nature – All Things Lake Chelan

by Richard Uhlhorn

As promised the US Geological Survey finally presented its feasibility study on the re-introduction of bull trout into the Lake Chelan watershed at the Lake Chelan Watershed Planning Unit meeting held on Wednesday, June 18.

Joe Benjamin, USGS representative, told the group that the feasibility study came out of a group participation. He described the process and said the group met once a month for one year but has not made a final decision on the re-introduction.

The group began the process with a demographic model for each of the 12 streams being considered. Environmental conditions were taken into consideration with wildfire and flooding being looked at having an impact.

The group considered adding 30 adults for each of five years adding fish to one stream at a time. “We were focused on adding 30 adults to the system,” said Benjamin. “Some streams don’t perform well.” They looked at Flick Creek, the upper Stehekin and Agnes Creek.

Benjamin stated that the group considers the lower Stehekin River and Bridge Creek better environmentally. “These fish are capable of moving around from Bridge Creek to Stehekin.”

Other considerations include egg survival and fish residing in Lake Chelan. “What could happen. They could make it to the lake, get big and come back and spawn.” The group is also considering a predator discount in Lake Chelan. Predator discount acknowledges that predators consume fish that might otherwise be harvested by humans for profit. This predation represents a “social cost” or lost economic opportunity for the fishery.

Joe Heinlen, a long time fishing guide on Lake Chelan, remarked that there is a healthy king salmon fishery on the lake and that these fish spawn in the Stehekin River. The introduction of bull trout could be devastating to king salmon populations.

Benjamin replied that the group hadn’t taken a look at the recreational opportunities. “We didn’t see an impact but will take a closer look at that.”

Mike Kaputa, Chelan County Natural Resources Director, stated that he would like to see a little context to this issue. “Bull trout are threatened, but reside in other local water systems, but are locally extinct.”

Kaputa mentioned Phil Archibald, who was a fishery biologist with the Entiat Ranger District who was curious about why bull trout disappeared in Lake Chelan. Bull trout was a native species in the Lake Chelan watershed before it disappeared in the late 40s or early 50s. Since that time, the fish has been considered extinct. In addition, the fish populations in the last 75 years has changed in Lake Chelan.

Chinook salmon have flourished in Lake Chelan in recent years. Joe Heinlen, fishing guide and ex-fishery technician with the Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife, says these salmon spawn in the lower Stehekin River and would become bull trout food if re-introduced.

Today, the lake sports an extremely healthy recreational fishery. Lake trout, chinook salmon, kokanee, cutthroat and bass are the primary fish in the system. Chinook and kokanee spawn in the Stehekin River.

According to local fishing guides, the re-introduction of bull trout to the tributaries of Lake Chelan would be the death of the healthy recreational fishery currently in place. “Bull trout are the wolf of fresh water,” stated Joe Heinlen, a fishing guide. “They will eat everything!”

“There is a simmering interest in this,” said Kaputa.

The lower Stehekin River is prime spawning ground for both chinook salmon and kokanee. If bull trout were re-introduced to the system, professional fishing guides claim that Lake Chelan and the Stehekin River’s recreational fishery would be damaged.

Benjamin said, “There is no current proposal to re-introduce bull trout. My question… Is there a question?”

The next step according to Benjamin are public meetings. “We are starting that process officially today. We will see how we want to proceed in the future.”

Bull trout:
Bull trout was a native species in the Lake Chelan watershed before it disappeared in the late 40s or early 50s. Since that time, the fish has been considered extinct. In addition, the fish populations in the last 75 years has changed in Lake Chelan.

“Bull trout and West Slope Cutthroat (native species) co-existed in Lake Chelan until the Bull trout disappeared,” said Heinlen. Heinlen added that since that time, Chinook salmon, Lake trout, Rainbow trout, Kokanee salmon, Small and Large Mouth Bass and other species have been planted in the lake.

“These fish constitute an important sport fishery,” said Heinlen. “An introduction of Bull trout could be devastating to sport fishing in the Valley,” he added. “Taking a chance of destroying a world class fishery is crazy.”

“They (bull trout) will eat a lot of kokanee,” said Heinlen. “They also don’t stay in one spot and that’s got me concerned.” Heinlen did say it would take up to 10 years to get them established.

Apple growers in the Lake Chelan Valley applied 80,000 kilograms of DDT to their orchards from the 40s to 70s. It is now leaching into the lake from drains, groundwater and streams.

by Richard Uhlhorn

DDT LOADING STUDY:
Clay Patmont, Anchor QEA, LLC, told the Watershed Planning Committee that Lake Chelan still has the highest concentration of DDT in the nation.

DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane), developed as the first of the modern synthetic insecticides in the 1940s, was used extensively in Lake Chelan Valley orchards from the 1940s to 70s. An estimated 80,000 kilograms (140,800 ibs.) of DDT was applied to some 12,000 acres over the years. “There was a lot of DDT applied,” said Patmont.

The Toxics Control Demonstration study in 2010 and 2021 found no DDT levels declining. The study sampled lake trout for DDT levels which was used to determine the level of DDT in the lake.

Sources of this contamination comes from ongoing leaching of the material in orchard soils to the lake from orchard drains, groundwater and creek drainages.

Patmont stated that natural recovery would not achieve risk reduction goals for at least 100 years, but directing drainages through wetlands (Dry Lake) could substantially reduce DDT loading by 70 to 95 percent.

With a $1.3 million dollar grant from the Department of Ecology, the plan is to 1. – characterize current DDT loading into the lake in 2025; construct a one to two acre prototype wetland in 2026; monitor the wetland’s effectiveness in 2027 and 2028; and if successful; expand wetland treatments in the entire basin where it was applied.

Quagga/Zebra Mussel concerns:
“It has never been more important for people to stay alert,” said Stephen Lesky. This comment came during a report on Quagga mussels being detected in the Columbia River Basin and the potential of this invasive species being introduced in Lake Chelan.

Multiple occurrences have been noted in the Twin Falls, Idaho area where 375 miles of river dumps into the Columbia River.

Quagga and Zebra mussels are species that can cause millions of dollar’s worth of damage if allowed to attach and grow in water passage ways, irrigation canals, dams and fish hatcheries. The economic impact is estimated at $100 million per year.

The Washington State Fish and Wildlife Service has five primary boat inspection stations for vessels crossing into the state. “We are trying to protect Washington waters,” said Bush.

Currently the state is free of quagga mussels. “When we find an occurrence there will be a rapid response.”

Stephen Lesky, manager of Lake Chelan’s boat inspection program, said, “We are seeing an increase on boats on Lake Chelan.” The Lake Chelan Boat Inspection Program is in its second year on a grant from the National Park Service. “People appreciate what we are doing with the program.”

**The economic risk of quagga or zebra mussels entering Washington waters is huge.**

“We are excited about what you are doing,” said Bush.

Bush described another major concern with zebra mussels that are showing up in moss balls being sold to pet stores. “There are 22 wholesalers that have received contaminated products in Washington. Ultimately, we know it is an ongoing problem.”

Fish and Wildlife has received $1.8 million in State funding and another $1.83 million in Federal funding to combat the potential influx of invasive species to Washington waterways. The WDFW Response Team has met with 27 retailers and are taking significant steps to stop the importation of zebra mussels in moss balls to pet stores. “We are planning for the worst case scenario.”

Water Quality – Phil Long

**Phil Long – Lake Chelan Research Institute**

“We had a busy summer,” said Long. “Things look fairly normal.” However there is ongoing concern with the algae growth on rocks and docks in the near shore areas of the Wapato Basin. The Lake Chelan Research Institute is hoping to identify the different species that are present.

**Phil Long captured this photo of periphyton growing in the Wapato Basin.**

Long stated that the Institute is in the second year of a three year study funded by the PUD. “This is not what you want growing on our shores and docks,” said Long.

Water rights:
Ecology continues to work with RH2 Engineers on water right applications and reported that seven more property owners have received their certificates. “We are moving forward.”

Round Table:

**Mike Kaputa – Chelan County Resources Department director.**

Fishery Forum… PUD will give an update in December

NPS is conducting temperature monitoring and creel surveys.

Mike Kaputa reported that the committee should have a report on the reintroduction of bull trout December. A draft manuscript has been circulated for peer review amongst the committee members.

The next meeting will be in December.

Tag: nature

Bull trout feasibility study shared with Lake Chelan Watershed group

Lake Chelan has the highest concentration of DDT in the Nation