A Local History of Fish by Hobe Jenkins, PhD

[No_Kam_Do]

A Local History of Fish by Hobe Jenkins, PhD

for the River Journal, 10 January 2007

http://www.riverjournal.com

Sometimes it is wise for people to know the history of something before they try to manage it or fix it. This is true of the fish that live in the Pend Oreille River drainage. The river drains about over 24,000 acres in Montana and Idaho.

Pend Oreille Lake covers 85,960 acres with 111 miles of shoreline. The mean depth is 538 feet and its maximum is 1,152 feet. Counting in the back water from Albeni Falls Dam, the lake is 94,720 acres.

West slope cutthroat, bull trout, pigmy whitefish and mountain whitefish are the only salmonids native to the drainage in Idaho. Prior to 1940, cutthroat trout were the most frequently caught fish. Introduction of other fish species started long ago. Lake Superior whitefish were introduced in Lake Pend Oreille in 1889. Eastern Brook were widely distributed in the early 1900s and eventually replaced cutthroat in some watersheds. Lake trout were introduced in Priest and Pend Oreille Lakes in 1925. The flood of 1933 brought the kokanee downstream from Flathead Lake. Kokanee had been planted in Flathead Lake in 1916 from the lake Whatcom (in Washington). Kokanee were transplanted from Lake Pend Oreille to Spirit Lake in 1937 where they quickly established themselves.

Kamloops trout (Gerrard strain) were transplanted from Kootenai Lake in British Columbia to Pend Oreille Lake in 1941 and 42. The abundance of a high calorie forage fish (the Kokanee) made it possible to grow world record rainbow of over 37 pounds in 1947 and a world record bull trout of over 32 pounds in 1949.

Mysis relictor (opossum shrimp) were introduced to Priest and Pend Oreille Lakes in the mid 1960s to enhance food for the kokanee. That did occur on a limited basis and many larger (record size) kokanee were taken in Priest Lake in the early 1970s. However, the mysis shrimp provided the lake trout with an abundant food source which has led to the accelerated growth rate of the lake trout population. Albeni Falls Dam, Cabinet Gorge and Noxon Falls dams were in place by 1952.

In 1956 hydropower demand in the Northwest led the Bonneville Power Administration to ask the Corps of Engineers to lower the lake from the flood control level of 2,056 feet to 2,051 feet late in the winter. This action dewatered a significant portion of the shoreline spawning areas. This practice continued from 1956 to the early 1970s before litigation forced BPA and the Corps of engineers to revise the timing of the draw downs so that the draw down could be completed by mid to late November. The draw down continues to terminate at 2,051.

The construction of the Cabinet Gorge Dam in 1952 eliminated the Lake Pend Oreille rainbow, bull trout and kokanee spawning runs to streams in Montana. The dam also added to the “gas bubble disease” that results from spilling water over dams during periods of high water. These problems continue to exist.

A kokanee hatchery was built in 1986; however, even when that hatchery is operated at full capacity of releasing 18 million fry, that hatchery could not compensate for the loss of over 200 million wild kokanee fry. Efforts to date to increase wild kokanee shoreline spawning have had limited success because the small population of kokanee is being overwhelmed by an increasing predatory population of lake trout and rainbow trout. Population control of these trout started in 2004, but has not met the goals needed to protect the kokanee from over predation. Predatory/prey ratios are far out of balance when compared to the ratio found in the late 1940s.

So the historical perspective of the lakes and streams is essentially one that is shifting from native species to introduced species.

The Idaho Department of fish and Game is in the process of writing a new five year management plan for the watershed.

The objectives for management of Lake Pend Oreille in the draft plan are:

1. Restore a fishable population of bull trout that would allow a limited harvest. Once kokanee populations are restored the research emphasis will shift to predator populations to quantify predator/prey management strategies. The removal of brook trout from Alpine lakes and streams is intended to prevent bull trout hybridization and reduce or eliminate predation by brook trout on bull trout eggs and fry. Next, IDF&G will monitor bull trout spawning escapement in Lake Pend Oreille tributaries then increase enforcement to reduce poaching losses. Finally to continue the effort with other agencies to evaluate creating fish passages at Albeni Falls dam.

2. Improve west slope cutthroat trout fisheries. If existing populations of cutthroat are harvested at a rate that is limiting population abundance, regulations, seasons etc. will be introduced to protect existing cutthroat populations.

3. Restore kokanee population to allow a sport fishery and allow some expansion of the trophy trout and char fishing.

IDF&G plans to continue the cooperative efforts with Federal agencies, legislative bodies, the Bonneville Power Administration to manage winter water levels in a way to restore shoreline spawning areas for kokanee.

The plan calls for present harvest restrictions be maintained until kokanee survival rates increase and the risk of population collapse is eliminated. Refine and implement management strategies for hatchery implementation to maximize survival of hatchery fry is planned. Investigate and evaluate artificial spawning areas for future plans.



4. Restore the rainbow trout fishery once the kokanee populations are at a level to sustain the additional predation.

The district will propose modifications to regulation to achieve trophy trout management goals. Promises to further the effort to enhance the genetic makeup of the lake’s rainbow calls for obtaining pure strain Gerrard rainbow from British Columbia. Next, continue the work with Montana to avoid introduction of other strains of rainbow in the reservoirs above Lake Pend Oreille.

5. Minimize impacts to lake fisheries due to lakeside encroachment pollution and nutrient loading. IDF&G personnel will work extensively with county planning and the Dept of Lands to make protection of fish habitat and water quality a primary concern in land use decisions.

6. Enhance the fishery of the Clark Fork River. The department will seek mitigation for the loss of three miles of river habitat caused by the operation of the Albeni Falls Dam. The plan calls for continued monitoring of the efforts to reduce dissolved gas levels during spill periods to levels that are safe for fish. Department personnel will continue to work with other agencies to provide up and downstream fish passage at Cabinet Gorge dam.

This is a bare bones explanation of the plans for the next five years for a part of the watershed.

Anyone interested in getting a draft copy of the five year plan can obtain one from the Fish and Game office in Coeur d’Alene. The next article for the Journal will address the plans for Priest Lake, the Clark Fork River and the tributaries to the lakes and rivers.

[Kevin Dahl]

Not to rehashed the questions I have already asked, I now have new ones.

LT introduced in 1925! Kokanee in 1933! Rainbows in 1941! Hobe Jenkins, PhD said this. If this is true, I assume it is, WHAT DID THE LAKE TROUT EAT THE 8 YEARS BEFORE THAT????????????/

If there is NO KOKANEE in the water for 8 years, what did the Lake Trout eat to stay alive???? Or, did all the LT die off in 1926?

It is then said they want to RESTORE a fishable pop of BULL TROUT! Right now, the ONLY people who can KILL Bull Trout is the Netters! If you kill a Bull Trout, I hope you have hundreds of dollars.

Again, as I said before in one of my questions before this, "Why increase the BULL TROUT when they eat MORE KOKANEE than anyother fish in OUR lake????????????????

This is called a shell game. People who travel in the circus play it all the time. Keep your mind on one thing while they do another thing.

In this case, the shells are moving FAST AND FURIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Again, KILL ALL THE LAKE TROUT AND INCREASE THE BULL TROUT WHICH EAT MORE KOKANEE THAN ANY OTHER FISH AND NO ONE CAN CATCH AND KEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Boy, that SOUND'S LIKE A PLAN TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By the way, who is No_Kam_Do????????

Kevin
Reef Runner

If anyone sees anyone from the IDFG, tell them about this web site and tell them to answer my questions. They are easy questions, just need an answer.

[No_Kam_Do]

Mr. Jenkins entire article was a list a facts that no one, except you perhaps, disputes.

I thought people would appreciate the condensed lake history.

What did the lake trout eat before kokanee? Are you serious?
They ate other fish and bugs, just like the other, native fish ate.

By the way, who are you?

[Kevin Dahl]

No Can Do, 1st, I am sorry to envoke your name to Bill Friedmann's. For whatever reason, I assumed the 2 were the same. And now we know why NOT to ASSUME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2nd, I now, knowing that you are not Bill, want to thank you for all your postings!!!!!! They are VERY informative and timely. I would have thanked you earlier, but after reading all the post, I ASSUMED you were Bill and I was not even going there.

Now as far as Dr. Jenkins goes, his FACTS I never disputed. I agree with him. My point as usuall was to ask the IDFG to explain how the Rainbows & LT could ever live without the Kokanee? Is killing the Rainbows and LT and everything else in the lake worth it for the Kokanee?

You are correct, these fish, when hungry, eat several things. Just like us, who would eat a hamburger if a T-Bone was the choice! Again, just asking the IDFG why we have to net the whole lake and kill the fish for Kokanee?

And last, WHO AM I???????

As you can see, a person with fishing cabin fever!!!!! I will change back in a couple weeks once the weather breaks. Nothing like a pole out the back to cure the winter blues!!!!!

Kevin
Reef Runner

[Kevin Dahl]

Hay No Kam Do, The Who sung a song, Who Are You! So who are YOU?????

No profile, nothing. Who are you? Do you have a boat? What is your boat name? What is YOUR name? Do you have a slip??? If so where?

Come on, other than Bayview Bob, NO ONE knows you!!!!

Come on, give it up. Tell us man, come on.

Kevin
Reef Runner

[No_Kam_Do]

I am just a retired old fart who wishes to remain anonymous.

[Kevin Dahl]

Say No_Kam_Do, I can respect that! It just seemed wierd for a person to put nothing on their profile.

I hope you do a lot of fishing and catch a lot of fish!!!!!

Kevin
Reef Runner

[kamalot]

Well Kevin, I also thought No_Kam_Do was the LPOIC President.

It must've been the "Message from the President" post under the "Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club" sub-category that led to that assumption!

Reminds me of that 60's game show "What's My Line"

Tight Lines,
Cory (kamalot)
_________________
I only fish on days that end in 'Y'........

Member Northriver Mafia, Seahawk Chapter

[No_Kam_Do]

[Kevin Dahl]

Hi Cory & No Kam Do,

YES, THAT WAS THE ARTICAL!!!!!!!!!

Kevin
Reef Runner