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We identified total dissolved gas as the primary cause of net-pen fish mortality in the Spokane River prompting Avista to study and commit to improvements at the upriver dams to reduce dissolved gas production. We work with local, federal and Canadian hydroelectric project operators to study the effects of dam operations and develop corrective and mitigation packages that reduce the water quality effects through FERC, TMDL’s (water clean-up plans), and the Transboundary Gas Group respectively. Temperature monitoring occurs as waters enter into the Reservation as well as all major tributaries into the lower Spokane River. The Water & Fish Program now maintains continual dissolved gas and oxygen monitors at three locations on the lower Spokane River. With increasing awareness of upriver influences we are now very involved in water clean-up plans with Washington Department of Ecology and EPA that address limiting water quality factors such as temperature, total dissolved gas, dissolved oxygen, as well as heavy metals and PCB’s. The water resources program began around 1993 with emphasis on the interior of the Reservation. Data is used locally by fisheries and water quality managers as well as maintained in joint database updated with data from each fish and wildlife manager in the region. Evaluations of streams include a low flow assessment for resident fish populations and instream habitat as well as spring-time evaluation of adfluvial spawners traveling up the tributaries.

Having completed the Reservation streams we are now evaluating those tributaries emptying into the Spokane and Columbia Rivers. Information collected includes habitat assessment and fisheries relative abundance while surveying each stream for fish barriers and limiting factors.

We have evaluated all fish bearing streams on the Reservation that empty into the Columbia and Spokane Rivers. The Spokane Tribe began in 1998 to do work under the JSA project partnering with the Kalispel Tribe, Coeur d’Alene Tribe, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to evaluate the fish stock status in the blocked area above Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee Dams. “The Water & Fish Program began in 2001 combining EPA and Tribal funded water quality programs with the BPA funded Joint Stock Assessment stream and lake assessment project with the overall goal of protecting and improving water quality and fisheries. Spokane Tribal Fisheries – Spokane Tribal Hatchery. The Fisheries and Water Resources Division is comprised of the Spokane Tribal Fisheries Program, and the Spokane Tribal Hatchery Program.

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