NPT Bull Trout Monitoring Report 2020 - submitted 2021-03-31.pdf

This report summarizes bull trout redd counts from surveys conducted in the Grande Ronde River and Imnaha River subbasins in 2020 and compares those with prior years. Streams surveyed in 2020 included: Lostine River, Little Minam River, Dobbin Creek, Big Sheep Creek, and Lick Creek. In most surveyed streams, redd counts were average to slightly below average compared to previous years. We plan to continue long-term population monitoring via redd counts in priority streams in the future, though some surveys will not be conducted on an annual basis but rather on an interval schedule (e.g., 5-10 year intervals). In 2020, we started collecting eDNA samples to fill information gaps on distribution and presence/absence of bull trout and brook trout in the Bear/Goat Creek watershed where hybridization is a primary threat. In the future, we will continue to use additional monitoring strategies like eDNA sampling, electrofishing, and/or snorkeling to monitor bull trout populations.