Note: this work will only be implemented if weir operation is not feasible or in areas where spawning distribution is unknown. Furthermore, access in these basins is difficult due to private landownership and lack of permission.

The Asotin steelhead population as identified in the Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan for Southeast Washington (SRSRB 2006) has three Major Spawning Aggregations (MSA) and three minor Spawning Aggregations (mSA), while the Tucannon steelhead population consists of one MSA and four mSAs (Figure 1, Table 1). Ongoing adult and smolt monitoring are being funded in Asotin Creek (BPA project #2002-053-00), the Tucannon River, and the mainstem Snake River by the Bonneville Power Administration, Lower Snake River Compensation Program, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

Asotin and Tucannon steelhead are sole populations within the Lower Snake River Major Population Group (MPG).  Both populations include steelhead using small Snake River tributaries that have little or no fish monitoring.  We will be sampling Pataha, Alkali Flat, Deadman, and Penawawa Creeks (Tucannon tributary) and Almota Creek (Asotin tributary).  All of these tributaries are considered mSAs are not monitored for adult steelhead abundance or other Viable Salmonid Population (VSP) attributes.  Our goal is to establish upstream migrant traps on at least two tributaries per year, and rotate them from stream to stream every three years.