Operation, Maintenance and Evaluation of the Bonifer and Minthorn Springs Juvenile Release and Adult Collection Facilities, 1988 Annual Report.

Abstract

and Wildlife are cooperating in a joint effort to increase steelhead and re-establish salmon runs in the Umatilla River Basin. As part of this program, Bonifer and Minthorn Acclimation Facilities are operated for holding adult steelhead and acclimation and release of juvenile salmon and steelhead. Regularly-scheduled maintenance was completed in 1988. Equipment and pumps received regular maintenance and repair. The alarm system was upgraded to activate the alarm faster than with the previous configuration. A survey was completed by an hydrologist to determine the change of the Umatilla River contour in the vicinity of Minthorn after the flood in the spring of 1986, and provide recommendations. A report will be submitted in 1989. A total of 133 adult steelhead were collected at Threemile Dam January through March and held at Minthorn. Thirty-one pairs were spawned (22 pairs from Minthorn and 9 pairs collected and immediately spawned at Threemile Dam). The 176,533 eggs were transferred to Irrigon Hatchery for incubation and later moved to Oak Springs Hatchery for rearing. Two marked adult steelhead returned to Bonifer in 1988. However, 250 hatchery steelhead released from Bonifer (about 10% of total Umatilla River run) returned to the Threemile Dam trap in the lower Umatilla River in Fall 1987 through Spring 1988. Acclimation and release of 101,000 fall and 106,000 spring chinook salmon were completed at Bonifer. At Minthorn, 101,000 fall chinook and 30,000 summer steelhead were acclimated and released. These releases occurred in spring of 1988 without any major losses of fish. Substantial losses of fall chinook salmon at Minthorn and spring chinook salmon at Bonifer took place during fall acclimation due to outbreaks of Ichthioohthirius. The progress of outmigration for acclimated releases was monitored at the juvenile salmonid trap located at Westland Diversion. Because the fish in each release were not uniquely identified, fish size and migration timing were used to discern general trends. Data suggested that juvenile salmonids started showing up at the trap within about 3 days after release until June 20, when sampling was discontinued. Daily trapping rate was highest in May. Collection of data to assess the holding and rearing capacities of the two acclimation facilities was initiated. Temperatures and dissolved oxygen were recorded. Contact was made with the ODFW Eastern Oregon Fish Pathology Laboratory to take disease samples of Umatilla River summer steelhead broodstock for monitoring purposes, to certify eggs, and to examine Bonifer and Minthorn fish when the epizootic of Ich occurred. Fish Management i Consultants Inc. was hired to determine the most efficient way to use the Bonifer Facility. As part of their report, a survey to estimate volume and area of Bonifer Pond was completed. A draft report of recommendations was submitted. Test and control groups (each group with three replicates) were coded-wire tagged by ODFW under subcontract. Fish were tagged for one experiment for fall chinook salmon, two ex...

Minthorn Springs Creek Summer Juvenile Release and Adult Collection Facility; 1992 Annual Report.

“…A second group of subyearling fish was acclimated at Minthorn and released in July (Table 22). However, due to low dissolved oxygen levels and pump failure (Lofy et al 1988), very few fish were released and the total recovery is estimated to be five adults.…”

“…Two groups (1986 brood) were released in April (one acclimated group from Bonifer and one group between Umatilla RM 23 and RM 2 of Meacham Creek), and two groups (1987 brood) were released in November (one group from Bonifer and one group into the upper Umatilla River at RM 89). The purpose for the releases was to evaluate acclimation, but several problems were encountered in both the spring and fall experiments (Lofy 1989). These problems essentially eliminate any possible comparison between acclimated and non-acclimated fish.…”

Minthorn Springs Creek Summer Juvenile Release and Adult Collection Facility; Operation, Maintenance and Evaluation; 1991 Annual Report.

“…One group was acclimated at Minthorn and released while a control group was released near Minthorn at the same time as the acclimated group. The acclimated group suffered severe losses due to "Ich" and a relatively small number of fish were released (Lofy 1989). Through age-4 fish, the survival of the acclimated and control groups are 0.15 and 0.27%, respectively.…”

“…In previous years, problems at Bonifer with excessive aquatic vegetation, disease and low dissolved oxygen concentrations during fall acclimation of juvenile salmon have occurred (Rowan 1991). In 1989 and 1991, the fish were held for only a three-day posttransport recovery period to help alleviate these problems.…”

Minthorn Springs Creek Summer Juvenile Release and Adult Collection Facility; 1990 Annual Report.

“…One group was acclimated at Minthorn and released while a control group was released near Minthorn at the same time as the acclimated group. The acclimated group suffered severe losses due to "Ich" and a relatively small number of fish were released (Lofy 1989). Through age-5 fish, the survival of the acclimated and control groups are 0.47 and O-46%, respectively.…”