IDFG crews recently surveyed nine lower Clearwater River tributaries looking for juvenile steelhead. They were taking small fin clips off these fish to look at how wild fish genetics in these tributaries compared to hatchery fish genetics from Dworshak Hatchery located on the mainstem Clearwater River.
Tributaries to the lower mainstem Clearwater River are managed as wild steelhead emphasis areas and no juvenile hatchery steelhead releases occur there. This is done to ensure wild steelhead continue to look different from hatchery steelhead. Even though no juvenile releases occur in these tributaries, adult steelhead intended to return to the hatchery could make a left or right turn into one of these tributaries when they get close to spawning. Previous IDFG monitoring on some lower Clearwater River tributaries has shown this rarely happens, but this project is looking at all the major tributaries in the area. This data helps fish managers evaluate the success of both the wild and hatchery steelhead programs in the area.
Data from these surveys will be analyzed in the fall and we'll be sure to let you know the results.