Session Name: Pacific Lamprey: Understanding Their Mystic Biology and Decision Making in the Face of
Uncertainty
Title:
Artificial Propagation of Pacific Lamprey: Riverine Rearing Site Suitability and Feasibility
Evaluation in the Methow, Chelan, Entiat and Wenatchee Basins
Presenter:
David B. Conlin
Authors: Conlin, David B.
GeoEngineers, Inc.
1101 South Fawcett Avenue, Suite 200
Tacoma, WA 98402
253.383.4940
dconlin@geoengineers.com
Monahan, John T.
GeoEngineers, Inc.
600 Dupont Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
360.647.1510
jmonahan@geoengineers.com
ABSTRACT
Pacific lamprey have exhibited dramatic population declines in the entire Columbia River Basin. As part
of FERC license obligations to achieve No-Net-Impact (NNI) for the Rocky Reach Hydroelectric Project
(RM 473.7), Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County (Chelan PUD) has been implementing measures
in its Pacific Lamprey Management Plan. GeoEngineers was contracted by Chelan PUD to coordinate
and develop a planning document to identify potential methods, facilities and riverine sites for
development of an artificial propagation program that would mitigate for unavoidable impacts to
lamprey at Rocky Reach. The focus of GeoEngineers work was to identify potential suitable natural
riverine sites for juvenile rearing in the Methow, Chelan, Entiat and Wenatchee River basins. Use of
riverine sites is desirable to alleviate spatial requirements of structured rearing facilities (hatcheries) due
to extended time requirements for juvenile lamprey larvae development, which may take up to seven
years before they are ready to migrate. GeoEngineers worked with members of the Rocky Reach Fish
Forum (RRFF) to develop site evaluation criteria and identify potential suitable riverine sites for rearing
juvenile lamprey. We then performed field evaluations of top sites, recommended a sub-set of these
sites for further consideration, and made specific recommendations for additional monitoring and
feasibility evaluations. We documented findings in a Pacific Lamprey artificial propagation feasibility
study and edited additional material provided by the USGS and USFWS regarding early life history
artificial production methods and rearing facility requirements, producing a comprehensive Pacific
Lamprey Artificial Propagation planning document. The report will be used by Chelan PUD and the RRFF
to provide juveniles for passage studies at the Project and potentially for restoration efforts in the Upper
Columbia once effect studies are completed.
Student Presenter:
Oral Presentation
No.