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
Resident Fish Habitat Enhancement Above Mckay Reservoir in the Umatilla Basin

BPA project number   5506800

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
CTUIR

Sponsor type   OR-Tribe

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   , EWP

Biological opinion ID   

NWPPC Program number   10.8

Short description
Prior to the Federal Government's construction of McKay Reservoir on McKay Creek in the Umatilla Basin in the early 1900's, there was abundant production of spring chinook and summer steelhead throughout the McKay Creek subbasin. McKay Dam now blocks anadromous fish passage to approximately 40 stream miles of formerly productive habitat. This area now supports a limited resident rainbow trout population and fishery but currently degraded riparian habitat severely limits trout productivity. It is likely that this area also once supported bull trout populations. This project would help to identify problems and develop/implement creative solutions to land use problems impacting resident fisheries. In addition, this project would have indirect anadromous fish benefit in the Umatilla Basin (see EXPECTED OUTCOME).

Project start year   1997    End year   

Start of operation and/or maintenance   0

Project development phase   Planning, Implementation

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects
8403300 - Umatilla Hatchery O & M
8343500 - Umatilla Hatchery Satellite Facilities O & M
9101400 - Umatilla Hatchery Satellites - Design & Construction
8802200 - Umatilla River Basin Trap and Haul Program
9000501 - Umatilla Basin Natural Production M & E
8710001 - Umatilla River Basin Anadromous Fish Habitat Enhancement
- BR Umatilla Basin Instream Flow Enhancement Project

Project history

Biological results achieved

Annual reports and technical papers

Management implications

Specific measureable objectives
This project is expected to improve water quality in associated streams and therefore increase productivity of native rainbow trout by improving spawning, incubation, and juvenile rearing habitat. Specific measurable project objectives may include miles of riparian fencing, miles of riparian planting, acres of wetland restoration, etc. specific measurable project results would include increased stream shading and bank stability and decreased water temperature and streambank erosion.

Testable hypothesis

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints

Methods
Land use practices impacting fish production capability will continue to be identified throughout the watershed through baseline data collection, GIS analysis and public scoping meetings. Long-term solutions to land use problems will be developed cooperatively with landowners and other resource agencies in the basin. Remedial measures will be implemented to reduce or eliminate detrimental land management activities where possible. Physical factors which limit production capability will be addressed through enhancement of instream and riparian habitat.

Brief schedule of activities
Coordinate with landowners and natural resource management entities to: 1) identify land use practices impacting water quality and fisheries; 2) identify actions to address land use impacts; and 3) implement protective and/or habitat enhancement measures including, but not limited to fencing or planting to restore riparian or wetland areas, long term land or grazing leases, acquisition of water rights, land swaps, change in management strategies or methods, and purchase of lands for fisheries and wildlife benefits.

Biological need
Former and current detrimental land use practices continue to impact anadromous fisheries production in the Umatilla River Basin. High summer stream temperatures, nonpoint source pollution (primarily agricultural runoff from cropland areas), lack of native riparian vegetation, low or intermittent stream flows, lack of habitat diversity, and unstable stream channels limit available salmonid spawning/rearing areas throughout the basin. Habitat improvements including riparian fence construction, installation of sediment retention structures and revegetation of riparian corridor areas will diversify habitat and improve water quality/quantity conditions for fish and macroinvertebrates in the McKay Creek sub-watershed.

Critical uncertainties
All native rainbow trout life history stages (spawning incubation, and rearing) are critically impacted by the degraded habitat conditions in McKay Creek. This project will be necessary to restore productive resident fish populations and fisheries.

Summary of expected outcome
Habitat enhancements implemented under this project will result in the following benefits: 1) increased water table saturation zones and instream flow levels during summer months, 2) slower water velocities and narrower stream channels, 3) more diverse native riparian vegetation communities to assist with bank stabilization, provide recruitable wood for instream cover, increase shading, increase insect drop and filter sediments. These combined benefits will aide anadromous salmonids by improving overall water quality, increasing and diversifying fisheries habitat and increasing potential food sources (macroinvertebrates).

In addition, the proposed project would indirectly benefit anadromous fish restoration efforts in the Umatilla Basin by reducing the silt load currently delivered by McKay Creek. This sediment is accumulating in McKay Reservoir which reduces the amount of storage available for anadromous "fish flow releases" below the reservoir.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
Numerous watershed restoration efforts are being coordinated and implemented by tribal, local, state and federal agencies and the agricultural community in the Umatilla Basin. However, there has been little effort in the "resident fish only" subwatershed above McKay Reservoir. This effort will compliment the ongoing anadromous driven efforts and will directly benefit resident species and indirectly benefit anadromous species (see EXPECTED OUTCOME).

Risks

Monitoring activity
Baseline and post-project monitoring includes photopoints, physical surveys, stream cross-sections, temperature and turbidity measurements. Information will continue to be used to identify watershed health concerns and to assess the short and long-term effects of instream and riparian area enhancements on fish habitat, riparian vegetation recovery, and water quality.

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   $143,400