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
East Fork of the Hood River Habitat Project

BPA project number   5504000

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
USFS

Sponsor type   OR-Federal Agency

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   , EWN

Biological opinion ID   

NWPPC Program number   

Short description
This project will increase habitat on the East Fork of the Hood River in three separate reaches. Habitat will focus on steelhead rearing and adult spawning habitat lost following large woody material removal, highway development and large scale debris torrent and dam break on the East Fork following the Pollallie Creek debris torrent in 1980. Three stream reaches have been identified through watershed analysis as areas which are depositional areas for large woody debris and sediment.

Project start year   1997    End year   2001

Start of operation and/or maintenance   0

Project development phase   Planning

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects
1-Hood River production plan. (BPA funded presently) This project will provide increase habitat capability for anadromous salmonids produced as a result of the Hood River supplementation plan.

Project history
This is a new project identified through the watershed analysis process.

Biological results achieved
Several projects within the West Fork of the Hood River and Lake Branch of the West Fork Hood River have been implemented using BPA, ODFW, and Forest Service funds. These projects have increased both juvenile and adult spawning habitat which have been targeted by spring chinook in recent years. Steelhead have also been seen using improved habitat.

Annual reports and technical papers

Management implications
Past habitat improvement projects have moved from engineered evenly spaced log structures to geomorphically based analysis of natural wood input, movement and deposition within streams and stream reaches.

Specific measureable objectives
Project will increase the amount of wood in the project reaches

Testable hypothesis

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints
It is assumed that by developing large wood component, approaching pre-development levels, physical limitations to anadromous salmonids will be reduced within the entire Hood River Basin.

Methods
Fly in whole trees with root wads. These will be supplemented with logs moved in and placed with a large excavator. Old levees on Hwy 35 will be removed using excavator and bulldozers to allow natural floodplain development. The entire flood plain will be treated with wood. Total estimated wood additions over three years will be the approximate equivalent of 1500-2000 pieces of wood. To obtain the wood will require harvest of standing trees within the Hood River Ranger District. The planning will be done with the help of consultants familar with stream restoration work using geomorphic concepts. Pre and post project monitoring will include physical longitudinal and cross sectional profiles, substrate monitoring, modified IFIM, and complete stream mapping. Detailed treatments between the three reaches will vary following planning completed in 1997.

Brief schedule of activities
1996-Pre project monitoring
1997-Project planning and NEPA continue pre project monitoring
1998-Project implementation on Reach 1
1999-Project implementation on Reach 2
2000-Project implementation on Reach 3
2001-Post project monitoring for reaches 1,2,3

Biological need
Project will target wild winter steelhead and coho. Wild winter steelhead are at low levels in the Hood River and the Mt. Hood National Forest has identified this steel stock as priority for targeting restoration projects.

Critical uncertainties
Rearing habitat is very low. Adult spawning habitat is low. A large percentage of habitat which existed historically was created by large woody material. Currently wood within East Fork is far below the range of natural conditions following watershed analysis. Historic causes of steelhead stock decline also include mainstream dams, harvest, and hatchery introductions.

Summary of expected outcome
Increased rearing and spawning habitat which for the most part is non-existent on the East Fork. By adding large volumes of wood across the entire flood plain wood wil always be present and functioning as habitat regardless of stream channel location.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
Possible partners include ODFW, ODOT, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Warm Springs Tribe, Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Area, East Fork Irrigation, Hood River Watershed Group. Project will produce benefits for resident fish and is consistent with regional watershed restoration efforts.

Risks
Large wood could move down stream causing highway damage.

Monitoring activity
See above project plan.

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   Bonneville Dam - Priest Rapids Dam

Recommendation    Tier 2 - fund when funds available

Recommended funding level   $200,000