Yakama Nation Lake Cle Elum Sockeye Project

The Yakama Nation YN worked on developing the Master Plan for reintroduction of anadromous fish above the reservoirs. The dams: Bumping, Kachess, Keechelus, Cle Elum, and Tieton, were never equipped with fish passage facilities. Four of the five reservoirs were originally natural lakes and historically supported Native American fisheries for sockeye salmon and other anadromous and resident fish. The YN project goal of collecting adult sockeye annually to be transferred directly to Cle Elum Lake. After a minimum escapement threshold is reached (80,000 at Bonneville), adult trapping would commence at the Priest Rapids Dam Off-ladder Adult Fish Trap (OLAFT) with a minimum collection of 1,000. The co-managers prefer a mix of Okanogan and Wenatchee stocks when relocating adults to initiate the reintroduction. We believe the reintroduction plan should utilize all potential donor stocks to maximize the chance of success in reestablishing sockeye in an area that has been absent of anadromous sockeye salmon for over 100 years. The two donor stocks exhibit different life history and migration behavior patterns. This genetic and phenotypic diversity is a desirable attribute that allows natural adaptation/selection processes to determine which donor stock is a better fit to the current Yakima Basin environment.