihood for their return as adults to Hoodsport or George Adams hatcheries. Pink salmon that are progeny of returning Finch Creek spawners, and that are reared and released from Hoodsport Hatchery, likely have a high fidelity to the Finch Creek, and straying risks should be minimal. The above measures will be linked with monitoring and evaluation requirements to determine the location of spawning of hatchery fall chinook and pink salmon escaping into Lilliwaup River, and the effects of any spawning on summer chum productivity. The results of monitoring and evaluation may be used to help determine the actual risks of hazards to summer chum spawners attached with non indigenous fall chinook and pink salmon escapement. An alternative to acclimation, if not effective, is elimination of the net pen program.

The risk of competition and behavioral modification hazards to summer chum fry will be minimized by requiring that all hatchery fall chum and pink salmon fry releases be made after April 1. This measure should minimize the likelihood for interactions with emigrating Lilliwaup summer chum in the estuary, allowing clearance of the majority of the fish from Hood Canal prior to release of the hatchery fish. It should also enhance acclimation and fidelity of returning adult fish to the hatcheries. Risks associated with fish disease transfer from hatchery origin fish can be minimized through compliance with co manager fish health monitoring and pre release certification procedures.

Discussion  The need to minimize risks to Lilliwaup summer chum is heightened by an assessed " high" extinction risk status of the population ( status designation from Table 1.12). As noted above, a weir on Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 210 Lilliwaup River directed at summer chum broodstock collection can be used to remove nearly all straying fall chinook and pink salmon adults to minimize risks to summer chum spawners. A determination should be made whether pink salmon observed on odd years are Hoodsport Hatchery strays or an indigenous stock before any decision regarding their removal is made. A delay in fall chum and pink fry releases until after April 1 may require changes in pond loading and fish production regimes at Hoodsport, McKernan, and George Adams hatcheries to maintain safe fish rearing densities. These changes could lead to reduced annual production levels of certain species at these hatcheries, potentially including pink salmon, yearling fall chinook, and fall chum salmon.

Hamma Hamma Adult hatchery salmonid effects  The potential need to conduct broodstocking operations for cooperative programs directed at fall chinook as part of a formal recovery program may pose a " moderate" risk to summer chum adults. The potential effects on summer chum resulting from trapping or capturing chinook were used to assign this risk rating. Adverse competition or behavioral modification effects that may impact summer chum spawners might originate from on station fall chinook releases, or from fall chinook that may stray into the watershed from WDFW co operative marine area net pen projects. The Hamma Hamma River has an indigenous pink salmon population that is considered to be co adapted with summer chum. The presence of pinks on the spawning grounds, regardless of origin, is therefore not considered to be a risk factor to summer chum. The Hamma Hamma River has a relatively large amount of spawning area, and interactions between summer chum and fall chinook are not expected to adversely affect summer chum productivity. The risks of spawning gravel competition and redd superimposition hazards posed by on station origin ( and straying) fall chinook have therefore been assessed as " low."

Juvenile hatchery salmonid effects  " High" risks of adverse competitive and behavioral modification hazards have been assigned for hatchery fall chum and pink salmon releases mainly from WDFW southwest Hood Canal programs. Neither of these species are released through the Hamma Hamma Hatchery program. High risk levels were assigned based on possible competition for potentially limiting food resources posed by fall chum and pink salmon fry released into the estuary during the summer chum emigration period, and behavioral changes effected by the releases that may adversely alter summer chum foraging success. Risks of predator attraction potentially caused by hatchery fall chum and pink liberations are judged " low" because of the geographical distance between the Hamma Hamma River and the nearest hatchery fall chum and pink release site.

Proposed risk aversion strategies  Measures proposed to minimize the risk of adverse competitive and behavioral modification effects that may result from spawning in the Hamma Hamma River by straying marine area net pen origin fall chinook include acclimation of fall chinook released from Hood Canal marine area net pen operations to minimize the risk of straying. This measure will be linked with monitoring and evaluation requirements to determine the location of spawning of hatchery fall chinook escaping into Hamma Hamma River, and the effects of any spawning on summer chum productivity. The results of monitoring and evaluation may be used to help determine the actual risks of hazards to summer chum Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 211 spawners attached with any stray, non indigenous fall chinook escapement. An alternative to acclimation, if not feasible, is elimination of the net pen program.

The risk of competition and behavioral modification hazards to summer chum fry will be minimized by requiring that all hatchery fall chum and pink salmon fry releases be made after April 1. This measure should minimize the likelihood for interactions with emigrating Hamma Hamma summer chum in the estuary, allowing clearance of the majority of the fish from Hood Canal. Risks associated with fish disease transfer from hatchery origin fish can be minimized through compliance with co manager fish health monitoring and pre release certification procedures.

Discussion  The need to minimize risks to Hamma Hamma summer chum is heightened by an assessed " moderate" extinction risk status of the population ( status designation from Table 1.12). A delay in fall chum and pink fry releases until after April 1 may require changes in pond loading and fish production regimes at Hoodsport, McKernan, and George Adams hatcheries to maintain safe fish rearing densities. These changes could lead to reduced annual production levels of certain species at these hatcheries, potentially including pink salmon, yearling fall chinook, and fall chum salmon.

Duckabush Adult hatchery salmonid effects  A modest fall chinook salmon enhancement program is the only source of on station salmonid production in the watershed. The Duckabush River has an indigenous pink salmon population that is considered to be co adapted with summer chum. The presence of pinks on the spawning grounds, regardless of origin, is therefore not considered to be a risk factor to summer chum. Potentially adverse competitive or behavioral modification effects to summer chum adults on the spawning grounds may result from homing hatchery origin fall chinook. Adverse effects to summer chum spawners might also result from fall chinook that stray into the watershed from WDFW cooperative marine area net pen projects. The Duckabush River has a relatively large amount of spawning area, and interactions between summer chum and fall chinook are not expected to adversely affect summer chum productivity. The risks of spawning gravel competition and redd superimposition hazards posed by straying fall chinook are therefore assessed as " low."

Juvenile hatchery salmonid effects  The volunteer group fall chinook program on Johnson Creek is judged to pose a " moderate" risk of disease transfer to summer chum, with a " low" risk of adverse effects assigned for other hazard categories. Steelhead that are truck planted into the river are released as migrating smolts after the summer chum migration period and are judged to pose no significant threat to summer chum. " High" risks of adverse competitive and behavioral modification hazards have been assigned for hatchery fall chum and pink salmon releases mainly from WDFW southwest Hood Canal programs. " High" risk ratings were assigned based on possible competition for potentially limiting food resources posed by fall chum and pink salmon fry released into the estuary during the summer chum emigration period, and behavioral changes effected by the releases that may adversely alter summer chum foraging success. Risks of predator attraction potentially caused by hatchery fall chum and pink liberations are Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 212 judged " low" because of the geographical distance between the Duckabush River and the nearest hatchery fall chum and pink release site.

Proposed risk aversion strategies  Measures proposed to minimize the risk of adverse competitive and behavioral modification effects that may result from spawning in the Duckabush River by straying marine area net pen origin fall chinook include acclimation of fall chinook released from Hood Canal marine area net pen operations to minimize the risk of straying. This measure will be linked with monitoring and evaluation requirements to determine the location of spawning of stray hatchery fall chinook, and the effects of any spawning on summer chum productivity. The results of monitoring and evaluation may be used to help determine the actual risks of hazards to summer chum spawners attached with stray, non indigenous fall chinook escapement. An alternative to acclimation, if not feasible, is elimination of the net pen programs.

The risk of competition and behavioral modification hazards associated with hatchery juvenile fall chum interactions will be minimized by requiring that all fall chum and pink salmon fry releases be made after April 1. This measure should minimize the likelihood for interactions with emigrating Duckabush summer chum, allowing clearance of the majority of the fish from Hood Canal. Risks associated with fish disease transfer from hatchery origin fish can be minimized through compliance with co manager fish health monitoring and pre release certification procedures.

Discussion  Duckabush River summer chum have been judged to be at " low" risk of extinction ( status designation from Table 1.12). Risks to these summer chum may include disruption of spawning by homing and straying hatchery fall chinook adults, potential fish disease transfer from the Johnson Creek fall chinook program, and negative effects in the estuary that may result from southwest Hood Canal hatchery fall chum and pink salmon fry releases during the summer chum emigration period ( pre April 1 in the Canal). Risks associated with fall chinook competition and behavioral modification are assessed as " low" due to the relatively large size of the river, and the likelihood that interactions between summer chum and fall chinook adults will be minimal. The risk of fish disease transfer can be minimized through compliance with comanager Salmonid Disease Control Policy procedures. A delay in fall chum and pink fry releases until after April 1 may require changes in pond loading and fish production regimes at Hoodsport, McKernan, and George Adams hatcheries to maintain safe fish rearing densities. These changes could lead to reduced annual production levels of certain species at these hatcheries, potentially including pink salmon, yearling fall chinook, and fall chum salmon.

Dosewallips Adult hatchery salmonid effects  No hatchery programs are located on the Dosewallips River. Any hatchery induced, adverse competitive or behavioral modification effects to summer chum adults on the spawning grounds would be attributable only to straying fish. Adverse impacts to summer chum spawners might emanate from fall chinook that may stray into the watershed from WDFW co operative marine area net pen projects. Straying pink salmon from Hoodsport Hatchery were not considered a risk factor, as the Dosewallips River has an indigenous pink salmon population. The Dosewallips River has a relatively Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 213 large amount of spawning area, and interactions between summer chum and fall chinook are not expected to adversely affect summer chum productivity. The risks of spawning gravel competition and redd superimposition hazards posed by straying fall chinook was therefore judged as " low."

Juvenile hatchery salmonid effects  " High" risks of adverse competitive and behavioral modification hazards have been assigned for hatchery fall chum and pink salmon releases mainly from WDFW southwest Hood Canal programs. High risk levels were assigned based on potential competition for potentially limiting food resources posed by fall chum and pink salmon fry released into the estuary during the summer chum emigration period, and behavioral changes effected by the releases that may adversely alter summer chum foraging success. Risks of predator attraction potentially caused by hatchery fall chum and pink liberations are judged " low" because of the geographical distance between the Dosewallips River and the nearest hatchery fall chum and pink release site.

Proposed risk aversion strategies  Measures proposed to minimize the risk of adverse competitive and behavioral modification effects that may result from spawning in the Dosewallips River by straying marine area net pen origin fall chinook include acclimation of fall chinook released from Hood Canal marine area net pen operations to minimize the risk of straying. This measure will be linked with monitoring and evaluation requirements to determine the location of spawning of escaping hatchery fall chinook, and the effects of any spawning on summer chum productivity. The results of monitoring and evaluation may be used to help determine the actual risks of hazards to summer chum spawners attached with stray, nonindigenous fall chinook escapement. An alternative to acclimation, if not feasible, is elimination of the netpen program.

The risk of competition and behavioral modification hazards associated with hatchery juvenile fall chum interactions will be minimized by requiring that all fall chum and pink salmon fry releases be made after April 1. This measure should minimize the likelihood for interactions with emigrating Dosewallips River summer chum, allowing clearance of the majority of the fish from Hood Canal.

Discussion  Dosewallips River summer chum have been judged to be at " low" risk of extinction ( status designation from Table 1.12). No hatchery programs are located on the Dosewallips River, and risks to summer chum spawners are posed only by straying hatchery origin adult fish. These risks are assessed as " low" due to the relatively large size of the river, and the likelihood that interactions between summer chum and fall chinook adults will be minimal. Potentially adverse competition and behavioral modification effects to summer chum fry can be minimized through a delay in fall chum and pink fry releases until after April 1. This delay in release timing may require changes in pond loading and fish production regimes at Hoodsport, McKernan, and George Adams hatcheries to maintain safe fish rearing densities. These changes could lead to reduced annual production levels of certain species at these hatcheries, potentially including pink salmon, yearling fall chinook, and fall chum salmon.

Big and Little Quilcene Adult hatchery salmonid effects  During the summer chum migration period, the Quilcene NFH weir is directed mainly at the capture of returning indigenous origin hatchery coho salmon. Some summer chum Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 214 produced at the hatchery return to the weir during the same period as the early returning coho, and the weir is now operated with summer chum as a primary concern and as part of the formal recovery program for the species. The focus on summer chum collection, and the location of the weir in the upper portion of the Big Quilcene River watershed (~ R. M. 2.8) act to limit the significance of any impacts to summer chum survival and spawning distribution. The operation of the weir is therefore assessed as of " low" risk to summer chum.

Adverse competition or behavioral modification effects that may impact summer chum spawners might result from on station coho salmon releases, and from coho returning to the Big Quilcene River from the Quilcene Bay net pens. These coho are of early run, indigenous stock origin, and some spawning ground resource partitioning between the coho and summer chum can be expected. The hatchery coho also have a tendency to migrate rapidly to the Quilcene Hatchery weir, rather than spawn in the lower river used by summer chum. The risks of spawning gravel competition and redd superimposition hazards posed by onstation origin and straying coho salmon in the Big Quilcene River have therefore been assessed as " low." Quilcene NFH and net pen origin coho salmon may stray into the Little Quilcene River. Although these coho may be similar to the native stock, increased coho escapement levels resulting from these strays may negatively impact summer chum. Adverse impacts to summer chum spawners might emanate from fall chinook straying into the watershed from WDFW co operative marine area net pen projects in the Canal. Straying pink salmon from Hoodsport Hatchery were not considered a risk factor, as the Big Quilcene River has an indigenous pink salmon population. The Big Quilcene River has a relatively large amount of spawning area, and interactions between summer chum and any fall chinook strays are not expected to adversely affect summer chum productivity. The risks of spawning gravel competition and redd superimposition hazards posed by straying fall chinook may therefore be assessed as " low".

Juvenile hatchery salmonid effects  Coho salmon smolts produced at Quilcene NFH and the Quilcene Bay net pens are released after completion of the estimated summer chum emigration period in the Canal. Ecological risks to summer chum fry associated with these smolt releases have been assessed as " low." The Quilcene NFH program also produces coho fry for release upstream of the hatchery to seed a portion of the watershed not accessible to adult fish. These fry releases are judged to pose a " high" risk to summer chum productivity through potential predation when the fish rear to yearling size. " High" risks of adverse competitive and behavioral modification hazards to Quilcene summer chum have been assigned for hatchery fall chum and pink salmon releases mainly from WDFW southwest Hood Canal programs. These " high" ratings were assigned based on possible competition for potentially limiting food resources posed by fall chum and pink salmon fry released into the Hood Canal estuary during the summer chum emigration period, and behavioral changes effected by the releases that may adversely alter summer chum foraging success. Enhanced risks of predator attraction potentially caused by hatchery fall chum and pink liberations are judged as of " moderate" concern.

Proposed risk aversion strategies  Risks to Big and Little Quilcene summer chum posed by the Quilcene NFH and Quilcene Bay net pen coho programs are judged to be low. No risk aversion measures are therefore proposed for these programs. The Quilcene NFH coho fingerling production program should be modified to release only volitionally migrating smolts that will not remain in the river to potentially prey Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 215 on emigrating summer chum. The risk of adverse competitive and behavioral modification effects that may result from fall chinook spawning in the rivers by straying marine area net pen origin fish may be minimized through acclimation of fall chinook released from Hood Canal net pen operations to minimize the tendency for straying. Monitoring and evaluation programs may be used to determine the location of spawning of hatchery coho salmon and any stray hatchery fall chinook, and the effects of any spawning on summer chum productivity. An alternative to acclimation, if not feasible, is elimination of net pen programs releasing fall chinook in the region.

The risk of competition and behavioral modification hazards associated with hatchery juvenile fall chum interactions will be minimized by requiring that all fall chum and pink salmon fry releases be made after April 1. This measure should minimize the likelihood for interactions with emigrating Big and Little Quilcene summer chum, allowing clearance of the majority of the fish from Hood Canal.

Discussion  Although at " high" risk prior to the implementation of conservation programs in 1992, Quilcene summer chum are presently judged to be at " low" risk of extinction ( status designation from Table 1.12). Ecological impact risks to summer chum adults and juveniles posed by the Quilcene NFH and Quilcene Bay net pen coho programs are assessed as " low." A delay in Hood Canal regional hatchery fall chum and pink fry releases until after April 1 to minimize competition and behavioral modification risks could require changes in pond loading and fish production regimes at Hoodsport, McKernan, and George Adams hatcheries to maintain safe fish rearing densities. These changes may lead to reduced annual production levels of certain species at these hatcheries, potentially including pink salmon, yearling fall chinook, and fall chum salmon.

Snow/ Salmon Adult hatchery salmonid effects  Indigenous stock coho salmon are trapped at the Snow Creek trap to effect a formal recovery program. This operation is unlikely to adversely affect summer chum that are incidentally encountered, due to the location of the weir upstream of the majority of known summer chum habitat and on site staffing by WDFW Snow Creek Station personnel. A " low" risk rating is therefore assigned.

Summer chum that are part of a recovery program are the only hatchery salmonids released into Salmon Creek. Due to the lack of any hatchery operations producing other species near by, no significant adverse competition or behavioral modification effects that may impact summer chum spawners are expected from straying fall chinook or pink salmon. The risk of hatchery operation and release impacts to summer chum in Salmon Creek is judged to be " low."

Juvenile hatchery salmonid effects  Snow Creek is planted with coho salmon fingerlings and subyearlings each year to help rebuild the indigenous population. " High" to " moderate" risks of predation to summer chum were assigned to these two coho release programs, due to the planting of fry, fingerlings, and pre smolts, and the likelihood for interaction with summer chum fry during the coho's one to five months of rearing in the Snow Creek watershed . No hatchery salmonids other than summer chum are planted into Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 216 Salmon Creek. No competitive and behavioral modification risk levels have been assigned for hatchery fall chum and pink salmon releases from Strait of Juan de Fuca or Hood Canal programs in other watersheds due to the isolation of this population in Discovery Bay, and the distance of the stock from other hatchery operations.

Proposed risk aversion strategies  The broodstock collection weir on Snow Creek will be operated for the handling of summer chum as a primary objective. Risk aversion measures identified for the safe operation of a fish weir directed at other species on a summer chum stream will be applied. Coho juveniles released into Snow Creek watershed are an indigenous stock, and the program is designed to rebuild the SASSI " critical" wild population. Rather than applying further risk aversion measures to the coho program, the value of the coho program and summer chum protection is balanced by requiring monitoring and evaluation to identify coho survival rates, distribution during rearing in the watershed, and potential predation effects on summer chum.

Discussion  Although at " high" risk prior to the implementation of conservation programs in 1992, Snow/ Salmon summer chum are presently judged to be at " low" risk of extinction ( status designation from Table 1.12). The few summer chum adults that will be encountered through operation of the Snow Creek weir will be trapped, handled, and released in a manner that reduces the risk of negative effects. Ecological impact risks to Snow/ Salmon summer chum juveniles posed by the Snow Creek coho program are assessed as " low," with appropriate monitoring and evaluation to evaluate potential coho salmon predation effects on summer chum.

Jimmycomelately Adult hatchery salmonid effects  No hatchery salmonids are released into Jimmycomelately Creek. Due to the lack of any hatchery operations producing other species near by, no significant adverse competition or behavioral modification effects on summer chum spawners are expected from straying fall chinook or pink salmon. The risk of hatchery operation and release impacts to summer chum in Jimmycomelately Creek is judged to be " low."

Juvenile hatchery salmonid effects  No hatchery salmonids are planted into Jimmycomelately Creek. No competitive and behavioral modification risk levels have been assigned for hatchery fall chum and pink salmon releases from Strait of Juan de Fuca or Hood Canal programs in other watersheds due to the isolation of this population in Sequim Bay, and the distance of the stock from other hatchery operations.

Proposed risk aversion strategies  Given the lack of hatchery programs within the watershed, or in the general vicinity, no risk aversion measures to protect this population are proposed.

Discussion  The Jimmycomelately summer chum population is at " high" risk of extinction ( status designation from Table 1.12). Although no adverse hatchery effects have been assigned to this population, Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 217 any future consideration of hatchery production of other species within the Sequim Bay area should take into account the need to minimize risks to this population.

Dungeness Adult hatchery salmonid effects  Broodstock capture operations in the lower river directed at pink salmon may lead to the incidental capture, handling and release of summer chum adults. Hatchery origin chinook are also trapped at Dungeness Hatchery. The trapping operations are part of two formal recovery programs for the indigenous chinook and pink salmon populations. The location of the pink salmon trap in the lower river poses a " moderate" risk of adverse hatchery operational effects on the summer chum population. Chinook and pink salmon adults returning to the river from the recovery programs will overlap in spawning areas and timing with summer chum. The indigenous origin of the chinook and pink stocks, and the large amount of spawning area available to salmon returning to the river led to a " low" risk assessment for negative competition and behavioral modification effects to spawning summer chum and their redds. Coho salmon adults returning through the Dungeness Hatchery are not expected to pose a significant risk to summer chum due to their later return timing and use of upper watershed areas for spawning.

Juvenile hatchery salmonid effects  Chinook fry and fingerlings have the potential to remain in the Dungeness River for up to one year prior to migrating seaward. Because these fish are part of a formal recovery program, and due to the low proportion of these fish that adopt a yearling life history pattern, a " low" risk of predation effects to summer chum fry is assigned. Although the program is currently quite small, pink salmon fry liberated from Dungeness Hatchery during the summer chum emigration period may pose " high" risks of predator attraction effects. Coho salmon are released as smolts well after the summer chum emigration period and no significant adverse impacts to summer chum are anticipated. No competitive and behavioral modification risk ratings have been assigned for hatchery fall chum and pink salmon releases from Strait of Juan de Fuca or Hood Canal region programs in other watersheds due to the isolation of this population in the mid Strait Dungeness Bay area, and the distance of the stock from other hatchery operations.

Proposed risk aversion strategies  As described above, risk aversion measures are being applied for the operation of the pink salmon capture weir in the lower river and the Dungeness Hatchery weir. No risk aversion measures are proposed to address spawning ground separation between summer chum and propagated chinook and pink salmon populations. All three populations are the subject of formal recovery programs and are given equal weight in considering rebuilding priorities and allowable effects. To address potential chinook predation effects, monitoring and evaluation is proposed to identify chinook and pink salmon survival rates, distribution during rearing in the watershed, and predation effects on summer chum. A delay in release timing for pinks until after April 1 is not required at this time in recognition of the extremely depressed status of the pink salmon population. Given the lack of other hatchery programs in the general vicinity, no risk aversion measures to protect this summer chum population are proposed for hatchery strays nor potential competitors for food, space, or migration areas. Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 218 Discussion  The Dungeness summer chum population is of " special concern" with regards to extinction risk ( status designation from Table 1.12). Monitoring and evaluation measures may be used to determine the risks of adverse ecological impacts to summer chum posed by the other formal recovery programs in the watershed.

Finch The summer chum population in Finch Creek was extirpated by the late 1960s, and current hatchery program effects on the population are nil. Some summer chum stray each year to Finch Creek, and these fish may help re establish a return.

Adult hatchery salmonid effects  The Hoodsport Hatchery weir located at the mouth of the creek, and hatchery fall chinook, pink salmon, and fall chum returning during the summer chum migration period and allowed to spawn naturally above the weir may pose risks to the future establishment of a summer chum population in Finch Creek.

Juvenile hatchery salmonid effects  If and when a summer chum population is re established in Finch Creek, the release of pink and fall chum salmon from Hoodsport Hatchery, and from other southwestern Hood Canal hatcheries during the summer chum emigration period, may pose moderate to high risks of adverse ecological effects, including predator attraction, food resource competition, and behavioral modification hazards.

Proposed risk aversion strategies  Finch Creek summer chum are judged to have been recently extirpated ( Table 1.18), and no risk aversion measures are proposed to specifically address impacts to this population.

Discussion  Risk aversion and monitoring and evaluation measures may be developed in the future to reduce the risk of hatchery operation or fish impacts, if and when a summer chum population is reestablished

Skokomish The summer chum population in the Skokomish River is extirpated, and current hatchery program effects on the population are nil. The watershed has been identified as a candidate for summer chum reintroduction, and risks to the reintroduced population are therefore assessed herein.

Adult hatchery salmonid effects  George Adams and McKernan hatchery fall chinook and fall chum returning during the summer chum migration period and allowed to spawn naturally in the river may pose risks to the future establishment of a summer chum population through competition for spawning sites and redd superimposition. The large amount of accessible spawning area in the river reduces the likelihood for these impacts to be of major consequence to summer chum productivity however. Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 219 Juvenile hatchery salmonid effects  If and when a summer chum population is re established in the Skokomish River, the release of pink and fall chum salmon from Hoodsport Hatchery, and from other southwestern Hood Canal hatcheries during the summer chum emigration period, may pose moderate to high risks of adverse ecological impacts, including predator attraction, food resource competition, and behavioral modification hazards.

Proposed risk aversion strategies  Skokomish summer chum are judged to have been recently extirpated ( Table 1.18), and no risk aversion measures are proposed to specifically address impacts to this population.

Discussion  Risk aversion and monitoring and evaluation measures may be developed in the future to reduce the risk of hatchery operation or fish impacts, if and when a summer chum population is reestablished

Tahuya The summer chum population in the Tahuya River has been functionally extirpated ( Table 1.18), and current hatchery program effects on the population are nil. However, the watershed has been identified as a candidate for summer chum reintroduction, and risks to the reintroduced population are therefore assessed.

Adult hatchery salmonid effects  Hazards to adult summer chum when reintroduced to the river include a " high" risk of adverse competitive and behavioral modification effects resulting from interactions on the spawning ground with hatchery origin fall chinook and Finch Creek lineage fall chum adults. Adult fall chinook originating from volunteer enhancement group releases into the river that escape into summer chum spawning areas, or stray fish from regional WDFW cooperative marine area net pen operations, may compete for spawning sites and adversely affect summer chum productivity through redd superimposition. Redd superimposition concerns also apply for on station hatchery origin fall chum that return earlier in the season than indigenous Tahuya River fall chum. The risk of these hazards is exacerbated by the constrained available spawning area afforded in the river due to low late summer early fall stream flows and the relatively small size of the stream channel.

Juvenile hatchery salmonid effects  At such time that a summer chum population may be re established in the Tahuya River, the release of pink and fall chum salmon during the summer chum emigration period from the major Hood Canal hatcheries, and cumulatively, from regional RSI operations, may pose " moderate" to " high" risks of adverse ecological impacts. These impacts include predator attraction, food resource competition, and behavioral modification hazards. Hatchery programs located in the Tahuya River watershed are judged to pose a " moderate" risk to summer chum through disease transfer as presently operated.

Proposed risk aversion strategies  Upon reintroduction of summer chum salmon to the Tahuya River, risk aversion and monitoring and evaluation measures will be proposed to minimize the risk of hazards to a re established population. Measures to minimize the risk of interaction and deleterious competitive and Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 220 behavioral modification effects posed by non indigenous fall chinook and fall chum in summer chum spawning areas could include removal of all returning adults not considered part of a formal recovery program, or cessation of fall chinook and fall chum releases. Risk aversion measures will also be proposed to improve fish health monitoring and reporting to reduce the risk of fish disease transfer. The risk of competition and behavioral modification hazards associated with hatchery juvenile fall chum interactions will be minimized by requiring that all fall chum and pink salmon fry releases within the region be made after April 1. This measure should minimize the likelihood for interactions with any future emigrating Tahuya summer chum, allowing clearance of the majority of the fish from Hood Canal. Monitoring and evaluation is proposed to provide additional information regarding Tahuya River hatchery operations in the basin and to further reduce their potential operational, predation, competition, and disease transfer effects on summer chum salmon.

Discussion  Placement and operation of a fish weir in the Tahuya River to remove fall chinook and Finch Creek lineage fall chum may pose additional hazards to summer chum when re established, including delay in migration, injury or mortality resulting from holding and handling, and increased susceptibility to predation or poaching. The fall chinook and fall chum programs are not part of a formal recovery program. To address risks to summer chum, it is recommended that these programs be eliminated. A delay in allowable fall chum and pink fry releases until after April 1 may require changes in pond loading and fish production regimes at Hoodsport, McKernan, and George Adams hatcheries to maintain safe fish rearing densities. These changes could lead to reduced annual production levels of certain species at these hatcheries, potentially including pink salmon, yearling fall chinook, and fall chum salmon.

Dewatto The summer chum population in the Dewatto River has been extirpated ( Table 1.18), and current hatchery program effects on the population are nil. However, like the Tahuya, the watershed has been identified as a candidate for summer chum reintroduction within the next few years, and risks to the reintroduced population are therefore assessed here.

Adult hatchery salmonid effects  Hazards to adult summer chum when reintroduced to the river include a " high" risk of adverse competitive and behavioral modification effects resulting from interactions on the spawning ground with hatchery origin fall chinook adults. Adult fall chinook that escape into summer chum spawning areas originating from volunteer enhancement group releases into the river, or as stray fish from regional WDFW cooperative marine area net pen operations, may compete for spawning sites and adversely affect summer chum productivity through redd superimposition. The risk of these hazards is exacerbated by the constrained available spawning area afforded in the river due to low late summer early fall stream flows and the relatively small size of the stream channel.

Juvenile hatchery salmonid effects  At such time as a summer chum population may be re established in the Dewatto River, the release of pink and fall chum salmon during the summer chum emigration period from the major Hood Canal hatcheries, and cumulatively, from regional RSI operations, may pose " moderate" to " high" risks of adverse ecological impacts. These impacts may include predator attraction, Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 221 food resource competition, and behavioral modification hazards. Hatchery programs located in the Dewatto River watershed are judged to pose a " moderate" risk to summer chum through disease transfer as presently operated.

Proposed risk aversion strategies  Upon reintroduction of summer chum salmon to the Dewatto River, risk aversion and monitoring and evaluation measures will be proposed to minimize the risk of hazards to a re established population. Risk aversion measures to minimize the likelihood of interaction and deleterious competitive and behavioral modification effects posed by non indigenous fall chinook salmon in summer chum spawning areas could include removal of all returning adults not considered part of a formal recovery program, or cessation of fall chinook releases. Risk aversion measures will also be proposed to improve fish health monitoring and reporting to reduce the risk of fish disease transfer. The risk of competition and behavioral modification hazards associated with hatchery juvenile fall chum interactions will be minimized by requiring that all fall chum and pink salmon fry releases within the region be made after April 1. This measure should minimize the likelihood for interactions with any future emigrating Dewatto summer chum, allowing clearance of the majority of the fish from Hood Canal. Monitoring and evaluation is proposed to provide additional information regarding Dewatto River hatchery operations in the basin and to further reduce their potential operational, predation, competition, and disease transfer effects on summer chum salmon.

Discussion  Placement and operation of a fish weir to remove fall chinook salmon adults may pose additional hazards to summer chum when re established, including delay in migration, injury or mortality resulting from holding and handling, and increased susceptibility to predation or poaching. The fall chinook program is not part of a formal recovery program. To address risks to summer chum, it is recommended that this program be eliminated. A delay in allowable fall chum and pink fry releases until after April 1 may require changes in pond loading and fish production regimes at Hoodsport, McKernan, and George Adams hatcheries to maintain safe fish rearing densities. These changes could lead to reduced annual production levels of certain species at these hatcheries, potentially including pink salmon, yearling fall chinook, and fall chum salmon.

Anderson The summer chum population in Anderson Creek is extirpated ( Table 1.18), and current hatchery program effects on the population are therefore now nil. There are no plans, at present, to reintroduce a population through the use of artificial propagation.

Adult hatchery salmonid effects  No hatchery salmonids are released into Anderson Creek. If and when a summer chum population becomes re established, straying fall chinook adults originating from regional marine net pen operations may pose risks of competitive and behavioral modification hazards on the spawning grounds.

Juvenile hatchery salmonid effects  If and when a summer chum population is re established in Anderson Creek, the release of pink and fall chum salmon during the summer chum emigration period from Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 222 the major Hood Canal hatcheries, and cumulatively, from regional RSI operations, may pose " moderate" to " high" risks of adverse ecological impacts, including predator attraction, food resource competition, and behavioral modification hazards.

Proposed risk aversion strategies  Anderson summer chum are extirpated, and no risk aversion measures are proposed to specifically address impacts to this population.

Discussion  Risk aversion and monitoring and evaluation measures may be developed in the future to reduce the risk of hatchery operation or fish impacts, if and when a summer chum population is reestablished

Big Beef The original summer chum population in Big Beef Creek was extirpated ( Table 1.18), and current hatchery program effects on the population are presently nil. However, summer chum are in the process of being reintroduced into the watershed, and risks to the reintroduced population are therefore assessed.

Adult hatchery salmonid effects  The volunteer enhancement group hatchery program on Big Beef Creek produces non indigenous fall chinook that are removed at an existing fish weir in the lower creek upon adult return. Separation from summer chum that are carefully passed upstream and allowed to spawn naturally in the creek or in the renovated artificial spawning channel will be afforded by this practice. The risk of adverse competitive and behavioral modification effects to newly introduced summer chum adults posed by the operation is judged to be " low," pending continuation of 100% removal practices for returning fall chinook adults. The potential of negative effects on summer chum spawning success below the weir will be evaluated and if a problem is found to exist, the returning adult chinook will be removed or the program will be terminated.

Juvenile hatchery salmonid effects  Fall chinook sub yearling releases are made into Big Beef Creek in June, well after the summer chum emigration period. Due to this separation, adverse effects to summer chum fry that may result from predation, competition, or behavioral modification are judged to be " low." A " moderate" risk of adverse effects to summer chum juveniles was assigned for the risk of fish disease transfer, due to the need to rear fall chinook, monitor, and to report fish health conditions in accordance with co manager Salmonid Disease Contol Policy standards. The release of pink and fall chum salmon during the summer chum emigration period from the major Hood Canal hatcheries, and cumulatively, from regional RSI operations, may pose " moderate" to " high" risks of adverse ecological impacts, including predator attraction, food resource competition, and behavioral modification hazards, to Big Beef summer chum.

Proposed risk aversion strategies  Risks associated with fish disease transfer from Big Beef Creek hatchery origin fish can be minimized through application of risk aversion measures leading to compliance with co manager fish health monitoring and pre release certification procedures. Monitoring and evaluation measures may also be employed to determine the location of any spawning of hatchery fall chinook Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 223 returning to Big Beef Creek ( e. g., downstream of the weir), and the effects of any spawning on summer chum productivity. The results of monitoring and evaluation may be used to help determine the actual risks of hazards to summer chum spawners attached with the non indigenous fall chinook production program.

The risk of competition and behavioral modification hazards associated with hatchery juvenile fall chum interactions will be minimized by requiring that all fall chum and pink salmon fry releases be made after April 1. This measure should minimize the likelihood for interactions with emigrating summer chum, allowing clearance of the majority of the fish from Hood Canal.

Discussion  Risks to reintroduced summer chum have been judged to be generally " low" for the present fall chinook sub yearling program at Big Beef Creek. This assessment was based on the assumption that the Big Beef Creek weir will be properly operated to exclude all returning fall chinook from the spawning grounds, while preventing harm to commingled summer chum adults. The assumption that the weir would be operated with summer chum as the primary concern during the summer chum migration period was also made in assigning a " low" risk level for the program. Fish disease transfer concerns can be addressed through compliance with the co manager's Salmonid Disease Control Policy standards and practices. Potential interactions of chinook and summer chum spawners downstream of the weir will be evaluated and appropriate action will be taken to eliminate any negative impact on summer chum including, if necessary, termination of the chinook program.

Chimacum The indigenous summer chum population in Chimacum Creek was extirpated ( Table 1.18), and current hatchery program effects on the population are therefore now nil. However, summer chum are in the process of being reintroduced into the watershed, and risks to the reintroduced population are therefore assessed here.

Adult hatchery salmonid effects  No hatchery salmonids are released into Chimacum Creek that may pose hatchery operational or ecological hazards to the reintroduced summer chum adult population. In addition, due to the lack of any hatchery operations producing other species near by, no significant adverse competition or behavioral modification effects that may impact summer chum spawners are expected from straying fall chinook or pink salmon. The risks of adverse hatchery operation and release impacts to summer chum in Chimacum Creek are therefore judged to be " low."

Juvenile hatchery salmonid effects  No hatchery salmonids besides summer chum are planted into Chimacum Creek. No competitive and behavioral modification risk levels have been assigned for hatchery fall chum and pink salmon releases from Strait of Juan de Fuca or Hood Canal programs in other watersheds due to the isolation of this population in Port Townsend Bay, and the distance of the stock from other hatchery operations.

Proposed risk aversion strategies  Given the lack of hatchery programs within the watershed, or in the general vicinity, no risk aversion measures to protect this population are proposed. Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 224 Discussion  Summer chum have been recently reintroduced into Chimacum Creek. Although no adverse hatchery effects have been assigned to this population, any future consideration of hatchery production of other species within the Port Townsend Bay area should take into account the need to minimize risks to this population.

Summary of Proposed Adjustments in Regional Salmonid Hatchery Production Programs to Minimize Adverse Ecological Effects on Summer Chum Salmon As an outcome of the above assessment, certain fish production and operational practices applied through hatchery programs within the region are recommended for adjustment to minimize the risk of adverse impacts to summer chum. Fish production and hatchery operational practices for selected programs will also need to be monitored and evaluated to help determine hatchery induced ecological impacts to summer chum, allowing for adjustments in the programs as needed consistent with an adaptive management approach. Adjustments in hatchery practices that will result from the implementation of risk aversion and monitoring and evaluation measures proposed herein are summarized below for each hatchery facility or program within the Hood Canal/ SJF summer chum region.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Hatchery Programs Hoodsport Hatchery  Pre April 1 releases of fall chum and pink salmon fry at Hoodsport Hatchery have been judged to pose a high risk of adverse competition and behavioral modification impacts to emigrating summer chum. To reduce the risk level of this hazard, all releases of fall chum and pink salmon fry should be delayed until after April 1. Compliance with this measure will require adjustments in existing chum and pink growth and feeding rate regimes to meet this criterion for a later release date. Meeting this criterion may necessitate changes in total fish production programming levels at the hatchery, if safe pond loading densities can not be maintained, given available pond space and water for the two to three additional weeks of rearing that will be needed to hold pink fry and the earliest spawned fall chum groups. If the hatchery is over programmed as a result of this adjustment from a fish health and quality maintenance perspective, alternatives that should be investigated to meet this objective may include reduction of fall chum and pink salmon release size targets to reduce densities, or scaling back of fall chum, pink salmon, or yearling fall chinook production levels at the hatchery.

Sund Rock Net pens  Yearling fall chinook salmon released from the net pens may have an enhanced tendency to stray into summer chum streams upon adult return, potentially posing a high risk of adverse competitive or behavioral modification hazards to summer chum spawners. These hazards could include redd superimposition, competition for spawning gravel, and modification of summer chum spawning behavior through physical dominance. An enhanced level of acclimation to the parent hatchery responsible for producing the yearlings ( e. g., Hoodsport Hatchery) may help maximize the number of in migrating fall chinook adults that home to the hatchery rather than stray to other streams. It is uncertain what measures can be applied to further induce homing to Hoodsport Hatchery, given the low amount of attraction water available to fall chinook at the hatchery during the adult migration period. An alternative would be to produce the yearlings destined for transfer to the net pens at George Adams Hatchery, which, due to its Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 225 more terminal location near the Skokomish River and higher flow levels, may provide an enhanced attraction location for returning fall chinook adults. Monitoring and evaluation is also recommended to determine the level of net pen origin fall chinook straying to summer chum streams, and the effects of any straying on summer chum spawning success. Implementation of these monitoring and evaluation measures will require increased funding to pay for staff time necessary to investigate straying levels and impacts. The option of terminating the program may also be considered.

George Adams Hatchery  George Adams Hatchery is located on Purdy Creek, which does not harbor a summer chum population. The species and classes produced under the current program, including subyearling smolt fall chinook, yearling coho smolts, and Finch Creek stock fall chum fry, have a low risk of interaction with summer chum as juveniles and adults. The program has been judged to have a low risk of adverse effects on Hood Canal summer chum. As presently operated and programmed, no changes in fish production or hatchery operational practices are proposed through this assessment for George Adams Hatchery.

McKernan Hatchery  Pre April 1 releases of fall chum fry at McKernan Hatchery have been judged to pose a high risk of adverse competition and behavioral modification impacts to emigrating summer chum. To reduce the risk level of this hazard, all releases of fall chum fry should be delayed until after April 1. Compliance with this measure will require adjustments in existing fall chum growth and feeding rate regimes to meet target fish size at release criteria for a later release date. Meeting this criteria may necessitate changes in total fall chum production programming levels at the hatchery, if safe pond loading densities can not be maintained, given available pond space and water for the two to three additional weeks of rearing that will be needed to hold and rear fall chum. If the hatchery is over programmed as a result of this adjustment from a fish health and quality maintenance perspective, alternatives that should be investigated to meet this objective may include reduction of fall chum fry release size targets to reduce densities, or scaling back of fall chum fry production levels at the hatchery.

Eells Springs  Hood Canal Steelhead Truck plant Program  Steelhead truck planted into Hood Canal region summer chum streams, including the Dosewallips, Duckabush, and Skokomish rivers, must continue to be liberated after April 15 to maintain a low risk of direct predation impacts on emigrating summer chum fry. In addition, pond management criteria should be employed to ensure that only volitionally migrating smolts are planted at a uniform fish length that helps ensure that the majority of fish migrate seaward rapidly at the time of release.

Snow Creek Coho Salmon Recovery Program  Coho salmon fingerlings and sub yearlings produced through the Snow Creek program are part of a supplementation based formal recovery program for the native population, which is designated as " critical" in status under SASSI ( WDF et al. 1993). The need for risk aversion measures that could be applied to help minimize potential direct predation risks to summer chum, including a delay in sub yearling releases until after April 15, were weighed against the value of the program for recovery of the indigenous coho population. A balance between actions needed to foster the recovery of both species was struck by leaving the coho release program unaltered, but requiring that coho Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 226 juveniles rearing in Snow Creek as a result of the supplementation program be monitored to identify survival rates and in stream distribution, and to evaluate likely predation effects on summer chum.

Dungeness Fish Hatchery  Chinook salmon fry, fingerlings, and sub yearlings produced through the Dungeness Hatchery program are part of a joint agency, supplementation based formal recovery program for the ESA listed native population. The need for risk aversion measures that could be applied to help minimize potential direct predation risks to summer chum, including delays in chinook releases until after April 1 ( sub yearlings) or April 15 ( yearling fish), were weighed against the value of the Dungeness program for recovery of the listed chinook population. A balance between actions needed to foster the recovery of both species was struck by leaving the chinook release program unaltered, but requiring that chinook juveniles and smolts rearing in the Dungeness River as a result of the supplementation program be monitored to identify survival rates and in stream distribution, and to evaluate likely predation effects on summer chum.

Pink salmon fry produced through the Dungeness program are part of a supplementation based formal recovery program for the native fall population, which is designated as " critical" in status under SASSI ( WDF et al. 1993). The need for risk aversion measures that could be applied to help minimize potential indirect predation, competition, and behavioral modification risks to summer chum were weighed against the value of the program for recovery of the indigenous pink population. A balance between actions needed to foster the recovery of both species was struck by requiring that pink salmon fry releases be made after April 1, and that fall pink salmon adults returning to spawn as a result of the supplementation program be monitored to determine the location of spawning relative to summer chum, and to evaluate the potential effects on summer chum spawning success and redd integrity.

Yearling coho salmon produced for fisheries enhancement purposes are from indigenous stock, released as yearling smolts after the estimated summer chum emigration period. Adult fish returning to the river have a tendency to return directly to the hatchery release site, segregating the fish from summer chum spawning areas. Temporal separation from summer chum fry afforded by the mid late spring release timing for these fish minimizes the risk of interaction and predation by larger coho smolts. The coho program, as presently practiced, is viewed as a " low" risk to summer chum productivity.

Steelhead acclimated and liberated into the Dungeness River must continue to be released after April 15 to maintain a low risk of direct predation impacts on emigrating summer chum fry. In addition, pond management criteria should be employed to ensure that only volitionally migrating smolts are planted at a uniform fish length that helps ensure that the majority of fish migrate seaward rapidly at the time of release.

Tribal Hatchery Programs Enetai Hatchery  The Skokomish tribal hatchery is not located on a summer chum stream. " Late normal" timed fed fall chum fry and fall chinook sub yearling smolts have been released through the program. Fall chinook released from Enetai may stray to other watersheds upon adult return. The effects of this straying on summer chum salmon needs to be evaluated. The Wolcott Slough stock fall chum Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 227 program is judged to have a low risk of adverse ecological effects on summer chum. As presently operated and programmed, no changes in fish production or hatchery operational practices are proposed through this assessment for Enetai Hatchery, pending evaluation of fall chinook straying and potential effects.

Quilcene Bay Net pens  QNFH stock delayed release coho salmon produced through the net pen operation have a low likelihood for interaction with summer chum due to temporal separation afforded by a post April 15 release schedule. The coho smolts are not present in the estuary during the summer chum fry emigration period. Returning adult coho are early timed, and may interact with summer chum in the Big Quilcene River and Little Quilcene River when homing to the release area. Although some coho salmon are observed spawning each year in the lower Big Quilcene River, the tendency of the majority of Quilcene coho to proceed directly to the QNFH hatchery rack upon return limits the degree of interaction with predominantly downstream spawning summer chum ( L. Telles, USFWS, pers. comm. July, 1999). The ecological risks to summer chum in the Big Quilcene River posed by net pen origin adult coho have therefore been judged to be low. Returning coho may enter the Little Quilcene River and may spawn within areas used by summer chum. The effects of net pen origin coho spawning on summer chum productivity in the Little Quilcene River needs to be evaluated. As presently operated and programmed, no changes in fish production or net pen operational practices are proposed through this assessment for the Quilcene Bay net pens. Operational changes may be proposed in future years pending evaluation of the effects of adult coho straying on Little Quilcene River summer chum. An alternative to acclimation to reduce straying, if proven detrimental to summer chum, is elimination of the net pen program.

Little Boston Hatchery  The Port Gamble tribal hatchery is not located on a summer chum stream. The hatchery produces Finch Creek stock fed fall chum fry, which, given current production practices, are judged to have a low risk of adverse ecological effects on summer chum. As presently operated and programmed, no changes in fish production or hatchery operational practices are proposed through this assessment for the Little Boston Hatchery.

Port Gamble Bay Net pens  QNFH stock delayed release coho salmon produced through the net pen operation have a low likelihood for interaction with summer chum as juveniles due to the late time of coho release relative to the summer chum fry emigration period. Returning adult coho are early timed, entering freshwater at approximately the same time as summer chum. The coho therefore could interact with summer chum if the coho stray into summer chum streams. However, since the coho release site is relatively far removed from summer chum streams and coho tend to spawn further upstream than summer chum, the ecological risks to summer chum posed by Port Gamble net pen origin adult coho have been judged to be low. As presently operated and programmed, no changes in fish production or net pen operational practices are proposed through this assessment for the Port Gamble Bay net pens.

USFWS Hatchery Programs Quilcene National Fish Hatchery  Indigenous stock coho and fall chum salmon are released as yearling smolts and fed fry, respectively, each year through this hatchery program. Both species have a low likelihood for interaction with summer chum as juveniles due to the late time of coho and fall chum releases Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 228 ( late April through May) relative to the March summer chum fry emigration period. Returning adult coho are early timed, and may interact with summer chum in the Big Quilcene River when homing to the hatchery. The tendency of the coho to proceed directly to the hatchery rack upon return limits the degree of interaction with predominantly downstream spawning summer chum in the Big Quilcene River ( L. Telles, USFWS, pers. comm. July, 1999). The ecological risks to summer chum posed by adult coho have therefore been judged to be low. Hatchery origin fall chum adults return two months later than the summer chum native to the Quilcene River, and are not expected to adversely effect summer chum productivity through interaction on the spawning grounds. As presently operated and programmed, no changes in fish production or hatchery operational practices are proposed for the QNFH.

Citizen Group Hatchery Programs Lilliwaup Hatchery  The Long Live The Kings' hatchery on the Lilliwaup River is operated with the primary purpose of supplementing the indigenous summer chum population. Due to the poor status of summer chum returns, as an emergency measure, all summer chum spawners are currently being removed from the river for propagation in the supplementation program. A research program to assess the survival of progeny of captive brood coho salmon is currently in progress. These fish were released as smolts for one year only. With the exception of this modest research project, no other salmon species are intentionally released into the Lilliwaup River through the program. Fall chinook salmon reared at Lilliwaup, and transferred to the Skokomish River area for rearing and release may have an enhanced tendency to stray back to the Lilliwaup River. Fall chinook adult returns to the Lilliwaup River will be monitored to determine if straying from program releases is a legitimate risk factor. Given that most if not all summer chum adults are being used to supplement the population, and pending the results of the above monitoring, no changes in fish production or hatchery operational practices are proposed at this time for the Lilliwaup Hatchery. However, as a future management measure, straying adult chinook salmon will be removed upon return when summer chum are allowed to spawn naturally in the Lilliwaup River.

Hamma Hamma Program  The Hamma Hamma artificial production program is designed to rebuild indigenous salmonid populations, including summer chum, through supplementation. Hazards to summer chum that have been identified in association with the production of other species through the program include methods used to collect broodstock ( in particular, the potential for installation of a weir) and potential predation by steelhead smolts. Chinook salmon produced through the program as sub yearling smolts are not expected to adversely effect summer chum as adults returning during the same period as summer chum, due to the relatively large amount of available spawning area in the river, or as juveniles, due to the late time of hatchery chinook release ( June release strategy) relative to the summer chum emigration period. Steelhead produced as age 2 smolts should be released into the Hamma Hamma River after April 15 to minimize the risk of predation to egressing summer chum fry. Collection of chinook and steelhead broodstock for the program should be conducted in a manner that minimizes adverse effects to summer chum adults and redds. Placement of a weir in the river to collect broodstock, if proposed, may pose additional hazards to summer chum, including migration delay, injury during trap holding and handling, and increased susceptibility to predation. If a weir is selected for use in the future, the weir should be operated for summer chum management/ protection as the primary purpose. Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 229 Union River Fall Chinook and Fall Chum Programs  Non indigenous origin fall chinook adults produced through this program are judged to pose a high risk of adverse competitive and behavioral modification impacts upon return to summer chum spawners. These fall chinook adults have been observed to enter the Union River at the same time as summer chum, and due to the low flows available in September and early October, the two species have been observed to use the same spawning areas in the lower river ( spawning ground survey information for R. M. 0  2.1 from R. Egan, WDFW, pers. comm., July 1999). The presence of spawning fall chinook in summer chum spawning areas enhances risks of spawning gravel competition and redd superimposition to summer chum. Early returning Finch Creek lineage fall chum adults produced pose similar spawning ground competition and redd superimposition risks to summer chum spawners. Placement of a weir in the river to remove returning fall chinook and fall chum would pose additional hazards to summer chum, including migration delay, injury during trap holding and handling, and increased susceptibility to predation. If the current Union River fall chinook and fall chum programs are not considered formal recovery programs, further releases of these fish into the Union River will no longer be allowed.

Skokomish River (" Old Hatchery Inn")  Currently there is no self sustaining population of summer chum in the Skokomish River, and there are therefore no impacts of the fall chinook sub yearling and yearling release program on summer chum. If summer chum are reintroduced into the Skokomish in future years, the fall chinook program as currently operated is still judged to pose a low risk of adverse effects. Fall chinook adults returning to the river as a result of the program are not expected to adversely affect summer chum on the spawning grounds due to the large amount of available spawning area in the Skokomish River watershed, which should afford a large amount of separation between the two species. The current release timings for the two fall chinook age classes separate the hatchery fish from March emigrating summer chum fry, making predation and competition unlikely. As presently operated, no changes in fish production or hatchery operational practices are proposed for this program.

Tahuya River Fall Chinook and Fall Chum Programs  Summer chum were functionally extirpated in the Tahuya River, and the effects of the non indigenous fall chinook sub yearling and fall chum fry production programs on summer chum are presently nil. However, the Tahuya River has been identified as a candidate for reintroduction of summer chum, and the effects of the present hatchery program have therefore been evaluated in light of potential reintroduction.

Non indigenous origin fall chinook adults produced through this program are judged to pose a high risk of adverse competitive and behavioral modification impacts upon return to summer chum spawners. Fall chinook adults enter freshwater at the same time as summer chum, and due to the low flows available in the Tahuya River in September and early October, the two species will be confined to the same spawning areas in the lower river. This interaction enhances risks of spawning gravel competition and redd superimposition to summer chum. Early returning Finch Creek lineage fall chum adults produced through the program pose similar spawning ground competition and redd superimposition risks to summer chum spawners. Placement of a weir in the river to remove returning fall chinook and fall chum, if proposed, may pose additional hazards to summer chum, including migration delay, injury during trap holding and handling, and increased susceptibility to predation. If the current fall chinook and fall chum programs are not Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 230 considered formal recovery programs, further releases of these fish into the Tahuya River will no longer be allowed.

Dewatto River Fall Chinook Program  Summer chum have been extirpated in the Dewatto River, and the effects of the non indigenous fall chinook sub yearling and fall chum fry production programs on summer chum are presently nil. Like the Tahuya River, the Dewatto has been identified as a candidate for reintroduction of summer chum within the next four years. The effects of the present hatchery program have therefore been evaluated in light of this planned reintroduction.

Non indigenous origin fall chinook adults produced through this program are judged to pose a high risk of adverse competitive and behavioral modification impacts upon return to summer chum spawners. Fall chinook adults enter freshwater to spawn at the same time as summer chum. The relatively small channel width and low flows available in the Dewatto River in September and early October will confine the two species to the same spawning areas in the lower river. Risks of spawning gravel competition and redd superimposition to summer chum are enhanced by these factors. Placement of a weir in the river to remove returning fall chinook and fall chum, if proposed, may pose additional hazards to summer chum, including migration delay, injury during trap holding and handling, and increased susceptibility to predation. In view of the likely adverse effects resulting from the presence of fall chinook in summer chum spawning areas, if the current fall chinook program is not considered a formal recovery program, further releases of these fish into the Dewatto River will no longer be allowed.

Big Beef Creek Program  Summer chum are in the process of being re introduced to Big Beef Creek, and the present fall chinook hatchery program used for fisheries enhancement was evaluated assuming the presence of a summer chum population. Risks to summer chum posed by the fall chinook sub yearling program were judged to be low as presently programmed and operated, with the exception of disease transfer hazards. This location currently hosts a variety of research oriented programs aimed at wild salmonid productivity assessment and ESA stock recovery, including Big Beef Creek wild coho and reintroduced summer chum. The existing weirs associated with these programs on lower Big Beef Creek allows for the removal of all returning adult fall chinook, preventing interactions with naturally spawning summer chum that could result in adverse competitive and behavioral modification effects. Fall chinook sub yearlings are released in June, minimizing the likelihood for ecological interactions with March migrating summer chum fry. The hatchery program does not presently follow co manager fish health management guidelines. Fish health monitoring and certification practices presented in the co manager policy will be applied to minimize the risk of disease transfer to summer chum.

Pleasant Harbor Net pens and Hood Canal Marina Net pens  Yearling fall chinook salmon released from the net pens may have an enhanced tendency to stray into summer chum streams upon adult return, potentially posing a moderate risk of adverse competitive or behavioral modification hazards to summer chum spawners. These hazards could include redd superimposition, competition for spawning gravel, and modification of summer chum spawning behavior through physical dominance. An enhanced level of acclimation to the parent hatchery responsible for producing the yearlings ( e. g., Hoodsport Hatchery) may help maximize the number of in migrating fall chinook adults that home to the hatchery rather than stray to Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative April 2000 3.3 Ecological Interactions Page 231 other streams. It is uncertain what measures can be applied to further induce homing to Hoodsport Hatchery, given the low amount of attraction water available to fall chinook at the hatchery during the adult migration period. An alternative would be to produce the yearlings destined for transfer to the net pens at George Adams Hatchery, which, due to its more terminal location near the Skokomish River and higher flow levels, may provide an enhanced attraction location for returning fall chinook adults. Monitoring and evaluation is also recommended to determine the level of net pen origin fall chinook straying to summer chum streams, and the effects of any straying on summer chum spawning success. Implementation of these monitoring and evaluation measures will require increased funding to pay for staff time necessary to investigate straying levels and impacts. The option of terminating these programs may also be considered, pending an evaluation of net pen fall chinook straying to summer chum streams, and the effectiveness of measures implemented to reduce straying if proven to adversely affect summer chum.