PR 91 02

Bonneville Power Administration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9, 2002
Mike Hansen

PORTLAND, Ore - The Bonneville Power Administration and the Nez Perce Tribe today dedicated the Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery that is designed to mimic natural conditions and increase in-stream salmon survival rates. The main hatchery facility, located on the Nez Perce Reservation just outside of Lewiston, Idaho, will help restore spring and fall chinook populations in the Clearwater River Basin.

“I had the opportunity to visit this unique hatchery while it was under construction, and it will provide a tremendous tool in increasing salmon survival rates,” said U.S. Senator Mike Crapo. “The design is quite impressive, and the cooperation it has fostered will break new ground as we find new ways to recover our anadromous fish in the Pacific Northwest.”

Built by the Nez Perce Tribe and funded by BPA, the hatchery will help restore populations of salmon listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The project also will help BPA meet its requirements under the ESA and the Northwest Power Act to mitigate for the impacts of the federal hydropower system. Other significant partners in developing the hatchery include the Northwest Power Planning Council, the U.S. Forest Service and various state and local government entities.

“I commend the Nez Perce Tribe and the Bonneville Power Administration for partnering with the State of Idaho and other local and federal agencies to develop this hatchery,” said Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne. “We all share the commitment to restoration of magnificent salmon, and partnerships like this one are helping us get closer to achieving that goal. This state-of-the-art facility will help us make progress in resolving these Endangered Species Act issues.”

David Johnson, Nez Perce Tribe fisheries manager, said that hatcheries were traditionally designed to rebuild depleted stocks for harvest. With this approach, the goal, over time, is to have enough returning adult salmon spawning in the natural environment to create a self-sustaining population.

The special design of this conservation hatchery uses several rearing techniques that simulate natural conditions to encourage the hatchery-reared fish to behave more like naturally reared fish. These fish will more resemble wild fish in their growth, behavior, coloring and other developmental traits to increase survival rates. The hatchery will accommodate the incubation and early rearing of 1.4 million fall chinook salmon and 625,000 spring chinook salmon.

The program also involves rearing and releasing juvenile salmon at seven locations throughout the Clearwater River Basin, both on and off the reservation, to encourage the return of adult salmon to native spawning areas and traditional tribal fishing sites. This should contribute to greater harvest opportunities for both tribal and nontribal anglers.

“This facility is a real testament to the value of efforts that bring diverse interests together for the good of the species and our communities,” said Congressman C.L. “Butch” Otter. “I applaud the vision and ingenuity behind this hatchery and its potential for enhancing salmon survival.”

BPA Administrator Steve Wright said: “The vision of increasing the number of returning salmon to the Clearwater River is becoming a reality. This is good for both our economy and our environment. The dedication of all the partners to this project, especially the Nez Perce Tribe, is creating the energy to transform the vision into a reality.”

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 Bonneville Power Administration
905 N.E. 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232
Mailing Address: Media Relations - DM7, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, OR 97208-3621
Phone: (503)230-5131 FAX: (503) 230-5884 Web Site: http://www.bpa.gov/