Cle Elum/Waptus Population(s): Difference between revisions
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The Cle Elum Lake watershed is extremely large and diverse. The upper Cle Elum River is the primary tributary to the reservoir. The river’s headwaters feed a sizeable natural lake, Hyas, about 18.7 river miles upstream of Cle Elum Lake. Numerous small creeks enter the upper Cle Elum River along its course along with two major tributaries, the Waptus and Cooper rivers. Natural lakes are also present on both of these with Cooper and Waptus lakes located about 4.6 and 8.5 river miles upstream of their respective confluences with the upper Cle Elum River. | The Cle Elum Lake watershed is extremely large and diverse. The upper Cle Elum River is the primary tributary to the reservoir. The river’s headwaters feed a sizeable natural lake, Hyas, about 18.7 river miles upstream of Cle Elum Lake. Numerous small creeks enter the upper Cle Elum River along its course along with two major tributaries, the Waptus and Cooper rivers. Natural lakes are also present on both of these with Cooper and Waptus lakes located about 4.6 and 8.5 river miles upstream of their respective confluences with the upper Cle Elum River. | ||
''Outmigration for larger fish should not be an issue through the Helix. The helix will be operational during emigration season for juvenile salmonids and as reservoir level allows. Past June, operation would be case by case basis - downstream mortality after June for juvenile salmonids is high. Late June through following spring, helix will not be operational. Downstream passage limited to spillway/outlet works outside of this window.'' | |||
=== Population Distribution and Life History === | === Population Distribution and Life History === | ||
Relatively little is known about the bull trout that inhabit the Cle Elum Lake watershed and its associated subwatersheds. In 1998, WDFW recognized a single Cle Elum/Waptus Lakes stock speculating that it may have originated from a pre-dam adfluvial life history form with the possibility that fluvial forms may have been present in the area as well (WDFW 2004). The '' | Relatively little is known about the bull trout that inhabit the Cle Elum Lake watershed and its associated subwatersheds. In 1998, WDFW recognized a single Cle Elum/Waptus Lakes stock speculating that it may have originated from a pre-dam adfluvial life history form with the possibility that fluvial forms may have been present in the area as well (WDFW 2004). The ''2017'' USFWS Recovery Plan for the Middle Columbia River Recovery Unit (i.e., the Yakima Basin) identified ''two'' local adfluvial populations above Cle Elum Dam (USFWS 2002). <s>Based on fish observations made since, and the fact that physical barriers to migration separate the spawning areas of bull trout populations in the Cle Elum and Waptus systems, the two will be considered separate populations in this document.</s> The Cle Elum River population is defined as bull trout that may be present in Cle Elum Lake and the mainstem upper Cle Elum River (including tributary creeks). The Waptus Lake population includes bull trout present in Waptus Lake, the Waptus River above the lake, and the river below the lake (but above a barrier waterfall occurring at about river mile 2.5). This is consistent with the conclusions reached in the USFWS 2008 Status Review. Both the Cle Elum and Waptus populations were considered functionally extirpated at the time of the recovery plan publication in 2015. | ||
Although an angler reportedly caught a bull trout in Cooper Lake in 2007, several subsequent hook-and-line and snorkel surveys in the Cooper River produced no observations of bull trout. Therefore, a separate Cooper River bull trout population was not recognized in this original publication of this plan. It should also be noted that any adfluvial bull trout seeking to migrate up the Cooper River would likely be precluded by a steep series of cascades which begins just over a half-mile upstream of the river mouth. ''In 2015, Mid-Columbia Fisheries collected 15 eDNA samples in the Cooper River, 5 samples in Lemah Creek, and 2 samples in an unnamed tributary to the Cooper River (Parrish 2017). Only one sample returned a positive result for bull trout eDNA. The result was a low-concentration positive hit in the Cooper River, just downstream of a popular swimming hole. The author suggested that this positive was likely due to contamination by recreationists and that the presence of a functional bull trout population in the system was highly unlikely (Parrish 2017). Mid-Columbia Fisheries re-sampled eDNA in the Cooper River system in 2024, collecting 39 samples across the watershed. Samples were collected in Chief Creek, the Cooper River, Delate Creek, Goat Creek, Hour Creek, Lemah Creek, and Tired Creek (Taylor 2024). Bull trout were detected in 0% of the samples while brook trout were detected in 44% of the samples.'' | Although an angler reportedly caught a bull trout in Cooper Lake in 2007, several subsequent hook-and-line and snorkel surveys in the Cooper River produced no observations of bull trout. Therefore, a separate Cooper River bull trout population was not recognized in this original publication of this plan. It should also be noted that any adfluvial bull trout seeking to migrate up the Cooper River would likely be precluded by a steep series of cascades which begins just over a half-mile upstream of the river mouth. ''In 2015, Mid-Columbia Fisheries collected 15 eDNA samples in the Cooper River, 5 samples in Lemah Creek, and 2 samples in an unnamed tributary to the Cooper River (Parrish 2017). Only one sample returned a positive result for bull trout eDNA. The result was a low-concentration positive hit in the Cooper River, just downstream of a popular swimming hole. The author suggested that this positive was likely due to contamination by recreationists and that the presence of a functional bull trout population in the system was highly unlikely (Parrish 2017). Mid-Columbia Fisheries re-sampled eDNA in the Cooper River system in 2024, collecting 39 samples across the watershed. Samples were collected in Chief Creek, the Cooper River, Delate Creek, Goat Creek, Hour Creek, Lemah Creek, and Tired Creek (Taylor 2024). Bull trout were detected in 0% of the samples while brook trout were detected in 44% of the samples.'' | ||
Revision as of 14:03, 4 August 2026
Overview
This population group includes bull trout spawning in the Cle Elum River and its tributaries. Historic records show bull trout as widespread in the watershed.
Cle Elum Dam was constructed in 1933 on the Cle Elum River just over eight miles upstream of its confluence with the Yakima River (at RM 186.5). The dam was built on the outlet of a natural lake and its storage reservoir is the largest in the Yakima Basin. The reservoir holds 437,000 acre-feet of water at full pool and covers 4,812 surface acres. ADD INFO ABOUT CLE ELUM POOL RAISE. The infrastructure to enable storage of an additional 14,600 acre-feet in the reservoir to be used for river enhancement activities is in place and should be storable by 2027. Like the other storage dams in the basin, Cle Elum Dam was not constructed with fish passage, although interim downstream passage has been provided during a limited period in the spring for reintroduced anadromous salmonids in most years since 2006. Because upstream fish passage remains impossible, bull trout that leave the reservoir volitionally or are entrained on the unscreened outlet works of the dam become permanently isolated from their natal populations. ADD INFO ABOUT FISH PASSAGE PROJECT HELIX / TRAP AND HAUL
The Cle Elum Lake watershed is extremely large and diverse. The upper Cle Elum River is the primary tributary to the reservoir. The river’s headwaters feed a sizeable natural lake, Hyas, about 18.7 river miles upstream of Cle Elum Lake. Numerous small creeks enter the upper Cle Elum River along its course along with two major tributaries, the Waptus and Cooper rivers. Natural lakes are also present on both of these with Cooper and Waptus lakes located about 4.6 and 8.5 river miles upstream of their respective confluences with the upper Cle Elum River.
Outmigration for larger fish should not be an issue through the Helix. The helix will be operational during emigration season for juvenile salmonids and as reservoir level allows. Past June, operation would be case by case basis - downstream mortality after June for juvenile salmonids is high. Late June through following spring, helix will not be operational. Downstream passage limited to spillway/outlet works outside of this window.
Population Distribution and Life History
Relatively little is known about the bull trout that inhabit the Cle Elum Lake watershed and its associated subwatersheds. In 1998, WDFW recognized a single Cle Elum/Waptus Lakes stock speculating that it may have originated from a pre-dam adfluvial life history form with the possibility that fluvial forms may have been present in the area as well (WDFW 2004). The 2017 USFWS Recovery Plan for the Middle Columbia River Recovery Unit (i.e., the Yakima Basin) identified two local adfluvial populations above Cle Elum Dam (USFWS 2002). Based on fish observations made since, and the fact that physical barriers to migration separate the spawning areas of bull trout populations in the Cle Elum and Waptus systems, the two will be considered separate populations in this document. The Cle Elum River population is defined as bull trout that may be present in Cle Elum Lake and the mainstem upper Cle Elum River (including tributary creeks). The Waptus Lake population includes bull trout present in Waptus Lake, the Waptus River above the lake, and the river below the lake (but above a barrier waterfall occurring at about river mile 2.5). This is consistent with the conclusions reached in the USFWS 2008 Status Review. Both the Cle Elum and Waptus populations were considered functionally extirpated at the time of the recovery plan publication in 2015.
Although an angler reportedly caught a bull trout in Cooper Lake in 2007, several subsequent hook-and-line and snorkel surveys in the Cooper River produced no observations of bull trout. Therefore, a separate Cooper River bull trout population was not recognized in this original publication of this plan. It should also be noted that any adfluvial bull trout seeking to migrate up the Cooper River would likely be precluded by a steep series of cascades which begins just over a half-mile upstream of the river mouth. In 2015, Mid-Columbia Fisheries collected 15 eDNA samples in the Cooper River, 5 samples in Lemah Creek, and 2 samples in an unnamed tributary to the Cooper River (Parrish 2017). Only one sample returned a positive result for bull trout eDNA. The result was a low-concentration positive hit in the Cooper River, just downstream of a popular swimming hole. The author suggested that this positive was likely due to contamination by recreationists and that the presence of a functional bull trout population in the system was highly unlikely (Parrish 2017). Mid-Columbia Fisheries re-sampled eDNA in the Cooper River system in 2024, collecting 39 samples across the watershed. Samples were collected in Chief Creek, the Cooper River, Delate Creek, Goat Creek, Hour Creek, Lemah Creek, and Tired Creek (Taylor 2024). Bull trout were detected in 0% of the samples while brook trout were detected in 44% of the samples.
Populations
More information for this population group can be found on these pages: