BPA Fish and Wildlife FY 1997 Proposal

Section 1. Administrative
Section 2. Narrative
Section 3. Budget

see CBFWA and BPA funding recommendations

Section 1. Administrative

Title of project
Columbia River Basin Watershed Restoration Activities: 1996 and 1997 Funding

BPA project number   5503000

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission

Sponsor type   CRITFC

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   , EWP

Biological opinion ID   

NWPPC Program number   

Short description

Project start year   1996    End year   

Start of operation and/or maintenance   1996

Project development phase   Planning, Implementation, Maintenance

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects

Project history
This proposal builds upon the watershed plans in Volume II of Wy-Kan-Ush-Mi - Wa-Kish-Wit and the subbasin plans developed under the Northwest Power Planning Council Fish and Wildlife Program. This proposal would establish a systematic framework for implementing salmon restoration in a watershed context.

Biological results achieved

Annual reports and technical papers
Tribal Salmon Restoration Plan
Northwest Power Planning Council Subbasin Plans
Integrated System Plan
Columbia River Fish Management Plan

Management implications
D. Adaptive Management Program
Early action projects for 1996 provide an ability for the salmon managers to work in partnership with tribes, watershed residents, landowners, local governments, state and federal governments. Projects are provided which provide information about a conservation measure which will resolve controversy over critical life stage survival estimates; enable restoration while meeting a utilization goal; projects which provide information documenting the success of measures to meet conservation or utilization goals; and those which provide information which refine strategies to meet a conservation or utilization goal. Specific details will be provided in a package submitted to the Northwest Power Planning Council in April 1996.

Specific measureable objectives
A. Natural Production Need
A number of habitat and production projects are ready to be implemented throughout the 23 subbasins of the Columbia River treaty tribes' ceded lands. These projects increase benefits to naturally produced populations by increasing cost-effectiveness and synergistic benefits of multiple actions within and among watersheds. For 1996, these projects are individually described in a package which will be provided to the Northwest Power Planning Council on April 3, 1996.

Testable hypothesis
From Tribal Salmon Restoration Plan, Executive Summary

- Actively restore watersheds where salmon populations are in eminent danger of extinction. Use Coarse Screening Process to develop demonstration projects.

- Use artificial propagation to help rebuild salmon populations at high demographic risk of extirpation.

- Use artificial propagation to reintroduce salmon to watersheds from which they have been extirpated.

- Establish a new state and tribal fish and wildlife entity using Bonneville Power Administration funding.

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints

Methods
Introduction

Wy-Kan-Ush-Mi Wa-Kish-Wit (Spirit of the Salmon) is the regional anadromous fish restoration plan of the four Columbia River Treaty Tribes. The plan identifies the changes needed in current water, land, and fish management practices to help salmon survive at levels sufficient to rebuild their numbers. Restorative measures are called for throughout the salmon's life stages and are intended to affect change in the tributary, mainstem, estuary, and ocean ecosystems and habitats where salmon live.

Although the entire plan recognizes that declining salmon runs are a symptom of a complex web of problems including over harvest, blockage of fish passage by dams, and ineffectual use of artificial propagation methods, the tribes have recognized that loss and degradation of freshwater habitats are among the most serious factors responsible for salmon decline. Therefore, the tribal plan initiates a watershed approach as a crucial step in restoring and managing salmon.

The plan calls for renewed support in implementing the updated subbasin plans completed by the tribes and the fisheries agencies in 1990. These plans, contained in Volume II of Wy-Kan-Ush-Mi Wa-Kish-Wit, describe subbasin-specific actions that would allow the protection and recovery of tributary and mainstem habitat throughout the Columbia River Basin, but primarily above Bonneville Dam. The tribes recommend that a "Coarse Screening Process" be used to determine allowable levels of watershed impacts. They also recommend other actions including reconnecting various habitat areas, protecting and increasing in stream flows, preventing soil compaction and riparian vegetation removal, and actively restoring salmon populations, especially where they are in imminent danger of extinction.

The Columbia River Treaty Tribes know how to restore watersheds. Their science and adaptive management approach are sound. However, the tribes also know that watershed restoration plans must actually be implemented in order for them to bring about desired change. The implementation of these plans will require interdisciplinary, inter-jurisdictional, and inter-community collaboration and cooperation.

The Columbia River Basin Watershed Restoration Activities: 1996 and 1997 Funding provide a framework for habitat and production projects critical for restoring salmon to the Columbia Basin watersheds. Projects in 1996 will focus on early action -- projects which can be put on the ground in 1996, form partnerships and demonstrate success. These projects will be described in detail in the package submitted to NPPC in April 1996. The projects for 1997 will follow a watershed process of salmon managers working in partnership with tribes, watershed residents and landowners; and local, state, and federal government.

Brief schedule of activities

Biological need
C. Priority Stock

The 1996 early action projects and 1997 activities will focus on badly damaged and declining stocks, stocks which are marginally maintaining themselves, projects which are needed to maintain healthy stocks, projects which enhance the status of healthy stocks, and projects which restore extirpated populations. Specific details for 1996 will be provided in the package submitted to the Northwest Power Planning Council in April 1996.

Critical uncertainties
B. Utilization Need

The Columbia River Basin Watershed Restoration Activities: 1996 and 1997 Funding, have been developed to enable or contribute to meeting fish utilization goals. Projects are provided which enable achievement of utilization goals, projects which decrease the impacts on a priority stock. Specific details on these early action projects will be provided in a package submitted to the Northwest Power Planning Council.

Summary of expected outcome
E. Cost Effectiveness

The Columbia River Basin Watershed Restoration Activities: 1996 and 1997 Funding, is estimated to cost $38 million -- $7 million in 1996 for early action projects and $31 for watershed restoration activities in 1997. Supplemental funding to continue watershed restoration activities is expected beyond 1997. The funding activities for 1996 and 1997 are detailed in "Columbia River Basin Watershed Activities--A Twelve Year Plan (1993-2004)", draft of January 8, 1996. Habitat and production activities are detailed in the attached memorandum to Ted Strong from Mary Lou Soscia dated September 11,1995.

Project costs will be shared with local landowners, state, and federal governments.

Administrative costs are estimated to be 10% of the total funding. Each project will have a maintenance agreement which will detail responsibilities for maintenance and funding. These may include long-term agreements with landowners to ensure long-term maintenance.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
F. Project Integration and Partnerships

Early action projects are intended to demonstrate the ability to get action "on-the-ground", help form partnerships and demonstrate success. These projects have been developed as a part of the subbasin planning process developed by the Northwest Power Planning Council and the Tribal Salmon Restoration Plan. Specific details will be provided in a package submitted to the Northwest Power Planning Council.

Watershed restoration projects for 1996 and 1997 will be coordinated with existing watershed councils where present. In addition, funding is proposed for the salmon managers to enter into partnerships with watershed councils to support local/state/federal/tribal cooperation.

These early action projects provide benefits for resident fish and wildlife. Specific details for 1996 will be provided to the Northwest Power Planning Council.

Risks

Monitoring activity
G. Technical Merit

The 1996 and 1997 watershed restoration projects are excellent opportunities to accomplish essential habitat and production activities. Each project includes a monitoring plan and will provide a monitoring agreement among the landowners, state, tribal, and/or federal agencies. Funding for monitoring will be provided as a part of each project.

Section 3. Budget

* For most projects, Authorized is the amount recommended by CBFWA and the Council. Planned is amount currently allocated. Contracted is the amount obligated to date of printout.

Funding recommendations

CBFWA funding review group   System Policy

Recommendation    Tier 1 - fund

Recommended funding level   $500,000