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
Washington Interim Wildlife Mitigation Agreement

BPA project number   5507100

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   11.3F.1

Short description
Planning and implementation of CTUIR’s share of the Interim Washington Wildlife Mitigation Agreement in the State of Washington.

Project start year   1993    End year   1998

Start of operation and/or maintenance   1998

Project development phase   Planning, Implementation

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects
Umatilla Tribe Wildlife Coordination (9500800), Umatilla Riparian Corridor Coordination (9500800).

The CTUIR’s wildlife mitigation planning and coordination throughout the ceded territory and the Umatilla Indian Reservation is funded partially through the Interim Agreement.

Project history
The Interim Wildlife Mitigation Agreement in Washington was negotiated between the agencies and tribes of the State of Washington and the Bonneville Power Administration to provide funding for planning and implementation of wildlife mitigation projects in the state over a five year period 1993-1997. The total funding agreement was for $45.5 million dollars to be paid out in annual installments. The CTUIR is responsible for planning and implementing projects for 11.3 % of the fund. In October 1994, the CTUIR contracted with the BPA to develop a mitigation plan for the Washington lands ceded to the U.S. Government in the Treaty of 1855. This Plan will guide the implementation of projects to be funded under the Interim Agreement. Site specific projects and priority areas have been identified for funding in FY1997 and beyond.

Biological results achieved
Implementation of projects planned for 1997 and beyond.

Annual reports and technical papers
Quarterly reports prepared by CTUIR for BPA. Tribal Mitigation Plan for CTUIR ceded area in Draft for Comment.

Management implications
Monitoring and evaluation of the species and habitat responses will be used to direct future management actions within the framework of the Mitigation Plan and site specific management plans prepared by the CTUIR to assure benefits from efforts expended.

Specific measureable objectives
Bonneville Power Administration will receive full credit for habitat units protected and enhanced with funds from this agreement.

Testable hypothesis
Enhancement and protection of wildlife habitats will have a corresponding benefit to wildlife populations.

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints
Finding willing sellers for land acquisitions. Securing adequate funding for O& M, M&E and enhancements for the life of the project.

Methods
For applicable information pertaining to planning and implementation of this wildlife mitigation project, Please see: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Wildlife Mitigation Plan for the John Day and McNary Dams - Draft for Public Comment, February 1996.

Brief schedule of activities
FY 1997 Continue project planning and implementation on Lower Yakima River Corridor Project, Stage Coach Ranch, and Plymouth Island. Continue development of other site specific projects within priority areas identified within the CTUIR Wildlife Mitigation Plan.

FY 1998-2001 Continue implementation of site specific projects and obtain operation and maintenance funds for existing projects.

Biological need
Restore/mitigate for wildlife habitats impacted by the construction and subsequent reservoir inundation of the John Day and McNary Hydro Facilities as documented in the NPPC Wildlife Program’s Losses Assessments and mandated by the Pacific Northwest Power Planning and Conservation Act of 1980.

Critical uncertainties
Adequate funding for operation and maintenance, monitoring and evaluation and enhancements of ongoing projects and for future project implementation in the Columbia Basin.

Summary of expected outcome
Cost efficient and effective mitigation of wildlife habitats on river corridors in the ceded lands of the CTUIR within Washington State as guided by the CTUIR Wildlife Mitigation Plan for John Day and McNary Dams.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
Depends on the BPA’s Programmatic EIS for Wildlife Mitigation in the Columbia Basin for programmatic (non-project specific) issues.

Risks
None identified

Monitoring activity
Monitoring and evaluation of projects implemented under the Interim Agreement to analyze change in Habitat Units will be based on the USFWS Habitat Evaluation Procedures. Detailed evaluations of specific management actions may be conducted to assure cost effectiveness of comparative methodologies. Monitoring of species presence and occurrence before, during and after project implementation in response to habitat enhancement and maintenance will be conducted where appropriate.

BPA will monitor and evaluate the proposed projects through periodic reports submitted by CTUIR.

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   Wildlife

Recommendation    No recommendation