358 



summer Chinook, the wild fish percentage estimates were approximately 33% a-id 29%. 

 respectively; in 1991 and 1992, the percentages were estimated to be 55% and 54%. 

 respectively, including wild retums at hatchery (estimates from PNUCC comments on 

 1992 Biological Assessment, 1992 estimates stilt under review). These percentage 

 estimates do not lend support to the conclusion that wild Chinook salmon are less 

 responsive to barge transportation than hatchery fish. 



Failure to Acknowledge Late 1970s Evaluation Studies: 



In assessing the effects of transportation on wild Chinook salmon stocks, the CBFWA 

 Review Group would benefit from a re-consideration of the barge ti-ansportation studies 

 conducted during tiie late 1 970s. The fransport benefit ratios for spring Chinook salmon 

 for 1973 and 1979 were 8.9 and 3.9. respectively. In 1981. the estimated percentage of 

 wild spring/summer Chinook passage above Lower Granite Dam was about 45%; in 1982, 

 61%; in 1983, 73%; and in 1984, 63%. 



In considering this time period, tiiere are no empirical data firom which to reach the 

 conclusion that wild fish responded poorly to barge f ansportation relative to hatchery 

 fish. While the high transport benefit ratios for the late 1970s reflected a harsher in-river 

 system passage than during the 1980s, it also could be posited that the wild Chinook 

 salmon responded positively to tine transportation system. 



Failure to Aclmowledge Reaiistic Transportation Improvements: 



Within any broad evaluation of the existing ti-ansportation program, it is imperative tiiat 

 improvements and enhancements are fully considered. Low-capital, first-stage 

 enhancements to the program would include: 1) expansion of the current barge fleet to 

 reduce smott holding time and expand collection operations; 2) general improvements 

 to handling conditions and facilities; and 3) the application of new release sti^egies 

 below Bonneville Dam. Wrth very low risk involved, it can be reasonably assumed tiiat 

 each of these measures should contribute to an inaease in ti-ansport benefit ratios. 



Life-cyde model estimates indicate that modest improvements to survival rates for 

 transported fish-such as a 10% survival rate increase for transported fish below 

 Bonneville Dam, taking into account latent mortality-would have a substantial affect on 

 increased wild adult retijms to Idaho waters (with all other mortality factors assumed to 

 be constant)^ 



Recognition of West Coast Salmon Production Area Trends: 



Some resource managers and interested parties have incorrectly assumed that raw score 

 counts of wild fish above Lower Granite Dam can be used tia assess tiie "success or 

 failure" of the smolt ti^nsportation program. This is a completely misleading interpretation 

 of fish survival and production fartors related to the Snake-Columbia River system. 



