Bull trout population assessment in northeastern Oregon: a template for recovery planning Annual Progress Report for 2007

Within the overall framework of conservation and recovery planning for threatened bull

trout, we provide critical information on abundance, trend, vital rates, habitat needs,

and information on the potential for improving survival at one or more life stages. In

addition, we gather information related to population structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.

Learn more about structure (e.g., age, life history,

and genetic components). We provide a template against which different strategies for

monitoring and evaluation can be evaluated in terms of accuracy, precision, cost/effort,

and limiting factors. Our goal is to provide the data and conservation assessment

tools to aid in the efforts of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, to determine the

necessary courses of action and management actions for recovery of bull trout

populations throughout this as well as other provinces. The project was initiated in

2002 and has continued through 2008, with plans to continue work through 2009. To

meet our goals, we have developed and implemented each year, a comprehensive

mark- recapture program including two tag types, multiple capture techniques (both

passive and active) and systematic sampling of two large study areas (South Fork

Walla Walla and North Fork Umatilla) with a high degree of effort.

The efforts of this project have been part of a completed PhD dissertation (Al-

Chokhachy 2006) and master’s thesis (Homel 2007) and are currently part of an ongoing

PhD dissertation (Bowerman, In prep) conducted through Utah State University.

Results and syntheses of different components of the project are available in previous

annual reports (Budy et al 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007) as well as in the peerreviewed

manuscripts: Al-Chokhachy et al. 2005; Al-Chokhachy and Budy 2007;

Homel and Budy 2008; Homel et al. in press;, Al- Chokhachy and Budy in press; Al-

Chokhachy et al. in review.