EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE FEATHER RIVER WD PLAN

Whirling Disease Management Plan for the Upper Feather River Basin

A Cooperative Project:
Sierra Institute for Community and Environment Feather River Chapter, Trout Unlimited

October 2020

Prepared by: Laurel Sacco

Executive Summary

The Upper Feather River Basin Fisheries Assessment and Restoration Strategy (Rogers et al., 2018) identified M. cerebralis management as a priority concern. This Management Plan, hereafter referred to as “The Plan”, summarizes the research findings and recommendations of a Technical Advisory Group convened to address the pathogen in the Upper Feather River Basin (the Basin). The Plan has two primary elements, a summary of Whirling Disease ecology relevant to the Basin; and a summary of management approaches considered and recommended by the Whirling Disease Task Group (WDTG), a collaborative group of resource managers representing a variety of agencies, organizations, and institutions.

Whirling Disease Ecology

The Plan summarizes Whirling Disease information in the context of conditions in the Upper Feather River Basin focused on these topics:

  • Susceptibility of M. cerebralis hosts

  • Locations of M. cerebralis within the watershed

  • Identification of M. cerebralis vectors

  • Fish health practices at federal, state and privately-owned hatcheries

  • Environmental characteristics conducive to M. cerebralis establishment

  • Lessons learned from other locations about management for M. cerebralis.

    Management Elements

    The Plan includes six primary approaches to managing for Whirling Disease in the watershed. Those elements and related key actions are summarized below.

    Basin-wide risk Assessment Model: A model was developed to predict the likelihood of M. cerebralis presence. Overall rating of risk was derived by combining assessments of pathogen introduction and pathogen establishment. Ratings informed development of other Management Plan elements.

    Public awareness: The lack of public awareness about the presence of M. cerebralis in the Feather River and about measures necessary to reduce its spread led the WDTG to recommend preparation of a Public Outreach and Communication Plan, which is a component of the Management Plan.

    Equipment Decontamination Protocols: Uncertainty about the effectiveness of equipment decontamination protocols used by agencies and organizations doing aquatic work in the watershed to prevent the spread of M. cerebralis led to a review of existing protocols, recommended protocols, and recommended practices for planning and conducting aquatic surveys.

Whirling Disease Resistant Fish: Trout strains with demonstrated resistance to Whirling Disease have been planted with success in other areas. A preliminary approach to identifying suitable strains and planting locations was developed.

Monitoring: Knowledge of the extent of M. cerebralis presence throughout the watershed is incomplete as a result of limited surveys. A plan for M. cerebralis monitoring in the watershed is presented.

Meadow Restoration Project Risk Assessment: The potential contribution of meadow restoration projects in providing suitable habitat for M. cerebralis is a concern. A tool was developed to evaluate the risk of meadow improvement projects in contributing to Whirling Disease.