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
Sawmill Creek Inland Fish Habitat Restoration

BPA project number   5505200

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
USFS

Sponsor type   OR-Federal Agency

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   , EWP

Biological opinion ID   

NWPPC Program number   

Short description
The Forest Service has funds to restore native inland fish passage on Sawmill Creek. Instream habitat work funding is also needed to maximize fisheries benefits. Work includes equalizing the elevation difference upstream and downstream of the culvert gradually with vortex rock wiers and restoring riparian vegetation with plantings.

Project start year   1997    End year   1997

Start of operation and/or maintenance   1997

Project development phase   Implementation

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects
1. Forest Service Funds are available to pay for new culvert and baffles portion of fish passage problem.

Project history

Biological results achieved

Annual reports and technical papers

Management implications

Specific measureable objectives
1) Cause a change, increase, in the redband trout population numbers.

2) Increase the number of adult redband trout spawning in areas above culvert.

3) Change geomorphology of stream channel to one that is in equilibrium with site.

Testable hypothesis
1) Redband trout population will increase through replacement of culvert and realignment of stream channel within next 5 years.

2) Population of spawning trout will increase above replaced culvert within the next 5 years.

3) Average gradient within reach, 100 feet above and below site, will be less than 4 percent over the next 5 years.

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints
1) Redband trout population and spawning sucess has been limited due to improper placement of existing culvert.

2) Replacement of current culvert will allow fish to access headwater reaches from lower reaches, below the existing culvert.

3) Average reach gradient above and below the culvert is not allowing for channel stability. This is due to culvert placement at too steep of an angle and undersized for peak flow events. Current size allows for 5-10 year flood passage. Forest Service will replace with 100 year flood passage culvert.

Methods
a) experimental design

1) Fixed plot using existing protocol for Ochoco Fish Community Assessment.

2) Protocol for redband trout redd survey, Ochoco N.F..

3) Stream channel cross-section and longitudal profile (Fixed Plot).


b) statistical analysis

1) Change in redband trout population will be calculated for number of fish collected at baseline, year 3 , year 5 to determine trend.

2) Change in number of redds observed above culvert each year starting baseline, year 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5.

3) Change in average gradient observed at baseline, year 3, year 5.

c) type and number of fish to be used: Redband trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss ssp.) will be used as an indicator for achieving objectives. No other species will be used.

Brief schedule of activities
1. Forest Service to install new culvert and fish passage baffles in 1996.

2. All survey and design work to be completed by 1996.

3. 1997 implementation of instream habitat/fish passage work.

** project is self maintaining and would require minimal to no activity in 1998 to 2000.

Biological need
Redband trout is listed by the Region-6 Regional Forester as a Sensitive Species, by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as a Category II species, under the Endangered Species Act, and by the State of Oregon as a Sensitive species (vulnerable).

Current data shows this population has limited habitat and conditions, which may lead to loss of this population if conditions are not improved. Current culvert is a barrier to habitat higher in the watershed that is inaccessable to redband trout in the lower reaches of Sawmill Creek. Due to instability of the stream channel below current culvert, riparian vegetation can not become established. High width to depth ratio are promoting stream temperatures above 80 _o_ F. within this reach. Embeddedness has recorded at 100 percent within stream channel gravels. Spawning and rearing success of local redband trout populations is expected to decline if conditions are not improved.

Critical uncertainties
Current conditions below the existing culvert and the lack of other causative factors such as livestock grazing or timber harvest; the uncertainty of activities other than undersize and misplacement of existing culvert is low.

Summary of expected outcome
1) Inland native fish passage would be restored. This would reconnect approximately 9 miles of native fish habitat to the Silver Creek Priority Watershed (Inland Native Fish Strategy, Forest Service, 1995).

2) A historically degraded portion of Sawmill Creek would be stabilized. The combination of the new Forest Service funded culvert (allows passage of a 100 year flood vs existing 5-10 year flood) and a stabilized channel would greatly decrease the liklihood of further stream damage during flood events.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
This would be a cooperatively funded project with the Forest Service. Our funding will accomplish all NEPA, design, and culvert installation in 1996. Other cooperators such as the Oregon Department of Fish and Game could assist with the implementation of 1997 instream habitat/fish passage work.

Risks
Physical Risks: With proper design and implementation, the physical risks to the stream are minimal.

Biological risks: Risks to the current population is low, based on design of the project and impacts to the physical conditions of the stream channel.

Monitoring activity
1) 1996 collect Pre-project baseline data for 1) redband trout populations above and below existing culvert, 2) number of redds occuring annually above the culvert site, 3) average gradient for reach above and below existing culvert.

2) 1997 - 2000 collect data on number of redds occuring above replacemnt culvert.

3) 1998 - 2000 collect data for 1) redband trout population's 2) average gradient in reach 100 foot above and below replaced culvert.

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   Resident Fish

Recommendation    Tier 2 - fund when funds available

Recommended funding level   $38,240